It’s criminal how often some of the most talented artists fly under the radar for so long. There are other, bigger names in the industry getting the attention and capturing the hearts of many, causing several artists to be overshadowed by steep competition. While this is the case for many genres, there are quite a few names in the pop-rock world deserving of a chance in the limelight, leading to the need for Pop Passion to present our list of the top 10 underrated pop-rock artists of 2024.
Based in Nashville, The Thing With Feathers are an up-and-coming alternative/pop-rock band consisting of members David Welcsh (vocals), Alex Hendricks (lead guitar), and Chris Roussell (drums). Drawing inspiration from many amazing artists, The Thing With Feathers cite acts like Coldplay, The 1975, and The Strokes as their primary influences. The distinct sound they have created has led the group to success, garnering over a million streams on their single "Figure It Out" since its 2019 release. Two EPs and several singles later, The Thing With Feathers have created quite the following, giving the group animated crowds to match their energetic live performances.
9. Arrlo
Set to take the pop-rock world by storm, Arrlo is an up-and-coming Las Vegas-based duo consisting of members Sunni Suede and Alexander Vera. Suede serves as the project's frontman and singer/songwriter, breathing new life into themes like love, loss, and heartache through the lens of a pragmatic yet passionate transman. Through cultivating their unique sound, Arrlo has gained a loyal fanbase, creating performance opportunities for the band like the Life is Beautiful 2022 festival as well as curating their own music festival alongside Blacksheep Booking called SunCan.
8. Chloe Star
Taking on many roles in her life, Chloe Star is a Native American and Persian singer-songwriter, visual artist, and tribal advocate hailing from California. She split her time between Los Angeles and her family's San Bernardino reservation while growing up, experiencing a chaotic and unstable childhood. Because of this, Star found solace in journaling and writing poetry, later turning her journal entries and poems into lyrics after learning to play guitar and piano. Over the years, the artist has taken time to hone her skills as a musician, cultivating her edgy pop-rock sound and making her 2023 debut with the single “Element.” Though she's just getting started, Star is a promising artist having already garnered support from EUPHORIA, EARMILK, and Unpublished Magazine.
7. The Haunt
Showing the alternative/pop-rock world what they're made of, The Haunt released their fiery self-titled debut EP in 2018. The group was co-founded by siblings Anastasia Grace Haunt (vocals) and Maxamillion "Max" Haunt (guitar, production). Completing the quartet, Nat Smallish (bass) and Nick Lewert (drums) joined Anastasia and Maxamillion to form The Haunt. The band is dedicated to pushing sonic boundaries, blending elements of classic and contemporary rock/pop music. Establishing an already impressive career, The Haunt has spent time sharing the stage with acts like Palaye Royale, The Struts, The Hu, and Filter. Some of their popular releases include "Cigarettes & Feelings," "I'm Not Yours," "Love You Better," and "Shake."
6. The Mucks
Debuting in 2023 with their single “I Don’t”, The Mucks crashed onto the indie/pop-rock scene and have given pop-rock enthusiasts a band to keep an eye on. The group consists of members Michael Dunn (Vocals), Conor McGuire (Guitar), Scott Johnson (Guitar), Kieran King (Bass), and Stephen Beck (Drums), together creating a sound that’s somewhere between Catfish & The Bottlemen, Inhaler, and Gang of Youths. Catching the attention of some prolific radio stations, The Mucks have been featured on BBC Introducing and Radio X. Since their debut, they have garnered over 45K streams on Spotify and have been selling out headlining shows. Their music is made for enthralling live performances, featuring a loud and blood-pumping energy that translates into a powerful stage presence.
5. NewDad
Leaving the fate of their band name to chance, NewDad gained their unusual (but nevertheless fun) moniker from a random name generator. The indie/pop-rock four-piece hails from Galway, making their memorable debut with a collection of singles in 2020 and later their EP, Waves, in 2021. Members Julie Dawson, Cara Joshi, Fiachra Parslow, and Sean O’Dowd are the faces behind NewDad’s eclectic music, tastefully blending elements of indie rock, pop rock, shoegaze, and lo-fi together to create their unique sound.
4. Luna Bay
Since their debut in 2019, indie/pop-rock band Luna Bay has been steadily on the rise. Their early singles have gained the support from Huw Stephens (Radio 1), Jack Saunders, and John Kennedy (Radio X). With the release of their single, "Little Amsterdam," Luna Bay was added to the Radio 1 Introducing playlist and became one of the most played artists on BBC Radio Wales. Having supported acts like Nothing But Thieves, The Academic, and Declan McKenna, Luna Bay has gone on to sell out several headline shows of their own. Some of their popular releases include "Call the Night," "Hometown," "20 Signs," and "Blue."
3. Royal Sugar
Originally formed in Florida, Royal Sugar is a rising pop-rock band currently based in Nashville. The group is known for their modern take on the Glam Rock era, combining the visual aesthetics of the ‘70s time period with a contemporary sound. Frontman Tyler Cohenour is Marc Bolan reincarnated, having an uncanny resemblance to the late Glam Rock pioneer. Capturing the attention of a new generation of listeners, Royal Sugar has already garnered 114K followers and 3.4M likes on TikTok, 99.3K followers on Instagram, and hundreds of thousands of streams across various platforms since their 2021 debut. Their most popular song, “Fleeting Love” has reached 823,866 streams on Spotify, showing the success the band currently enjoys and will hopefully continue to grow.
2. Sea Girls
Formed in 2015, Sea Girls are an English indie/pop-rock band consisting of members Henry Camamile, Rory Young, Andrew Dawson, and Oliver Khan. The four-piece met in school, bonding over a love for music and leading to their 2017 debut with the single “Call Me Out.” They have since been building an impressive catalog, having 3 studio albums, 4 EPs, and several singles to their name. Sea Girls’ first two albums, Open Up Your Head and Homesick, resulted in the group charting within the UK Top 3, later followed by their 2024 album, Midnight Butterflies, charting within the UK Top 5.
Formed in 2021, Honey Revenge is an LA-based pop-rock band currently consisting of members Devin Papadol and Donovan Lloyd. The group originally formed as a five-piece band, later becoming a duo when the COVID pandemic prompted the three other members to leave. Though it took them quite some time to decide on a name, Papadol and Lloyd settled on Honey Revenge as it reflects the band’s aesthetic–cutesy but rigid. They released their debut single, “Miss Me,” in November of 2021, setting the band up for the success they’ve been enjoying today. As of now, Honey Revenge has 545,795 monthly listeners on Spotify, 198K followers on Instagram, and 151.1K followers and 3M likes on TikTok, showing the band’s ability to build a solid fanbase in a short amount of time. Honey Revenge has gone on to release their first album, Retrovision, in 2023 and a brand-new single, “Recipe For Disaster,” in 2024, which can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music.
Do you have a favorite pop-rock artist that you feel deserves more love? Are there any in this list you'll be adding to your playlists? Let us know on our socials!
Written By Cheyenne Johnson
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