Every now and again, I like to browse YouTube in search of new music. It doesn’t always have to be brand new music, just new music to me from artists that I’ve not heard before. However, it’s always nice when I discover new artists setting out on their musical journeys, rather than me just being late to the party regarding an artist that everybody else heard years ago.
I’m happy to say that in my most recent new music search, I was able to discover two new artists who are still relatively early in their musical careers, but already making some great music.
Leah Crowe - The Cycle
First up, we have Leah Crowe with her song The Cycle.
I can’t tell you too much about Leah, as it seems she has, somewhat sensibly, chosen to let her music do the talking, rather than giving every detail away via social media. However, that doesn’t mean that Leah shies away from sharing personal issues, as The Cycle is a brave exposé of her inner feelings and mental health struggles.
The best thing I can recommend is for you to listen to The Cycle by Leah Crowe for yourself, and see why this song got me so excited. Despite Leah being a new artist, this song is one of the best things I’ve heard in a while, and it shows great promise for Leah’s future music career.
You can visit Leah Crowe’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@theleahcrowe
Teenage Joans - The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest
Next up in my new music discovery tour we have Teenage Joans. Teenage Joans are a young female duo from Adelaide, Australia who, despite being at the start of what I’m sure will be a long musical career, have already won numerous awards in South Australia, and been chosen to support the Foo Fighters on the Australian leg of their tour.
The two members of Teenage Joans, Cahli Blakers and Tahlia Borg, approach their music with the enthusiasm of youth, but also with a maturity in their songwriting that makes them stand out amongst a flood of other young indie artists on YouTube.
Teenage Joans’ first full length album, The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest, was just released in October 2023, but it was the 21 minute film of the same name that caught my eye during my YouTube browsing. The thumbnail was definitely a scroll-stopper for me, and made me want to know more.
The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest film is like an extended music video featuring five songs from the album: Superglue, Candy Apple, 5 Things I Can Taste, Hospital Bed, and Kaleidoscopes. It stars Cahli and Tahlia in a sort of fairytale fever dream that, to my world-weary eyes, seems like a metaphor for the journey from innocent childhood dreams to the harsh reality of adulthood.
Check out The Rot That Grows Inside My Chest by Teenage Joans for yourself, and see what you make of it. I guarantee it’ll make you think.
You can visit the Teenage Joans website here: https://www.teenagejoans.com.au/
