How does this song only have 21 views?!? - music discovery diary #6
I'm talking about Gold Child
Hey. I’m probably gonna stop sending these soon. Maybe not. In the meantime, here’s another rendition of My Music Diary: a weekly roundup of the new artists I listened to for the first time.
I don’t know if it’s a Baader-Meinhof situation, but ever since I started this Music Discovery Diary project, I’ve been hearing a lot more people talk about how much music discovery algorithms suck.
Maybe it’s the looming threat of AI putting everything in perspective, but if you look back at the last decade of music discovery, it feels like we’ve slowly been shepherded into a funnel created by tech platforms who want to monetize our data. We accept whatever is presented to us passively. In turn, people create music to pop off in these digital arenas. Everything has either splinted into hyper niches or homogenized into robotic sameness. It all gets pushed at us relentlessly, with no lasting connection or community.
The optimistic view is that even as technology has offered a quicker yet muddled route to music discovery, it has not eradicated the older ways in which people used to find out about art. You can still go to a show and catch an opening act. You can still browse record store bins. You can ask a friend for recommendations. In fact, you can even text them for recommendations now.
It does take a conscious effort and intent to operate in this sort of pre-social media way. I’m feeling high and mighty about this because I deactivated my twitter (I’m too addicted to not be back) and have been hoping that someday I could truly go off the grid. I’m also writing about and researching the 1990s DIY scene, so I’m trying to remember what it was like to exist without a screen in my face 24/7. I think the lack of instant gratification was OK. You could still be a writer or a musician or artist without posting about it and stacking up followers. This pursuit tended to require leaving your home and interacting with other people. That seems nice, and a little bit exhausting.
Anyways, here are the new songs I discovered this week. I missed a day and broke my streak, which made me feel bad, because my tech overlords at Duolingo and NYT Crossword Puzzle have programmed me to feel this way.
2.7.25
flyingfish - wonder if you care
The kids love shoegaze, I’ve heard. Speaking of algorithms, shoegaze is popular on tiktok, so they say.
Flyingfish is 16 years old and I have nothing bad to say about them. This song rocks. It’s great for what it is. The album cover is perfect.
It kind of reminds me of Soulja Boy in a way, in that it feels like I would be able to make something like this, but then again, I didn’t.
2.8.25
MSPAINT - Delete It (feat. Militarie Gun)
This is another band that I heard the singer of Militarie Gun mention on Jeremy Bolm’s First Ever podcast. I thought they had a funny name. I was hoping to like them more but don’t quite connect with them. I do appreciate what they’re going for, though. I bet they’d be super fun to see live. This song features Militarie Gun which is cool.
Bonus on this day, I also checked out a band called Hike Naked, who were also mentioned on that podcast I believe. Or maybe not. Actually not really sure how I found out about them, but I connect with them more.
2.9.25
Cutouts - Narc
I got this recommendation from
‘s newsletter “A Song For Friday” which I recommend if you’re trying to get some good old fashioned non algorithmic music discovery.I’d never heard of Cutouts but it was a nice, slightly creepy accompaniment on an afternoon walk around the neighborhood. They reminded me a little bit of The Faint, but a darker version. Their music definitely seems to establish a clear sort of mood. It’s the type of mood that’s a bit unsettling for me to listen to for too long, but in the right setting (like in a movie or live) would absolutely enhance the experience.
2.10.25
PRETTY SURE I BROKE MY STREAK ON THIS DAY BECAUSE I DIDN’T WRITE DOWN THAT I LISTENED TO ANYTHING, AND I DON’T RECALL DOING SO. MAYBE I DID, THOUGH. I DON’T KNOW. I’M SORRY. I FAILED. I FAILED. I FAILED. I FAILED.
2.11.25
Peter McPoland - A Place Like This
I can’t remember where I found out about Peter McPoland, but I think it might have been while trying to find newer “Midwest Emo” bands. I’ve been realizing that I’m writing a book called “Midwest Emo,” but I don’t even know what that term means. I kind of think it’s a pointless term, like all genre classifiers, and have been using it as an excuse to talk about a few bands who existed in the 1990s American Midwest. But I also recognize that the genre does mean something to a younger generation of internet people, and it wouldn’t be fair to write a book about it without delving deeper into the word and the sound it supposedly describes.
I don’t know if Peter McPoland is midwest emo or not but it doesn’t matter, it’s catchy as hell and fun.
2.12.25
Jessie Murph - Sip
BigXThaPlug is one of my favorite artists I’ve discovered relatively recently (last year), and he has a single with Jessie Murph that’s going big on the radio and whatnot. I’d never listened to Jessie Murph’s solo stuff, but from looking her up it seems like she’s done collaborations with a bunch of other rappers and artists.
I don’t have any hot take on the new country / rap / pop hybrid that America seems to be loving in this wretched era, and I don’t have a hot take on Jessie Murph either. It’s way too poppy for my taste but also well-constructed.
2.13.25
Gold Child - On The Other Side
I have no idea why I had written down “Gold Child” on my music diary list, but I’m a little shocked that this video only has 21 views. It’s poppy and smooth and pleasant and soulful. Her voice is so cool. The album cover is dope. I actually really like this a lot. She’s gonna be a star, I tell ya!
ALRIGHT THANKS FOR READING ANOTHER ONE OF THESE POINTLESS NEWSLETTERS. NOW I WILL EMBED A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST OF ALL THE SONGS I’VE LISTENED TO FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. AND ASK YOU TO COMMENT WITH SOMETHING I SHOULD CHECK OUT NEXT WEEK.