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I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but there has been a recent tendency to show off how unusual, rare, or downright weird the music you listen to is. Spotify even has an entire service called Obscurify, a mainstream meter if you will, that determines the level of obscurity of your playlist. I personally think that whether you listen to the most mainstream music possible or to something that probably only you and the artist themselves know about, this says nothing about the quality of your music taste (tell me in the comments if you agree with this).

Moreover, my music taste has been developing throughout my life, expanding, adding new artists and genres, but also sometimes stopping listening to some music. I am sure everyone who has ever listened to music can relate to this. Besides, very often, what we label as weird music genres are just not well-known in our part of the world but pretty popular and common somewhere else. 

So, if you are looking for some new music genres to add to your playlist, check out the rare or even obscure music genres we collected for this article. Have you ever listened to any of these? I’d really recommend giving a try to all of them and seeing which ones happen to be to your liking. Of course, share this article with your music-loving friends, and if you know other lesser-known music genres, recommend them in the comments. 

#1

Tuvan Throat Singing

Saidash Begzy Oglu Mongush is throat singing on the grass

Called in its native language Khöömei, Tuvan throat singing is a traditional art form in the region of Tuva (located in Russia, just northwest of Mongolia). To be able to hold multiple notes for a prolonged period, singers use special circular breathing.

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    #2

    Medieval Folk Rock

    Steeleye Span - Below The Salt album cover, people eating

    Medieval folk rock had a huge following in the ’60s and ’70s. Rock bands would incorporate Renaissance sound by playing only acoustic instruments, adding woodwind and string instruments that are not very common in rock, and modifying their vocals to match the era. 

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    Der Kommissar
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fairport Convention. Strawbs. Fotheringay. I saw Steeleye Span in concert in support of their Parcel Of Rogues album.

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    #3

    Zydeco

    Jeffery Broussard & the Creole Cowboys performing on stage

    If you combine the music of the indigenous Louisiana tribes with the blues music the state is famous for, you will get zydeco. Even though you will find plenty of guitar in its sound, the most typical instruments are the fiddle, the accordion, the washboard, and the vest frottoir. 

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    #4

    Kawaii Metal

    BABYMETAL performing Gimme chocolate!!

    Japan is obsessed with all things cute (kawaii) but what happens when you combine cuteness with death metal? Kawaii metal, that’s what. The sound of this genre delivers on its name and has been steadily growing in popularity. Check out the all-female band Babymetal for a taste of kawaii metal.

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    K- THULU
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or just check out Hanabie.... The cutest, heaviest, most kickass metalcore band around!!!

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    #5

    Pirate Metal

    Scene from ALESTORM - Drink (Official Video) - three persons performing in cave

    It’s a pity metal didn’t exist back in the day when pirates roamed the seas; it would suit their overall aesthetic. Pirate metal mainly consists of typical sea shanties, though instead of rhythmic reading, performers shout-sing them, as is common for modern metal.  

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    TS Rhodes
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Rock is a combination of African and Appalachian music. Much Appalachian music is decended from Celtic music. Pirates had both African and Celtic people on their shops, and they loved music. Who says they didn't have rock?

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    #6

    Math Rock

    Scene from Covet - "shibuya" (ft.San Holo) official video

    No, the lyrics in this one are not complicated math problems. Math rock got its name due to the unusual meters and complex time signatures it employs. First emerging on the scene in the 1980s, math rock reached its ultimate height in the mid-1990s, creating math pop, which uses the same compositional techniques.  

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    James016
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The picture is from a video by the band Covet. They are really good.

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    #7

    Psychobilly

    Scene from thebrainsmtl and Rene D La Muerte music video - band performing

    Psychobilly might have elements of rockabilly in it, but if rockabilly is all about love, sentiments, and rockin’ around the clock, psychobilly’s lyrical component revolves around horror, violence, and science fiction. Back in 1970s New York where psychobilly takes its origin, this genre was considered taboo.

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    Tim Nicebutdim
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Meteors, Guanabatz, Klingonz and my personal favourites Demented Are Go.

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    #8

    Gothic Country

    Scene from 16 Horsepower - Black Soul Choir video

    While musically remaining mostly country, the lyrical content of gothic country is all about death, loss, and other horrible things that happen to humans in life. It emerged out of the alternative country scene in Denver in the ’90s and is also known as dark country, gothic America, and horror country.

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    Cobra Promotions
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If it's anything like a cross between Nick Cave / The Cult / Sisters of Mercy and Tyler Childers, then I think a lot of broad genre listeners would love it!

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    #9

    Pansori, Traditional Korean Music

    A girl singer in a green dress and a man drummer performing pansori on stage

    This traditional Korean storytelling is performed by a vocalist accompanied by a drummer (gosu). To give the story depth, the singer uses various body movements and tones of voice that accentuate the dramatic moments. 

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    #10

    German Reggae

    Scene from CURSE - Widerstand ft. Gentleman music video, five men walking in the street

    When you think about reggae, the first things that come to mind are the Jamaican sun, ocean breeze, and rum. And yet, reggae became increasingly popular in Germany around the late 1970s, creating its own genre. Around the mid-1990s, German reggae suddenly grew in popularity, and it retains its popularity to this day.

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    Lance-O
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    theres an artist called Gentleman who is legitimate and even accepted in Jamaica

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    #11

    Fado

    Image from Madredeus - Haja O Que Houver music video, a man in a suit playing guitar

    Coming from 1820s Portugal, lyrically, fado can be about anything, but it very often chose the lives of the poor as its subject. Musically, it has a very strict traditional culture. Its most prominent modern artists are Rodrigo Leao and the band Madredeus.

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    #12

    Gamelan

    Scene from Sound Tracker - Gamelan (Indonesia) music video, Indonesian people playing music

    This percussion music was born on the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java. Even though it is not as popular recently as it used to be, gamelan is still used for traditional ceremonies and formal occasions. 

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    #13

    Country-Hop

    Image from Big Smo - Workin' feat Alexander King (Official Music Video), two man wearing black and singing

    Country-hop, also referred to as country rap or kuntry, is a pretty modern genre that came to exist through viral videos and reality shows. Stylistically, it is a mix of country music and hip-hop. If you want to check it out, listen to Big Simo who is considered the best country rapper.

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    scag$y
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jo-le-eene, touch my man and yo b!tch-a*s going down.

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    #14

    Splittercore

    A cover of Splittercore music - black and white image with a hairless kid who is without eyes and screaming

    Take speedcore and crank up the BPM to anything from 600 up to 1000. Now you know what splittercore sounds like. With almost indistinguishable beats, this genre is not for the faint of heart.

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    #15

    Vaporwave

    MACINTOSH PLUS - FLORAL SHOPPE music cover, a digital collage with gypsum head, chess flooring, photo with cityscape and water in front of pink background

    Once you listen to vaporwave, you either love it or hate it, there is no in-between. Artists who create in vaporwave are usually as particular about the visuals as the sound. This reflects in music videos and album sleeves that combine seemingly unmixable imagery. The music itself is also rather fragmented, incorporating anything from YouTube samples to other microgenres.

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    Vintage Books
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Soma fm has a vapor wave channel if anyone is curious. They also have a lot more genre stations and it's simply a great online free radio station of obscure music.

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    #16

    Catstep

    Daisuke Tanabe - cat step music cover - a white cat like a circus performer on a rope

    Surprisingly, there are very few cats involved in the production of catstep. In fact, it is a subgenre of the widely popular filthstep. However, some artists couldn’t help but play with its name, and thus the biggest catstep record label is called Monstercat, while one of the most popular artists is TheFatRat.

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    #17

    Noh Theater

    Four japanese persons in kimono performing Noh Theater on stage

    Coming from Japan, Noh theater is the oldest theatrical form still being performed in the modern day. It is often called Japanese opera. Performances are often based on tales from traditional literature. The instrumental ensemble includes a hip drum, a shoulder drum, a stick drum, and a flute.

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    #18

    Enka

    A Japanese girl in a kimono is singing

    Enka developed in Japan in the post-WWII years as sentimental ballads about life during this period. The modern form of this genre is believed to be dated to 1969. Around that period, enka also became popular in other Asian countries.

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    K- THULU
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    If interested, try Japanese band Eleanor.... A blend of heavy, gothic rock crossed with Enka style vocals..... An awesome blend but an acquired taste...

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    #19

    Simpsonwave

    Homer on chess flooring with a dolphin in the digital wave

    We can all agree that The Simpsons made a huge impact on popular culture. But did you know this cult TV show is responsible for the birth of an entire music genre? Lucien Hughes created some of the first Simpsonwave videos by combining sample audio and video from the show with another microgenre, vaporwave.  

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    scag$y
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Watched a bit on YT. The videos are Simpsons clips, artfully sequenced to create a narrative, but the music is more, maybe, electronica, and doesn't have the Homer samples in that I was hoping for.

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    #20

    Witch House

    Abstract dark blue and white image from HOLY OTHER - WE OVER music video

    You will find neither witches nor typical house sound in this genre. Though this genre didn’t survive past a few years, it is still interesting to listen to, especially if you appreciate slow tempo, chopped songs, and wonder what a mixture of goth, noise, drone, shoegaze, industrial, and hip-hop would sound like. 

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