With the popularization of LSD, the 1960s saw the birth of “the hippie movement”. Along with countercultural ideas of peace and love, the hippies ushered in a groundbreaking new flavor of rock and folk music: psychedelic music. Psychedelic acts like the Beatles, The Doors, and Pink Floyd dominated the mainstream, and the cultural ripples of these bands can still be felt in full.
Much like the 60s, society is undergoing a major cultural makeover in 2020 and 2021. It’s no wonder why psychedelic music is alive and well, as modern artists re-imagine the genre defined by the 60s, implementing a variety of new sounds never before heard in the genre. Sit back, spark up, and melt into these modern essentials of the psychedelic genre.
15 Psychedelic Music Artists To Support
Crumb
Brooklyn-based psych band, Crumb, creates a lush atmosphere of synths and guitars that float over the infectious grooves of the bass and drums. The soft voice of lead vocalist Lila Ramani creates a chill vibe that, along with the occasional saxophone solo, will guide you into a trippy realm of funky grooves.
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Few bands encapsulate the sheer sonic diversity of King Gizz. Their constant experimentation and insane pace of creation (releasing multiple albums in a single year) make them a truly unique specimen. Drawing inspiration from jazz, prog metal, Middle Eastern music, and of course, 60s psychedelia, King Gizz will take you on an eccentric journey.
Melody’s Echo Chamber
Melody’s Echo Chamber is the core project of French musician Melody Prochet. Her debut self-titled album was mixed and recorded by then-boyfriend Kevin Parker, also known as Tame Impala. Soaring over a 60s soundscape of fuzz guitars, Melody’s angelic voice will have you floating through a psychedelic sky on a cloud of weed smoke.
Tame Impala
Tame Impala is almost certainly the biggest name on this list. Multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker’s infectious music has elevated him into a cultural icon. Parker’s flavor of danceable rhythms and mesmerizing melodies is brilliantly smooth and trippy. His music truly speaks for itself and contains some of the best vibes on this list.
Djo
Known to most as Steve from Stranger Things, Joe Keery is not only a talented actor, but also a talented multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. He is the single mind behind the psychedelic act Djo, marrying elements of classic rock and indie rock with pure psychedelia. Keery was also one of the guitarists for another band that appears later on this list!
Pond
Another act associated with Kevin Parker, Pond offers a beautiful fusion of psychedelic rock and pop. With a glittery vibe, melodic flavor, and ruminative lyrics, Pond evokes the feeling of laying in the sun with a spliff.
MGMT
A personal favorite of mine, MGMT was formed by multi-instrumentalists Andrew VanWyngarden and Ben Goldwasser while students in university. Their captivating take on synth-based psychedelic pop masks their elaborate and experimental ideas in a chill, easy-going listening experience. Simple yet complex: psychedelic music at its finest.
Mild High Club
Fusing psychedelic pop with smooth jazz, Mild High Club are another personal favorite on this list. The vibes of their tracks are unparalleled in class, and their vocals are some of the trippiest I’ve ever heard. They also have a collab album with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, which I highly recommend.
Levitation Room
If you want a modern psychedelic act that could fit neatly into a catalogue of sounds from the 1960s, then Levitation Room is the perfect band. With a lofi indie rock flavor reminiscent of Revolver by the Beatles, Levitation Room pays homage to the era that gave us psychedelic rock.
Post Animal
Formerly including actor Joe Keery from Djo on guitar, Post Animal has been described as a mix between Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, and Tame Impala. Employing more distorted electric guitars than the traditional fuzzy staples of the genre, Post Animal explores a heavier side of the psychedelic landscape.
Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Unknown Mortal Orchestra is a psychedelic rock band that started as the recording project of songwriter Ruban Nielson. Nielson’s evocative grooves fuse floaty melodies and driving rhythms, reminiscent of Steely Dan.
Richard In Your Mind
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Richard In Your Mind delivers a brand of psychedelic pop that’s simultaneously chill and groovy. Their hypnotic rhythms craft a soundscape that is delightfully trippy.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets are an Australian psychedelic rock band whose music is just as wild and eccentric as their name suggests. Their music, similar to that of King Gizzard, creates a buzz of energy sure to quickly stir up a mosh pit. Make sure you have a sativa strain at hand.
Babe Rainbow
Yet another psychedelic rock band from the Land Down Under, Babe Rainbow’s music is that of an LSD-fueled dream. Their hippie personas and images of surf-rock culture harken back to an era that was defined by the sounds of psychedelia.
Swim Mountain
London-based producer Tom Skyrme is the man behind Swim Mountain. This psychedelic act puts a modern spin on 60s-style guitar riffs, building trippy beats that sound simultaneously fresh and nostalgic.
If you know of a psychedelic artist who should be on a list like this, please comment below with your recommendations and/or reach out directly with music via email (info@respectmyregion.com).
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