Artists Like Brent Faiyaz

How to Find New Artists Without Getting Stuck in the Algorithm

A reader‑friendly deep dive to help you discover new favorites without getting lost in algorithm loops.

Break the loop

Use three channels: editorial playlists, human curators, and live recordings. Save one ‘wildcard’ track per session—something outside your usual lane—to keep discovery fresh.

Rotate old favorites back into the list every few weeks; familiarity boosts replay value and keeps the mix human.

Pay attention to the pocket—the micro‑timing of kicks and snares. Alt‑R&B often leans behind the grid to feel unhurried.

Follow the credits

When you love a song, click the producer and songwriter credits. Their other work will map a universe faster than any genre tag.

A/B compare two masters: the one with less top‑end may feel warmer and closer, which suits late‑night sets.

Where to go next

Start your queue with one familiar anchor and two new names from this list. If a song grabs you, explore the entire EP—sequencing often tells the deeper story.

Share your finds with a friend who likes the same mood; two ears build better maps than one.

Editorial Team — Alt‑R&B discovery notes.

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Breaking the algorithm loop

Set a weekly ‘new ears’ slot: 20 minutes where you only play artists with <200k monthly listeners.

Trade finds with a friend who likes the same mood; human curation beats autoplay.

Discovery tactics

Follow credits: when a mix hits you, click the engineer—engineers often carry a consistent sense of space across projects.

Search live session channels and tour openers; many future headliners test new ideas there first.

Starter playlist recipe

Open with a familiar anchor, drift into two slow‑burners, lift slightly with a feature verse, then end with an acoustic or live‑room cut.

Keep BPM within a ±8 window so transitions feel inevitable rather than forced.

Keys to the palette

Minor 7ths, suspended chords, and soft detune give that nocturnal glow. Layer a tape‑soft pad behind a dry lead vocal to preserve intimacy.

A brushed hat pattern or rim clicks can replace bright cymbals; you keep movement while avoiding top‑end glare.

Deep listening notes

Focus on the space between hits—the late snare, the inhale before a line. Alt‑R&B feels intimate because producers leave room for micro‑details.

Solo the bass mentally on first listen. If the sub sits under 60Hz with gentle saturation, you’ll feel warmth without mud.

If you like X, try Y

If you like falsetto‑led hooks with minimalist drums, try Daniel Caesar → UMI → Omar Apollo in that order.

If you prefer baritone leads and piano beds, try Giveon → Zach Zoya → Gallant’s lower register cuts.

Three‑channel discovery

Balance editorial playlists, human curators, and live sessions. Each surfaces a different slice of the scene.

Make it social

Trade one find per week with a friend. Tiny recommendations beat autoplay when you want a specific mood.

Using notes to remember what resonated

When you are sifting through a lot of new music, it is easy to forget why a particular track stood out. Keeping a tiny note next to saved songs—“hook,” “bridge,” “drums,” “lyrics”—makes it easier to reconnect with whatever grabbed you the first time and to spot patterns in what you love.

Those patterns are often more revealing than genre tags when it comes to finding artists who sit naturally next to Brent in your queue.

Time-blocking discovery so it stays fun

Discovery sessions can feel draining if you try to squeeze them into tiny gaps between other tasks. Setting aside a dedicated hour—once a week or even once a month—lets you relax into the process, try riskier picks, and sit with full songs instead of skipping at the thirty-second mark.

That kind of focused time often leads to deeper connections with fewer artists rather than superficial glimpses of dozens.

Building a small discovery community

Sharing the work of finding new artists with a few trusted friends can keep the process from feeling like homework. Each person can bring one or two new names to a recurring listening session, with no pressure to impress anyone— just a chance to play records and talk about what hits.

Those conversations often surface patterns and preferences you would never have noticed on your own.

Managing your energy during deep discovery runs

Listening to a long stream of unfamiliar music can be tiring, even when it is good. Building short breaks into your discovery sessions—stepping away for a few minutes, replaying one track you already love—keeps your ear from burning out so quickly.

That way, you are judging new artists on their own terms rather than on how drained you feel by the end of the queue.

Focusing on one artist at a time

Endless scrolling can trick you into thinking you are discovering a lot when you are really only skimming. Choosing one promising artist and living with their catalog for a week—albums, EPs, loosies, features—can teach you far more about the lane than sampling ten names for thirty seconds each.

That kind of deep dive often reveals B-sides and overlooked cuts that end up defining your connection to their work.

Accepting quiet stretches in discovery

Not every listening session will produce a new favorite. Some weeks, nothing you try will stick, and that is normal. Taking pressure off those quieter stretches makes it easier to enjoy the process when a truly special artist finally cuts through the noise.

When you know dry spells are part of the cycle, you are less likely to force yourself to like something just because you spent time searching for it.

Following credits instead of algorithms

The next time a Brent-adjacent record floors you, scroll through the credits and pick one name—writer, producer, or featured artist—to investigate. Look up their other work, see who they collaborate with repeatedly, and treat that cluster as a mini scene worth exploring.

This credits-first approach can uncover connections that recommendation rows and genre tags never surface.

Tracking the obstacles that keep you from exploring

Sometimes the hardest part of discovery is not the music itself but the small frictions around it—slow internet, decision fatigue, or the feeling that you “should” like a hyped artist even when you do not. Making a quick note of what is getting in the way can help you design a process that works with your actual life.

Maybe that means downloading albums in advance, setting tiny goals, or giving yourself permission to quietly move on from names that are not connecting.

Celebrating small wins in discovery

Finding one artist whose catalog speaks to you is an achievement, even if you spent weeks of half-hearted listening to get there. Marking those wins—saving an album, telling a friend, or writing a quick note about why it landed—can keep your motivation up through the next slow patch.

Discovery is less about hitting a quota and more about staying open long enough for the right records to find you.