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By Ivan Guzman
Way back in 2006, I bet the founders of Twitter had no idea the social-media platform would become the force it is today. Sure, you can interact with your friends and whatnot, but perhaps the coolest, most intriguing part of Twitter is the way it makes us music lovers able to see what our favorite musicians are up to.
Just think about it. Your favorite artist -- whether some nobody musician who makes beats in his or her basement or even a legend like Cher -- is most likely active on Twitter. It allows us to form what often seems like a personal connection with our idols, while we've found that some less-popular acts totally triumph in the tweeting game against those with 40-plus million followers like Katy Perry and Justin Bieber.
We've compiled a list of 16 indie artists who you should probably think about following on Twitter below, so go on a quick unfollowing spree, do what you gotta do to make some room on your timeline for some fresh, new 140-character goodness from artists who are contributing some fresh, new sounds to the music world.
i bet robin thicke doesn't actually have a big dick
— Impa (@Grimezsz) July 20, 2013
GRIMES Who? Synth/dream-pop singer and producer Twitter Bio: "Give me your hands if we be friends, And Robin shall restore amends p.s. I don't check my dms" Why Follow? Grimes may seem all "underground," but she's fairly obsessed with mainstream pop culture and her tweets reflect that. You'll also get a taste of all the other hilarious ramblings that swirl around her head on a day-to-day basis. Best Song: "Oblivion"
Connect the thots pic.twitter.com/uY4qnXY4NP
— blondre 3000 (@diplo) May 24, 2014
DIPLO Who? Lead member of Major Lazer, DJ, producer Twitter Bio: "random white dude be everywhere, founder of smoothie wolf, feeding the streets since 1885" Why Follow? Diplo is pretty great on all social media. Since he's always behind a DJ booth, his tweets are what give us an inside look at his awesome personality. Expect lots of often blunt, hilarious tweets about what he sees while playing shows, the hip hop community, and pictures of girls twerking upside down at his shows. Best Song: "Express Yourself"
"In drunk" is the most important text of the 21st century
— ry (@ryanhemsworth) June 10, 2014
RYAN HEMSWORTH Who? DJ, EDM producer Twitter Bio: "CANADIAN PRINCE aka MR. STEAL YOUR WIFI aka PRODUCER GAME OMAR BORKAN AL GALAAKA aka THE BAE WHISPERER" Why Follow? If you're into late night YouTube search nostalgia, video game characters, and the Tumblr/Internet community in general, give Ryan Hemsworth a follow. Also, check out some of his awesome remixes. Best Song: Frank Ocean, "Thinkin About You" (remix)
Honestly when am I ever going to need to type "ducking" ?
— Edward Droste (@edwarddroste) April 20, 2014
EDWARD DROSTE Who? Member of Grizzly Bear Twitter Bio: "Creepy as fuck. Namaste" Why Follow? Ed Droste's everyday thoughts and random human observations are all he needs to make his Twitter one of the most hilarious on this whole list. Best Song: "Knife"
I wish ppl would stop calling Kanye's "rants" rants.
— Devonté Hynes (@devhynes) July 8, 2014
DEVONTE HYNES Who? Singer in Blood Orange, producer, songwriter Twitter Bio: "Could be working in Burger King spitting on your onion rings" Why Follow? You can tell Hynes knows a lot about the music industry, and his real, often inspirational tweets are a nice refresher from those producers who only tweet about club appearances or Soundcloud links. Best Song: "Chamakay"
Just explained to my three year-old that everything that grows, dies. Now she's in her room listening to Joy Division.
— john roderick (@johnroderick) June 6, 2014
JOHN RODERICK Who? Singer of The Long Winters Twitter Bio: "Singer of The Long Winters" Why Follow? Roderick ignores tweeting about his music, but instead shares his thoughts politics, religion and society as a whole. Scroll down his feed from time to time to feel enlightened. Best Song: "Scared Straight"
Q: why do i wear a braided leather belt in the gym?
A: to hold up my fukkin corduroys
— Ezra Koenig (@arzE) August 6, 2013
EZRA KOENIG Who? Lead singer of Vampire Weekend Twitter Bio: "vampire weekend inc." Why Follow? Sometimes, reading Ezra Koenig's tweets make my day; they're the epitome of hilarity and more. Scroll through his page to read his daily thoughts and observations, and be entertained. Every tweet is gold. A must-follow. Best Song: "Ya Hey"
hot phone sex w/ a writer has its disadvantages when it comes to his urge to muse over adjectives when I need to orgasm.
— Amanda Palmer (@amandapalmer) January 27, 2012
AMANDA PALMER Who? Singer in Evelyn Evelyn, Amanda Palmer and the Grand Theft Orchestra, former member of the Dresden Dolls Twitter Bio: "performer, writer, giver, taker, yeller, listener, love-lover, rule-hater...currently slaving on A BOOK out in November." Why Follow? Palmer sure is busy on Twitter. Whether she's feuding with some other artist or ranting on some social issue, it is very possible for her tweets to get sort of obnoxious and overwhelming at times. However, I think following her is a good choice in the long run because whenever she's not pissing people off, she can produce some pretty funny tweets. Best Song: "The Killing Type"
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WAVVES Who? Indie-rock band Twitter Bio: none Why Follow? The members of WAVVES are all the kind of people who just tweet whatever comes to their minds, but sometimes it turns out to be pretty hilarious. Best Tweet: "I found mackelmores credit card at a strip club last night and no im not joking" (deleted) Best Song: "Afraid of Heights"
Photo by Jim Bricker Wavves at Fitzgerald's, April 2013
Dear people that call me "thick" on the Internet- I'm going to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner and I give no fucks
— Bethany Cosentino (@best_coast) March 26, 2014
BETHANY COSENTINO Who? Singer of Best Coast Twitter Bio: "BRATTY B" Why Follow? Cosentino is just plain cool, and her tweets are basically a mix between that chill California beach-skater girl and an outspoken college grad. Best Song: "No One Like You"
One time I spent over an hour flagging every negative review of Brokeback Mountain on netflix as "not helpful"
— Perfume Genius (@perfumegenius) December 17, 2013
PERFUME GENIUS Who? Singer of Perfume Genius Twitter Bio: none Why Follow? Mike Hadreas' music as Perfume Genius can be pretty depressing, but his tweets are the total opposite. On his priceless feed, you'll be able to see his above-par sense of humor, which shows that he's actually super-funny and one with the Tumblr generation. Best Song: "Hood"
my son: "i dreamt that i wasn't blind, that i could see" me: "you AREN'T blind, you CAN see" him: "yeah...and i dreamt about it"
— kristin hersh (@kristinhersh) March 29, 2014
KRISTIN HERSH Who? Singer-songwriter Twitter Bio: "musician, writer, mother of four boys" Why Follow? Her tweets in a nutshell are random one-liners overheard by people on airplanes or something ridiculous her kids said. Who wouldn't want that on their timeline? Best Song: "Your Ghost"
This post is courtesy of our brothers and sisters at the Houston Press' music blog Rocks Off, who you should visit because they're very nice.
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