amaii shows us the ‘dust’ in their room; Jordaan Mason is brimming with love; Petrol Girls deliver a human rights anthem; Naima Bock lifts us up on her ‘Giant Palm;’ and Kathryn Williams is truly rich

By Joshua Gutierrez - Editor

Amazing music can be found from the highest of heights, like Taylor Swift, all the way down to those who are at the genesis of their career, like Sally Louise.

2022 is my first successful year defining this cohort of artists, which have their monthly listens below 100K on Spotify. On the upward end of this list, you have artists like Orlando Weeks, whose notoriety as the lead singer of The Macabees gives him some acclaim. Near the lower end of this spectrum, you have Connecticut artist, amaii, whose hyper-pop manifesto “I’ve Seen Better Days” is an AOTY contender (Not just in my Hidden Gem category!).

While this is a specialty category, meant to broaden the topics of AOTY to more artists, this music is by no means lesser. I’d argue some of the critically best music of 2022 comes from these exemplary artists.

Hope ya’ll find some of your own hidden gems from this list!

Bye!