In an age of algorithms and fleeting trends, the last ten years have witnessed a vibrant, genre-defying explosion in experimental music, creating soundscapes that challenge, confront, and captivate. This post spotlights ten essential artists/collectives who have redefined what’s possible in their respective fields. For this list, “avant-garde” refers to those who shatter convention, blend genres in startling ways, and create deeply personal, unforgettable work.
A quick note on the embedded players: Wherever possible, I’ve linked directly to Bandcamp. It’s an ad-free experience for you and the best platform to directly support these incredible artists. (From the embedded player, you can click the ‘bc’ logo on the right to explore the full album, discover more from the artist, or purchase physical media.)
1. billy woods / Backwoodz Studioz (Hip-Hop)
A standard-bearer for abstract and literary hip-hop. billy woods, along with his label Backwoodz Studioz has become an essential voice in the current underground scene. His work is deeply informed by his Zimbabwean heritage, giving his music a unique, global perspective. His power lies in dense, referential lyricism and a knack for selecting production that is both chaotic and soulful. Albums like “Hiding Places“, “Aethiopes,” and “Maps” showcase his profound storytelling and uncompromising vision.
His influence extends far beyond his solo work. He is one half of the duo Armand Hammer, alongside the equally brilliant ELUCID, and the label itself has become a crucial hub for the most forward-thinking hip-hop. A perfect, and very recent, example of this collaborative ethos is the brand new album from HUMAN ERROR CLUB & Kenny Segal’s “HUMAN ERROR CLUB AT KENNY’S HOUSE.” It’s a label family affair, featuring not only woods and ELUCID, but also fellow artists from this list like Moor Mother and Shabaka Hutchings, showcasing the label’s central role in the modern vanguard.
On a personal note, his live shows are unmissable that I try to never miss any of his performances when he comes through Paris. I had the chance to meet him in New York (very randomly) last year, and his intensity as an artist is just as palpable in person.
Where to Start: For raw emotional intensity, listen to woods’ solo album “Hiding Places“. For the duo experience, listen to Armand Hammer’s “We Buy Diabetic Test Strips“.
2. Moor Mother (Free Jazz, Poetry, Hip-Hop, Industrial)
Camae Ayewa, known as Moor Mother, is a multi-disciplinary artist, poet, and musician channeling history and liberation through a torrent of noise, jazz, and electronic. Her prolific output spans solo work like “Jazz Codes” and multiple key collaborations. Chief among these is her role as vocalist and poet in the incendiary free-jazz collective Irreversible Entanglements, a group that has become a vital force in politically-charged improvised music. She has also released the acclaimed album Brass with billy woods, showcasing her collaborative synergy. This work cements her as a major key figure in modern Afrofuturism.
Where to Start: For her powerful collaborative energy, listen to “Brass” with billy woods. For a dive into political free-jazz, listen to Irreversible Entanglements’ album “Who Sent You?“.
3. Shabaka Hutchings (Jazz)
A central figure in the modern London jazz scene, Shabaka Hutchings is known for his spiritual and politically charged saxophone and clarinet work. Through his leadership in groundbreaking groups like Sons of Kemet, The Comet Is Coming, and Shabaka and the Ancestors, and even exploring different sounds under alter egos like “Kofi Flexxx,” he has masterfully infused Caribbean, African, and electronic sounds into a modern jazz context.
His recent period focusing on flute even saw him collaborate with André 3000, who has similarly been exploring the instrument.
Highlighting the scene’s energy, his collaborations with fellow artists on this list, including Moor Mother and billy woods, feel like a true collision of creative worlds.
Excitingly, after a couple of years focusing on the flute, Shabaka recently announced he’s returning to the saxophone. I really hope we’ll see a Sons of Kemet reunion as a result soon.
Where to Start: Sons of Kemet’s “Your Queen Is a Reptile” is a powerful political and musical statement that serves as an ideal entry point.
4. Slauson Malone 1 (Sound Collage)
Jasper Marsalis, known as Slauson Malone 1, is a conceptual artist who was a core member of the influential New York art collective Standing on the Corner. His solo work uses sound collage and performance to explore memory, identity, and the black experience. He deconstructs genre, blending ambient, hip-hop, and pop into something entirely new.
Where to Start: “A Quiet Farwell 2016–2018 (Crater Speak)” is the essential starting point to understand his unique artistic language.
5. Mach-Hommy (Hip-Hop)
An enigmatic and brilliant rapper of Haitian heritage, Mach-Hommy is known for his elusive persona and luxurious, abstract lyricism. He rose to prominence with Griselda Records —one of the most important underground labels of the decade, alongside Backwoodz Studioz— before forging his own path. He has revived a high-art approach to rap, releasing seminal projects like “Pray for Haiti” that deeply connect with his roots. This also places him in the same creative sphere as others on this list, having collaborated with both billy woods and Moor Mother.
Where to Start: “Pray for Haiti” is his most acclaimed and accessible project, perfectly blending his sharp lyricism with his cultural identity.
(Note: None of Mach’s albums are available on Bandcamp).
6. The Body (Heavy Metal, Industrial)
The duo of Chip King and Lee Buford, known as The Body, is one of the most relentlessly heavy and experimental acts in modern metal. They constantly push the boundaries of “heavy” music by incorporating choirs, electronic noise, and industrial soundscapes, often through collaboration.
Where to Start: “Everything That Dies Someday Comes Back” is a monument to pure, abrasive noise and a perfect litmus test for new listeners.
7. Matana Roberts (Free Jazz)
An acclaimed alto saxophonist, Matana Roberts is renowned for her ambitious& multi-chapter “Coin Coin” project. This ongoing series explores African-American history and memory through a mix of structured composition, graphic notation, and radical free improvisation, creating a powerful and immersive sonic tapestry.
For me, discovering her work has been a recent and great listening experience, fundamentally changing my understanding of how music can convey history and memory.
Where to Start: “Coin Coin Chapter Four: Memphis” is a powerful and representative entry into her magnum opus.
8. Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Post-Rock)
Montreal collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor makes sprawling, instrumental post-rock. Their songs are famous for building from quiet, delicate melodies into massive, overwhelming walls of guitar noise. Known for their legendary live shows that use cinematic projections, their powerful music often feels like a soundtrack for a world in crisis. Albums like ‘Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend! marked their triumphent return this decade.
Where to Start: Their comeback album, “Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!“, captures perfectly their signature build from quiet tension to explosive release.
9. Algiers (Post-Punk)
This band is a fiery fusion of post-punk and industrial noise. Algiers is defined by their politically charged lyrics, Franklin Fisher’s powerful vocals, and a unique sound that is both confrontational and spiritual. Their album Shook is a testament to their sound and collaborative spirit, further cementing their place in this scene with powerful features from billy woods, Backxwash and Zack De La Rocha.
Where to Start: “The Underside of Power” or “Shook” are both perfect distillations of their sound and fury.
10. Lingua Ignota (Dark Wave, Industrial)
Kristin Hayter’s project is a harrowing and beautiful examination of trauma and survival, blending classical, noise, and industrial music. Her classically trained voice, stark instrumentation, and lyrical honesty make her work a profound form of musical healing.
Where to Start: “Sinner Get Ready” or “Caligula” are both devastating, essential works.