Over the past year, a number of emerging artists in rock and indie music have been blowing up, quickly pushing their careers forward. These artists have built friendships and collaborative relationships that have helped them grow and develop their sound early in their careers. Drawing heavily from the folk sounds of the 60s and 70s, they have crafted a unique and timeless style that could end up defining the decade, similar to how grunge shaped the 90s
Cameron Winter and Geese
One of the most prominent artists pushing this movement is Cameron Winter. Winter, a New York native known for his band Geese, as well as his solo work, draws heavily from artists like Bob Dylan, Nick Drake, and Nina Simone, creating a sound that feels both innovative and timeless. His poetic lyrics are raw and emotional, and taking inspiration from poets like William Carlos Williams and Federico García Lorca, they have the ability to connect listeners to the music on a personal level.
At only 24 years old, Winter has gained an incredible amount of fame in a very short time. Following the release of his solo album “Heavy Metal” in 2024 and Geese’s album “Getting Killed” in 2025, he has performed on multiple late night shows. Winter performed solo on Jimmy Kimmel Live!and Geese recently performed as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live, alongside Teyana Taylor as host. Possibly the biggest moment in his career so far, Winter headlined at Carnegie Hall last December, making him one of the youngest artists to ever headline at Carnegie. The list of artists who share this accomplishment with Winter is small and made up of legends, including his biggest inspiration, Dylan, who headlined at just 20 years old.
MJ Lenderman and Nate Amos
While Winter is pushing this new genre of rock further, he is not the only name making waves. Other prominent figures in this scene include MJ Lenderman and Nate Amos of This Is Lorelei. Lenderman draws inspiration from many of the same figures, but also blends in the sounds of alternative country, being very reminiscent of an icon of the genre, Jason Molina. This Is Lorelei has been covered by a number of notable artists, including Hayley Williams of Paramore, with her new band Power Snatch. Amos has become a staple in the indie scene. With multiple projects under his belt, his name has been circulating for years, but since the debut of This Is Lorelei, he has started to break into the mainstream. Lenderman has also seen significant opportunities come his way, performing on NPR’s Tiny Desk last year and recently appearing on The Adam Friedland Show.
Friendships and Collaborations
These artists are not only pioneering a new sound, but they are also collaborating with one another, creating a scene that is connected through their friendships. Winter and Lenderman have previously covered Amos at their concerts, and Lenderman and Amos have both spoken about their friendship with Winter in interviews. Many artists in this scene also collaborate with the same figures behind the scenes, with Alex Farrar producing albums for both Lenderman and the band Wednesday. A producer is not the only connection between Lenderman and Wednesday. Lenderman and Wednesday’s singer, Karly Hartzman, dated for six years, and they often played in each other’s bands.
With their close connections and frequent collaborations, this generation has sparked a movement reminiscent of the 90s grunge scene. Back then, many artists emerged from the Seattle scene, forming friendships across different bands before breaking into the mainstream. As their bands helped define the culture of the decade, members would branch out into supergroups to keep experimenting with their sound and strengthen the bonds between bands. Movements like this haven’t appeared in the mainstream to the same extent in recent years, though scenes like hardcore and Midwest emo have followed similar patterns while remaining largely under the public radar.
By creating a sound that bridges generations, this music is likely to resonate with listeners both young and old. As this generation of rock continues to grow, their influence will only expand, turning them into icons. In the future, when we look back on the sound of the 20s, these are the names that will come to mind.
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