u/Own-Birthday-3131

There’s this rawness in underground music right now where artists don’t necessarily polish everything for mainstream appeal anymore. Sometimes the rough edges are the appeal. With ItzDomae, it feels less like trying to fit into a genre and more like creating a personal atmosphere or mood.
What interests me is how listeners decide whether an underground artist is genuinely innovative versus just benefiting from niche aesthetics and internet hype. At what point does “experimental” become substance instead of presentation?
Do you think artists like ItzDomae represent the future of independent music culture, or are underground scenes becoming too algorithm-driven to stay authentic?
Also curious:
• What actually makes an underground artist stand out to you?
• Do you value originality more than replay value?
• Has social media helped underground music evolve, or diluted it?
Would love to hear other perspectives because underground music feels more fragmented — and more creative — than ever right now.