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Small Black

Synth-pop/Chillwave·other·indie·United States
👁
ONES TO WATCH
Strong signals, deserves more attention
LISTENERS
159
YT SUBS
729
CHAMPIONS
0

Small Black is an American indie band that began in 2009 as a bedroom recording project in Long Island, NY, later associated with Brooklyn, NY. Tagged as synth-pop/chillwave pioneers, the band includes Josh Hayden Kolenik, Ryan Heyner, Juan Pieczanski, and Jeff Curtin, with releases including their self-titled EP, New Chain, Limits of Desire, Best Blues, and Cheap Dreams.

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NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS (4)
  • Self-titled album released via Jagjaguwar, with a 2023 expanded reissue, described as work of 'chillwave pioneers'
  • 'Cheap Dreams' released via label 100% Electronica
  • Performed at Pitchfork's inaugural #Offline Festival in 2010 alongside Kanye West and GZA
  • Self-titled EP reviewed by Pitchfork upon release
WHAT FANS SAY (8)

sun was high (so was i) is so melancholic, it kinda hurts to listen to sometimes ngl

Last.fm user · lastfm

Pena ser tao desconhecido

Last.fm user · lastfm

what a dissapointing record. six years of waiting for a new album and I cannot find a song close as good as any single track from "Best Blues".

Last.fm user · lastfm

you can tell the effort was there but it didn't land at all

Last.fm user · lastfm

Love the new Album! every number there is a gem!! what a great gift for 2021. My fav is Postcard/Nobody loves you/Song to ruin.

Last.fm user · lastfm

I think Cheap Dreams is their best album yet.

Last.fm user · lastfm
SIMILAR ARTISTS (5)
FREQUENTLY ASKED (5)
Q:Is Small Black underrated?

Small Black has a Quality-to-Fame Gap Score of 49 out of 100. there is a meaningful gap between their artistic quality and mainstream recognition. they have notable achievements including self-titled album released via jagjaguwar, with a 2023 expanded reissue, described as work of 'chillwave pioneers'.

Q:What genre is Small Black?

Small Black works in Synth-pop/Chillwave originating from United States (New York (Long Island / Brooklyn)). As a other artist at the "indie" level, Small Black has a Wikipedia presence and is categorized within the broader Synth-pop scene. They operate independently of major label systems.

Q:How many monthly listeners does Small Black have?

Small Black has approximately 159 monthly listeners on Spotify. They also have 729 YouTube subscribers. This places them in the niche tier — a small but dedicated fanbase.

Q:Who are similar artists to Small Black?

Fans of Small Black often also enjoy Big Troubles, Beach Fossils, Washed Out, Neon Indian, Toro y Moi. These artists share common ground in the Synth-pop space and/or the United States other scene. If you appreciate Small Black's approach to synth-pop/chillwave, these artists offer similar qualities.

Q:Why isn't Small Black more famous?

With a Gap Score of 49/100, Small Black's artistic quality significantly exceeds their current level of recognition (indie). Contributing factors: they operate without major label backing, which limits access to radio play, editorial playlists, and mainstream press coverage; with 159 monthly listeners, they haven't yet crossed the algorithmic threshold where streaming platforms begin recommending them organically.

Small Black — ONES TO WATCH | WHYNOTFAMOUS