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The Artistic Freedom of Side Projects
Mainstream success can be a godsend for artists who have spent years grinding in the industry, but success often comes with strings attached. Once musicians break through, fans and labels alike push them to stay in their lane — maintaining their signature sound and avoiding experimentation. Because of these constraints, many artists turn to side projects, exploring new sounds and giving die-hard fans new sounds to lap up. From powerhouses like Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Strokes to indie darlings like Djo and Deerhunter, these musicians have dived into solo and side projects to experiment beyond their main act.
Spoon – Divine Fits
If you’ve ever heard Divine Fits and thought “hey this sounds like the guy from Spoon,” you would be correct. Divine Fits is a supergroup made up of Spoon frontman Britt Daniel, Sam Brown of New Bomb Turks and Dan Boeckner of both Wolf Parade and Handsome Furs. Divine Fits offers Daniel’s unique vocals paired with a more experimental sound. Compared to Spoon’s stripped-down, laid-back approach, Divine Fits is slightly more upbeat, with rich textures and a synth-driven sound.
Djo – Cool, Cool, Cool
Although best known for his role as Steve Harrington on Stranger Things, Joe Keery — better known by his solo moniker Djo — has long been in the music scene. You probably have already heard of Post Animal, the Chicago prog band he played with until 2019, but have you heard of Cool, Cool, Cool? Between leaving Post Animal and gaining fame as Djo, Keery produced music under the moniker Cool, Cool, Cool, creating songs like “I’m Not Smart,” which features heavy guitars and high-pitched vocals. In general, the project has a more lo-fi, DIY vibe than his other projects, taking more experimental liberties with everything from heavy synth to rousing guitars and an impressive vocal range.
Deerhunter – Atlas Sound
While Deerhunter is the go-to soundtrack for lush, laid-back instrumentals and soft vocals, Atlas Sound — the solo project of Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox — leans into a more eccentric sound. Both projects are atmospheric, but Atlas Sound contrasts the subdued, polished sound of Deerhunter with more ambient, almost shimmery instrumentals. The project has a minimalist, slightly-rough-around-the-edges charm, with a wide range of influences from Elvis Presley to doo wop to electronica. Atlas Sound sounds like the sunny, upbeat counterpart to Deerhunter’s shrouded-in-mist, lost-in-the-forest discography.
The Black Keys – The Arcs
If you can’t get enough of the gritty, blues-infused rock of The Black Keys, check out The Arcs. Fronted by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, the band also includes Leon Michels, Nick Movshon, Homer Steinweiss, and formerly, the late Richard Swift. The Arcs take a more experimental approach, with influences from soul, funk, and vintage rock. The band features the same grit Auerbach is known for, with a richer, layered texture and a smoother, more nuanced sound compared to the heady, hard-hitting drums of The Black Keys.
Anderson .Paak – NxWorries with Knxwledge
Anderson .Paak never stops working, and while we’re all aware of Silk Sonic — .Paak’s smooth funk project with Bruno Mars — have you heard of NxWorries? His collaboration with producer Knxwledge trades Silk Sonic’s classic soul for a more stripped-down, hip-hop-leaning sound. The project is slow and smooth, featuring ambient beats, wide-ranging vocals, and collaborations with powerhouses like Snoop Dogg and H.E.R.
King Krule – Archy Marshall
Less a side project and more an early iteration, Archy Marshall was the original musical project of King Krule’s Archy Marshall. Marshall’s only album under his real name, 2015’s A New Place 2 Drown features a more stripped-back sound with heavier R&B influences. It’s a looser, more abstract version of his work as King Krule, but it delivers the same soft, groovy vibes and raw sound.
The Strokes – The Voidz
The Strokes practically defined catchy, indie rock, so it’s no wonder Julian Casablancas formed The Voidz as a way to experiment with grittier sounds. While you can hear a clear influence from The Strokes on many tracks, the band dabbles in diverse sounds, from vocal modulations to unexpected samples, and a generally heavier, bolder sound. Compared to The Strokes’ polished indie, The Voidz take a more chaotic approach.
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Flea
You may know Flea better as Michael Balzary — bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and one of the greatest to ever pick up the instrument. Known professionally as Flea — from the teenage-era nickname “Mike B. the Flea” — Balzary has lent his bass skills to many projects, not least of all is his solo project: Flea. By turns psychedelic, funky, and soulful, his music feels looser and more intimate, like a friendly jam session. And with his latest track released in 2024, it appears Flea is nowhere near stopping.
A New Way to Enjoy Your Favorite Artists
These side projects offer fans a chance to hear a different side of their favorite artists—whether it’s a more experimental approach, a genre shift, or a more personal sound. While many of these side projects deviate from their main band’s style, they still carry the signature qualities that made each artist famous in the first place. They offer new opportunities for collaboration, exploration, and creative expression, proving that even the most established artists still have room to grow and experiment outside of their primary projects.
