9. Elliott SmithEither/Or

On the opposite scale to Kelis, but I feel like both Kelis and Elliot Smith, as artists, mean just as much to me. He’s all about haunting melodies and guitar parts. He’s somebody who managed to reach so many people and access so many people’s emotions. It’s all coming from this deep well of sadness but you also feel like there’s a lot of positivity, too. That’s what it feels like to me. His music has stayed with me. 

Apart from anything, his songs are incredibly catchy and beautifully crafted. Within them, he created his own world with very little sonics. It was all about less is more, but then also having all of these different textures that you’re able to create from a very small selection of texture components. It’s not depressing, either. It’s really bright and there are so many riffs and lines and hooks. It’s beautiful that someone can choose to use those things to say what they want in that way and he’s not covering anything up. I feel like there won’t be another Elliot Smith.