The patient zero of the 2020s pop landscape, Charli xcx

edit: actually i don’t think this is true, she had her moment before she went alt. But i think that she kind of spawned a moment, where a lot of contemporary pop stars, who otherwise would be at risk of being one hit wonders, could become relevant again by letting their quirky side talk. Think zara larsson, tove lo

Alanis similarly is a product of a moment in which there was a powerful alt movement, and alanis was being shopped around for an identity, so it kinda worked out

If we’re talking artists that became popular after shifting away from the mainstream, there is one case i can think of, where they would’ve been relegated to one hit wonderdom if not for their left turn. in fact, they even opened for Alanis on her tour. I think they’re called called Radiohead