There are a lot of new alternative artists. Hozier for one has a sound that not many people have heard before. He plays minimalist, gospel-like blues that relies heavily on vocals. Lots of modern music focuses on the musician’s voice. Lorde was one of the first to revive the minimalist sound. While many of the less musically-educated will tell you her music is original, I can assure you, it’s not. In 1960 a song called John the Revelator was composed by a man named Son House. The song consisted of lyrics and Son House clapping the beat. It is the ultimate minimalist song. It doesn’t tell you how to feel. It just lets you experience and imagine the meaning. Modern artists like Hozier and Lorde are experts at the style. Hozier also touches in the Southern Gothic realm. His songs paint pictures of decaying swamp houses, long work days and short lifespans. The White Stripes, the famous garage rock duo, was founded upon the idea of minimalism. It’s a type of music that is finally reentering the spotlight.