Where to Start with outsider music

music created by self-taught or naïve musicians

15 artists

New to outsider music? Read our getting-started guide

outsider music Artists

About outsider music

What is outsider music?

music created by self-taught or naïve musicians

Where should I start with outsider music?

Start with "Soundtracks for the Blind" by Swans. It captures what makes outsider music worth exploring.

What are the best outsider music albums?

The outsider music albums worth hearing first: "Soundtracks for the Blind" by Swans, "The Madcap Laughs" by Syd Barrett, "Barrett" by Syd Barrett, "My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky" by Swans and "The Great Annihilator" by Swans.

How many outsider music artists are there?

Spinsource covers 15 outsider music artists, each with a recommended starting album and listening path.