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Artists like Julien Baker — and the music that made them

Indie Folk · 2015-present
Haunting indie rock confessions with guitar and raw vulnerability
Julien Baker is a Memphis-born singer-songwriter whose sparse, deeply personal songs explore addiction, faith, and mental health with unflinching honesty. Her minimalist approach—often just voice, guitar, and piano—creates intimate spaces for profound emotional catharsis that has made her a critical darling and beacon for LGBTQ+ representation in indie rock.
Essential tracks
Sprained Ankle
Turn Out the Lights
Appointments
Did you know
She's a trained audio engineer who often records and produces her own albums
Forms supergroup Boygenius with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus
Started playing guitar at age 8 and was performing in hardcore bands by high school
“Sparse guitar, raw vocals, and unflinching honesty about addiction recovery.”
2
generations
of influence
Influence tree
Trace Julien Baker's roots back through history
Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.
Julien Baker
2015-present
Elliott Smith
1994-2003
cited
Bon Iver
2007-present
sonic
Pedro the Lion
1995-2006
cited
Nick Drake
1969-1974
sonic
Townes Van Zandt
1968-1997
sonic
Red House Painters
1989-2001
sonic
↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.
What makes the sound
Sonic elements
Fingerpicked electric guitar with heavy reverb
Intimate whispered vocals
Minimal arrangements with space and silence
Lo-fi recording aesthetic
Start with these tracks
Sprained Ankle
Turn Out the Lights
Appointments
Faith Healer
If you like Julien Baker, try these
Phoebe Bridgers
Shares intimate songwriting style and melancholic indie folk sensibilities.
2010s · Indie Folk
Lucy Dacus
Fellow Boygenius member with similarly confessional and guitar-driven approach.
2010s · Indie Rock
Sufjan Stevens
Creates emotionally devastating songs with minimal arrangements and personal themes.
2000s · Indie Folk
Angel Olsen
Combines powerful vocals with sparse instrumentation and introspective lyrics.
2010s · Indie Rock
Cat Power
Masters intimate whispered vocals over minimal guitar arrangements.
1990s · Indie Folk
Mount Eerie
Phil Elverum's raw honesty and lo-fi aesthetic mirror Baker's vulnerability.
2000s · Indie Folk
About this page

Music like Julien Baker — Julien Baker is a Memphis-born singer-songwriter whose sparse, deeply personal songs explore addiction, faith, and mental health with unflinching honesty. Her minimalist approach—often just voice, guitar, and piano—creates intimate spaces for profound emotional catharsis that has made her a critical darling and beacon for LGBTQ+ representation in indie rock.

Artists like Julien Baker today include Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, Sufjan Stevens, Angel Olsen. If you enjoy Julien Baker, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Julien Baker and songs like Julien Baker are among the most searched music discovery queries — rootz.guru goes deeper by tracing the roots of the sound itself, not just surface-level similarity.