Music discovery · Influence explorer

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.”

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.