Lovely Western music

If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands

Active club DJKento
Active as a club DJ. Centered on dance music, they mix a wide range of genres including US hip-hop and J-rap, captivating audiences with their unique musical style.
Editor-in-Chief, RAG MUSICKeisuke Hane
Editor-in-chief of RAG MUSIC. After working at a music studio and in wedding sound engineering, joined the RAG MUSIC editorial team in 2016. Experienced with various instruments: marching band in elementary school, clarinet in middle school wind ensemble, and drums in a band from high school onward. Drawing on personal music activities and professional experience, produces daily articles, including song introductions, features on music festivals around Japan, and live reports. Enjoys a wide range of music, from domestic and international rock to, more recently, a broad spectrum of J-pop.

Even when we say “emo,” there are a variety of interpretations.

Sometimes the bands themselves don’t embrace the label, and fans may be divided, but in this article we focused on bands that are widely recognized and loved as emo bands.

When you think of emo, the common image might be introspective lyrics that pour in everyday emotions paired with melodic, dark tunes.

Still, this article highlights a broad range—from bands leaning more alternative to those closer to pop-punk.

From the timeless staples to the hidden gems, we’ve selected many bands, so be sure to give them a listen!

If you want to listen to Western emo music, start here! A list of overseas emo bands (81–90)

Mother MaryFar

FAR – Mother Mary

Mother MaryFar

FAR is a four-piece band from Sacramento.

They are known for vocalist Jonah Matranga’s emotional, bittersweet singing, and their melodic songs paired with a powerful sound earned them popularity.

Jonah Matranga later went on to perform under his solo moniker, onelinedrawing, and with his new band, New End Original.

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Half of nintyPop Unknown

Pop Unknown – Half of Ninety

Half of nintyPop Unknown

Pop Unknown is a band that includes former members of Mineral.

They debuted with an album released in 1999 on Deep Elm, one of the key emo labels.

They may not be very well-known, but I think they’re a great band—melodic and poppy, yet with a powerful emo edge.

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PagesThere For Tomorrow

There For Tomorrow – Pages (Official Music Video)

PagesThere For Tomorrow

A band with a strong classic vibe—if you’re unsure what to listen to, you can’t go wrong with this one.

It’s a straight-down-the-middle sound with clearly soaring choruses and gently subdued verses, making for an easy-to-follow progression that’s a joy to hear.

The lead vocalist’s harmonies are beautiful and match the quintessential emo sound wonderfully.

It’s a band I’d recommend to beginners to emo and newcomers to rock bands alike.

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Fall For YouSecondhand Serenade

Secondhand Serenade – Fall For You

Fall For YouSecondhand Serenade

This is a song by Secondhand Serenade, the solo project band of American singer John Vesely.

It was included on the 2008 album “A Twist In My Story.” The beautiful piano tones are striking, and the lyrics convey an outpouring of feelings for a loved one.

The strained, heartfelt vocals are truly gripping.

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Hopes Die LastSome Like It Cold

Hopes Die Last – Some Like It Cold – official video

Hopes Die LastSome Like It Cold

This is classic, straight-up screamo.

The intensely blazing intro feels incredible and showcases everything great about the genre.

Just when you think the heaviness might be a bit much, in come those soaring clean vocals—such a welcome touch.

It’s a perfect band for anyone headed toward emo, metalcore, or screamo.

You can revel in the killer shouts while also appreciating the technical musicianship and the beauty of the vocals at the same time.

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In conclusion

Up to this point, we’ve introduced a lot of Western emo bands.

From groups that were active during emo’s heyday in the late ’90s to early 2000s, to next-generation bands that inherited their sound—we covered many emo acts.

Among them are cases where fans call them emo bands even though the bands themselves don’t acknowledge the label, as well as bands that have gradually moved beyond the boundaries of emo.

With that in mind, we picked bands in a broader sense of the term “emo.” Listen to the bands featured in this article and find the one you love!