One of the more fun, light hearted parts of social media is that it not only allows us to stalk our friends, friend crushes, and romantic crushes, but also celebrity crushes! For us music lovers out there, we can satiate our obsession for artists we adore by following them on Facebook, Twitter, and my preferred platform, Instagram. Much more personal and authentic than seeing what others have posted or reported about artists, we can see their visual representations of themselves as they choose to present it. By no means is this a comprehensive list, but here are some of my favorite bands and musicians to follow on Instagram. These artists are worth following based on their quality and diversity of photos, consistency and high posting frequency.
Seven Awesome Musicians on Instagram
@beyonce – Queen Bey shocked fans and everyone, really, with a surprise release of her latest self-titled visual album on iTunes. She took to Instagram to announce the release with a video teaser and the caption “Suprise!” Other than leveraging her 12 million followers on Instagram to deliver the news, she posts almost daily photos, treating her fans to an inside look into her life with beautiful photos of herself, her performances and of her and her husband Jay-Z and sister Solange, who happens to be a part time New Orleans resident. Speaking of Solange, she’s also a fun artist to follow on Instagram as @saintrecords, with colorful photos from her travels, including New Orleans, and of her fly fashion sense.
@foofighters – As a huge fan of the Foo Fighters, I love feeling more connected to them via Instagram, and these rockers do a great job of teasing when they’re in the studio working on new material, and most recently they caused quite the stir right here in New Orleans. By posting hints of them playing a secret, free show at the Preservation Hall on Instagram throughout the day before their performance later that night, they literally closed down St. Peter street in the French Quarter with all the fans that showed up to see them play.
@jasonisbell – Former Drive By Truckers member gone solo artist Jason Isbell’s sense of humor and Southern charm shines through in his Instagram photos and it’s a delight to follow. With frequent updates from his tour, he shares gems he finds on the road, from vintage books of 70s hunks like Tom Sellick to the ancient ruins of Stonehenge, he brings his fans on the journey with him. He keeps his audience’s attention and gives them a reason to keep following with frequent posting, including photos from his personal perspective as well as sharing quality live performance shots from various festivals he’s played.
@cheesedayz – Who wouldn’t want to follow a Velvet Underground pizza themed band whose members include Macaulay Culkin and an Andy Warhol impersonator who goes by @anchovywarhol? Pizza Underground is as ridiculous and fun as it sounds and this band lets us in to their wacky world with regular posting of their antics and escapades, inviting their followers to come along for the ride.
@sordociego – Though the SNL alum and Portlandia star may not be known first and foremost as a musician, all you have to do is look at Fred Armisen’s Instagram feed to see throwback photos to his days in Chicago band Trenchmouth in the 90s, vinyl that he’s currently listening to, and hanging out with rockstar friends like Yo La Tengo. If you’re a big music fan, Fred Armison’s Instagram feed will speak to you.
@kimletgordon – Kim Gordon’s Instagram feed seems to perfectly reflect the Sonic Youth frontwoman’s aesthetic and creative expression as an artist. From scenic photos of her surroundings to abstract, artistic compositions to her “flung dress” series of her ensembles shed on the floor, the world through Kim Gordon’s eyes is equal parts beautiful, messy and avant garde, just like Kim herself.
@madonna – The second diva on this list is the one and only Madonna. Madonna’s Instagram account is everything you’d expect from the pop queen and more. With the oft used hashtag #unapolegeticbitch, she posts classic Madonna photos of herself scantily clad and subs in images that reflect her ideas and stances on political and social issues, which makes her Instagram feed exciting, entertaining and thought provoking all at once.