Three Incredible Artists with Roots in Oregon
Oregon, one of the many gems of the PNW, has a long and illustrious history of being a home for musicians as they grew to fame. While many spent a period of their time in areas such as Portland or Eugene, only a few can actually call Oregon their hometown. Oregon is a place of diversity, both in people and in atmosphere. I grew up in Eugene, which in many ways, is a smaller version of Portland. I’ve grown up to see Oregon become a hub for music of all sorts— both in pulling larger names to even local bands.
It’s so cool to say I share a hometown with the one and only Japanese Breakfast, aka Michelle Zauner. Known for indie-pop hits such as “Be Sweet” and “Road Head",” Zauner has become both a local and international legend. Her critically acclaimed memoir Crying in H Mart allowed fans and admirers to get to know her on a more personal level. She wrote of how food and her mother deeply influenced her musical career, and spoke intimately of her youth in Eugene. As a local, it was fun to follow along with all the spots she frequented and reflect on my own connection with them. Zauner released her first project, Psychopomp, in 2016, and on the cover is a picture of her mother. She is now an internationally adored name, but will back in Oregon this summer at Bend’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater.
Another absolute staple is Aminé, the Portland rapper and that made the iconic 2016 hit “Caroline,” a track the surfed the airwaves at the same time as BRAM’s “Broccoli” and KYLE’s “iSpy.” Every station and internet platform had those songs playing, and being as that Aminé has roots in the Woodlawn area of Portland, I felt proud to be able to say we have the same home base— wonderful Oregon. The rapper has been very open about his love for Portland and the place that he was raised, and even attended Portland State University. In 2024, Aminé announced the first year of his festival. The Best Day Ever. The festival had a pretty stacked lineup, including Kaytranada, Badbadnotgood, Ravyn Lenae, 3Way Leff, Toro y Moi, Karrahbooo, Madison LST, and himself. Here’s to hoping they make it an annual event!
Photo credit: Nicole Nodland
The Dandy Warhols have made a huge name for themselves. The band also calls Portland their hometown, and grew up there before the city had fully shifted into a more “hip,” or distasteful, as some people say, place to live in. Their music reflects the really raw version of Portland that they know as opposed to the version of it that exists in 2025. Back in 2016, The Dandy Warhols released Distortland, an album inspired by their hometown. Holström of the band says, “It’s a play on Portland, of course, and just the changes that we’ve seen happen here over the course of the life of the band, and even before that, since we’re all essentially natives.” They call Portland home, but even they can acknowledge that it’s not the place it once was. Either way, it’s an incredible to have such a talented group of musicians with roots in Oregon
Of course, these are not the only talents to come out of Oregon, but they’re some of my favorites, and some I feel have truly left their mark on the state. Oregon is known for many things— the greenery, the other kind of greenery, the community, the sights, and lots of incredible history, both musical and otherwise. These artists, though, have and will influence generations after them.
