Music discovery · Influence explorer

Artists like Steve Lacy — and the music that made them

Alternative R&B · 2017-present

Genre-blending R&B innovator crafting dreamy, guitar-driven neo-soul anthems

Steve Lacy is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer who rose to fame as guitarist for The Internet before launching a successful solo career blending R&B, funk, and indie rock. His bedroom pop aesthetic and melodic sensibilities have made him a defining voice of Gen Z's musical landscape, with viral hits that seamlessly merge nostalgic sounds with contemporary production.

Essential tracks

►Bad Habit

►Dark Red

►Some

Did you know

He produced his breakthrough music entirely on his iPhone using GarageBand

He's worked with Kendrick Lamar, Vampire Weekend, and Mac Miller despite being in his early twenties

His song 'Bad Habit' became a massive TikTok phenomenon and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100

“Bedroom-produced R&B with dreamy guitar loops and introspective falsetto vocals.”

generations
of influence

Influence tree

Trace Steve Lacy's roots back through history

Every sound has a source. Click any node to hear the connection.

Steve Lacy

2017-present

Frank Ocean

2011-present

cited

Tyler, the Creator

2007-present

cited

D'Angelo

1995-present

sonic

Prince

1978-2016

sonic

Tame Impala

2007-present

sonic

Erykah Badu

1997-present

movement

Jimi Hendrix

1966-1970

sonic

Stevie Wonder

1963-present

movement

↑ Click any influence node to see the connection and where to start listening.

What makes the sound

Sonic elements

Guitar-driven R&B production

Falsetto vocals with intimate delivery

Lo-fi bedroom pop aesthetics

Jazz-influenced chord progressions

Start with these tracks

Dark Red

Some

Bad Habit

N Side

If you like Steve Lacy, try these

Daniel Caesar

Shares the same smooth falsetto delivery and neo-soul sensibilities.

2010s · Neo-Soul

Kali Uchis

2010s · Alternative R&B

Rex Orange County

Both create bedroom pop-influenced music with jazz and R&B elements.

2010s · Bedroom Pop

Boy Pablo

Shares the laid-back, guitar-driven indie pop sound with retro influences.

2010s · Indie Pop

Brent Faiyaz

2010s · Alternative R&B

Mac DeMarco

Both use lo-fi production and guitar-centric indie pop arrangements.

2010s · Indie Rock

Key influences explained

D'Angelo

Lacy's guitar work directly channels the neo-soul architect's rhythmic sophistication, particularly the polyrhythmic pulse found on 'Voodoo'. D'Angelo's use of minimal, atmospheric production and his integration of live instruments with programmed beats provided the blueprint for Lacy's approach on 'Apollo XXI', where vintage soul textures meet contemporary R&B sensibilities. This influence explains Lacy's ability to make sparse arrangements feel emotionally dense.

Tame Impala

Kevin Parker's bedroom production aesthetic and psychedelic guitar treatments are clearly audible in Lacy's solo work, especially his use of flanged guitar tones and dreamy reverb washes. The lo-fi intimacy of 'Currents' informed Lacy's iPhone recording techniques, proving that emotional resonance could triumph over technical perfection. This connection illuminates why Lacy's music feels both nostalgic and futuristic.

Frank Ocean

Ocean's genre-fluid approach and confessional vulnerability provided Lacy with a template for blending alternative R&B with indie sensibilities. The harmonic complexity and emotional transparency found on 'Blonde' directly influenced Lacy's songwriting approach on tracks like 'Dark Red', where traditional chord progressions support deeply personal narratives. Ocean's influence explains Lacy's ability to navigate between experimental production and accessible melodies.

Context

Steve Lacy emerged from Compton's alternative R&B renaissance of the mid-2010s, initially gaining recognition as The Internet's guitarist before launching his solo career. His artistic development coincided with the streaming era's democratization of music production, where bedroom producers could achieve viral success without major label backing. Lacy represents a generation of artists who grew up during R&B's digital transformation, absorbing influences from Odd Future's genre-bending ethos while maintaining connections to classic soul traditions. His iPhone-recorded demos became part of a broader movement challenging traditional studio hierarchies.

Legacy

Lacy's success opened doors for a new wave of bedroom R&B producers who prioritize intimate songcraft over polished production, influencing artists like Brent Faiyaz and Daniel Caesar. His guitar-centric approach to contemporary R&B has inspired a generation of young musicians to reintegrate live instrumentation into hip-hop and R&B, reversing decades of sample-based dominance. This lineage matters because it represents R&B's return to organic musicianship while maintaining modern production sensibilities.

Why it matters

Understanding Lacy's influences reveals how contemporary R&B synthesizes vintage soul craftsmanship with digital-age accessibility, creating music that honors tradition while embracing innovation. His eclectic influences explain how he bridges generational gaps, making music that resonates with both Gen Z listeners and older soul enthusiasts. Recognizing these connections illuminates how Lacy transformed bedroom recording limitations into aesthetic strengths, proving that constraints can fuel rather than hinder creativity.

About this page

Music like Steve Lacy — Steve Lacy is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, and producer who rose to fame as guitarist for The Internet before launching a successful solo career blending R&B, funk, and indie rock. His bedroom pop aesthetic and melodic sensibilities have made him a defining voice of Gen Z's musical landscape, with viral hits that seamlessly merge nostalgic sounds with contemporary production.

Artists like Steve Lacy today include Daniel Caesar, Kali Uchis, Rex Orange County, Boy Pablo. If you enjoy Steve Lacy, these artists share similar sonic qualities, influences, and emotional range.

Bands like Steve Lacy and songs like Steve Lacy 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.