This year’s best music is yet to come, and many new tracks are already available. We have prepared a playlist for you with fantastic songs from indie rock bands bringing fresh music to the scene.
The indie scene is emerging as a fresh, new music scene in the pop and rock world. It’s continuously building off of the best from the mainstream, adding its own unique twist, and gaining fans with each passing day.
The indie music genres are filled with many artists from around the world, so there’s bound to be something you like. From alternative rock to dream pop, there are songs for everyone.
Let’s take a look at some of this year’s most tuneful soft rock songs so that you can continue to broaden your musical taste.
You can listen to our full playlist which contains the artists’ music, and know more about their work by scrolling down the page.
1) MARCUS QUIRION – Filet Désert
The name Marcus Quirion may not ring a bell, but after listening to his brand-new single “Filet Désert,” you’ll want to get acquainted with this indie pop rocker from Canada.
This song is full of catchy hooks and has a lot of potentials to become one of your new favourite tracks. The song combines the best parts of pop and rock music and really brings out Marcus’ incredible vocals. You can tell he put a lot of effort into making this track sound amazing, and it shows!
Marcus Quirion offers his audience a mirror with “Filet Désert” that may appear as much autobiographical as it is a mirror that reflects his own life. As he tries to see things as accurately as possible, he isn’t telling a story, he is trying to see things as they are.
From a musical perspective, the signature of this song reaches into the modern age, the production isn’t too polished, and the groove, as always, is there.
“Filet Désert” is the very first taste he has given us of his upcoming album, which is currently being made by him in his creative lair in the Eastern Townships. You can check out “Filet Désert” now, visit his BandCamp and follow him on Spotify.
2) ARLISTON – Even In The Shade
Even In The Shade is the latest EP from UK-based duo Arliston. It’s a collection of songs that are both catchy and introspective, with a dreamy vibe that’s perfect for an afternoon spent watching the clouds roll by.
Arliston’s music is rooted in the traditions of folk and indie rock, but it feels fresh and new thanks to its use of acoustic style mixed with pop melodies, which makes the album feel like a modern take on those genres.
Arliston’s second EP of 2022 has impressed us, and it’s awesome! The album includes five tracks ranging from the 80s infused ‘Hold My Wine’ to the tiniest and most intricate gem ‘Tombstone Teeth’. This EP hits at a guttural and primal level, like some of their idols, which will have you tearing up on the bus before you know it!
If you love guitar dreamy mellow vibes, romantic music for special moments, some (good) melancholy, and love songs with pop-rock melodies, then check out “Even In The Shade” by Artiston.” Visit their YouTube and follow them on Spotify. These guys have songs reaching over 1.5 million plays!
3) TERRY BARRETT – Groove Rock And Dinner Talk
If you’ve been looking for a new artist to check out, Terry Barrett is the singer-songwriter for your next listen. His new album, Groove Rock And Dinner Talk, is a collection of ten songs that blend alternative rock and indie rock with soft rock and rock pop. It’s all rock and we loved it!
Let me tell you straight up which song we prefer, Shake Your Chains. The melody is good, but the lyrics make it even better. It’s an old-school style rock song and because of this retro vibe, I found myself listening to this song once more and repeating it after some hours.
In my opinion, the result of this project as a whole is an upbeat, catchy sound that will have you humming along in no time. It’s also good for dancing, which means good for your party playlist!
Barrett’s voice is smooth as silk and his lyrics are thoughtful—he’s not afraid to get personal or political on this album, which makes it all the more interesting.
The artist is based in Youngstown, Ohio, so if you’re looking for something new from the Midwest without having to travel too far away from home then he’s worth checking out! Visit his website and follow him on Spotify too.
4) JONNY ONG – Don’t Wake Me From This Dream
JONNY ONG‘s new single, “Don’t Wake Me From This Dream,” is a classic rock song that combines elements of psychedelic and power pop. With its catchy chorus and guitar riffs, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser at live shows.
The song was written and recorded by JONNY ONG. On the surface, it seems like a simple love song about being unwilling to wake up from a dream with your significant other—but if you listen closely to the lyrics, you’ll hear that there’s much more going on here than meets the eye.
A multi-instrumentalist, Jonny Ong is innovating but attached to music with old-school roots. With his modern take on this bygone era, the artist weaves the vibrant textures of classic ’60s rock into his music.
For example, there are lots of references to British culture. These cultural references add authenticity and depth to the song.
With the successful release of Jonny’s album ‘Isolation’, we hear a departure from the melancholic, alt-folk-driven soundscapes he created to a fresh take on the charming nostalgia of the 1960s.
Throughout, Jonny maintains his spirited edge and maintains the integrity of classic, live instrumentation. Check it out, visit his BandCamp and follow him on Spotify.
5) CONTACT LIGHT – Disconnect
CONTACT LIGHT is a Philadelphia-based duo that is dropping a new album, Disconnect. The release happened some weeks ago and is available on streaming services now.
The album was produced by CONTACT LIGHT themselves, and this makes it an ambitious project, it shows a lot of growth in terms of production quality and technique.
The album consists of eleven tracks divided into three categories: dream pop, emo pop and soft rock. There are some great examples of all three genres included in this release, so don’t forget to take a look at them!
The due mentioned that this song collection is dedicated to the mental health struggles of others with the hope that these songs can be a way to provide safety and comfort.
Some songs on this album kick off with dreamy guitars and vocals that could easily have come from any number of emo rock bands from the 90s. History is an excellent example of that.
Also, it has an almost ethereal quality to it because of how soft everything sounds, and because it brings a lot of nostalgic and enjoyable feelings. So let’s check it out, visit their website and follow them on Spotify.
6) FAINT ON CALL – Pearl
FAINT ON CALL is an independent American alternative rock band. They play a unique fusion of 90’s rock, alternative rock, experimental and indie rock. The band is from San Francisco, CA and their single Pearl was released weeks ago, it’s fresh music!
Pearl is a very exciting single with a beautiful sound that reminds us of classic rock bands like U2 and Coldplay. This song has a catchy chorus and great lyrics which make it an enjoyable listen.
The guitar riffs are very melodic and catchy while the bass lines add to the moody feel of the song. To top it off, there are beautiful male vocals which give this track an edge by delivering a slightly dark undertone,
It’s not too dark so that it becomes gloomy or depressing; instead, he makes it sound very sincere which makes listeners want to sing along even more than before!
This song also features some electronic effects that give it an extra layer of depth and make it stand out from other songs in the same genre. Let’s check it out now, visit their website and follow them on Spotify.
7) JELLYCOPTER – Cease And Desist
JELLYCOPTER is an independent artist based in London, UK. Their latest album, Cease And Desist, is a 10-track country-rock masterpiece that we think you’ll love.
While their sound is rooted in classic rock, they have a contemporary edge that makes them stand out from the crowd. The album features tuneful tracks that are both lyrically and musically compelling, some of them are softer, and some rockier, but we loved them all.
Cease and Desist is our favourite, but you have many others to explore. It has a laid-back feel with a catchy chorus and some great guitar riffs throughout. We think it would make an awesome theme song for the radio.
If you like rock and country and are looking for some new music to listen to, we highly recommend checking out JELLYCOPTER’s Facebook and following them on Spotify.
8) ROBBIE RAPIDS – Jasmine Girl
This is Robbie Rapids‘ fifth release. Having released his first song in January 2022, he has quickly gained recognition. The song Jasmine Girl talks about how it feels to break up with someone you love.
When I first heard Jasmine Girl, I was instantly hooked. His song has an alternative rock sound with a pop twist, making it perfect for our playlist.
The song has a classic sound that reminds me of the greats like Zeppelin and Queen, but it also has some modern pop influences, which makes it fresh!
On top of all that, there’s a little bit of country in there too. So it fits all music tastes, and also the soft rock feel makes it very easy listening.
We can say that Robbie Rapids has created something truly special here—a song that will have you singing along in no time at all! Check it out, visit his SoundCloud and follow him on Spotify.
9) KLEN – The Pipers
KLEN‘s new single, “The Pipers,” is a banger. The song is an anthem for alternative garage rock enthusiasts, with a catchy chorus and super edgy guitar riffs that will have you banging your head from the first note to the last. Besides being an upbeat song, it features soft rock characteristics too.
The band is from Penryn, United Kingdom and has been around for some time now. Their sound is heavily influenced by UK culture and includes elements of rock and roll, pop punk, grunge, and even some indie rock here and there for good measure.
Their songs are super catchy—you’ll be singing along after one listen! The four-piece band express themselves not only through music, but their very 60s visual is very funny and memorable.
If you’re into alternative rock music or just want to check out something new, give KLEN’s “The Pipers” a listen on Spotify or visit their BandCamp, watch their music video and follow them on social networks.
10) NICK NOON – Costumes
NICK NOON‘s Costumes is one of those songs that’s so good it makes you feel like you’re floating. The tune is an anthem to the US culture, featuring great guitar riffs, catchy lyrics and melodies that are reminiscent of classic rock-pop groups like The Beatles and Queen.
Nick Noon is an alternative rock artist based in Nashville who has been making waves with his new single “Costumes”, which was released about a month ago. It’s hard to believe that he only started releasing music on streaming services just two years ago, but his talent seems to be endless!
His single Costumes is a perfect example of what makes him stand out from other indie artists: It’s very old-school but still fresh, full of beautiful voice effects and amazing backing vocals.
The song starts off slow, romantic and French style, with a soft piano intro before transitioning into an upbeat chorus that will have you singing along for sure!
Nick Noon is quickly becoming known as one of the most promising indie artists around right now — if you haven’t checked out Costumes yet then make sure you do. Also, visit his website and follow him on Spotify.