You might love this playlist. It brings together the best indie rock and pop rock songs released by independent artists in the recent past. Mellow, dreamy, and catchy tunes are waiting for you at Indie Playlist.
The best thing about the indie scene is that you can get in on the ground floor of a band’s career, or even just be a fan of one or two songs by an artist and follow their career from there.
This music is so much more personal because it’s coming from a place of passion rather than corporate profit. It’s music made for the love of it and for people who feel like they’re being heard. That’s why this playlist is so important—it’ll introduce you to some new bands and artists that you might not have heard of before!
Some of these songs are dreamy pop, while others fall into the category of dream pop. Some are just straight-up rock songs with catchy hooks and an edge that’ll keep you coming back for more. But all of them will leave you feeling like you’ve found some new friends along the way!
You can listen to our full playlist which contains the artists’ music, and know more about their work by scrolling down the page.
1) mUmbo – Sky Is Blue
If you love dream pop, indie pop and psychedelic rock music then you might want to check out the new single from UK-based band mUmbo.
The alternative rock band mUmbo, based between the United Kingdom and Italy, has released their 5th single, and the 1st release of the year, titled “Sky Is Blue.”.
Their latest track ”Sky Is Blue” is a perfect combination of dream pop vocals and shoegaze-inspired psych-rock sounds. It may sound kind of strange at first but once you give it a chance, this track will be stuck in your head for days!
With this indie dream-pop single, mUmbo explores the permutations, atmospheres, and textures of vocals, guitars, and drums/percussion with a sonic palette that encompasses everything from ethereal, chilled soundscapes to guitar-driven modern blues/rock and psychedelic progressive rock.
‘Sky Is Blue’ is a song that examines the human condition as well as the bigger picture – a desire to escape what holds us back and to reach for a blue sky with brand new starts and perspectives.
If you want more from this band, then be sure to check out their website, and don’t forget to follow them on Spotify!
2) THE SURVIVAL CODE – For Right Or Wrong, For Better Or Worse
If you’re looking for a mix of punk and rock, look no further: THE SURVIVAL CODE is here to give you just that. Their new single, “For Right, Or Wrong, For Better, Or Worse” is filled with classic rock vibes, super catchy melodies and a chorus that will get stuck in your head for weeks.
In addition, they have created over 140 pieces of artwork for the release which inspired or matched the lyrics and themes in the songs, and they have then turned them into animations which are helping them communicate what they are trying to convey.
In December 2023, they released another single from their upcoming album “Whispers Of Woe” entitled “For Right, Or Wrong, For Better, Or Worse”. On this track, you will hear lots of guitars and energy
I would like to say a few words about the style of the song itself, like a fusion of Foo Fighters and Black Sabbath, but the vocals are outstanding with their own style, it is energetic, and the riffs hit you right in the face every time.
Besides the music, the art work is also amazing – it’s like you are watching a cartoon band play the song while some images about the lyrics appear on the screen; it’s also great that the lyrics appear on the screen so you can follow each line.
If you want more from this very interesting band, follow them on Spotify, and also visit their website!
3) MARK WINTERS – Life Of 3
One artist who seems like they’ve found a way to music is Mark Winters, an indie pop musician from Sugar Land, Texas. His single “Life Of 3” has gotten quite a bit of buzz around social media.
A couple was driving in a white minivan behind him as he drove from Los Angeles to San Diego and he noticed them in his rearview mirror as he was driving.
While they were driving in the car, a baby was in a car seat, and they were laughing and conversing. As he glanced at the rearview mirror, he began to think of the many wonderful things in his life that had taken place. Life of 3 (Love, Devotion, Legacy) was born on that trip.
Mark Winters is an acoustic rock artist with indie-pop influences. He has a soft rock sound with contemporary pop elements and easy-listening vibes.
Check out his website or follow him on Spotify to see what else he’s got coming up!
4) COURTNEY I NORD – Wasteland
Courtney Nord has just released a new single that is full of moody alternative pop vibes.
If you like alt-rock, indie pop, and synth rock, you’ll love this song by Courtney I Nord. It’s a great beat to dance to but also has an easy-to-listen-to feel to it.
It can be described as “alt rock pop,” but we’re not sure if we agree. We think it’s more like an alternative pop song, but we could also see it fitting in as indie rock or even art rock! It’s just so… different! Whatever you call it, Wasteland is definitely worth checking out – especially if you love alt-pop or synth-pop.
A track with this level of clarity and crispness is not overproduced or polished to the point where it becomes dull. Having instrumental breakdowns to break up the songs at the appropriate time adds a great deal of variety to the songs without feeling forced or extraneous.
If you’re interested in checking out more of Courtney Nord’s music, visit her website, or follow her on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
5) WHERE’S GLADYS – Where’s Gladys
The EP Where’s Gladys by the independent band Where’s Gladys is a fantastic blend of alt-rock, pop, and indie rock. The album was released on 28/02, and it has been met with critical acclaim from fans and critics alike.
The self-titled EP from ‘Where’s Gladys’ combines elements of indie-rock with gritty garage-rock to form a sound that makes a statement right out of the gate.
As a result of the EP’s wide range of rock styles and moods, you can expect to find 5 solid tracks that are sure to enthral the listener right from the first chord.
An album with this level of clarity and crispness is not overproduced or polished to the point where it becomes dull. Having instrumental breakdowns to break up the songs at the appropriate time adds a great deal of variety to the songs without feeling forced or extraneous.
If you’re interested in checking out more of ‘s music, visit their website, or follow them on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
6) HARRY KAPPEN – The Freedom Inside
As a preview of the new album that Harry Kappen is going to release later this year, around the summer, Harry Kappen has released a new single as a preview of it.
There is a critical side to ‘The Freedom Inside’, but it has a more positive tone. It’s a message that you should not try to change the world, but rather change yourself before trying to change the world.
In today’s world of war, climate change, indifference, and so on, there is no doubt that we live in troubling times. In recent times, there has been a lot of complaining everywhere (social media! ), and trust in governments has been declining.
The song is an anthem for the classic rock lover in all of us. It’s got that super catchy, light-hearted quality that you’d expect from a pop tune, but also has a more complex sound to it
Harry says – ”if you want to change the world, stop nagging and whining at others and start to change yourself first and search for the freedom inside you to do so!”
If you’re interested in checking out more of Harry Kappen’s music, visit his website, or follow him on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
7) DAEMARCUS – Take It Back
If you love indie pop and alternative rock, you need to check out DAEMARCUS.
The main mission of DaeMarcus is to bring high-quality music to customers around the world. There is a deep dive into the heart of the matter. There is no question that the artist is capable of making you feel something when you listen to his music.
Aside from understanding the void of real true and vulnerable heartfelt music in the industry today, the artist of DaeMarcus has also gone to great lengths to learn how to get at those strings and take you deep with a wide variety of influences that touch on just about every single aspect of music.
Whenever he releases a new album, DaeMarcus promises that each and every one of them will be of high quality, meaningful, and purposeful, bringing a truly enjoyable listening experience to the listeners.
It’s a great album, overall it has amazing songs and each and every one of them is relatable in one way. Listening to it brings great energy!
If you’re interested in checking out more of DaeMarcus’s music, visit his website, or follow him on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
8) TOM TIKKA & THE MISSING HUBCAPS – Venetian Rubber Boots
Finnish-born Tom Tikka and the Missing Hubcaps is an act that has been making waves in the indie music scene for some time now. The artist’s music is best described as folk-pop, with influences from 90’s rock and indie melodic pop rock.
Having written countless hit songs, Tikka is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and prolific songwriter. One of those songs, “Venetian Rubber Boots”, found its way on the Born Free Foundation fundraising album (from Minds Behind the Music) alongside music stars Paul Shortino and Brad Walsh, along with other music stars.
“I saw this image of people up to their necks in water, carrying suitcases and children, trying to find their way out of historic Venice and thought that somebody should do something about this, so I wrote Venetian Rubber Boots”
– Tom Tikka
If you’re interested in checking out more of Tikka’s music, visit his website, or follow him on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
9) THE HILLTIES – Feel It
It is with great pleasure that we announce the return of the Canadian indie alt-rock band The Hillties with their new pop-influenced single “Feel It”, available now on all digital streaming services worldwide.
The influences of the band are not simply from the music world, but also from visual art, surrounding landscapes, performance art, theatre, and many other unsuspecting areas of life that they draw inspiration from.
“This song was written in a world of change and challenge, where we realize that love and loss drive our creative process…”
says rhythm guitarist Craig Beauchamp.
”And that by using our personal experience as a template, we can explore the emotional landscape of the human experience.”
A track with this level of clarity and crispness is not overproduced or polished to the point where it becomes dull. Having instrumental breakdowns to break up the songs at the appropriate time adds a great deal of variety to the songs without feeling forced or extraneous.
If you’re interested in checking out more of The Hillties’s music, visit their website, or follow them on Spotify. I’ve included links so that can get started right away!
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