There is a lot of independent music out there that is great and glorious. It has been around for ages and has seen numerous evolutions. Check this imaginary but still pretty good playlist of rock, alt-rock, lofi rock, and rock-pop music released by independent artists.

Rock is an ever-evolving genre. As we come to the beginning of 2023, it’s time to take a look back at the best new releases from the past few months. These are our top picks for rock, alt-rock, lofi rock, and rock-pop music released by independent artists.

You’ll find everything from traditional heavy metal to acoustic folk ballads on this playlist—and with so many great new albums out there, you’re sure to find something that speaks to you!

Shannon Hawley is releasing ‘Our History’. It’s an emotional song but not too heavy–just enough to make you think about your own life and I think Shannon sings about the topic perfectly

We’ve also included links to each artist’s social media pages so that you can follow them and see when they release more music. You can’t go wrong with any of these artists’ tracks!

You can listen to our entire playlist which contains the artists’ music, and know more about their work by scrolling down the page.

1) THE DOONESBURY BAND – Gotta Get High

The Doonesbury Band is a Canadian-based band that has been making waves. They’ve been creating their own unique sound, and now it’s time for you to hear it!

Their new single “Gotta Get High” is a great example of how the band has evolved over the years. The song features soft rock and soul rock elements with a blues rhythm and blues-style guitar. It’s also got some classic rock influences as well as some indie rock elements.

A wonderful tribute to rock and roll. Starting off with a clean guitar riff and a subtle electric piano sound, the beat kicks in and drives the song with strong vocals similar to a Burton Cummings sound and a fun original narrative.

Adding to the narrative are raw and powerful backing vocals. To achieve that great edgy sound, the backup vocals were each doubled up and slightly offset.

A track with this level of clarity and crispness is not overproduced or polished to the point where it becomes dull. Having instrument breakdowns to break up the songs at the appropriate time adds a great deal of variety to the songs without feeling forced or extraneous.

The Doonesbury Band’s album “Power Of Rock” is available on Spotify. You can also visit their website, and Youtube as well to learn more about them and what they’re doing!

2) BOXTELES – Harry & Bruce

BOXTELES is a UK-based band that is making waves in the alternative rock, synth indie rock, and pop-rock communities.

Their latest single, Harry & Bruce, is a banger that will leave you with a song on repeat for days. It’s got a catchy guitar riff, super edgy vocals, and an anthemic chorus that’s sure to get stuck in your head. You’ll be humming along before you know it!

Tom Bedford says of the song: “Harry & Bruce is a satirical, tongue-in-cheek look at the superhero formula. The song started as a joke between me and Rex about the fact that when Peter Parker or Bruce Wayne lost a loved one, they got superpowers, but when our parents died (his Mum, my Dad), we got zilch. No webs, no batarangs. This gave me the idea to write the song. It’s funny and desperate. I find that when horrible things happen to me (and a lot of you, I’m sure will agree), we make jokes to cope. That’s kind of what this song is about. I’m also being completely honest when I say, “I can’t do somersaults” ‘cos I really can’t, I’d break my bloody neck.”

this helps bring out some more emotion from the listener when listening through headphones or speakers at home alone or even with friends in their living room together on a Friday night over some pizza slices!

Check out BOXTELES’ Spotify for more music, and their website for information about where they’ll be playing next—you don’t want to miss this one!

3) TILLERMAN – Hear Angels Cry

TILLERMAN is an independent artist from the United Kingdom, who has been making waves. His latest single, “Hear Angels Cry,” is a retro-inspired rock song with a sound that is both classic and modern.

The track ‘Hear Angels Cry’ has a sombre and moody feel to it, reflecting and lamenting the current state of global politics, trends and attitudes at present. In terms of music, this is quite reminiscent of the classic blues rock ballads of the 70s, which is where Tillerman, as a band, draw quite a bit of inspiration from.

The single is a great example of their talent. It’s an upbeat track that has a catchy chorus and some nice guitar riffs throughout the song. The vocals are delivered in an emotional way that makes you want to sing along with them every time you hear them!

The song itself has a classic sound that will appeal to fans of bands like Aerosmith or Led Zeppelin, but the vocals are distinctly modern and fresh.

If you’re looking for something new to listen to then check out TILLERMAN’s music on Spotify or visit their website for more information about upcoming gigs and releases!

4) JORDAN SOMMERLAD – Polly’s House

Jordan Sommerlad, a singer-songwriter based in Columbus, Ohio, has released a new album that is sure to be a hit with fans of indie melodic pop rock.

There are influences from around the world in this collection of poppy indie rock songs, including horns by talented Uruguayan musicians on the track “Don’t Love Me Where It Hurts,” as well as a powerful international string section in the chorus of “Method Acting,” inspired by Led Zeppelin.

“Polly’s House” was released on January 20th, 2023, alongside several live performances throughout the winter and spring. This song is about getting on with life when things don’t go as planned, and how to move forward despite those obstacles.

My favourite song from the album is ”method acting”. It’s very catchy and has some Led Zeppelin influences, one of my favourite bands. The song is also great to listen to if you’re just chilling or on a car ride maybe!

if you’re looking for something new to add to your playlist, check out Jordan Sommerlad on Spotify! And don’t forget to visit his website!

5) BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL – Beautiful Animal

If you’re looking for a new artist to fall in love with, look no further than Beautiful Animal. Their album, ”Beautiful Animal”, is pure pop goodness

The album is an indie-rock masterpiece with beautiful female vocals, catchy power pop hooks and a classic sound. The band is based in Finland and their latest release features some of their best work yet.

The song, Beautiful animal says this: ”…what is it? Can you cuddle it? Is it dangerous? Is it provocative or provoked? Will it lick or bite and does it hurt? Does it carry any contagious disease?
YES! It does – and much more!
Once discovered upon its natural territory, a mere spectator could start showing strong symptoms of joy or happiness.”

My favourite song from the album is ”Bahama”. It’s really upbeat and it has an amazing dance vibe to it. It’s great how they could put such good energy into this!

There are tons more great tracks on this album so make sure you check out Beautiful Animal via Spotify or their website!

6) KARLY DRIFTWOOD – Trucker

Karly Driftwood is a dream pop, soft rock, singer-songwriter and indie rock artist based in Nashville, Tennessee. The single “Trucker” is a catchy tune that has an indie melodic pop-rock feel to it.

It’s a dreamy, soft-rock pop song that will make you want to drive down the highway with the windows down and your hair blowing in the wind. It’s the perfect song for a day when you’re feeling stuck in your own head—and it’s also just as good on a lazy Sunday afternoon or a rainy day when you can’t decide if you want to stay inside or go out.

Karly about the song: ”After working late nights in the strip club, I would take my laptop to the truckstop and work on music. For some reason, I’ve always felt at peace being around truckers. I related to their life of travel as I am also a touring musician. I wrote this song in the lobby, wishing I could run away from life.”

The vocal melody is smooth and soothing; there are no harsh notes or jarring harmonies, which makes this song perfect for listening to over and over again.

If you’re looking for something new to listen to as you get ready for summer (or any time really), check out Trucker by KARLY DRIFTWOOD on Spotify, and check out her website also!

7) ROBBIE RAPIDS – Love Of Your Life

Robbie Rapids is an independent artist from Atlanta, GA. He has released his single Love Of Your Life, and it’s a great example of the kind of music that he makes.

The song has an 80’s rock vibe with classic rock elements and soft rock undertones. It’s perfect for those days when you want to throw on your favourite pair of jeans and dance around the house like no one is watching!

With this song, he releases his first piece of Pop Rock music. This story is about returning to a dance club for a second date with a woman who is believed to be the “Love of Your Life”.

The song is an upbeat rock pop track with a strong 80’s vibe. The vocals are smooth and melodic, with a little bit of soul thrown in there as well.

The instrumentation is simple but effective–you can hear everything clearly without being overwhelmed by too many instruments at once. It’s just enough to give you that danceable rhythm that makes this song so fun!

If you’re looking for something new on Spotify then check out ROBBIE RAPIDS’ latest release, and make sure you check out his website also!

8) LITTLE CHAMPION – Oops I Got Sad

If you’re a fan of indie rock and pop, you’re going to love this new single from Little Champion.

He is a melodic indie-rock band from Asheville, North Carolina. His latest single, “Oops I Got Sad,” has been getting a lot of attention in the music world.

His newest release is a catchy little ditty that will have you singing along in no time. catchy guitar riffs, sad but uplifting lyrics, and an upbeat tempo. The singer has a really unique voice–he sounds almost like an old-school pop star with his high-pitched vocals but also has a bit of grit to him that makes him stand out from other artists in his genre.

There is a sad feeling inside when someone you love ignores you, which is what he wrote in this song. It’s a very well-written song after all. It has everything you want in a sad song. But weirdly it has kind of an uplifting beat, but I think it suits really well!

If you’re looking for something fresh and different from what’s already out there right now, then check out Little Champion! His website has links to their music, and follow him on Spotify so that you can listen to it!

9) RUIZ! – The Human Touch

The Human Touch is a single by RUIZ, an indie pop artist from Sheffield, United Kingdom. This track has been described as synth-driven new wave rock with a North England-based culture vibe.

A song about how as a race we are losing the love and respect we once had for one another, the ability to come together and live in a society where we are helping each other instead of separating and creating obstacles to prevent harmony.

The whole world came to a halt when Covid appeared out of nowhere. We need to move forward and become stronger again. Celebrate life, find love, and be kind.

It’s hard to put your finger on exactly what genre this band fits into, but if I had to put them in one, I’d say they’re synth-based new wave rock with some indie pop influences thrown in for good measure.

The track has a very 80s feel to it, which makes sense given that many of today’s bands are influenced by the sounds of that era. His lyrics are honest and relatable, while his voice is smooth and soothing–perfect for listening while driving or hanging out at home with friends or family!

If this song sounds like something you’d like to hear more of, check out RUIZ’s website or follow him on Spotify!

10) SHANNON HAWLEY – Our History

SHANNON HAWLEY is a singer-songwriter, and alt-rock pop artist from Point Pleasant, United States. Her latest single “Our History” is an anthemic synth-wave song that will have you dancing in your chair.

This song is different in many ways, it reminds me of Deftones but with Lana Del Rey vocals and some synth thrown in there for good measure. But whatever you may think it sounds, Shannon Hawley makes it her own!

It’s an emotional song but not too heavy–just enough to make you think about your own life and I think Shannon sings about the topic perfectly.

I really love how SHANNON HAWLEY mixes genres on this track: there are elements of rock pop, alternative rock, indie rock, electronic music (especially synth-wave), and art rock…it’s all there! And yet somehow she manages to keep things sounding cohesive and cohesive sounding fresh at the same time. It’s pretty impressive!

If you’re looking for something new in your playlist rotation then check out “Our History” by SHANNON HAWLEY on Spotify or visit her website!