This best new indie rock songs playlist features the following artists of note:
I’m No Chessman – Bournemouth, England
PinnedCrooks – Tehran, Iran
PV & The Heheheee’s – Bergen, Norway
Catherine Michelle – Austin, Texas
Little Birds – Stockholm, Sweden
I’m No Chessman – “Actors”
Based in the town of Bournemouth in the Dorset area of the UK, alternative rock and indie band I’m No Chessman has a sizzling 2018 track titled, “Actors,” that caught the attention of press and music lovers in the UK.
Formed in 2013, the band “wears its modern rock sound well, writing sleek, grooving songs that still pack the needed punch and crunch of proper post rock,” according to guitarist and pianist Jason Wheeler.
The other members of the band are frontman and guitarist Michael Rockett (what a great rock name!); bassist Aaron Roberts and drummer Jez Lee.
I’m No Chessman is influenced by Say Anything, Foo Fighters, QOTSA, Muse, and Biffy Clyro.
PinnedCrooks – “Machine Run”
Obviously influenced by The Cure, and perhaps The Fall, Iranian artist PinnedCrooks‘s single, “Machine Run,” is strangely and menacingly enthralling.
A demo rip for sure, the track is characterized by a repetitive, dark bass line; rattling drumsticks and a forceful beat; and raw, ringing guitars – that break out into mini post-punk/new wave jams – around the odd vocals of a musician who goes by the name of Eddie English.
And yet, we like it. Yes, it needs help from a good engineer and mixer, and a bit more fine-tuning on the composition side of things, but the band shows promise.
PV & The HeheheeeY´s – “A Craving For Leather”
Based in Bergen, Norway, indie rock band PV & The HeheheeeY´s originally started out as a studio project.
After the drop of the band’s debut, Create Your Lover, it set out on the road, performing in cities and towns across Norway and the U.S.
Altogether, PV has performed hundreds of shows and built a small but loyal following. Nowadays, PV is back to a studio project.
The band’s newest release, Eye Say II, is the sixth studio album and it’s an EP well worth listening to and sharing. One of the most notable tracks, “A Craving For Leather,” is the band’s latest single.
The band’s drummer, Iver Sandøy, is also a member of the famous world-touring metal band Enslaved. PV’s top musical influences include The Beatles, The Kinks, Queen, and Jellyfish.
Catherine Michelle – “A Little More Faith”
Austin singer/songwriter Catherine Michelle‘s music is perhaps best described as a mix of indie soul and pop with elements of jazz classic vocalists like Billie Holiday and rock singers like John Mayer.
Michelle’s inspirational new single, “A Little More Faith,” recalls components of traditional southern gospel and Leon Bridges-inspired neo-soul.
Altogether, she has put her musical stake in ground of the competitive music space of Austin with a fine debut.
Little Birds – “Know You Better”
With upbeat, jangly guitars, sweet, steady beats and soothing vocals, Stockholm indie band Little Birds latest single, “Know You Better,” is a perfect end-of-summer track.
Following in the footsteps of bands like Shout Out Louds and The Wombats, Little Birds has flown on to the radar of our listeners and others from around the world.
Other song releases of note recently include:
“Landlady” – Young Mammals
“Sirens” (via Soundcloud) – DOM
“Be Cool” – FD20
“Joy” (via Spotify) – The Informal Thief
The Unexpected Death of An Acrobat (via Bandcamp) – Johnny Raincloud