We’re overflowing with great indie songs! We think you’ll agree there are some solid DIY indie songs in this newest playlist that you probably won’t hear anywhere else.
As summer heats up, these are just in time for July listening, and we’ve been listening and enjoying them immensely from the following indie artists and bands:
Damen – Gothenburg, Sweden
Whalers – Austin, Texas
LUTE – Manchester, England
Marty – Nottingham, England
Night Lights – Los Angeles, California
The Mayan Factor – Baltimore, Maryland
Movie Club – Venice, California
The full playlist is at the end of this post for those who prefer to stream while doing other things.
Damen – “Sagrada Familia”
The indie band Damen (which means ‘lady’ in Swedish) hails from the former shipping port of Gothenburg, Sweden. They are fresh off an appearance at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton and the release of a hot new single titled, “Sagrada Familia.”
This song is one of the best surprise indie tracks we’ve heard so far this month. It’s impossible to miss – perhaps irresistible for some – thanks to its heavily melodic indie pop vibe flowing from fuzzy, shimmering guitars, upbeat drums and bass lines, and impressive vocals.
Vocalist and guitarist Danial Bin Ismail wrote: “It’s about coming to grips with the idea of starting a family; all of the doubts, but also the desires.”
Damen also features Adrian Gejrot on drums, David Nordell on bass and Gustav Bondesson on lead guitar.
The single is the first single from the forthcoming 10-track debut LP set to drop this coming October. We’ll be looking forward to the release.
Follow Damen on Instagram
Whalers – “Keep It Quiet”
In preparation for their first new set of songs since 2015’s Death Drive EP, Austin’s Whalers have released a new single, “Keep It Quiet.” It seems like a good follow-up to the Damen track.
The indie pop rock track “Keep It Quiet” drifts on top of a wavy, synthesized guitar hook, fat drum rolls, driving bass lines and the determined vocals of Gus Smalley.
The track is short and sweet clocking in at 3:11 minutes of raw energy. According to Smalley the musical parts of the track were written amidst a flurry of listening to post-punk/new waves acts like Wire, The Buzzcocks, and Talking Heads. (Great choices!)
Smalley says the song is “loosely” based on an “interesting evening” in which he was invited into a house party only to be threatened with physical violence. Thankfully, nothing happened.
Accompanying this single is the official music lyric video animated of a different sort created by guitarist Kyle Rother on an iPad. The video itself is a crazy and strange trip with surfing brains, man-eating whales and a defaced Mona Lisa.
Like thousands of other DIY bands we’ve featured since 2007, the Whalers have found their niche and built a following in the competitive ecosystem of Austin. They’ve performed on some of the city’s best-known stages, which is no small achievement in a spot like Austin where artists are always vying for any stage time.
The band members include guitarists Dan Martin and Kyle Rother; vocalist Gus Smalley; drummer Milos Bertram and bassist Todd Horner. The full album WxW will be out Fall 2019.
Listen to more Whalers on Bandcamp
LUTE – “Fears”
Plenty of people, even these many years later, talk about the “death of rock music.” We’ve been hearing that for decades. This next track might just restore some folks faith that rock music can still be surprising, fresh and hard core.
Take the raging new single, “Fears,” from the Manchester prog metal rock band LUTE. From start to finish it drives forward like a buzzsaw with fast-switching guitar chords and signatures that create cinematic soundscapes amid the crunching rock backdrop.
The band is obviously not just your average band. They sound amazing and the overall production quality of the song is better than most we receive. We’ve played it at least half a dozen times in the cafe.
South Manchester songwriter/producer Ed Truscott, the founding member of LUTE, works tirelessly in his musical man cave experimenting with guitar chords, ever-changing time signatures and soaring vocal harmonies to produce cinematic soundscapes along the lines of artists like TOOL, Opeth, King Crimson, Pink Floyd and Metallica
LUTE’s lyrics explore the daily routine of a 9 to 5 life and the anxieties it brings and to highlight “the ongoing desires of faceless workers in faceless offices to break out of endless cycles of repetition” and to “find…solace in LUTE’s musical dystopia.”
The track is also making the rounds on blogs and radio in the U.K. It’s time now to get these guys some U.S. love.
LUTE’s self-produced debut album is Learning Through Progression.
Marty – “Worst Case Scenario”
Hailed by the BBC and other outlets for their debut single, “Fame,” the all-female Nottingham band Marty have followed that up with an emotionally charged pop song.
This is evidenced by their packed shows, radio play and now their glittering follow-up single, “Worst Case Scenario.”
The sophomore single, “Worst Case Scenario,” drives forward with conviction and through rounds of insightful verses and glam-rock style harmonies and choruses.
Compared to their debut single, the trio’s newest single sounds more musically and lyrically mature while maintaining an accessible danceable, glimmering pop song.
“Fame” received enthusiastic reviews from radio hosts like the BBC Introducing’s Dean Jackson who said the song “really did set the email system a blaze; people love this track!”
The BBC has also been playing and hailing “Worst Case Scenario,” recently exclaiming that it’s “a glittering journey of indie rock goodness.”
Aimée Stones is the vocalist and guitarist; Rhianne Mee is on keys and vocals, and Krista Ford plays drums and sings as well.
The three met while attending Nottingham Trent University and bonded through a collective love of music. Previous to that, they had all been solo artists.
Since first meeting and rehearsing together, the three young women have worked on a bunch of material, they say, most of which will appear on their debut EP set to drop later this year.
Night Lights – “Talk to Me”
The next track is from the L.A. indie band Night Lights. Based in Los Angeles, the indie-pop trio’s latest track is the summertime-feeling, sticky-sweet pop dance number “Talk to Me.”
Bursting with energy, fast rhythms, and bright colors, this track could also be a workout song.
Interestingly, the band members are all originally from other countries: Mauricio Jimenez (Mexico), Yusuke Sato (Japan) and Dag Hanken (Norway).
Many of us have an old friend from our high school or college days that we were attracted to, but the friendship was so great we just didn’t want to ruin it with something more.
In hindsight, as the song explores, things may have worked out as one wished if they had overcome their fears. The voice that keeps saying: “what if?”
The Mayan Factor – “Hope”
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the five-piece band The Mayan Factor has carved out their own niche in the area’s music scene over the years and have gone national and international with fan bases in the U.S. and Mexico.
That’s not surprising on the inspiration new single, “Hope,” accompanied by a dazzling animated music video.
The single is a solid recording all around and hard not to play again. It’s full of conviction and excellent instrumental and vocal work.
There are a number of carefully composed parts to it delivering soft, bright, acoustics that soon build into a full-on roaring crescendo marked by the versatile vocals of Lenny Cerzosie Jr. and the powerful chords and beats of guitarist and backup vocalist Brian Scott; bassist Kevin Baker; drummer Dan Angermaier and percussionist and back-up vocalist Jason Sage.
The band, which first formed back in 2002, experienced initial success with the release of their debut album, In Lake as well as their follow-up 2005 album release, 44.
Both albums, the band says, are big fan favorites at their shows. Sadly, in 2011, tragedy struck the band with the sudden loss of their original vocalist, Ray Schuler.
Encouraged by family, friends, and fans, the band regrouped and brought Cerzosie Jr. aboard. The following year, in 2012, they released their third album, Yesterday’s Son.
In the time since Cerzosie’s induction into the tight-knit band, TMF has released three singles – “Ascension,” “Whispers” and now “Hope.” They are currently working on a new EP to be released later this year.
Movie Club – “Navy Seal”
Formed in October 2018 with Jessamyn Violet on drums and Vince Cuneo on guitar, the Venice, California-based indie duo, Movie Club, initially came together to perform a show at Fonogenic Studios on the same stage as legendary guitarist Robbie Krieger of The Doors.
Only three months after that, the band dropped their eponymous EP, Kraken, with producer Matt Wignall (Cold War Kids, Wargirl) and bassist Erick Coomes (Dr. Dre, Snoop).
Fast forward just a few months to June 2019: Movie Club just dropped their instrumental sophomore EP, Hammerhead, which features the fast-moving single, “Navy Seal,” a tribute to the late surf guitar legend Dick Dale.
The track harkens back to a time when surf rock became a national craze for a few years back in the early 1960s after Dale released his 1961 track “Let’s Go Trippin.”
Strangely enough, the same day that the band recorded the single they heard of Dale’s death. That’s freaky, huh?
The darker “Whirlpool” mixes electronic elements rich with textures and boosted by the heavy surf rock tones while the more intense “Rogue Wave” hums along with undulating tripped out guitars.
Psych surf rocker “Triland” has a demonic bass line and flowing guitars with hints of jazz-infusions and is one of the more accessible songs on the album.
If you’re a fan of lo-fi, retro surf rock, this might be your ticket.