THE BEST 8 INDIE POP SONGS TO HEAD INTO MAY
by Arielle Tindel
4/29/21
Image by @laimannung on Unsplash
April has come and gone, and while it does feel like COVID-19 has begun subsiding here in LA, I’d like to take a second to acknowledge the COVID-19 surge in India. With overwhelmed frontline workers and supplies running low, here and here are some places to donate.
As always, we tend to turn to music in times of darkness, so here are 8 brand new indie pop songs to know as we head into May.
ADAM MELCHOR FT. LENNON STELLA - LIGHT YEAR
This Adam Melchor and Lennon Stella collab is truly a dream come true. On the ethereal, acoustic guitar driven new song “Light Year,” the two reflect on telling people how we really feel. In his own words, Adam shared that "'Light Year' is a song about feeling far from the things you love, the people you love, the place you want to be or even the emotions you strive to feel." With lush harmonies and a beautiful instrumental arrangement, the song gradually builds.
ALDN, GLAIVE - WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU SAID
Another dream team collaboration on the absolute opposite end of the indie pop spectrum- enter aldn and glaive. These two both exist in the really cool space between alternative and hyperpop, and together they are stronger than ever on “what was the last thing you said.” It’s not the first time this pair has collaborated, and we’re sure it won’t be the last. Stellar production by aldn supports the honest lyrics about a break up.
AMBER MARK - WORTH IT
On “Worth It,” Amber Mark has created an absolute bop with a super important message. In her own words, “We are our own worst critics, and I feel at times we are the hardest on ourselves. I wrote this song as a mantra to myself in order to lift my spirits in situations where I feel worthless. Whether someone has put you down or you’ve done it to yourself, this song is meant to help you pick yourself up again and remind you just how worthy you are of happiness.” All together now, everyone say: “Thank you, Amber Mark.”
JILLIAN ROSSI - FEVER DREAM
With fans anxiously awaiting the release after her viral TikTok about the song, Jillian Rossi has shared “Fever Dream.” With an explosive chorus and story about a past toxic relationship, “Fever Dream” is a homerun for this indie pop up and comer.
I wrote this song!! PRE-SAVE LINK IN BIO!! Blow this up and I will release it! ##originalsong ##songwriter ##singer ##newmusic ##sadsong
ZACH HOOD - 13 MISSED CALLS
Another new indie pop find courtesy of TikTok is Zach Hood’s “13 Missed Calls,” which is somehow vibey and hard hitting at the same time. With the metaphor of having “13 missed calls from the devil herself” appearing throughout the song, Hood acknowledges that someone is bad for him, and turns to old vices to numb the pain.
this is called “13 missed calls” wait for the chorus!!
PRETTYBOYWORLDWYDE - UNIMPRESSED
Want to be early to the party on something really cool? Meet singer, rapper, dancer, producer, engineer, and skater boy, Prettyboyworldwyde. On “Unimpressed,” he makes it clear that he’s not interested in material things (or people interested in material things). With genre melding production and upbeat catchy melodies, “Unimpressed,” deserves a spot on your summer driving playlist ASAP.
SALEM ILESE - ABOUT A BREAKUP
Salem ilese is the real deal. You see, she’s succeeded in doing what many struggle with: After her TikTok hit “Mad at Disney,” she’s continued to deliver quality song after quality song. Her writing and concepts are simply unmatched, and she continues to prove this to be true on her newest release “About a Breakup.” She reflects feeling bad about feeling sorry for herself after a break up with everything else going on in the world.
LITTLE SIMZ - INTROVERT
Little Simz is just the absolute coolest thing in the world. This isn’t news, but in case you haven’t heard, she dropped a masterpiece last week. “Introvert” is orchestral, hard hitting, and accompanied by a powerful video. Introspective, and grappling with questions of identity over the backdrop of a world in crisis, “Introvert” is poised as song of the year in our opinion.
Looking for more of our favorite music? We’ve got you covered.
Arielle Tindel is from Cleveland, Ohio. She recently graduated from Berklee College of Music with degrees in Music Business Marketing and Songwriting. In her free time, Arielle can be found gardening or playing bass.