The Big Indie Playlist: Curated by Total Tommy
Another week comes, another week goes, and with it come hundreds of thousands of new songs to hit streaming services. Ensuring nothing great gets missed in the noise, welcome to The Big Indie Playlist.
As always, it was a busy week in music. Charli XCX launched into a new era with the ironic tune ‘Rock Music’, while actual, bona fide, legendary rockstars The Rolling Stones announced a brand new album. Even Paul McCartney was active this week, sharing his first-ever duet with his old bandmate, Ringo Starr.
In the world of up-and-comers, rising stars like Little Grandad, RIP Magic and LL Burns shared new tracks. Maximilian delivered a perfect start-to-finish listen EP, while The Last Dinner Party went in hard and heavy with their loudest rock song to date.
But don’t just take it from us. This week, we checked in with Total Tommy to see what she’s been listening to, getting the tracks that have stayed on repeat in her playlists.
Must-Hear: Curated by Total Tommy
Lime Garden – ‘Cross My Heart’: I just love this band! This song is so much fun, and the way it keeps moving with little twists and turns is super exciting. Really keen to catch a show when I’m back in the UK.
Lava La Rue – ‘Scratches’: I caught Lava play Rough Trade East late last year, and I’m absolutely obsessed. Their music is just so damn clever and exciting. This track in particular has been on heavy rotation for me lately. I play it a lot at the gym, actually.
Lucky – ‘Biting Heels’: There’s something so beautifully nostalgic about Lucky’s music, and this track is a fave of mine, and the title track off her recent EP. It hits me right in those ’90s feels, and I just love the shoegazey production on this one.
alexsucks – ‘Autopilot’: This track is super Strokes-y, which is very up my alley. Another song on my gym playlist!
Ecca Vandal – ‘SORRY! CRASH!’: It’s so exciting to see the world giving Ecca her flowers recently. This song and video are next level, and I’m so in this new Ecca world. This was my fave from her Coachella set – her energy on stage is unmatched.
Violet Grohl – ‘Cool Buzz’: I’ve been so excited for this body of work. Cool Buzz is my favourite so far off Violet’s upcoming debut record. Very keen for the rest of the album to drop!
ratbag – ‘halftime oranges’: This is such a cool new offering from ratbag. There’s so much intrigue brooding in the darkness of the production, and the vocal delivery is just impeccable, with so much finesse and detail.
The best new music of the week:
Maximilian – ‘Rest Your Head’: Maximilian’s EP is a start-to-finish listen that should be consumed in one go. The songs roll together so perfectly and so beautifully that it would be a crime to split them up. But if you really must go for one taster first, ‘Rest Your Head’ is a stunning and cinematic centrepiece. [4/5]
The Last Dinner Party – ‘Big Dog’: Unleashing their loudest song yet, The Last Dinner Party are demanding the respect they deserve on this rager. Or even, more so than respect, they’re demanded to be feared as the true rock force they are. [4.5/5]
Liz Lawrence – ‘Exploded Into Flowers’: Written after the sudden and tragic death of her sister, Liz Lawrence’s upcoming record is a true outpouring of grief and emotion, and so beautiful amongst its brutal honesty and rawness. The latest offering, ‘Exploded Into Flowers’, captures that perfectly, dealing in the odd aftermath when the loved one is gone, and all that’s left are offerings of sympathy. [4/5]
Father John Misty – ‘The Payoff’: Ah, Josh Tillman. You can always rely on Father John Misty to appear in a period of global weirdness with a new tune. Like Elvis on the airwaves of a dystopian world, like a crooner on the mic on a battlefield, ‘The Payoff’ is as sharp in wit as it is in observation. [3.5/5]
Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr – ‘Home To Us’: Honestly, do any of us care if this song is musically tight or lyrically good? Isn’t it enough that the two remaining Beatles have reunited for their first-ever duet, beautifully reflecting on their hometown and youth together? Isn’t it enough that it’s just cute? [3/5]
Total Tommy – ‘Pretty Little Mouth’: Tense, raging and seductive, Total Tommy turns a break-up conversation into an indie rock rager that fizzes with exactly the kind of manic energy the final conversation often does. [3/5]
The Rolling Stones – ‘In The Stars’: They just don’t know when to quit, do they? The Rolling Stones announced their 25th album this week, sharing ‘In The Stars’ as a teaser. As far as modern Stones songs go, this one isn’t bad. [3/5]
Charli XCX – ‘Rock Music’: Far Out HQ is currently conflicted on the new Charli XCX track. Some people think it’s trash, some people are planning to play it on repeat all weekend. Shouldn’t art always be at least a little divisive? [3.5/5]
LL Burns – ‘Got It All’: Co-signed by Hayley Williams as a one to watch, LL Burns are a band that should be on your radar. Their latest, ‘Got It All’, is a softer release, spotlighting their lead singer’s beautiful tones to intrigue you into sticking around. [3/5]
Iceage – ‘The Weak’: It’s not long now until Iceage return with a new record, and their first in five years. With each teaser track, the release has been looking hotter and hotter, perfectly timed to soundtrack a sleazy summer as ‘The Weak’ is rough and ready, reminiscent of old school FIDLAR tunes. [3/5]
RIP Magic – ‘Screwdark’: Each weekend, there has to be one party-ready tune, and that’s exactly what RIP Magic are designed to deliver. Co-signed by LCD Soundsystem and currently supporting Tame Impala on tour, the band have fans in powerful places, and for good reason. [3/5]
Little Grandad – ‘Sleepwalking’: Each month or so, the Windmill scene gathers and fist-fights until one band is crowned the leader. Currently, Little Grandad are the ones wearing the crown, granting them access to industry plant allegations and packed out local venues. ‘Sleepwalking’ is a new tune for those masses to gently nod their heads to, touching on a more tender, country-twanged influence. [3/5]
Lemonsuckr – ‘Stain’: Captivatingly confrontational, driving disco-punk makes this long-awaited new release from Brighton-based Lemonsuckr worth the wait. Complete with a troubling single artwork and a darkly evolved sound from their previous releases, the single seems to be ushering in an exciting new age for this exciting new band. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Written and curated by Ben Forrest
Curió Curió – ‘Vem Pra Casa’: Sun-soaked samba grooves usher in ‘Vem Pra Casa’, the second incredibly promising single to be taken from Curió Curió’s upcoming debut album, released by the MPB experts over at Mr Bongo. If there is a more fitting soundtrack for the summer, it has yet to reveal itself. [4/5]
Rizomagic – ‘Cumbión Planetario’: Sci-fi cumbia straight from the heart of Colombia, this instrumental odyssey is the first track to be released from Rizomagic’s upcoming LP of synth-fueled intergalactic exploration, Cumbión Planetario, due for release in late June, and it marks an exciting beginning to that dance-heavy journey. [3.5/5]
Baby Charles – ‘I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor (2026 Re-edit): A fresh new edit of one of the most enduring tracks on the modern jazz-funk scene, Record Kicks continue to provide a service to dancefloors everywhere with this re-edit of Baby Charles’ brilliant reimagining of the Arctic Monkeys indie classic. [4/5]
Seu Jorge – ‘Crença’: A new Seu Jorge record is always cause for celebration, but the Brazilian musical master’s surprise new release is particularly adept at earning that excitement, and this opening track is an excellent encapsulation of his infallible talents. [4.5/5]
