The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
This year is already off to a storming start on the music front. There is no end of exciting new artists popping up while old favourites deliver new hits to enjoy.
It can be overwhelming, though. Every Friday, it seems like everyone and their nan releases a song, throwing thousands of new tracks into the mix for music fans to wade through. Left, right, and centre, social media campaigns are vying for precious attention and ears to listen, declaring each track the best of the best.
It’s our duty to do the hard work for you. Each week, we compile a list of the best of the best, boiling it down to the new songs you actually need to hear. If it’s long plays you’re after, head to our weekly Alternative Album Chart to find your new favourite record. Right here, we’re delivering a quick fix of the top new hits.
This week saw new offerings coming from major players like Caroline Polachek, The Lemon Twigs and The Black Keys, to name just a few. In the world of up-and-coming artists, we’re keen to draw your attention to Chloe Slater, Hallworth and Phoebe Green, all of whom put out great new tracks this week.
Across rock, pop, indie, folk and beyond, we’ve scoured the playlists and scrolled the timelines to find the top tracks this week. Here we go.
The best new music of the week:
Track of the week:
Chloe Slater – ‘24 Hours’: Every now and then, TikTok really delivers. Right as UMG pulled all their tunes from the platform, Chloe Slater is an up-and-coming, independent artist ready to take the limelight with a critical gaze. Tackling ‘clean girls’, hauls, rotting in bed and nepo babies, she’s boiling down the absolute carnage social media trends being sold to us as lifestyle essentials.
“Your 24 hours aren’t worth the same as mine,” she sings in the chorus, pointing a finger at Molly Mae or any other influencers caring to call the average girl lazy. All sung over a catchy indie instrumental with ear-worm verses that will be stuck in your head all day, this second single from Slater is one of the most promising new releases we’ve heard in a while. [5/5]
Instant Classics – The best new tracks of the week
Feet – ‘The Real Thing’: 2014 called and feel-good indie is back. With choruses to sing along to, rhythms to dance to and melodies that transport you back to the genre’s heyday during a glorious teenage summer, Feet provide it all on ‘The Real Thing’. [4/5]
Caroline Polachek + Weyes Blood – ‘Butterfly Net’: Teaming up to rework Polachek’s 2023 album track, this duet is undoubtedly better than the original. Weyes Blood’s velvety vocals bring so much depth and beauty, perfectly pairing with each other to create an ethereal effect. [4/5]
The Black Keys – ‘I Forgot To Be Your Lover’: The American blues rock duo are paying homage to the artists that came before them on this luxurious cover of the William Bell and Booker T. Jones classic. Seductive, smooth and slick as ever, it’s delicious. [4.5/5]
The Lemon Twigs – ‘They Don’t Know How To Fall Into Place’: Released in 2024 but mentally in 1966, The Lemon Twigs deliver their finest Beach Boys impression as they remain as nostalgic as ever. [3.5/5]
Madi Diaz – ‘For Months Now’: “I’ve been leaving you for months now,” Diaz sings in what might be the most devastating heartbreak lyric we’ve heard in a while. Tackling the topic from a different vantage point, it’s savagely sad. [4/5]
On The Rise – Up and comers:
Yard Act + Katy J Pearson – ‘When The Laughter Stops’: While Yard Act’s take on post-punk spoken word style is starting to lose its voice, the addition of Katy J Pearson on this new track is a saving grace. Her vocal is so unique and gripping, she could sing a shopping list, and we’d put it on a playlist. [3.5/5]
Matt Maltese + Searows – ‘Philadelphia’: Tissues at the ready, here come the tears. Matt Maltese’s voice is so utterly timeless and wistful that when paired with the angelic stylings of Searows, it’s a match made in acoustic heaven. [4/5]
Crawlers – ‘Golden Bridge’: Crawlers have come a long way from being the angsty rock teens on TikTok. ‘Golden Bridge’ is a huge marker of musical maturity. Orchestral and swelling, moving but yet confident, it’s a perfect ballad. [4/5]
Faye Webster – ‘Feeling Good Today’: Just like when Bon Iver packed on the vocal effect but still managed to make something beautiful, Faye Webster does the same. So different for the artist, this short little ditty is fun. [3/5]
Phoebe Green – ‘Embarrass Me’: This feels like such a hit that when it came on shuffle, I thought I already knew it. The ‘80s pop, Pet Shop Boys energy makes this anthem for arguing in public one to play loud. [4/5]
Hallworth – ‘I do love her, so’: Hallworth is asking everyone to admit that we’ve all, at some point, been a little obsessive on this heartbreak track about mildly stalking your ex. While we don’t endorse that, we do endorse this well-produced, lyrically interesting new cut. [3.5/5]
Heights – ‘I’ve Been Dreaming Of You’: When you look up ‘cinematic’ in the dictionary, they should put this song under it. A track so dreamy it has you imagining montages in your mind. [4/5]
Lucy McWilliams – ‘Old Ways’: Lana Del Rey meets Phoebe Bridgers meets Sleater Kinney. On ‘Old Ways’, McWilliams descends from bratty, wistful verses into raging choruses that will give you goosebumps. [4/5]
First Round – The best debut single of the week
Total Tommy – ‘Microdose’: A confident introductory statement from Total Tommy. With this first track being mixed by Speedy Wunderground’s Dan Carey, people are clearly picking up on something here, suggesting more greatness is in the pipeline. And from the sounds of this debut, we’re hearing the potential too. [4/5]
Off the beaten track – The best tracks from around the world
Helado Negro – ‘Es Una Fantasia’: The closing remarks from our album of the week, Helado Negro’s Ecuadorian take on ambient pop is built to daydream. [4.5/5]
Simmer Pine – ‘Doon’: Ever since discovering Simmer Pine, we’ve been hooked. Delivering perfect hazy indie reminiscent of early Mac DeMarco, but playing out of Tokoyo, we’re into it. [4/5]
