The Big Indie Playlist: The best new music of the week
Week upon week, the music industry never sleeps. Each seven-day period delivers a crop of new tunes so abundant that it would be impossible to keep up. But in each batch, there is real greatness from both big names and brand-new artists. The Big Indie Playlist makes sure nothing remarkable is missed.
This week is a perfect example of the strength and health of the scene. In the world of up-and-coming artists especially, there were so many great releases this week across indie, rock, folk, and beyond. Sofia and the Antoinettes emerged with their second-ever song that’s so strong it screams of stardom. Frankie Archer delivered creepy, cinematic folk with a northeast pang. Names like Tom Rasmussen, Chloe Slater, and SoftTop all offered up top tunes from their respective genres, among many others.
In the world of big names, too, this week was a good one. The Smile released their long-awaited new album, as did Orla Gartland. Lizzy McAlpine and Faye Webster kept the fans of Sad Girl Indie fed, while Maya Hawke is already back with more new music only a few months after her latest album.
If it’s albums you’re after, head to to our weekly Alternative Album Chart for the best of the long plays. But right here, we’re delivering a quick fix of the best new hits as we gather up the singles you need to hear this week.
The best new music of the week:
Track of the week
Sofia and the Antoinettes – ‘Matthew’: “I’ve been avoiding writing about you, but how are you, Matthew?” One line and a new star was born in the form of Sofia and the Antoinettes, a new band with little information out there about who they are, where they came from or whatever. But none of it matters. What matters is how incredibly infectious their energy is as their singer’s voice merges a jazz edge with a rock grittiness, as if Janis Joplin was singing at Ronnie Scotts.
Lyrically, too, ‘Matthew’ is fun and witty but packed with feeling as they dive into a doomed and obsessive romance, looking back on it from beyond the rubble. The story leaks into the vocal performance, where relatively sparse instrumentation seems to be all that’s needed, requiring no added bells and whistles to make the track great. Undeniably, it spells big things for the band and our ears are pricked for more. [4.5/5]
Instant Classics – The biggest releases of the week
The Smile – ‘Instant Psalm’: This is easily one of the best songs The Smile have ever made. It is so rich with emotion, evoking a nostalgic and contemplative atmosphere that is emphasised by gorgeous strings and flutes that flutter in the background. [5/5]
Orla Gartland – ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’: As the title track for her new album, ‘Everybody Needs A Hero’ clearly stands out. Capturing the dance of a relationship where ego, desire and comfort as all in a difficult play, the song goes from gentle acoustic poetry to grunge power to articulate it perfectly. [5/5]
Faye Webster – ‘After The First Kiss’: A gorgeous new track from Faye Webster landed this week to the willing ears of fans who cannot get enough of her uniquely beautiful vocals, with us counted amongst them. [4/5]
The Horrors – ‘The Silence That Remains’: Grab your skinny jeans, folks; peak 2010s alternative indie is back as The Horrors deliver their first new music in a long time. But with quality this high, it’s clear they’ve still got it. [4/5]
Lizzy McAlpine – ‘Spring Into Summer’: Following the emotional knockout of a track in the form of ‘Pushing It Down And Praying’, McAlpine has released the full deluxe version of her album Older. All the additional tracks are beautiful, but this country-turned piece is a standout. [4/5]
Maya Hawke – ‘Kamikaze Comic’: Only a few months after her recent album, Hawke has delivered a new EP, including this unique song packed with vocal effects as she sounds utterly unrecognisable yet somehow great. [3.5/5]
On The Rise – New releases to note this week
Tom Rasmussen and Self Esteem – ‘Rescue Me’: While her own music has taken a more upbeat turn, it’s so nice to hear Rebecca Lucy Taylor’s voice back in balladic form here. Paired with Rasmussen’s own gorgeous and emotive voice, it’s a match made in heaven. [3.5/5]
Sydney Ross Mitchell – ‘Wherever We’re Going’: It can often feel like the industry is overrun by angelic voices singers with poetic lyricism, but Mitchell is one to pay attention. There’s such a strong cinematic edge to all her work, and her songs are polished to perfection. This is no different. [3.5/5]
Balancing Act – ‘AWOL’: Ever wish there could just be a modern parody of The Rolling Stones you could get behind? Look no further! Head to any of Balancing Act’s shows, and you’ll see that the lead singer has his impression down to a tee. They aren’t reinventing the indie wheel in any way, shape, or form, but their new EP is packed with foolproof tunes with the same kind of charisma that Jagger wishes he still had. [2.5/5]
Ellur – ‘Your Dog’: When it comes to new acts with razor-sharp lyricism, Ellur leads the pack. Her songs are so vividly observational and so packed with emotion so palpable they almost sting. ‘Your Dog’ sets a new gold standard for her as she just keeps getting better and better. [4.5/5]
Geordie Greep – ‘Blues’: Ex-Black Midi member continues his reign of musical carnage as he releases his first solo album. As with his debut track ‘Holy, Holy’, you’ll ever love this or absolutely hate it. But Greep seems happy with being a divisive figure. [3/5]
Medium Build – ‘Triple Marathon’: Tackling the overwhelming need for approval and love in the age of modern messy dating with its myriad of situationships and confusing ‘casual’ energy, Medium Build distils it into a richly emotive rock ballad. [2.5/5]
Chloe Slater – ‘Tiny Screens’: No one is writing about the modern world like Chloe Slater is as she dives deeper and deeper on each new track into the hectic world of the internet. ‘Tiny Screens’ is seductive and sleazey as she deals in the world of social media. [3.5/5]
SoftTop – ‘Broken Glass’: The power of a good ballad cannot be understated, and SoftTop does it beautifully. Singer and songwriter Miles Goodall puts his talent on full display in this stunning track. [3.5/5]
The Pill – ‘Scaffolding Man’: Missing Wet Leg? The Pill have emerged to take their place with a gobby, short and sharp indie fun that could be plucked straight from the Isle Of Wight duo’s album. [2/5]
First spin – Debut track of the week
Adrian Lyles – ‘Formalize Me’: A song with a great instrumental band and a faultless production finish, ‘Formalize Me’ could exist on an album far into someone’s career. So, for a debut, it’s a triumph. But it lacks a uniqueness or a punch. It doesn’t speak much to the type of artist Lyles will be in a sea of acts that sound just like this, but I guess he has plenty of time to figure that out. [2/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left field sounds
Frankie Archer – ‘Fair Mabel Of Wallington Hall’: Pure folk sung in a stunning, rich and painfully rarely heard Northumbrian accent. This is so stunning as Archer’s northeast accent pangs through, packing the track with regional charm and history as she takes on the traditional folk ballad and turns it into something chilling and cinematic. [5/5]
Johnny Coley – ‘They’re Dreaming Me’: A reclusive poet from Alabama makes his debut with ‘They’re Dreaming Me’, a strange and cinematic spoken word journey akin to Jim Morrison’s poetry album but with a lounge jazz backing. [4/5]
