The Big Indie Playlist: The best new releases of the week
Another week in music has come and gone. While the Grammys celebrates the best of the biggest names around, artists on all levels, across all genres, have been busy putting out future hits or launching careers that could see them up on that stage one day. Helping you get ahead of the curve so you can say you were a fan first, The Big Indie Playlist puts all the best new tracks in one place.
This week, the up-and-comers truly dominated. Erin LeCount returned with her first song in a while, and what a song it is. Fully written and produced by the singer herself, it’s one that deserves to be heard far and wide. Elsewhere, risers like Chloe Slater and Terra Twin put out new EPs that demand attention, while The Howl and The Hum did what he does best: write songs to make you cry.
Over in the world of bigger names, Elton John continues to defy his own retirement while The Black Keys made a comeback. Courtney Barnett honoured a music hero as she covered a Neil Young classic, and Waxahatchee invites you to get your cowboy hat out.
If it’s a new favourite album you’re after, with greatness released this week from Heartworms, Avalanche Party, Squid and more, head to our Alternative Album Chart. But here, it’s all about the singles as the best new tracks across indie, folk, rock, alt-pop and beyond are gathered in one place where all you have to do is hit play.
Track of the week
Erin LeCount – ‘Silver Spoon’: Performed by Erin LeCount. Written by Erin LeCount. Produced by Erin LeCount. From the shed in her garden, London’s most ethereal artist relaunched her career with an opus of her talent across all corners, from lyricism to pure skill for song crafting. First capturing attention as a draft of a chorus on TikTok, LeCount’s Soundcloud demo of this song was enough to bring in a whole new hoard of fans, awed by it.
Now finally released on Spotify, ‘Silver Spoon’ is an opus on class, love and feeling like an outsider from both. Witnessing how the other half live in loving and caring families from the other side of the table, LeCount’s lyricism is razor-sharp poetry as she distils these huge, complex emotions into a neat and punching package. In short, it’s a triumph that marks LeCount’s return as one to pay real attention to. [4.5/5]
Instant Classics – the biggest releases of the week
Courtney Barnett – ‘Lotta Love’: Aussie favourite takes on a favourite Neil Young track, so, naturally, it’s great. Maintaining the simple joy of the original it’s a refreshed reminder of the sweet ditty. [4/5]
Elton John and Brandi Carlile – ‘Who Believes In Angels?’: Elton John loves to keep putting off that retirement, doesn’t he? Like everything he’s put out recently, its good in the way any track with his presence on is going to be. But is it great? No. [3/5]
The Black Keys – ‘The Night Before’: 2024 was a chaotic year for The Black Keys, but as they return with this rousing new track and the news of a new album, it’s clear they’re keen to move forward, offering this up as an invite to come with them. [3.5/5]
Waxahatchee – ‘Mud’: Get your cowboy hat out cause Waxahatchee has gone full country here, complete with banjos and a thick accent. Something about the song feels sunshiney, which is exactly what we need right now. [3.5/5]
On The Rise – New releases to note this week
The Howl and The Hum – ‘Powerful Things’: Following Katie Gregson-MacLeod’s gorgeous track for the Strangers On A Bench podcast, it’s The Howl and The Hum offering his own up next. ‘Powerful Things’ is as simple and beautiful as the kind of miracles the song yearns for. [4/5]
Biig Piig – ‘9-5’: Sounding like Sabrina Carpenter has slipped on a pair of Salomon’s and gone on a night out in Dalston, this song from her debut album turns bubblegum pop into an adult sherbet dib dab. [3/5]
Inhaler – ‘Billy (Yeah Yeah Yeah): We can rant about nepotism till we’re blue in the fact, but Bono’s kid puts out bangers, and that can’t be denied. In the build-up to their forthcoming third album, Inhaler are putting out hit after hit on this powerful run of singles. [3.5/5]
Chloe Slater – ‘Sucker’: Does anyone know when Chloe Slater sleeps cause she’s been tirelessly putting out tracks since her breakthrough last year. ‘Sucker’ is a high-octane one, but the entirety of her new EP, Love Me Please, demands your attention. [3.5/5]
Divorce – ‘Hangman’: In the list of records being hotly anticipated in 2025, Divorce’s debut has to be on there. ‘Hangman’ is another great teaser to get excited about. [4/5]
Freak Slug – ‘Liquorice’: Following her album release in November last year, Freak Slug is already back and levelling up with this new track that feels as if slacker rock was given a dose of Riot Grrrl juice. [3.5/5]
Polly Money – ‘Milk & Honey’: There’s a reason why Polly Money is picked to tour with one of the biggest indie bands around, and the musicality of ‘Milk & Honey’ explains it. As gorgeously sung verses give way to an instant earworm of a chorus, it’s plain and simple indie greatness. [4/5]
Terra Twin – ‘No Ghost!’: Terra Twin are another key one to watch, putting out an EP that deserves ears this week. But it’s the project’s closing track, ‘No Ghost!’ that stands out as something different from the group as proof of their depth and breadth of talent. [4/5]
The Roebucks – ‘Great British Pig’: A country Americana song about British nationalism, The Roebucks establish themselves as another glistening diamond forged in Brighton’s music scene with this new track that merges sonic traditions. [4/5]
Melin Melyn – ‘Dail’: Released to celebrate Welsh language music day, Melin Melyn are sharing their signature whimsy in their own mother tongue. As the final teaser ahead of their debut album coming in March, it’s another track to prove why their release date is one to mark in musical calendars. [4/5]
Independent Spirit – The best unsigned track of the week
Canned Pineapple – ‘Elvis’: We’ve said it before, and here we are saying it again, but there surely must be something in the seawater in Brighton. Each week more and more greatness seems to come from the city, with Canned Pineapple’s new track ‘Elvis’ being the newest proof of it. [4/5]
Off The Beaten Track – Left-field sounds, curated and written by Ben Forrest
Derya Yıldırım & Grup Şimşek – ‘Direne Direne’: Translated as ‘We Will Resist’, the Berlin-based group treat audiences to a new cut from their upcoming record, Yarın Yoksa. Awash with their usual sound, colliding Anatolian folk with psychedelia and soul, this particular song also holds a particularly inspiring message of unity at its core. [4.5/5]
Embryo – ‘Farid – die Ursuppe’: Although this is a previously unreleased track by the German ethno-jazz masters that was originally recorded in 1979, it still remains incredibly fresh and compelling. A masterclass in live jazz improvisation, the work draws a great deal from the musical influences of Asia and the Middle East, where it was initially recorded. [4/5]
Surprise Chef – ‘Bully Ball’: Taken from their upcoming record Superb, Melbourne’s premier advocates of cinematic DIY soul are at their best on ‘Bully Ball’. Soaked in the lush influences of old-school instrumental soul, with the added style and substance of the band’s hip-hop and experimental influences, the track gives huge promise for the rest of the album. [3.5/5]
