10 Indie Music Artists on Our Radar
By Angie Nova
Quiet Company
With an indie rock sound, Quiet Company was formed out of Austin, Texas and has only 16k monthly listeners on Spotify. The group has five full-length albums and multiple EP’s - having started releasing music since 2000.
A song that has been on replay since I first heard of their music is, “Me, You, and the Boatman (Truth is, I’ve Been Thirsty My Whole Life)”. Even newer listeners will feel the nostalgic sound this song emits as the lead vocalist shouts, ‘Let’s live to love and love to live!” A simple message we all wish we could remember but sometimes struggle to.
Their latest EP, “Are You a Window?” released earlier this year in 2020 and is available to listen.
Atta Boy
Based out of Los Angeles, California, Atta Boy has brought 154k monthly Spotify listeners. Atta Boy made it on our radar with their first album from 2012 titled, “Out of Sorts” when they showcased their deep, yet whimsical sound mixed with pop and country influences all at the same time.
After taking an 8 year hiatus, Atta Boy finally released their newest album, “Big Heart Manners”, which takes on a more focused and refined sound.
Wavves
This San Diego, California-based indie rock band is not only on our radar for their indie sound, but for their bedroom recording session sound that works for easy listening. Wavves brings a total of 293k monthly Spotify listeners, with lyrics that radiate surfer rock and pop-punk energy. Songs like “Post Acid” from the King of the Beach don’t leave much to decipher: “Would you understand? That I'm just havin fun.” Truly, I feel the simplicity of the band adds to the beauty of it all.
Stars
Formed in Toronto, Ontario, this Canadian-based indie rock band released their first full-length album “Nightsong” in 2001 and has since released 8 more albums and several EP’s. Stars brings 309k monthly listeners on Spotify with their somewhat eloquent and melancholy sound. You may find yourself familiar with their music as they’ve appeared on several shows such as The Vampire Diaries, Queer as Folk, Alias, Skins, to name a few.
Their most recent album, “There is No Love in Fluorescent Light” was released in 2017, but it still hits just as fresh as today’s music.
Harbour
An indie-pop group based out of Cincinnati, Ohio, Harbour has conjured up 342k monthly listeners on Spotify since releasing their self-titled album in April 2014.
Their most recent album, “Thoughts on Letting Go,” released on September 2019, doesn’t stray too far from their usual sound either. What sets Harbour apart from other indie pop groups is the delivery of dynamic guitar riffs and uplifting melodies to make you relive real or imagined mischievous youth.
Broken Social Scene
A Canadian indie rock band based out of Toronto, Ontario, Broken Social Scene was formed in 1999 with only 667k monthly listeners on Spotify. Broken Social Scene has had as few as six and as large as 19 members in the group. What I found most intriguing about the band is their use of multiple instruments to audibly illustrate raw emotion. This is most noted to be the case in “It’s All Gonna Break” a 10 minute song from their self-titled album 2005. How awe-struck it must have felt to see a live performance with that many collective musicians and instruments. Just based out of listening to it digitally, I imagine the kind of feeling that forces you to recognize the beauty in all that is happening around you and live in the moment.
Raury
Next on the list is Atlanta, Georgia-based musical artist, Raury. On Spotify, they bring 456k monthly listeners an eclectic mixture of indie folk, soul, rock and rap. However, what put Raury on our radar is how the genre-mashing and lyrics seem to highlight what sounds like a wide-eyed view of the recently awakened. “God’s Whisper” which shows up in the Indigo Child album and continues to stay with me since the very listen.
Those hoping to find a diverse range in their music may be interested in his latest album, Fervent, that was released in October 2020. .
Animal Collective
With over 677k monthly listeners on Spotify, Animal Collective made it on our radar with their more experimental, indie, and psychedelic sound. Along with the ten full-length albums (dating as early as 1999 when they were under a different group name), Animal Collective also has ten extended plays as well as two visual albums. Their colorful, avant-pop discography is enough to hold your attention before you realize you’ve been vibing for two hours. By then, you’ll have made up your own mind on how you feel about Animal Collective.
The Wombats
This indie rock band is originally from Liverpool, United Kingdom and brings a total of 3.4 million monthly Spotify listeners. Formed in 2003, The Wombats’ music sounds like a joyful explosion designed to make you shake off the bad vibes. You’ll fall in love with how “Let’s Dance to Joy Division” from their debut album, A Guide To Love, Loss and Desperation perfectly captures the blissful ignorance of life’s misadventures.
The band’s most recent album, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life released back in 2018 and can be available to listen on Spotify.
Grouplove
Originally from Los Angeles, California, this musical group has brought over six million monthly Spotify listeners. Grouplove is a staple to the indie scene whether one can agree or disagree. There is no denying the way they’ve captured the hearts of millions of hippie teens back in 2010 with their iconic, free-spirited performances. A fitting name for a chaotic year, Grouplove’s new album, Healer, brings a subtle use of synth, along with a nostalgic and more determined sound. Grouplove certainly shows no signs of leaving our radar.
