Music is one of those things that influence our daily life in a multitude of ways. From blasting jams while getting ready in the morning, to helping you focus on your study guide, there is always a perfect song to match our mood. The only problem being that with the continuous use of songs playing through our headphones is that it can be easy to run out of new songs to listen to. I understand the struggle and am here to help you with your latest fall playlist. So without further ado, here are 10 songs I recommend adding to your indy jams, or at least worth checking out for a calm day.
This gem of a song was delivered to me through my discover weekly, the world’s best invention by Spotify. The song Anemone has a very calming yet energetic beat. It’s my go-to song for driving in the California sun or making my to-do list in the morning. The soft voice of the band’s lead artist is perfect for soothing the listener and keeping the song as a nice accompaniment to one’s work versus songs that are super distracting and pull people out of their thoughts. Anemone is a song definitely worth adding to your study jams.
This song is brought to you by the indy folk group Caamp. They are not as well known as similar artists like the Lumineers and Hozier but give off a similar vibe. I also have always been a big fan of traveling and feel lost or discombobulated by the constant movement. If you feel pulled in a million directions with your thoughts and schedule, this song will remind you you’re not alone. I especially love queuing up this song on the way to a road trip or camping weekend. It adds small-town charm to any playlist.
I have always been a huge fan of Young The Giant with their hit songs like Cough Syrup and Silvertongue. Somehow I missed this amazing song on their album called Superposition. It not only resurrected my love for this band but is the perfect addition to someone’s’ everything is going to be ok’ style playlist. I find playing this song before bed puts me at ease that yes things are unclear, but sometimes that’s a good thing. It makes me think of the dreams I have that may not be in reach yet. Superposition just brings out a serene positivity that helps me unwind at the end of the day. As the lyrics say, “not everything can be explained.”
A friend recently introduced me to this beautiful song by a band called The Last Dinosaur. This up and coming group has a lot of serene orchestrated beats that leave me feeling like I’m in an indy movie. The romance and simplicity of their songs are perfect for waking up on an overcast day and having a sweet cup of tea. I like to listen to them when I’m feeling more in a nostalgic mood or super thankful for the people in my life. This song is the perfect underlying happy song that makes me smile. So definitely consider playing it through your headphones the next chilly morning you’re looking to be calmed.
This band reminds me a lot of my time living on the east coast. There is absolutely no explanation as to why, but this song will be a fantastic addition to any indie playlist. Its relatable lyrics of feeling like you have to change or overlook things for others in your life really hit close to home with me. It’s hard in school sometimes to deal with roommates, friendships, and relationships on top of trying to maintain a good GPA. This song to me, even though I don’t think it’s the premise of the song, reminds me that we’re all going through it. Nobody is truly breezing through life, so be kind, just as this song is kind to your ears.
This song hits right in the heart of dating in college. Love Juice is reminiscent of the casualty of hookup culture and complicated relationships people deal with in their early twenties. Dating is hard in a culture where there are no rules and regulations. There’s little clarity in what others, or a lot of the time even what we ourselves want. This beat encapsulates the warnings to protect our hearts in situations that are unclear. Yet, sometimes it’s not always that easy. This song will ease you into your feels without making you relive your past relationships, which is the perfect addition to your fall indy jams.
This song by up and comer Jack Symes is a very laid back classic indy song. I imagine living life cross country in a VW van with my non-existent high school sweetheart when this song pops on my playlist. It also brings me very laid back beach vibes, which I typically wouldn’t be drawn to in the fall, but this song weirdly fits. It has a very raw aesthetic to the recording style and has a great acoustic feeling melody. Sugar Mama is a complementary song to any classic indy playlist, I can only hope they create a vinyl version of it someday.
This song by Lord Huron is the type of melody you kind of like but are unsure about. Then the next thing you know, you can’t stop listening to it on repeat. It has a mysterious almost jazzy rhythm unlike anything else I’ve heard recently. I imagine it being sung in the 1920s at a western-style saloon, although It doesn’t totally fit the song, that’s what always comes to my mind. I highly recommend adding this beat to your late-night tunes, or morning drives. It gives you those mysterious secret vibes that are always fun to buy into.
This musical wonder by Rainbow Kitten Surprise always gets me through my angsty moods. It’s for the days you feel like you are simply going through the motions of your schedule. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list, or something happened with a friend. Or maybe everything is going perfect in your life and you’re just a bit exhausted by it all. This song is the ideal accompaniment when I fall into those funky moods. Yet it always makes me feel a lot better, which is a bit contradictory, but if it works it works. So next time you’re having an off day, this is the song to put on.
This acoustic beauty of a song by Matt Maeson is another song I have to listen to on repeat. It has a very raw and transparent feel with the beat and the lead singer’s talented and raspy voice. This song also has a ton of awesome remixes if you prefer to explore into a more EDM beat, but I must admit the original version of this song will always be my favorite. I can’t say I totally relate to this song, but it has an overall feeling of getting over something, which we all face in life. Whether it’s classes, jobs, dreams, this song will help you get through the times you feel vulnerable. It’s a necessity for any indy playlist.
Those are all of my favorite indy jams being added to my playlist this fall. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I also hope this list acts as a friendly reminder of what amazing tunes are out there for you just waiting to be discovered. So don’t get too complacent with your playlist, and have a fantastic time discovering new songs this semester.
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