We hope you will enjoy this selection of songs! Don't hesitate to tell us what you think about them on the Discord server. Have a wonderful day, folks!

_________________

Honey&Eve - Is It Ok

Now let's go to Berlin, to discover an incredible track that the band itself calls "Cinematic Dark Pop".

Honey & Eve, (Hannah and Alex), met not so long ago, in March 2020, when Germany found itself, like many countries, completely frozen for a few weeks. They wanted to offer a boost of energy to this world that was falling asleep. This is how the Honey & Eve adventure began.

And this meeting is a real sign of the universe because it seems that they were made to work together.

"Is It Ok" is not a new song, as they already released it this summer, along with a wonderful and professional music video that you can watch below:

The song is about those toxic relationships that can easily destroy you. And I speak knowingly. But they wanted to give it even more power, and their dream would be to get sync opportunities, why not in a film. This is why the band wanted to rework the track to give it a more cinematic side, and it's a success. Result of the collaboration with a talented cellist, the cinematic version benefits from more orchestral instrumentation, which gives it all its letters of nobility.

It is not, as some might think, a sleight of hand, but a real burst of creativity. The same song can have a different impact if you are offered different versions. Remember Ed Sheeran's "Perfect", which has had four versions (the studio version, the duet with Beyoncé, the symphonic duo with Andrea Bocelli, and finally the acoustic version). Four versions, but four different musical universes. And in my humble opinion, Honey & Eve made the right choice, because it allows reaching a wider audience.

Still working on their debut album, they made this daring bet to release a cinematic version, and they did well. We wish them a long road, full of musical adventures, that we will be happy to witness.

_________________

Meadowlark - Disposable

It is often said that there are signs of the universe that cannot be ignored. The fact that Kate McGill and Dan Broadly met is one of them.

Under the name Meadowlark, the British duo is still in our minds, as they had already made an appearance on IMC three years ago. Their latest single, "Disposable" was released last Friday, and it's an absolute gem.

If you are going through a breakup right now, or are about to go through one, this song will help you put things into perspective, and understand that after all, life is just a chain of relationships. When a relationship ends, others begin.

Of course, the transition from one chapter to another in our life is never easy, but with the right songs, it is always easier to fight.

Meadowlark goes through the years with ease, and their music just keeps getting better. A special nod to their incredible cover of the Sugababes' hit "About You Now", which you can find on their Spotify.

From words, lived history, feelings, the duo literally creates musical lace.

_________________

Autumn Nicholas - Dealing

Autumn Nicholas has an exceptional voice. The kind of voice we love. Very addictive on its own.

And her new single "Dealing" is worse than a hard drug. When we started listening to it, we couldn't stop. You've probably been through times when you wonder about anything and everything, and you have a hard time putting up with yourself.

This song refers to this feeling of loss of control, as the artist explains: "It's about figuring out how to deal with yourself and not to constantly looking to social media and other places to figure out who you are and who you are not. And then deciding who you want to be."

It's true. Always remember that social media isn't real. This is neither real life nor reality. And this obsession with numbers tends to disgust us, too, sometimes...

With a very polished production, totally convincing writing, and this breathtaking voice, Autumn Nicholas wowed us in less time than it takes to say it. Sometimes reminding me of rather distant memories, at a time when we saw the birth of a certain Kelly Clarkson, this singer has enormous potential.

And you might hear from her in the next few years if she maintains that extremely high quality. A must-have for your playlists.

_________________

Jonny Morgan - Yesterday's Clothes

We have always thought that electric guitar and acoustic guitar go together very well in an indie-folk universe. Jonny Morgan proves it to us in "Yesterday's Clothes".

His warm voice delivers fabulous words to us, in small waves. With the same softness as waves on a sandy beach.

With a palpable tension, the song grows little by little until offering us a fantastic last minute, where the cohabitation of the many production elements is done wonderfully. The piano adds yet a final touch of sensitivity, while the bass provides the muscular side.

The artist confided that it "was written in iPhone notes, on a lonely late night walk home after missing the last bus." Another proof that, sometimes, small disappointments in daily life can lead to a great moment of creation.

The north London-based artist debuted in 2019 ... at Glastonbury! And this is only the beginning of a great and beautiful adventure. Because if all his next releases are on the same level as this song, you are going to have to watch him closely. And then you can be proud to say, "I was there in the beginning," when that pretty flower is going to bloom.

_________________

The Frontier - On the other side

The Frontier is a one-man band from Virginia, whose music has appeared in Netflix series or on MTV. So you can trust us: it's great quality.

His new single "On the other side" is the perfect meeting of the three genres that we usually feature on IMC: indie-pop, indie-rock and indie-folk.

Yes, the artist has achieved this incredible magic trick: bringing together several musical universes to create his own unique universe. And it works wonderfully.

We were immediately hooked by the power of this breakup song, its catchy melody, and impressive vocals. The artist masters his art down to the smallest detail. The precision of the vocals is quite disconcerting, it is to the millimeter!

Exactly the kind of songs that would suit many of your playlists. The only problem you will have is choosing which one.

_________________

This column has been made with love by Niko. You can find more songs like these on our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.

_________________

Ryan Nealon - Grow Up

This summer, he made us cry with the release of the music video for "Not Coming Home". This fall (or spring, it depends on where you are) he's going to make us dance. With his new single "Grow Up", Ryan Nealon rekindles the flame, an upbeat indie-pop track with wonderful backing vocals and overflowing energy.

Wanting to draw a final line on the beliefs that have been instilled in him for too long: "I made this song for the kids, teens, and even adults that feel and felt alone because of growing pains, and I really hope this validates them."

Totally! From the first to the last second, everything is good in this new gem, and you are going to sing along much faster than you might think. The production is once again of a very, very high level of quality and Ryan won us over in just a few seconds. To add urgently to your playlists.

_________________

The Firefolk - Alisha

If you liked The Lumineers' "Hey Ho" in 2012, you're probably going to fall for the new single from The Firefolk, a duo based out of Southeast Michigan.

A pure, powerful indie-folk sound that hooks you in just a few seconds, here is "Alisha", their 3rd single released on October 15th.

About the song, the band said: "It's a loose narrative of a man going to sea and leaving a lover behind. As a storm sets in, the lover is afraid that the man met his fate in the storm, but the sailor never intended to return as he loves the sea and the risk."

Our dreams and ambitions sometimes lead us to make sacrifices. And our loved ones who can suffer from it. It takes courage and also a lot of discernment. A song that will therefore speak to all those who are sometimes faced with an almost impossible dilemma.

In a very short format (barely 2:30), The Firefolk (which bears their name very well), take us into a very colorful universe, where the music takes power and where we find ourselves shaking our heads without realizing it. A little gem to add to your folk playlists now.

_________________

Sarpa Salpa - Your House

Now let's go to Northampton (UK) to discover Sarpa Salpa's new single. It's been a while since we last saw them on IMC and it's a real pleasure to have them again!

Today is their fourth feature on our platform if that helps you understand that it is really a quality band. You could even say of exceptional quality. Of course, we follow a lot of solo artists on a regular basis, each time producing a better song than the last. But Sarpa Salpa is the only band to succeed in this exercise: surprise us with each release.

And the surprise here comes from the striking contrast between the catchy rhythm of "Your House" and its yet melancholic lyrics. Have you ever found yourself at your partner's house when you know the relationship is already over? This place that seemed so familiar and welcoming to you suddenly becomes hostile and cold. This is what the song is about, but the incredible light shed in the dazzling chorus makes us almost forget the sadness of the writing theme.

Sarpa Salpa is a rising band, in every sense of the word. Their quality continues to improve. And after being spotted and played by BBC 6 Music, or BBC Radio 1, the doors keep opening in front of them at breakneck speed. They will perform in March 2022 at SXSW 2022, and we wish them a long career filled with hits, like the unforgettable "Forwards Backwards" or "Another Life", that continue to run in our memory.

Timeless, Sarpa Salpa crosses time without losing a drop of authenticity.

_________________

Oliver Hazard - Use Me Up

How about we go now to the land of The Satellite Station? Yes, you got it, we're going to Ohio to meet Oliver Hazard, a 3-piece band made of Mike, Dev and Griff. The band of buddies already has a great career behind them and has already accumulated a few million streams on Spotify. Their latest single "Use Me Up" was released on October 14th.

Are you an extrovert? If so, you've probably noticed the pros and cons by now, and this song will probably speak to you. If you sometimes feel like you're giving too much of yourself (a bit like me), you are going to find solace in this little gem.

About the song, Mike said: "I am a pretty extroverted person. Someone once asked me if it would ever catch up with me. Would I ever become drained, unable to take time to fill my own cup, giving away a bit too much of myself. At the time, it had never crossed my mind that there was a limit on extroversion. That question always stuck with me."

Musically, the track has no flaws. On the contrary, it has everything one would expect from a bright and luminous indie folk song, with a chorus that will make you sing along and a melody that hooks you in just a few seconds.

The electric guitar really brings a new dimension to the song in the last minute, like a time to think. To add to your playlists urgently.

_________________

Dylan Cox - The Comet

Here is an artist who has an indie-folk universe exactly as we like them. Dylan Cox, an artist from Los Angeles and now living in Paris, offers us in his new single "The comet" an invitation to reflection.

It's sometimes hard to find your right place in this world, and the parallel with the comet is brilliant: it is, after all, a simple tiny pebble, lost in the immensity of the universe, that we can have the chance to observe quickly, and you never know if you will be able to see it again one day.

Dylan intelligently draws a parallel between the comet and human relationships. Is it lightning-fast? Can it last?

His Ep is out on December 1st, and this song is a great taste of what to expect. Sometimes very restrained, sometimes very powerful, this little gem is like the ocean, and delivers you emotions in successive waves.

You will appreciate the beauty of the melody, the intelligent selection of the instruments used, and the exceptional production quality. The gradual rise in power is absolutely divine, and when the song is over, only one urge comes to you: to listen again. Again and again.

A little nod to the music video to watch below, you will also love the visual performance.

_________________

This column has been made with love by Niko. All songs added to our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.

We've been following The National Parks closely for some time now, because we love their work.

And we couldn't wait to hear their new album "A Mix for the End of the World, Pt.1" released last Friday.

With a lot of poetry and absolutely breathtaking writing, Brady, Sydney, Cam and Megan once again show us the full extent of their talent through this little book which has only a few chapters.

But probably their best tracks to date, like the singles "UFO", "Headlights", or "Summer Bird". This short album is enriched with nuggets thanks to the unreleased tracks, "Dizzy", "live til we die", "Airplane" and "Continuum".

The Utah quartet is undoubtedly one of the best groups of its generation. They can appeal to your parents, your friends, and why not your boss.

Do not hesitate to play this album very loudly to share it with everyone around you.

The melodies are fabulous, take us on unsuspected journeys and draw wonderful landscapes in our head. A good breath of fresh air.

_________________

Alabama Weather - Love To Hate Me

Now let's go to Tuscaloosa, to find Alabama Weather, who seduced us in February with the excellent track "Depend On You", which is still in our heads.

The duo released on October 1st a new bright single, with very modern and daring production, "Love to Hate Me". If you know someone who hates everything, and for no reason (I know some!), Make them listen to this song.

The melody is super catchy and we apologize in advance if this song is gonna be stuck in your mind for hours... even days! With superb vocal harmonies and flawless writing, we can say that Miika and Mary are still improving, as with each release.

We had told you about this romantic duo as being promising, and we still think so. Of a very friendly nature, they are very accessible and it is always a pleasure to talk about music with them.

The band themselves admit they aren't sure what to expect in the future, about their music, as they're like the weather in Alabama (hence their stage name). They let themselves be carried away by their desires, their mood and they are right not to set barriers.

Because it seems that everything they touch becomes turns gold. Musically, in any case, we are won over every time!

_________________

Bailey Tomkinson - When The Lights Went Out

Our Tuesday musical journey ends in Cornwall, at the western tip of the UK. This is where you will have the best chance to meet Bailey Tomkinson, for whom we fell in love instantly.

“When The Lights Went Out” packs everything you could love into one pop gem and has all the potential to get huge.

Perfectly calibrated for radios, this new single could open all doors for her. The Daily Mail kindly referred to her as the "Britains Answer to Taylor Swift".

Her next EP is set for release in early 2022, and if all the tracks are like this, we can't wait!

The chorus is incredibly addictive and will make you shake your head even if the writing theme is unmistakably dark: "But you were never mine and I never got over that, now my lights go out when I think of you". Yes, it is amazingly well written and well thought out.

The vocals are absolutely divine on this track, and have given us goosebumps many times.

We also fell in love with "Movie Scene" and "Silent Suffering", which you will find on her Spotify, which contains more than one treasure to be discovered.

Bailey has enormous talent and above all great potential. We think you would do well to remember her name because you might hear about her again ... in much bigger media than IMC.

_________________

Written by Niko. All songs added to our "Fresh Indie" playlist on Spotify.

_________________

To stay aware of new releases, join our lovely community:

It's been almost a year since we introduced you to the Icelandic band Pale Moon. It was November 20, 2020, and we were all amazed by Árni and Nata. Sometimes a little lunar and offbeat, but always with a little touch of humor that never hurts, Pale Moon has delighted us for a year with their live streams on Instagram and their authenticity. I said lunar and offbeat. I would even say a little crazy, but I won't say more: just go read their bio on Spotify and you will understand.

Árni was part of the band "Of Monsters and Men" for 2 years. While Nata, on her side, preferred to indulge in poetry. The meeting of the two universes is absolutely fabulous.

When we discovered their new single "Strange Days", we immediately thought "what a banger!".

During the first verse, I had a flash of nostalgia. As if I had found myself propelled in 1996. I felt like I was listening to No Doubt. Yes, the vocal resemblance to Gwen Stefani, is quite amazing and becomes even more striking during the pre-chorus and the chorus.

But with an irresistibly catchy chorus that makes you want to shake your head, Pale Moon stands out with a very qualitative musical universe, with little nods to a bygone era, and a musical identity of their own.

The bridge, which is usually a delicate part, is brilliantly made here. With much self-mockery, the group sings with undisguised joy that "we all gonna die". I love this crazy side of a band that doesn't take itself seriously.

To conclude, I would tell you that "Strange Days" is an excellent track, perfectly anchored in its time, which will delight fans of catchy melodies and lightness. A perfect mix between No Doubt and The Kooks. With one detail that changes everything: accessibility. Don't hesitate to get in touch with them, you won't regret it!

_________________

Yon Idy - My Fire

Yon Idy comes from Skopje (FYRM), and his voice immediately wowed us. If you like big vocals like George Ezra or Southey (which we introduced you to this summer), you'll love Yon Idy's new single, released on September 10th.

As the artist said, the song "explores the doubt we all have inside as we pursue our passions".

The vocal performance is impressive because Yon Idy is able to dose the emotions through his voice very precisely. I would even say in a millimeter way. Combining a resolutely folk musical universe, tinged with discreet vocal harmonies, and a pinch of poetry, the artist envelops us as in cotton. We like to close our eyes and appreciate every second of this little gem.

The writing is absolutely fabulous and worthy of the greatest artists. And it's not surprising when you know that he grew up listening to The Beatles or Leonard Cohen. The chorus is super catchy and we're sure you'll have the song on your mind all day.

Helped by Faton Islami and Besnik Zejnullai, the artist has also released a magnificent music video to accompany this masterpiece:

_________________

Peco - The Hard & the Wild

Peco comes from Kildare, in Ireland, and is a complete artist: his discography on Spotify is already well supplied, and offers a nice palette of surprises like the astonishing "Wait", completely different from his new single "The Hard & the Wild "released last Friday.

This is what makes the strength of an artist: to explore different musical universes and to take pleasure in everything. But I admit that his new single, deep in indie-folk, is amazing.

Throughout the song, the unexpected and surprising melody changes give it originality. Often times a song is constructed in a way that lets you imagine which note or chords will come next. Peco succeeds here in the exercise of destabilizing us by pleasantly surprising us.

The construction of the song is exactly as we like: the intensity and the emotions rise gradually until reaching a very moving end, carried by touching lyrics and a powerful melody. Even if the outcome is not the happiest (I won't tell you more, and let you discover the talents of our storyteller), the song leaves us with an impression of well-being. Almost as if we were reassured by telling ourselves that our sad and dreary life is not the worst.

Special mention for the electric guitar, which, combined with Peco's exceptional voice, gave me the goosebumps I was looking for. You will love this song, for sure.

_________________

Written by Niko. All songs added to our "Fresh Indie" playlist on Spotify.

_________________

To stay aware of new releases, follow Indie Music Center :

It was in May last year that we discovered Matthew Pinder, thanks to his breathtaking single "White Sunlight". 

The Bahamian singer is back on IMC to make you vibrate with his new single "Cascade", his first single released after the pandemic and after a break.

Pinder accustomed us to a musical universe worked out in the smallest detail and productions pushed to perfection. So it's no surprise if we tell you that his new single gave us chills. Because the artist perfectly masters the dosage of emotions.

We feel that there is a huge work behind the scenes, and this artist sees his community of fans growing day by day, and it is deserved.

And he can be proud of the work he has done, and as he says, "it's one of my favorite songs that I've written yet". Yes, you can be proud, Matthew, this is a masterpiece that we'll never get tired of.

The final part of the song is incredibly powerful and emotionally charged, like fireworks, it reaches the center of your heart, and an immediate heat wave envelops your entire body. This is real music! We can't wait to hear the rest of his new collection of songs, because if they're all so good, we have not finished vibrating!

_________________

Casii Stephan - These Hard Days

We are now going to Tulsa (Oklahoma), to find Casii Stephan, who we introduced you to in February 2020 with "Trapeze Artist".

In "These Hard Days", the artist dazzled us with her incredible writing skills. An absolutely fantastic writing, dark and luminous at the same time and full of hope.

We have just gone through a rather dark period and we still don't know what will happen tomorrow. This ray of light is exactly what we all need, as the artist confides:

"I wish this song wasn't relevant again. But here we are - wondering what the future holds. My hope is that this song gives you permission to scream out your rage, sorrow, and confusion. Cause we'll never be the same."

With a wonderful melody that will give you goosebumps, as the song evolves to a delicious and emotional end part, "These Hard Days" is like a lighthouse, at dawn, that marks the end of a period believed to be eternal.

Cassi Stephan masters her voice and her emotions with incredible precision. And it was impossible for us to make you miss this emotional gem. Especially since the song is accompanied by a very professional music video to watch below:

_________________

Timo Schniering - Mama

This young 23-year-old German had already moved us in February 2020 with "Wide Wide Wings". We wrote at that time: "We can't wait to see what this talented young man has in store for us."

It seems like the wait of over a year and a half was worth it because this time he made us cry outright.

His new single, "Mama", was inspired by the unique relationship between his mum and his grandma with dementia. I have also had the case in my family, and I know how hard this kind of trouble is to manage on a daily basis.

We're in 2021, and everything goes very quickly, and we too often forget our elders, and give time to the people we love, while they are still there, so the song totally spoke to me. Until giving me chills. And the final scene of the music video, without any music, managed to draw a tear from me. You can watch it below.

This is why I am so proud to highlight these young talents. You will never feel these kinds of emotions when you turn on your radio. I am proud of them and proud of you, dear readers, who help us on a daily basis to support these artists who really need it.

Listen to this song on Spotify and watch the music video, it's a small gesture that means a lot to an artist.

And Timo Schniering deserves it because, with his very mature writing and his professionalism (he once again directed the wonderful music video), he will go very far. Timo, if you read this, you are more than promising.

_________________

Stephen Sanchez - Hold Her While You Can

Coming from Nashville, TN, Stephen Sanchez has built a faithful and engaged community, especially on TikTok, where he has amassed over 120K followers. And with over 200K monthly listeners on Spotify, the artist's creativity is well established.

His new single "Hold Her While You Can", released last Friday, is taken from his "What Was, Not Now" EP which will be released on October 15th.

About this song, the only 18-year-old artist said "The reality is: life doesn't last forever and neither do the moments we spend during it. In this case, love is the central focus. 'Hold Her While You Can 'is all about cherishing what and who you have right in front of you."

While we are too often focused on tomorrow, we sometimes forget to think about today and to enjoy every moment with those we love.

The very catchy melody, with irresistible folky vibes, instantly hooked us, within seconds, and Stephen's natural and delicate vocal performance gave us the goosebumps we were looking for. He is an artist to watch closely because he is more than promising.

_________________

Luke Beling - The Way Back

Is it possible to make it even more folky and catchy? Why not! Let's try!

Let's go to Hawaii to end our journey with a wonderful South African-born artist, Luke Beling. If you like wonderful melodies, cinematic atmospheres making you want to close your eyes to imagine yourself in a place far away, like a desert or a forest near a lake, you have found the right artist!

Luke has this magical power of being able to offer us beautiful journeys, as long as you listen carefully, because each of his songs is beautifully produced, down to the smallest detail, and his poetic and dreamy writing gives us goosebumps every time.

About "The Way Back", his new single released last Saturday, Luke said: "it's a response to a long battle with introspection and self-doubt. I wanted to write a song I could sing to my fears."

We loved the incredible vocal harmonies of the chorus, worthy of the greatest indie artists like Harrison Storm or Hollow Coves. To add urgently to your playlists. For us, it's done!

_________________

That's all for today! We hope you had a blast with these amazing songs. You'll find more of that kind on our "Indie Music" playlist on Spotify.

Written by Niko.

_________________

Ella Fuchs - Flickers

Ella Fuchs comes from Germany and completely wowed us with her latest single "Flickers". An invitation to focus on our breathing. Something so natural that we tend to forget it! But working on our breathing can sometimes save us and help us out of a difficult situation. Accompanied by a wonderful music video to watch below, the song is a real gem, with powerful percussions and a bewitching acoustic guitar, carried by the incredible voice of Ella. The writing is incredibly mature and will give you the chills you seek when you wake up. Positive energy to start the day, with a complete artist who is equally at home in crafting, painting, and as you can see, music.

_________________

Craig Gould - Ain't No Place to Hide

When I heard the first few seconds of this track, I thought "this is not for us". I quickly changed my mind when the chorus came, because I got up from my chair and started dancing. So I thought to myself that you might want to do the same. We have already said it on IMC, a song that has a super catchy chorus before the 40s mark has every chance of making a hit on the radio. This joyful, flawless anthem is Craig Gould's debut single. I know, it's hard to believe. Because everything is professional in this track! Plus, all profits will be donated to CALM - Campaign Against Living Miserably. A double opportunity to make yourself happy and to make other people happy. Ah! And we forgot to warn you: there is a very addictive side to this track.

_________________

Aisha Badru - Rebirth

Aisha Badru is like an angel descended from heaven. As soon as I heard her sing, I felt like a wave of heat invade my whole body. "Rebirth" is a fitting title for this new single released on September 15th. A magical mix of several musical universes, tinged with indie-folk, with percussions reminiscent of the Middle East, and a spoken part (and not rap) make this song a real UFO. And that's what I like when an artist is impossible to put in a box. Hopefully, the message of this wonderful artist will be heard: "I believe the truth that will be uncovered will set us on a new course rooted in love and understanding." Aisha Badru managed to seduce in just a few seconds with this daring song, with a sincere and authentic interpretation. After the tough period we've been through, we all need that kind of positive energy, and we all need a rebirth. You will succumb for sure.

_________________

Honest Men - A Spectrum

We end our trip in Austin, Texas, to meet the band Honest Men. Seth, Brooks and Zach have built a very professional musical universe, the result of hard work. But not only. The music video for their latest single "A Spectrum" is just as successful as the song:

Note that the video is in 4/3 format which is quite unusual these days, but when they talk about specter and they sing "I'm lost on the other side", finally, it makes sense. With an addictive melody, Honest Men won the bet to hook us in less than a minute and we started to shake our heads. The title is a preview of their album "Field of Vision", set to release November 12th, 2021. We will have to watch this release very closely because it could be one of the best of the year. About the song, the band said: "Existence is defined by our relationships, emotions, decision making, lusts, desires, needs, spirituality, and set of beliefs. The very fabric of who we are lies on these numerous spectrums. On one side, there's fulfillment and wellbeing. On the other there's thrill but no satisfaction. Life is a constant battle of toeing the line." So if you are used to struggling with all of that stuff, which after all is natural, "A Spectrum" is going to speak to you, and its very high level of quality is going to win you over.

_________________

That's all for today! All songs added to our "Fresh Indie" playlist on Spotify.

Written by Niko.

_________________

To stay aware of new releases, follow Indie Music Center :