Our Indie Kids playlist celebrates everything on the indie spectrum, whether that’s rock, folk or pop, because we firmly believe in taking a little walk off the beaten track every once in a while.
In an era dominated by digital polish, Elias Rønnenfelt’s live session from SPOT Festival serves as a vital reminder of raw musical nerve. Captured by the veteran team at Tapetown, the recording strips away the artifice, showcasing the Iceage frontman’s evolution into a formidable solo poet. The performance vibrates with the intensity Elias is known for, blending lo-fi grit with the expansive acoustics of one of Denmark’s premier concert halls. From emotive, introspective delivery to the sharp edges of alternative rock, the session feels remarkably tactile. This is authenticity you can actually feel, proving that human performance remains irreplaceable.
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‘Wake Up!’ is sudden, loud, and impossible to ignore. Thunderous drums and serrated guitars carve out a tense, volatile backdrop for her unfiltered vocal, which spirals between accusation and self-reckoning. Rather than chasing polish, Mary Middlefield leans into abrasion, turning bitterness and self-disgust into something strangely cathartic. The repeated commands feel claustrophobic, mirroring a mind cornered by its own thoughts. It’s confrontational without theatrics, raw without losing control. ‘Wake Up!’ captures the ugly honesty of catching yourself at your worst and refusing to look away. A blistering, fearless statement from an artist unafraid of discomfort.
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Swedish innovator RIVER follows the success of ‘I AM CANCER’ with the hauntingly beautiful ‘Infected Mind’. Drenched in the ghostly echoes of dream-pop and avant-garde soul, the track serves as a sonic bridge between past trauma and present healing. Swirling guitars and shadowy synths create an immersive, cinematic backdrop for RIVER’s distinctive vocals as she confronts her younger self with unflinching honesty. Influences of Portishead and Mazzy Star shimmer through the moody production, yet the emotional weight is entirely hers. It’s a powerful, visionary piece of alt-pop that transforms self-deception into a masterclass of vulnerability and sonic reclamation.
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‘Passing Through’ glows with the open-road romanticism of heartland rock, in which Henry Grace trades the sparseness of his early work for a full-bodied, band-driven swell. Co-produced by Blaine Harrison, the track shimmers with chiming guitars, steady drums, and widescreen textures that nod to The War On Drugs without losing Grace’s earnest voice. His delivery feels weathered yet hopeful, carrying the sense of a song that’s lived a few lives before landing here. There’s motion in every bar. This is restless, reflective, quietly triumphant. Both intimate and expansive, ‘Passing Through’ captures an artist stepping confidently into a bigger sound and owning the horizon ahead.
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In ‘Miami’, Margate-based quintet Pigeon delivers a sun-bleached anthem that magically dissolves geographical borders. Lead singer Falle Nioke uses his transportive vocals to transform the English seaside into a neon-lit paradise, proving that escape is a state of mind. The track is a lush blend of synth-dappled indie pop and world rhythms, underpinned by a seasoned lineup whose credits include Little Simz and SAULT. With melting synths and post-punk precision, ‘Miami’ captures a rare, transformative chemistry. It’s a vibrant, happy collision of cultures and sounds. It’s a shimmering vision of the Magic City found in the most unexpected of places.
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Built around bare piano and an unguarded vocal, Carter Vogel’s ‘Indigo’ lets every breath and pause linger, turning a clean breakup into something quietly devastating. It’s a hushed, heart-on-the-table ballad that finds power in restraint. Carter resists polish, favoring live takes and minimalist production that spotlight his phrasing and touch. The melody aches without melodrama, tracing acceptance rather than collapse, while the chorus lands like a soft goodbye you can’t unsay. There’s intimacy in the space between notes, a sense of closure that feels earned. ‘Indigo’ marks a vulnerable, mature return from an artist trusting simplicity to speak volumes.
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West London’s Patience Please pivots from arena-sized riffs to raw intimacy with ‘Madelaine’. The lead single from their February 2026 debut EP serves as a vulnerable post-mortem of first heartbreak. Stripping back their usual high-octane energy, the trio builds the track around Ollie Palmer’s driving rhythm guitar and honest, uninhibited lyrics. Subtle string flourishes add a cinematic depth, leading to a soaring, emotive climax that retains the band’s signature anthemic ambition. It’s a sophisticated evolution for the group, proving they can command silence just as effectively as a sold-out crowd at Dingwalls. A heartfelt, high-stakes triumph.
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Driving guitars and steady drums lay a sturdy backbone while lap steel, piano, and organ add a sunlit glow, ‘King of Mediocrity’ turns self-doubt into a sly, singalong triumph, pairing wry humor with warm, homespun indie-pop. Mo Klé does all of this with an easy, lived-in charm. René Grünenfelder’s vocal feels conversational and self-aware, poking fun at his own flaws without losing sincerity. The hook lands instantly, lingering like a private joke you keep replaying. Rather than chasing perfection, the song celebrates the cracks, finding beauty in ordinariness. It’s disarming, melodic, and refreshingly human. It’s a lighthearted anthem for anyone learning to loosen up.
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The Great Emu War Casualties open 2026 with ‘Donut’, a sparkling indie-pop gem that hides a bruised heart beneath its peppy exterior. Serving as the first taste of their debut album, Public Sweetheart No. 1, the track pairs restless art-rock rhythms with frontman Joe Jackson’s sharply observant, sorry-not-sorry lyricism. Chiming guitars and a warm, driving pulse create a sunlit momentum, yet the song’s true power lies in its candid self-assessment. It’s an infectious, anthemic apology that manages to be both light on its feet and emotionally heavy. This is a catchy, self-aware storytelling for the modern age.
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Stripped of gloss and built entirely from real instruments and voices, ‘tell me the truth (softer)’ leans into stillness, letting vulnerability do the heavy lifting. amm’s track feels intimate to the point of eavesdropping, like a late-night conversation you weren’t meant to hear. Gentle guitar, hushed percussion, and airy ambience cradle amm’s fragile vocal as he wrestles with compromise, forgiveness, and the slow ache of a relationship fraying at the edges. Nothing is forced; every note breathes. The result is raw and human, trading drama for honesty. ‘tell me the truth (softer)’ lingers quietly, like a bruise you keep pressing.
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PURPLE MELON 