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.
Caroline Rose is back with ‘Valery (please don’t be mad at me)’, a tender, crooner-inspired elegy to lost friends, that navigates through grief, memory and affection into a deeply personal portrait of addiction and loss. Inspired by people from their hometown and New York years, Caroline transforms painful histories into intimate songwriting, honouring those whose lives were marked by struggle. The track’s emotional resonance is heightened by its accompanying video, directed by Chloé Aktaş, in which the artist sings to Valery alone in the audience, represented as an alien from Saturn’s icy moons. Caroline gives us a poignant meditation on love that endures beyond loss.
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Blending modern prog-rock textures with raw emo introspection, ‘Living In This Moment’ captures the sobering fragility of time and the urgent desire to freeze fleeting memories. This deeply resonating track comes from Long Island brothers Matt and Andrew Como. Together they elevate a signature indie-rock sound through lush arrangements, crafting a bittersweet anthem about cherishing who you are with right now. With rich production pedigree and a track record spanning major television syncs, The Como Brothers have delivered a breathtaking, emotionally poignant piece.
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‘Goodwife’ is a minimalist blend of guitar-driven indie-rock and sleek indietronica, which creates a hypnotic sound that also harbours a quietly defiant tone. Co-produced by Anna Friedberg alongside Daniel Brandt, Hot Chip’s Al Doyle and Joe Goddard, the track balances atmospheric textures with a restless, contemporary edge. Inspired by Anna’s grandmother, who was trapped in an abusive marriage, the song carries an emotional weight beneath its carefully constructed production. Its themes of confinement and personal struggle give the music a deeper resonance, transforming an intimate family history into something universally affecting. ‘Goodwife’ showcases Friedberg’s ability to marry experimental sonics with compelling storytelling.
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The Bankes Brothers strike effortless gold on ‘Georgia Peaches’, a deliciously catchy indie-rock preview of their debut album, For the sake of my love I hope I make it. Guided by producer Gus van Go, the Victoria, BC’s band embraces a refreshingly confident reserved approach. Opening with organic alleyway rain audio captured during a Toronto storm, the track wraps listeners in a hazy, unhurried warmth tailor-made for moody drives. Intimate yet subtly expansive, this ode to daydreams lets breezy guitars and instinctive melodies take center stage, offering an open-ended invitation to simply feel.
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‘Automatic’ is a driving, angst-laden introduction to Johanna Warren’s forthcoming album, Frog in the Belly of a Snake. Wrestling with the exhausting cycle of ambition, failure and starting over, the track captures the frustration of searching for stability in an unpredictable world. Beneath its restless energy lies a quieter revelation, that true security comes from within, rather than endless external validation. Johanna’s introspective songwriting balances raw emotion with a growing sense of self-acceptance, while the accompanying video pairs teenage camcorder footage with excerpts from her dream journal. ‘Automatic’ feels cathartic, vulnerable and ultimately liberating.
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Brighton’s scuzz-pop risers Canned Pineapple make a roaring label debut on Missing Piece Records with ‘Done With Everything’. Produced by Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard’s Tom Rees, the track captures the feral, unpolished energy of their live shows through raw, simultaneous room tracking. Fusing ’90s slacker-fuzz reminiscent of Weezer with the cheek-in-tongue British charm of Supergrass, the quintet pairs distorted garage-punk riffs with an irresistibly sticky chorus. Born from south-coast DIY roots, Drury and Gardiner’s songwriting shines through the scrappy grit, delivering an delightfully unserious, hook-heavy anthem that proves Canned Pineapple is one of the UK’s most exhilarating underground acts.
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Good Wild Gods, the collaborative project of Luke Sital-Singh and Old Sea Brigade’s Ben Cramer, open a new chapter with ‘Breathe It In’, a warmly expansive introduction to their debut album, Sometimes I Go Missing. Rippling acoustic guitars provide the foundation for a reflective song centered on self-acceptance and finding peace amid life’s uncertainties. The duo’s effortless chemistry brings a natural intimacy to the track, while its fuller, more adventurous sound hints at the creative freedom driving their partnership. Balancing folk tenderness with understated rock energy, ‘Breathe It In’ is a quietly uplifting reminder to embrace change and appreciate the present.
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Orange County songwriter and producer Christian Demman shines on ‘The Spotter’, a vibrant alt-rock gem that fuses power pop hooks with progressive ambition. Serving as a third installment of a twelve-track narrative album, the song follows a flawed protagonist marveling at the beauty of creation, mistaking divine artistry for his own imagination. Driven by soaring e-bow slide riffs, harmonized guitar solos, and rich, poetic lyricism, the track captures an intoxicating sense of freedom and wonder. It’s an upbeat, sweet, and sonically adventurous anthem that triumphantly signals Christian’s readiness to capture the world’s ear.
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‘Vampire’ sees Jeni Magaña and Emily Moore embrace the darker side of their otherwise sun-soaked indie-pop sound. Blending hazy, retro-inspired textures with a sharper emotional edge, pen pin’s latest track explores the comfort of having someone firmly in your corner when the world feels hostile. Beneath its dark-pop appeal lies a refreshingly relatable message about loyalty, vulnerability and resisting the urge to lash out. The duo’s natural chemistry lends the song an effortless charm, balancing playful candour with genuine tenderness. Taken from their forthcoming debut album PONY UP!, ‘Vampire’ shows off pen pin’s knack for making intimacy feel irresistibly cool.
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Norma Norman’s second single ‘Redecorating’ is a mesmerising dynamic that delicately explores a gay married couple’s journey into the discomfort of a new normal. Produced by Flowerboy (Luka Kopunovic), the track flawlessly merges chillwave and dark-synth textures with a modern retro gloss, echoing the post-punk sensibilities of Joe Jackson and The Cure’s ‘Lovesong’. Against a backdrop of pulsating, synth-heavy beats, the Jersey indie-pop act transforms profound marital heartache into an infectious, atmospheric groove. It captures the aching beauty of love shifting underneath your feet. It’s truly bittersweet
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Blending Spanglish vocals with tropical rhythms, funky bass lines and heavy guitars, the Ecuadorian-American independent artist James Mozina crafts a sound that feels both chaotic and defiantly alive. His newest song ‘UP ALL NITE’ throws listeners into a dystopian underground rave where apocalyptic anxiety meets irresistible physical energy. Beneath its dark textures and ominous atmosphere lies a surprisingly human message, when tomorrow is uncertain, connection matters more than ever. Imagining a final night of dancing, desire and reckless abandon, James transforms impending doom into an invitation to embrace the present. ‘UP ALL NITE’ delivers a compelling collision of tropical heat, alternative grit and end-of-the-world hedonism.
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