Take a look at our curated list of indie singer-songwriters that you should be keeping an eye out for! The list covers musicians from all parts of the world, and spans across very different soundscapes.
The art of songwriting has evolved through ages in manifold ways: be it production, songwriting, socio-political scenario or recording facilities. But in the modern era, compact and affordable recording equipments have made it possible to make music production at home easy for all singer-songwriters. Good news is everyone can now be out there with their own music. But if you are looking for exploring new indie artists, what will be a good place to start? Well, let’s list some contemporary singer-songwriters you can start with right away.
Alfa Mist:
British musician, producer, songwriter and MC based in Newham, London, Alfa Mist‘s music explores soulful and moving city sounds, even incorporating noises. His latest album “Variables” is no exception, perfectly balancing experimental sounds with sweeter easy listen melodies. Emotive piano lines with free flowing jazz improvisation on the saxophone, if you are a jazz, hip-hop, rnb or soul enthusiast, you are in for a ride here. And if you are not, this is a good place to get started!
Lianne La Havas:
London based British singer-songwriter Lianne La Havas is one of those artists who can mesmerize you for hours with her evocative words, her soulful voice and her jazzy guitar embellishments . And in this age of electronically produced music when our attention span shifts by seconds, this is an art not all singer-songwriters can master. La Havas’ launched her debut studio album “Is Your Love Big Enough” in 2012, drawing positive reviews from critics. 2015 saw her second album “Blood” . “Blood” even received a nomination for the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
Tom Misch:
English producer-musician Tom Misch released his debut studio album “Geography” in 2018 through his own label Beyond The Groove. The year 2020 saw Misch come up with his second album “What Kinda Music” in collaboration with drummer Yusuf Davis. The Album got the nomination for the Best Album Ivor Novello Award in 2021. Neo-soul modern funk jazz songs with heartfelt lyrics, Misch is a must listen if this is your sound. Misch has also collaborated with Alfa Mist on his album “Beat Tape 2”.
FKJ (French Kiwi Juice):
FKJ will surely soothe your soul if you are more into electronic beats. Relaxing and groovy, tracks like “Tadow” are a must add to a chill playlist, which doesn’t compromise on taste. Known for his live looping on stage, FKJ had released his self titled debut album in 2017. He has been described as a “pioneer” and “one of the flag bearers” of the new New French House genre.
Phoebe Green:
“Green by name, green by nature. Phoebe Green creates music that is a flash of colour across an everyday. Fascinated by what we usually shy away from, she is able to unpick the energies of her surroundings and find inspiration in the most unlikely of places.” – CLASH MUSIC. Her Bandcamp bio is quite accurate. Her YouTube videos to tracks like “Rage Of a Kid” and “What Are You Doing” perfectly compliment the average modern city woman life trapped in this colorful but dark world.
Also read: A Step-by-Step Guide to Effective Songwriting and Composition
Natalia Lafourcade:
María Natalia Lafourcade Silva, also known as Natalia Lafourcade is a Mexican singer-songwriter known for her latin jazz and bossa nova sound. Her accolades include the most Latin Grammy Awards for a female artist (18), four Grammy Awards, a Billboard Latin Music Award and three MTV Video Music Awards Latin America. If this is your jam, be prepared to get transferred to the beautiful world of acoustic dance music with her graceful voice accompanied by the acoustic band!
Rex Orange County:
Alexander James O’Connor, known professionally as Rex Orange County, is an English singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. According to NPR Music’s Zoë Jones his music is “a bright blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop”. The singer-songwriter released his self produced debut album “Bcos U Will Never Be Free” (2015), just at the age of 16. His third studio album Pony (2015), a more personal album experimenting with different genres was his first album to enter the Billboard 200 peaking at No 3.
Few more indie Singer-songwriters to also consider for 2025
Peter Cat Recording Co.:
Originating from Bangalore and Delhi, India Peter Cat Recording Co. has come more into the limelight with their recent “Live IN KEXP” performance video on YouTube which begins with lead singer songwriter Suryakant Sawhney, also known as Lifafa playing a harmonium and singing their song “Flowers”. An alternative rock-jazz dreamy sound with Indian elements, the band should definitely be on your check-out list. From political criticization in tracks like “Where The Money Flows” to tracks with more emotional depth like “We’re Getting Married” that comes from the band members’ experiences of love, loss and marriage, their sounds explore it all.
Dijon:
If you like raw RnB energy with minimal effects and with a lo-fi production, check out this indie producer singer-songwriter, ,Dijon whose debut album “Absolutely”(2021) received positive reviews from critics.
Gini:
Creating quite a stir right now among Indian indie singer-songwriters, Gini became popular after her “Write A Song With Me’” released in 2022. This 18-year-old recently released her third single of the year, “Sukoon”, sung in Hindi, spotlighted by Spotify RADAR as its July release.
