Over the last two years, indie-pop has seen an increase in production. With the genre gaining popularity quickly, more bands are creating a sound that is more melodic and less abrasive than mainstream pop music. While there are so many great artists who are producing these hits, there are a few indie artists everyone should check out. 

10. Tame Impala 

An Australia-based single act, Tame Impala has been gaining popularity throughout TikTok because of his song “The Less I Know the Better.” Tame Impala’s psychedelic-infused rock albums have been capturing listeners since 2007. His most recent album “The Slow Rush” has been named as one of the top “modern psychedelic” albums in 2020. Tame Impala’s music is available for streaming and download on all platforms.

9. Willow

Daughter of Will Smith, Willow has returned to her music career after five years of hiatus when “I Whip My Hair” reached the Billboard Top 100s. Since her first full album release in 2015, Willow has gained popularity among pop-rock enthusiasts and TikTok users. Her most well-known pieces are “T R A N S P A R E N T S O U L” and “Meet Me At Our Spot!” The rock-influenced music released by the uprising artist has inspired people to express themselves in some of the most creative ways possible. Willow’s music is available on all streaming platforms.

8. Luke Hemmings 

5 Seconds of Summer frontman Luke Hemmings branched off from the notorious Australian boy band to record his debut album, “When Facing the Things We Turn Away From.” The Australian singer shows off his deep, melodic vocals in his surprise album that features pop-rock tunes that will pull the heartstrings of many; such as “Starting Line” and “Baby Blue.” Unlike his other bandmates, Hemmings released a full, studio album along with his band’s album “Calm.” Hemmings will be leading 5 Seconds of Summer on tour throughout 2022. 

7. Phoebe Bridgers

American singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers has been taking the world by storm with her poetic music. After releasing her 2017 debut album “Stranger in the Alps” and 2020 album “Punisher,” Bridgers was nominated for four Grammy awards and won three Libera awards, including Record of the Year. Bridgers’ most reputable records include “Motion Sickness,” “Kyoto” and “Garden Song.”  She has been collaborating with other artists such as Bo Burnham and appears on Taylor Swift’s album “Red (Taylor’s Version).” Phoebe Bridgers’ music is available for streaming and download on all music platforms. 

6. Peach Pit

Canadian rock band Peach Pit is known for its “surf-rock” sound and heartfelt lyrics. The band consists of singer and rhythm guitarist Neil Smith, guitarist Christopher Vanderkooy, bassist Peter Wilton and percussionist Mikey Pascuzzi. The band was formed in 2014 when Smith and Vanderkooy decided to collaborate on a music project and continued to write music together. Since 2014, the group has released two studio albums and announced the release of their upcoming album “From 2 to 3” for March 2022. Their singles “Shampoo Bottles” and “Tommy’s Party” have gained popularity amongst guitarists for the incorporation of harmonic scales and challenging riffs. Peach Pit will be touring across North America throughout 2022. Peach Pit’s music will be available for download and streaming on all music platforms.

5. Japanese House

Amber Mary Bain, also known as the Japanese House, is an English indie-pop artist from Buckinghamshire. After being introduced to the 1975s Matty Healy, Bain began writing songs under the moniker the Japanese House. She contributes vocals, rhythm guitar and synthesizer. In 2015, Bain released her debut EP album, “Pools to Bathe In” followed by EP “Clean” and “Saw You in a Dream.” Bain’s music is available on all streaming platforms including Spotify and Apple Music. 

4. Wanderwild

Originating in Athens, Ga., Indie-pop band Wanderwild was formed in early 2013 and then once again in 2016. Despite being a small band, their music has been floating Spotify’s indie charts since early 2021. Their third studio album, “Music in an Emergency” was released in May of 2021, signifying the importance of music throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.  The group’s top singles include “Platinum,” “Doorway” and “I’ll Be Right There.” Wanderwild gained popularity after performing as an opening act on COIN’s  “Rainbow Dreamland” Tour. Wanderwild’s music is available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music.

3. Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Rainbow Kitten Surprise is no stranger to the rock genre. In the fall of 2013, college roommates Sam Melo and Darrick Keller began writing and composing music together under the name “Rainbow Kitten Surprise.” Due to lack of resources, the duo’s first EP, Mary was recorded in the two friends’ dorm room at Appalachian State Univ. in Boone, N.C. Since the release of their first EP, the duo invited Ethan Goodpaster, Jess Haney and Charlie Holt to join them in recording music. Since then, the band has traveled throughout North America performing at multiple festivals and concert halls. Recently, the group has been gaining popularity on the social media platform, TikTok. Popular songs include: “It’s Called: Freefall,” “First Class” and “Lady Lie.” Their music is available on all streaming platforms.

2. COIN

Nashville-based dance-pop group, COIN produces music that can brighten anyone’s day. After forming in 2012, the group consisting of Chase Lawrence, Ryan Winnen and Joe Memmel, released their hit single, “Talk Too Much.” After “Talk Too Much” hit numerous charts, the group released their full studio album, “How Will You Know If You Never Try” including hits “Malibu 1992” and “Hannah. After numerous tours throughout North America, the band released their second album “Dreamland” including the single “Crash My Car” and the emotionally moving “Let It All Out (10:05).” After canceling their 2020 tour due to the COVID-19 outbreak, they shortly released their third studio album “Rainbow Mixtape” and rescheduled their tour for late 2021.

1. Greta Van Fleet

Despite the current craze surrounding dance-pop, Greta Van Fleet is not afraid of testing their limits. The rock band originating from Frankenmuth, Mich has been influenced by classic rock and pays homage to their inspirations through their music. The rock band made up of brothers, Josh, Jake and Sam Kiszka, along with Danny Wagner has been recognized with multiple Grammy awards and nominations. The group displays a love for classic rock with their Led Zeppelin-influenced sound in songs “Safari Song” and “Highway Tune.” Their latest album, “The Battle at Garden’s Gate” was released in 2020 followed by their tour alongside band Cage the Elephant and Metallica. All Greta Van Fleet music is available on every music platform for streaming and download. 

Source: Spotify Music, Dec. 2021, https://www.spotify.com/us/