Harry Styles' new Watermelon Sugar music video has provided his listeners with some much needed summer vibes, and has solidified the song and the artist as a staple in the pop rock scene. While the "top hits" playlists tend to be more saturated with classic pop and rap songs, Styles' individuality in his personal artistic style has helped to open many of his listeners to more indie artists that project the same carefree yet robust approach to music. Whether you're in search of a killer roster of artists to listen to this summer, or interested in exploring a new genre of music that is often overlooked in popular culture, please read on!
boy pablo
courtesy of NME Entertainment
Starting off this list is intriguing artist Nicholas Muñoz from Norway, whose stage name "boy pablo" has gained him millions of fans since his breakout song Everytime, produced in 2017. While he may be one of the more popular artists in this list, it is undeniable that his music has made him a force to be reckoned within the indie pop-rock industry. The incredible guitar riffs present on almost every one his songs transport your ears to their happy place, and at 19 years old his talent is undeniable.
Young Mister
courtesy of iongreenville
For a truly transcendental experience, listen to Pasadena by Steven Fiore, AKA Young Mister. His style of mixing country, pop, rock and a bit of jazz into his songs triggers a deep sense of nostalgia only accentuated by every strum of his guitar. Now based out of the small town of Tyron, North Carolina, his career began as a writer for Universal Music Publishing Group, and he has appeared as a guest star many times in Jeff Goldblum's jazz band. His songs have made me cry and helped me through quite a few tough times, so definitely consider taking a listen.
Dayglow
courtesy of Ones to Watch
Just imagine: you're driving from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara on the Pacific Coast Highway on the most beautiful spring day. You can't tell if it's cold or warm, and the topaz ocean is glistening in the sun, breeze blowing through your hair. That's where Dayglow's music takes you. While he may be from Fort Worth, Texas, Sloan Struble, AKA Dayglow, will take you to the sunny coast of California, with his carefree melodies and smooth vocals. His style of music throws together bit of quirkiness and instrumental expertise, and songs such as Hot Rod, Listerine, and Can I Call you Tonight? are always at the top of my summer playlist.
BETWEEN FRIENDS
courtesy of Forbes
This sibling duo of Brandon and Savannah Hudson, along with the help of dummer Brennan Benko, have brought synth back into the pop scene. Synth music was popularized in the 1970s and 80s, and this band BETWEEN FRIENDS uses such techniques to create music that is more vintage and aesthetic, particularly with their song affection. The sibling competed on America's Got Talent before forming the band, and their music attempts to bring older aspects of instrumental production back into the popular scene, mixing hard rock, pop, and a little bit of disco. Definitely a talented band that attempts to capture the fleeting nature of youth by providing nostalgic yet progressive tunes. Oh, and their debut work suburban wonderland may be one of the best songs in existence.
LANY
courtesy of Harper's Bazaar
Even as LANY has grown in popularity over the past few years, the band has never compromised their original style of ambient indie pop. Their big break came when they had the opportunity to go on tour with Halsey in 2015, and since then their career has taken off. The band is made up of artists Paul Klein, Jake Goss and Les Priest, who banded together to create love ballads with a modern twist. While LANY may be more mainstream than some other artists on this list, they are still a notable artist that hasn't quite become a household name in pop.
Take a listen to some of these artists and you'll see why the indie pop/rock genre truly has some of the most innovative and transcendent songs. Just think about how much people love Harry Styles and his unflinching devotion to protecting his individual artistry and you'll see how talented these lesser know music producers are. Artists in this genre tend to be some of the best kept secrets in the music industry, and thanks to this list your summer playlist will be anything but dull.
