This round-up is focused on indie musicians who have crafted dreamy sounds, with the first 3 being pop tracks and the 4th being folk. Each one is unique and jumps out due to the depth of the lyricism shared, but every one deserves the spotlight! Anyone looking for some new music to ponder as if reading a poem may find something they’re looking for right here!
SOZI – Waiting On July
‘Waiting On July’ feels like a sweet, soft Summer morning kissed in the sunlight. Overall, it has a pop-idol vibe, but it has a more laid-back indie twang to it, which is really nice. It’s exciting, especially with the tempo pick-up in the chorus, but it never feels too fast or in-your-face. Something about the sound feels like unabashed freedom, and the reverby instrumental provides a nice dreamy undertone. Lyrically, this track is one of anticipation for the coming of July. There’s an aspect of nostalgic reminiscence of the month in the past, but the narrator is waiting for it to come again. It speaks of letting go of one’s worries, “fireworks at the golden hour”, polaroids, and a want for the light feeling to remain. This track is one for those who love Summer and revel in its feeling.
Sam Palladio – Burberry Jacket
‘Burberry jacket’ ushers listeners in lightly with a soft percussive flow and slap of a bass; then crisply produced vocals take the forefront. This track also has an indie pop vibe, though it has just a bit of a rock influence, and the tempo has an exciting pacing. What this track does well is that the softer moments build into the stronger moments that are more instrumentally full. There’s a really great flow to it, and the instrumentation seems perfectly woven around a strong vocal performance. Also, at 2:14, there’s a nice buzzy, bass-led instrumental bridge, which contrasts the smoother sound of the core of the track. There are great dynamics in flow here that play well into holding attention. Lyrically, ‘Burberry Jacket’ feels like a love that’s also dangerous. The narrator of the track is entranced, but there’s the feeling that things won’t end well.
Kina – Out of My Head Ft. shy martin
‘Out of My Head’ is another indie-pop track, but this one is absolutely soft and has an aspect of pure melancholy. The vocals have a bit of a mumble, but it’s used to add emotion into the overall vibe. They’re soft but clear, and they suit the slower pacing. Even without accounting for the lyricism, this track is loaded with a resonance of feeling. It feels crafted to pull listeners into a trance, a fade back into deep thought. The vocals have some cracks at times, which create a deeply human feeling. On the other hand, their production is super crisp, allowing every bit of their sway and flow to pop out. Lyrically, it’s about a yearning and a want to keep someone in one’s life. It also recognizes how the self can change over the course of a relationship, and how another can get someone out of their head. Though the musical feeling has that melancholic emotion, the lyrics seem to be about a deep love.
meka – Something Strange
‘Something Strange’ takes this round-up in another direction. There is a dreaminess to it and an overall indie vibe, but it’s more folk. The production of the instrumentation is a bit raw, but the acoustic fingerpicking is absolutely gorgeous, and the vocals carry the track along well. At 1:01, percussion enters and builds into a full band, the main guitar riff sitting softly in the background. Overall, it does well at building up to this hit, and the mix allows several guitar layers and piano to jump out, with the percussion carrying a nice rhythm! Later on, there’s a violin that takes the stage to add another dash of wonder. There’s a slow build with the strings, and it does well at building up before fading back to softness once again. There’s a really nice sway to this track, and every aspect of it feels natural. This natural feeling extends to nature references in the instrumentation. Lyrically, the poeticism leaves it up to self-interpretation. A part of the lyrics that really jumps out is: “Close your eyes and readjust / To what you see and who you trust / Where’s the moon and what’s that sound? / one ear to the sky, and one to the ground.”
Written by Sage Plapp
Cover image by Matej
