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New Music Friday: Hidden Indie Gems You Should Have on Repeat Right Now!
- LJ Portnoy
- Feb 28
- 4 min read
Have you ever heard a song so good that you immediately text your friends, “How have I never heard this before?!” If not, that’s about to change.
These indie/alternative tracks are underrated gems—the kind of songs that should already be blaring through your speakers but, for some reason, haven’t taken over your playlists yet. From moody late-night anthems to high-energy alternatives, this list has a little of everything.
So, if your playlist has been feeling a little stale lately, let me fix that for you. Here are the hidden gems you NEED to add right now.
🎧 Detroit – Badflower
Why you need this on repeat: What initially struck me about this song was the title—being from Metro Detroit, it instantly piqued my interest. I had to listen! I found a haunting, emotional track that perfectly captures the melancholy and grit of the city.
Best time to play it: Nighttime drive with the windows down—city lights flashing past as the music builds.
Vibe check: Dark, raw, and cinematic—driving straight into the city's heart.
Lyric Spotlight: "It's so depressing having everything I wanted." (Hits way too hard, right?)
For fans of: Grandson, I Prevail, Papa Roach, Three Days Grace
Badflower has a way of crafting emotionally charged alt-rock that sticks with you long after the song ends. This one is no exception.
🎧 Sorry I’m Late, I Didn’t Wanna Come – The Wombats
Why you need this on repeat: The perfect “F*ck you” song wrapped in a vibey, sarcastic package. If you’ve ever been dragged to a social event you wanted no part of, this song will feel like it was written just for you.
Best time to play it: That fashionably late moment when you walk into a party, low-key regretting every decision that led you there.
Vibe check: A mix of alt-rock attitude with jazzy undertones—infectious and a little snarky.
Lyric Spotlight: “How 'bout we talk about me now?" (Pure sass.)
For fans of: Two Door Cinema Club, Arctic Monkeys, Glass Animals, Bastille
The Wombats have mastered the art of catchy-yet-cynical anthems, and this track is no exception.
🎧 Enemy – Imagine Dragons
Why you need this on repeat: This song was crafted for Netflix’s Arcane, but even if you’re not into League of Legends, you’ll still feel its gritty intensity.
Best time to play it: When you're feeling the haters and need a confidence boost.
Vibe check: A mix of grungy angst and ethereal tension—it builds, it hits, it lingers.
Lyric Spotlight: “Tell you you're the greatest / But once you turn, they hate us.” (Truth.)
For fans of: twenty-one pilots, The Script, American Authors, Fun.
There’s something magnetic about this song’s energy. Whether you’re hyping yourself up or just vibing with the intensity, it’s a must-add.
🎧 Calling After Me – Wallows
Why you need this on repeat: Wallows delivers an indie groove that never lets up, and this track is no exception.
Best time to play it: Windows down, heading to the beach—sun, salt air, and this song on blast.
Vibe check: Poppy, carefree, and effortlessly cool.
Lyric Spotlight: “Don't play dumb, I know you fantasize / You could have me on my back every night.” (Ooof, okay then.)
For fans of: The 1975, LANY, The Neighbourhood, Hippo Campus
If you need a song that feels like summer and nostalgia wrapped into one, this one’s for you.
🎧 A Tear in Space (Airlock) – Glass Animals
Why you need this on repeat: This track feels like floating through space—Glass Animals at their most hypnotic.
Best time to play it: Late-night, when the world gets quiet and your mind starts drifting.
Vibe check: Deeply atmospheric—like being lost in a neon-colored dream.
Lyric Spotlight: "Hostage, so in love / It's an airless black chasm / You turn the airlock on." (Just… wow.)
For fans of: Foster the People, Milky Chance, Joywave, Alt-J
This one is an experience—put on headphones, close your eyes, and let it take you somewhere else. Promise, it'll get stuck in your head.
🎧 Brainstorm – Livingston
Why you need this on repeat: This track has the same massive energy as Imagine Dragons but from an up-and-coming artist. If you like epic builds and emotional weight, this one delivers.
Best time to play it: When you need to feel something deeply.
Vibe check: Heavy-hitting, cinematic, and powerful.
Lyric Spotlight: "Clouds rolling in, I'm losing my joy / This is the end, thunder and wind cannot avoid me." (Drama, in the best way.)
For fans of: Imagine Dragons, AJR, Alex Warren, Harry Styles
Keep an eye on Livingston—this is the kind of sound that blows up overnight.
🎧 Ripple – Good Neighbours
Why you need this on repeat: This song feels like the first day of summer—effortlessly upbeat and impossible to sit still to.
Best time to play it: Driving to your Saturday plans, windows down, no worries in sight. Vibe check: Summer vibes all the way—perfect for shaking off winter blues.
Lyric Spotlight: “When life cannot deliver / Bring it back to me.” (Simple but effective.)
For fans of: Cage the Elephant, Imagine Dragons, Benson Boone, Foster the People
If your playlist is lacking sunshine and good energy, this one’s an instant fix.
Final Thoughts: Add These Songs ASAP 🎶
There you have it—seven criminally underrated indie/alt songs deserve a spot on your rotation.
So what’s next? Go to your favorite streaming platform and blast them. Add them to your playlists. Share them with a friend who needs new music (or just trust me and add them blindly).
And if you’ve got a hidden gem of your own, drop it in the comments—I’m always down to discover more!
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