Three understated and beautiful indie pop tracks that have you in your feelings

Niamh Evans – “Fingers Crossed”
-“In my head there is a version of you that is so in love.” Wow. The lyrics of this song are heartbreaking and they cover the theme of heartbreak. It’s looking back on a relationship at some of the wonderful moments, “in the rearview.” I won’t lie; there’s a bit of a Taylor Swift style romantic idealism blended with harsh realism in this song. It works really well. The songwriting style is melodic and enjoyable, creating a solid basis for the emotional lyrical work. Evans has a beautiful voice that makes the sweetness of the song all the sweeter and, somehow, makes the heartbreak feel all the more condemning.

Anderson Hao – “after two”
-I think the first artist I heard with an understated bedroom pop style like this was Dodie Clark. To be honest, Anderson Hao has a similar sort of emotionally driven lyrical style as well. The understated effect on the vocal can make it challenging to follow at times, but there are sections that the song emerges with a raw emotionalism that is well worth featuring here. “Can’t respond when I don’t hear a thing.” This is about managing a broken relationship and how maddening it can be to try to feel when the other person is not responding. It’s tragic and almost painful to listen to in some places, but that’s a theatrical dimension to the song that will be all too relatable to folks who have been through a rocky breakup.

Savanna Leigh – “i miss you (i still do)”
-This acoustic performance captured my attention due to the chilled out energy. It takes a remarkable bit of skill to make an acoustic performance pull the listener in like Savanna Leigh does here. The lyrics are about the moment of courage that it takes to tell someone how you really feel about them. “It’s easier to say nothing…” Yes, this is true. But the song is a lament about how things didn’t work out and you still miss the person. Sometimes heartache songs are about moving on, but this one is about sitting with your feelings in the wake of a relationship that didn’t work out. It’s a lament. It’s grief. That’s a mature way to process this pain. The rawness of the acoustic and vocal here is endearing — and effective.