Three indie pop tunes that bring together those subtle electronic elements for good vibes

HYESUNG – “If our love meant nothing” ft. slchld
-There’s a cool energy to this track that’s sure to stand out for a lot of indie pop fans; it has a nice blend of electronic elements with more of a stripped down vocal-driven style. The combination is a chill sound that’s perfect for a hang out playlist or more of a vibey study/reading list. I appreciate how the vocal soars in a few spots, but also has this cathartic energy with the “ohhhs” on the chorus. The rich chord textures are really satisfying, putting me in mind of songs from Abby Holiday or even vaultboy. I definitely dig this sound and hope others will give HYESUNG a chance as well.

Kid Charleroi – “Los Angeles”
-I’ll be honest I wasn’t quite sure how to curate this track; a part of me really wants to put it with some vintage rock. It has a glowing 60s pop rock element to it that feels just right. The effects on the guitars and even the layering of the vocal feels deliciously vintage. That said, there’s definitely an indie pop energy to the sound that helps it to fit in a variety of environments. I could enjoy a song like this on a chill playlist as well as more of an up tempo “dance in your chair to get through the workday” list as well. I’ll say, it’s almost impossible to get through this song without singing along on the wonderfully vibrant chorus. The whole thing feels so bright and hopeful; it’s much needed these days.

Josh Gray – “High”
-At first blush, you’re going to say this is an acoustic singer songwriter track and… well, technically you’re not wrong. But if you stay with the song you’ll feel the energy and recognize that it fits well in with indie pop after about the 45 second mark. It’s lyrically about getting high to get out of his own mind, to live in a better place. Normally we don’t write much about songs about drug use, but this song is actually as much about psychological escape as it is about the substance. So rather than focusing on that element, I hope you will lean into the energy and the message of the song. We all choose our substance of choice, the things that give us a little glimpse of happiness and escape from the pain of reality. The layered melodic structure is so satisfying, too. It’s a perfect track for a vibey mood playlist or a celebratory list, but either way it’s a song that will absolutely make you feel something.

Image courtesy: HYESUNG IG