Three new tracks in the indie pop genre space that will have you adding to your playlist this weekend

Sarah Ek – “By Your Side”
-I was taken by this song on first listen. It’s got so many elements that work well here. The production feels vintage and fresh at the same time, capturing a 70s-like pop energy that seems like it is recently captured with a crisp recording. Then, the vocal is absolutely outstanding. There’s this quality that feels a bit like a Linda Ronstadt pop vibe, with subtle expressions in the softer places. The combination makes for a song that seems to transcend time, working quite well for fans of indie pop and singer songwriters. The piano, organ, and chord structure is enough to keep me around for more, but the production and vocal are outstanding as well. This is one worth adding to your list.

Human Barbie – “Spaced”
-The genre tags for this track include “art rock” and “dream pop.” I love those and think they work great for this sound. It’s got this ethereal energy to it (I guess what others call dream pop) that resonates with me on every listen. To be less technical, it makes me feel like I’m floating. That’s a wonderful, powerful quality in a piece of music. The production has this sparing quality in some places, allowing the listener to lean into the sound. I’m reminded of the concept of “white space” in journalism, where sometimes it’s better to leave an area without words, to draw the eye of the reader to the words you intend for them to engage with. This song, about space and falling for someone, fittingly provides some of that space in strategic places, allowing the listener to connect with that sense of hopefulness and waiting for a relationship to take off. Give it a spin and see what you think.

Francesco – “Since the Sun Came Up”
-There’s a snappy engaging energy to this track that caught my attention right away. I don’t mean that it’s overly upbeat (although it does keep things moving), but rather that the production decisions make the percussion and guitars really “pop” in the mix. The vocal sits right in the middle of the mix in a way that makes it feel both palatable and frankly “radio ready.” This is the kind of song that you could tell me was a B-side for a known singer-songwriter back in the 70s and I would nod, thinking that it tracks. The vibe of the song feels like it could connect with the work of someone like Jackson Browne or other Laurel Canyon folk, even though the composition itself does have some more contemporary elements. It’s definitely a snappy, interesting sound that you should check out.

Image courtesy: Sara Ek IG