today’s indie picks move through orchestral pop, offbeat studio craft, cinematic hip-hop soul and psychedelic groove. these four tracks turn personal weight, creative renewal and growth into bright, memorable shapes.
here i go again – jacob barrett
jacob barrett turns chronic illness into a bold, hook-driven orchestral indie-pop banger
here i go again is a widescreen indie-pop track built around punchy drums, synth, piano, brass, strings and woodwind, pulling near-orchestral scale into a modern, hook-forward frame. for all its emotional weight, the song keeps moving, using bright momentum and clever structural shifts to make something painful feel alive and repeatable. melodically, it’s right to the heart and jacob’s got an incredible ear for a tune.
jacob barrett is a san francisco-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who wrote, performed and produced the single himself. recorded between a college dorm and a childhood bedroom, with remote collaborators across the world, the release explores chronic illness and the scars it leaves behind. its mix of intimate honesty and big arrangement pushes it into banger territory, and we’ll be keeping a very close eye on jacob this year.
thank u for making this jacob barrett 🎻
shipwrecked – george adequate
george adequate turns creative hibernation into wry, lived-in indie-pop
shipwrecked carries the offbeat charm of an artist returning from years of studio experiments, false starts, half ideas and strange beautiful mistakes. there is a looseness to its indie-pop shape, but also a clear sense of craft, letting personality, patience and dry humour move through the song without over-polishing its edges.
george adequate comes from time spent behind the scenes booking acts, followed by years of creating alone in a studio in kildare. written and recorded mostly solo with a little help from friends, the track arrives as part of the first batch of recordings ready for the world. sparked by collaboration with underachiever & the letdowns and producer chris barry, it feels like someone re-entering music with joy fully switched back on.
thank u for making this george adequate 🪴
live my life – philmac
philmac makes perseverance feel cinematic, soulful and fully self-made
live my life is a cinematic pop anthem that blends hip-hop, rock, soul and big melodic storytelling into one uplifting release. driven by live instrumentation, powerful rhythm and a signature guitar motif, the track carries the feeling of choosing your own path after years of being pulled away from it.
philmac is an independent sacramento artist, producer, songwriter, filmmaker and multi-instrumentalist with a one-man-band approach. written, produced, performed, recorded and creatively directed by philmac, the song opens the world of his forthcoming album war in heaven. it reflects purpose, freedom and the childhood dream that refuses to disappear, turning resilience into a clear, emotional statement about becoming yourself.
thank u for making this philmac 🎬
fields – calico sun
calico sun brings psychedelic indie warmth to a homegrown reflection on growth
fields is a groove-based psychedelic indie track built around fuzzy synths, reflective songwriting, melodic guitar leads and warm drums. the song moves with a relaxed, sunlit pull, exploring the slow realisation that growth often happens out of sight, before you fully understand it has taken root.
calico sun is the project of connecticut-based multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and producer sam bahman, working from his home studio, the chalet. written, recorded and produced by bahman, with drums by rob megna, the release comes from the upcoming debut album cosmic revelations. its video was filmed over a year outdoors among gardens and conservation lands, matching the track’s love of nature, mid-century colour and handmade production.
thank u for making this calico sun 🌿
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