Our favourite new indie and alternative tracks on repeat this week, featuring Claud, Ben Howard, Lava La Rue, Django Django, José González and Voodoos. Published 19th February 2021.
There's nothing quite like the buzz of falling in love with a new song and obsessively listening on repeat! Here at Blinded by the Floodlights we listen to a lot of new music and are always on the hunt for the best new bangers. In our new weekly feature, we recommend our favourite new songs released by both established and upcoming artists from the world of indie and alternative.
You can listen below on YouTube and on our weekly updated Spotify playlist.
Claud - Soft Spot
I first heard Claud this week on 6Music and was immediately intrigued. My intrigue was soon peaked when I heard new album Super Monster (released 12 February) was the first to be released by Saddest Factory, a new label operated by the brilliant Californian singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers. The new album is a healthy mix of bedroom pop and chilled indie in a similar vein to Alvvays, Beabadoobee and Bridgers herself. 'Soft Sport' is the undoubted highlight and one of the best tracks I've heard this year.
Ben Howard - What A Day
Ben Howard has just released 'What A Day' ahead of his new album Collections From the Whiteout, due for release on 26 Match. The new album has been co-produced by Howard and The National's Aaron Dressner, a man who, in 2020, did wonders for the credibility of Taylor Swift career with his work on folklore and evermore. The new song is a delightful, folk song with warmth in abundance.
Lava La Rue - Angel ft. Deb Never
Lava La Rue (real name Ava Laurel) is a 22-year-old musician and artist and one expected to have a very bright future. 'Angel' may have been released back in November, but this week it gained national exposure after it was named BBC Introducing's Sound of the Week. And it's easy to see why, it's an enjoyable electro-pop track with the West London artist both singing and rapping over a sound that wouldn't have been out of place on a recent Tame Impala record. Remember the name!
Django Django - Spirals
After their brilliant self-titled 2012 debut, Django Django, the London-based Scottish indie-dance band, completely fell off my radar. Having seen their new album Glowing in the Dark named 6Music's Album of the Week, I decided to give it a listen, eager to hear if they were still worth paying attention to. And how glad I am that I did, I haven't been able to stop listening to it this week. There are many tracks from this record I could've chosen for the purposes of this list, but, forced to pick one, I've gone for the outstanding opener 'Spirals'.
José González - El Invento
Jose Gonzalez, remember him? The Swedish-Argentinian indie-folk singer famous for soundtracking a Sony Bravia advert with bouncing balls back in 2006? Well, he's just returned with his first song in six years. Surprisingly, it's his first-ever Spanish language song and it's a fantastic listen. 'El Invento' was said to be inspired by the birth of his daughter, a laid-back acoustic sound that instantly demanded a re-listen. Similar to a lot of his work, he proves you can find beauty in simplicity.
Voodoos - It's Your Life
NME describe Scottish band Voodoos as "a riotous outfit to be missed at your peril" and it's a band I'll definitely be listening to more of after a Twitter recommendation for 'It's Your Life'. I won't lie, part of the song's appeal is it's 00s indie rock influence, a time I'm forever reminiscing about. An upbeat banger with plenty of energy. The fact they're from Scotland makes it even easier to enjoy.
Our Blinded by the Floodlights indie recommendations playlist is updated every week with the latest releases and songs we have on repeat.