Most Famous 2020s POV: Indie from the Last 60 Days, updated on Jan 8,2025
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 1 . Hozier - Too SweetReleased in March 2024, Hozier's “Too Sweet” draws from Dante's Inferno, aligning with themes of Unreal Unearth. It paints a dichotomy between indulgence and discipline, setting the narrator's nocturnal, hedonistic tendencies against a partner's more restrained lifestyle. Laced with references to whiskey, black coffee, and late nights, the song's retro R&B groove brings a modernized, seductive quality. Social media has embraced it, particularly in videos juxtaposing personalities or contrasting images of fictional characters, emphasizing an attraction rooted in both intensity and sweetness. Genres : Pop, Electronic,irish singer-songwriter, modern rock, pov: indie The music video is directed by Ruth Medjber Featured on the album Unheard (ep)
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 2 . Glass Animals - Heat WavesSince its June 2020 release, Glass Animals' “Heat Waves,” produced by lead singer Dave Bayley, has evolved into an indie rock, R&B, and electropop hybrid anthem. The song's path to the Billboard Hot 100's top spot is unprecedented, taking 59 weeks to reach its peak. Its melancholic lyrics exude nostalgia, resonating with the bittersweet nature of cherished memories. Set against empty, quarantined London streets, Bayley drags a cart of televisions playing his bandmates, capturing isolation. FIFA 21 and TikTok catapulted the track into international acclaim, marking it as a resonant pandemic-era hit. Genres : Pop, Rock,gauze pop, indietronica, modern rock, pov: indie, shiver pop The music video is directed by Colin Read Featured on the album Dreamland
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 3 . Beabadoobee - Glue SongReleased in February 2023, “Glue Song” by Beabadoobee celebrates the joy of love, inspired by a new relationship. Produced by Jacob Bugden and Iain Berryman, the track features string and trumpet arrangements, while the lyrics echo a sense of being “stuck” with someone, hence the title. Shot on 16mm film in Iloilo City, Philippines, the video includes personal touches like a scene with her grandmother. A Clairo remix in April 2023 bolstered the song's popularity, giving it an intimate, balladic resonance that connects deeply with listeners. Genres : Pop, Rock,bedroom pop, bubblegrunge, indie pop, pov: indie The music video is directed by Jake Erland
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 4 . Mitski - My Love Mine All MineMitski's October 2023 single “My Love Mine All Mine” contemplates love as a lasting legacy, imploring the moon to preserve her love beyond death. The song, set to a minimalist arrangement with acoustic guitar and pedal steel, became a viral TikTok phenomenon with over 300,000 uses by October 2023. Its video, where Mitski builds a tower of chairs to witness an ocean sunset, metaphorically connects love, possession, and mortality, inviting listeners to appreciate love's transcendent nature as an enduring presence amidst life's impermanence. Genres : Rock, Pop,brooklyn indie, pov: indie The music video is directed by A.G. Rojas Featured on the album The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
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 5 . Conan Gray - Heather“Heather,” released in September 2020 by Conan Gray, produced by Dan Nigro, captures the pain of unrequited love and insecurity. The minimal instrumentation foregrounds Gray's raw vocal vulnerability, conveying admiration mixed with frustration toward “Heather,” a figure admired by Gray's unreciprocated love interest. This introspective track, marked by subtle guitar and piano, became an anthem of unshared affections, resonating with listeners who have felt the sting of emotional distance in relationships. Genres : Pop,bedroom pop, pop, pov: indie The music video is directed by Dillon Matthew Featured on the album Kid Krow
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 6 . Liana Flores - Rises The MoonIn her 2019 release, “Rises The Moon,” British folk artist Liana Flores channels a soothing aura through minimalistic guitar, evoking João Gilberto's style. Although straightforward, the lyrics weave together life cycles, hinting at optimism even in difficult times. The song's major-minor alternations and a single pitch-shifting note create a comforting yet introspective effect. The song's popularity on TikTok reflects its calming presence, offering stability as the moon rises—a metaphor for enduring serenity through personal and emotional transitions. Genres : Pop,pov: indie The music video is directed by samuel macdonald Featured on the album recently (ep)
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 7 . Yungblud - Cotton CandyYUNGBLUD's “Cotton Candy,” produced by Chris Greatti, explores themes of sexual freedom and self-acceptance with an ‘80s-inspired pop sound. Released in September 2020, the song's sweet yet bold lyrics challenge societal norms, emphasizing uninhibited personal expression. By merging upbeat melodies with themes of exploration, “Cotton Candy” encourages embracing one's identity without shame. Genres : Rock, Pop,british indie rock, modern rock, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Tanu Muin Featured on the album Weird!
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 8 . Twenty One Pilots - Level Of ConcernApril 2020's “Level of Concern” by Twenty One Pilots addresses pandemic anxieties with a pop-rock and dance-rock twist, deviating from their usual style. Created by Tyler Joseph with Paul Meany's collaboration, its upbeat energy contrasts with introspective lyrics on hope amid crisis. The music video, shot in isolation, shows the band creating the song through USB exchanges, amplifying the track's message of connection in uncertain times. Genres : Rock, Pop,modern rock, pop, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Reel Bear Media
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 9 . Conan Gray - Memories"Memories" captures the raw aftermath of a breakup as Conan Gray wrestles with lingering emotions reignited by an ex. Its piano-led balladry underscores Gray's heartfelt delivery, marking a standout single from his second album that resonates with emotional vulnerability. Genres : Pop,bedroom pop, pop, pov: indie The music video is directed by Taylor Cohen Featured on the album Superache
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 10 . Yungblud - I Was Made For Lovin’ You [From The Fall Guy]YUNGBLUD's April 2024 cover of KISS's “I Was Made For Lovin' You” appears on The Fall Guy soundtrack, directed by David Leitch and featuring Ryan Gosling. Produced by Chris Greatti and Dominic Lewis, known for Free Guy and The King's Man, the rendition remains faithful to the original's raw intensity. This modern rock take uses ardent lyrics and pulsating production to embody desire, fitting perfectly into the high-stakes, action-fueled atmosphere of the film. Genres : Rock, Pop,british indie rock, modern rock, pov: indie, rock
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 11 . Chappell Roan - CasualIn “Casual,” released in October 2022, Chappell Roan delves into the emotional tangles of non-committal relationships, capturing the unresolved feelings of a “situationship” born from a long-distance online romance during COVID-19. Produced by Dan Nigro and Ryan Linvill, the dream pop track gained sleeper-hit status in 2024, its video portraying Roan's relationship with a mermaid. Slow rhythms and introspective melodies deepen the sense of emotional ambiguity in casual relationships, blending Roan's unique style with universal themes of intimacy and connection. Genres : Pop, Folk/Acoustic,indie pop, pov: indie, springfield mo indie The music video is directed by Hadley Hillel Featured on the album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
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 12 . Tom Cardy - Transcendental Cha Cha ChaTom Cardy's “Transcendental Cha Cha Cha” delivers an absurdist mix of surreal humor and rhythmic escapism that feels as intergalactic as its title suggests. The composition blends Cha Cha Cha, Salsa, Rumba, and Tango into a kaleidoscope of genres, weaving together lighthearted comedy with existential undertones. Cardy's knack for crafting eccentric narratives is on full display, with references to time travel and multiverse chaos tucked between intricate dance instructions. The track's comedic framework operates on multiple levels, capturing both the sublime and the ridiculous within an imaginative universe where cosmic connections meet quirky beats. Released alongside a vibrant music video, the visual counterpart amplifies its otherworldly charm, cementing its place as a genre-mashing experiment in creative absurdity. Equal parts satire and spectacle, the song thrives in its contradictions, managing to feel both chaotic and tightly composed within the same breath. Genres : Hip Hop, Pop,comic, pov: indie The music video is directed by Shoocharu
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 13 . Twenty One Pilots - OvercompensateFebruary 2024's “Overcompensate” by Twenty One Pilots addresses overpreparation for life's uncertainties. Produced by Tyler Joseph and Paul Meany, this track is a genre fusion of alt-rock, hip-hop, and electronic beats. With an emo-inspired soundscape, repetitive synths, and Josh Dun's dynamic drumming, it communicates resilience in the face of adversity. Featured in NHL 25, it underscores the duo's message of facing life's unknowns with determination and persistence. Genres : Rock, Pop,modern rock, pop, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Mark Eshleman Featured on the album Clancy
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 14 . Twenty One Pilots - Paladin Strait“Paladin Strait,” released in May 2024, sees Tyler Joseph and Paul Meany craft a cinematic narrative around a symbolic journey through treacherous waters, embodying personal struggle and resolve. A crescendo-driven, alternative-electronic piece, the track calls back to Blurryface with the reappearance of Joseph's dark alter ego. As the concluding chapter of the Clancy saga, “Paladin Strait” merges atmospheric rock and electronic sounds to capture a stormy, internal confrontation, reaching a crescendo that underscores the resilience within personal battles. Genres : Rock, Pop,modern rock, pop, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Jensen Noen Featured on the album Clancy
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 15 . Alan Walker & Yuqi Of (G)I-Dlejvke - Fire!“Fire!” by Alan Walker, featuring YUQI from (G)I-DLE and American artist JVKE, ignites a fiery exploration of passion in relationships. Released in December 2023, this EDM-pop fusion combines Walker's signature style with metaphor-rich lyrics. The fire imagery illustrates an intense and sometimes dangerous attraction, with a pulsating beat enhancing the song's raw emotional landscape. Walker and Kasper Haugen's production delivers a magnetic track that captures the highs and lows of impassioned connections. Genres : Electronic, Pop,electro house, modern indie pop, pov: indie, singer-songwriter pop, k-pop girl group The music video is directed by Kristian Berg
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 16 . Beabadoobee & Laufey - A Night To RememberMelding jazz, bossa nova, and mid-century pop, this cinematic piece narrates a fleeting romantic encounter from contrasting perspectives. The collaboration, crafted across studios in London, New York, and Los Angeles, incorporates lush string arrangements and bossa nova instrumentals. Beabadoobee's indie-pop sensibilities intertwine with Laufey's neoclassical influences, creating a nostalgic and romantic ambiance that celebrates freedom and agency in relationships. Genres : Pop, Rock,bedroom pop, bubblegrunge, indie pop, pov: indie, gen z singer-songwriter The music video is directed by Jake Erland
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 17 . Twenty One Pilots - The HypeTwenty One Pilots' “The Hype” lands firmly in the genre-blending space that has become their signature, weaving 90s-style rock with touches of indie and alternative influences. With a ukulele bridge unexpected in this sonic landscape, the song gleefully tosses convention aside. The lyrics tread on perseverance and the pressures of fame, balancing vulnerability with resolve. The accompanying video, shot in their hometown of Columbus, Ohio, is both intimate and nostalgic—layering callbacks to earlier works with visual cues tied to their “Trench” universe. Fans appear throughout, draped in flannel and marked by the ever-recurring yellow tape motif, amplifying the sense of a tightly-knit community. Produced in Tyler Joseph's basement alongside Paul Meany, every note feels personal yet polished, capturing the claustrophobia of expectation while offering moments of cathartic release. The song closes an album that threads its own intricate narrative while also granting escapism through its energetic composition. Genres : Rock, Pop,modern rock, pop, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Andrew Donoho
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 18 . Clairo - JunaAn ethereal mix of dream-pop and indie-folk, "Juna" captivates with introspective lyrics addressing themes of vulnerability and personal reflection. The lo-fi production evokes Clairo's early sound, while the video, shot during a Beyond Wrestling event in Worcester, Massachusetts, adds a whimsical visual narrative. Featuring a royal rumble match and communal lip-syncing with wrestlers, the song is both intimate and unconventional, echoing Clairo's penchant for merging music with nuanced storytelling. Genres : Pop,bedroom pop, indie pop, pov: indie The music video is directed by Bradley J Calder Featured on the album Charm
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 19 . Rare Americans - Brittle Bones Nicky 3Rare Americans' "Brittle Bones Nicky 3" continues the saga of its fiery protagonist with an animated twist, combining striking visuals by Solis Animation with a rich narrative flow. The track pulses with alternative rock grit, threading themes of deception and love into a tapestry of sharp-edged lyricism. Ben Kaplan's production steadies the chaos, polishing the band's often-offbeat storytelling while retaining its rebellious edge. There's a cinematic feel here, with each note seemingly choreographed for the unfolding drama of Nicky's troubled tale. The trilogy's fanbase finds itself rewarded with cryptic lyrics and Easter eggs, cementing its place as a crowd favorite during their 2024 tour circuit. Crooked City Records backs the track's ambitious fusion of sound, story, and sight—a calculated risk that pays off uniquely. This isn't just a song; it's a chapter of a larger, darker fable that blurs genre lines and experiments with narrative-driven music. Genres : Pop,pov: indie The music video is directed by Crooked City Studios and Solis Animation
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 20 . Twenty One Pilots - BackslideTwenty One Pilots' "Backslide" channels a raw conversational energy as Tyler Joseph confronts insecurities head-on, weaving the ocean as a recurring metaphor for emotional ebb and flow. A leitmotif tied to their infamous Blurryface persona resurfaces, merging pulsating alternative rock tones with polished pop sensibilities to dissect self-doubt. The song thrives on its layered symbolism, combining introspective lyrics with a hook that wades through vulnerability and tension. The track's structure suggests a dialogue, not just between the artist and listener but also an inner conflict—intensified by Blurryface's haunting presence in fleeting yet impactful moments. Performed live during The Clancy World Tour, it underscores the duo's knack for blending theatricality with sonic intimacy, resonating deeply with audiences across cities like Denver and London. Directed by drummer Josh Dun, the official video amplifies the song's metaphorical weight, depicting stormy seas as a fitting analog for insecurity's unpredictable grasp. The production remains unshowy yet striking, allowing Joseph's distinctive vocal delivery and the song's lyrical density to shine without overcomplication. As part of their 2024 album *Clancy*, "Backslide" entrenches itself as a pivotal piece in the band's ongoing narrative exploration of identity and unease. Genres : Rock, Pop,modern rock, pop, pov: indie, rock The music video is directed by Josh Dun Featured on the album Clancy
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ABOUT POV: INDIEPOV: Indie: Definition, Music and WordsPOV: Indie emphasizes personal, introspective narratives, focusing on the artist’s emotions and intimate experiences through straightforward and personal lyrics, combined with a lo-fi aesthetic and subtle electronic influences. This genre originated from internet culture and the increasing accessibility of music production tools. It continues the traditions of classic indie while incorporating modern and digital elements. The main subgenres within POV: Indie include:
Each subgenre carries unique sonic characteristics while maintaining a shared focus on creative independence and introspective themes. The Music The melody in POV: Indie is often soft and melancholic, characterized by simple, catchy lines, with minimal production highlighting the vocals and lyrics. Instrumentation typically blends acoustic elements (such as guitar and piano) with minimal electronic sounds and lo-fi beats. The production often results in an intentionally “raw” and “imperfect” sound, which emphasizes authenticity and a sense of closeness to the listener. This approach allows artists to break free from the constraints of mass production, and producers play a key role in creating this unique sound, utilizing subtle echo or saturation effects. Producers currently experimenting with home recording and DIY production techniques include:
The Words The lyrics in POV: Indie are deeply introspective, addressing themes of vulnerability, nostalgia, social anxiety, and genuine emotional experiences. For instance:
These poignant, personal verses are central to POV: Indie, inviting the listener to immerse themselves in the artist’s intimate experiences. POV: Indie: MagazinesSeveral media outlets focus on pop music and visual arts, including POV: Indie:
POV: Indie: Key Record LabelsHere are several key labels that produce POVIndie music:
POV: Indie: Fashion and Other Art FormsPOV: Indie has strong ties to fashion, especially vintage and DIY styles. Some brands associated with this aesthetic include:
Apart from fashion, there are notable connections between POV: Indie and other art forms:
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ADJACENT GENRES
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27.77% / 3.11%
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