I’m going to consider July’s musical offerings birthday gifts that just kept on giving. Truly, so much great music was released last month that it was VERY hard to narrow it down. Here, I share 10 of my favourites… and list 20 honourable mentions below that.
You can find all 30 indie/alt tunes in my ICYMI: July playlist!
my top 10
10. half alive- interstate drive
Who can’t identify with feeling stuck between where you are and where you want to be, or otherwise trapped by thoughts of what you should be? Driving guitar and emotive vocals round off what is another compelling offering from this trio.
9. the world stopped turning- gathering of strangers
Can a melody sparkle? The Manchester-based rockers deliver another infectious summer bop with this vibrant pop-rock tune.
8. don’t forget me now- astoria
This song would have 100% been in an emotionally-charged episode of One Tree Hill if this were the mid-2000s. (The show literally had an all-ages club written into it to feature more live music and introduced my teenage self to the likes of Audioslave, the Wombats, Aqualung and the Kooks, to name just a few).
7. where life takes me- the sway
I’ve got a decade on these Scousers, but for some reason relate to this song more than most of the others on this list. There’s just something uniquely charming about jazzy, kaleidoscopic melodies layered with the distinct Liverpudlian accent.
6. used to know me- cavalcade
Just saying, there’s a reason this song made it onto BBC Introducing… it’s fantastic! There’s a barreling urgency to the music that is offset by thoughtful lyrics, combined into one compelling package.
5. i fell in love with a talking head- seb lowe
At just 19, Seb’s got a remarkable handle on catchy indie pop that is much deeper than the genre is often given credit for.
4. until you get home- pg ciarletta
This song has an almost subtle energy that just begs for a room or field full of people singing and bopping along.
3. burn me drown me- the great leslie
For what is actually pretty heavy/borderline depressing and anxiety-adjacent lyrical content, this song is one hell of a toe-tapper. It’s a raucous good time, sprinkled with just the right amount of glam rock melodrama.
2. Mil1ion- apollo junction
This song is a warm hug. You can always count on these Leeds-based indie rockers to inspire and uplift! Read my sound check post.
1. soul- the kaves
Do you know how many plays it takes for a song to enter the upper reaches of my cumulative top 100 for 2023, at this point in the year? Upwards of a dozen per day, as it turns out. Soul is now firmly lodged in my top 5, and shows no signs of departing my Binge tracks playlist any time soon.
With barely more than 1,100 monthly listeners on Spotify, these Scottish rockers are rare hidden gems delivering up outsized anthemic sounds worthy of many, many, many more ears than they currently have tuned in.
honourable mentions
- Wonderland (Same Old Story)- Usual Affairs
- Running- The Cavs
- Grace- The Lilacs
- Feel For Me- Lissy Taylor
- Polaroid- The Mercians
- Bittersweet- VIVAS
- Remember All the Girls- The Sherlocks
- Feel- The Colliflowers
- Third Time Lucky- Manilla Times
- Fake Happy- Hannah Georgas
- Good Excuse- Skuff Micksun
- Industrial Dreams- The Juice
- Better Off- Brave Liaison
- Like to Be- Hazy Sundays
- Rest and Be Thankful- Waverley.
- Easy- Lock-In
- Kissin California- Shed Seven
- Slow Down- Northern System
- Just the Once- Metric
- Living in Your Pocket- The Jack Fletcher Band
Indie Dependent 
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