Winter Alternative/Indie Artist Recommendations

By the time the seemingly never-ending month of March comes—a final homestretch before the snow melts and warm weather pays us a lengthy, much-anticipated visit—most of us are experiencing some kind of burnout and seasonal depression. However people say that music is medicine for the soul, so here are some alternative/indie artist recommendations to get you through the end of this winter season!

First up is British singer-songwriter Jacob Allen (a.k.a. Puma Blue), a musician who masterfully fuses alternative R&B, indie rock, and jazz to create slow-tempo songs. His debut EP Swum Baby was released in 2017, which includes many of his hit songs such as “(She’s) Just a Phase” and “Want Me.” His most recent hit that has been working its way through the indie community is “Moon Undah Water,” which includes his signature fuzzy-yet-crisp guitar tone and lofi-esque drum beats. Through his mellifluous falsetto voice, Puma Blue conveys the pain of unrequited love, a central theme in his songwriting. His sound is perfect for late evenings, especially during a cold night.

Next is the Norwegian artist Jakob Ogawa. Yet to release a full-length album, Jakob Ogawa supplies his fans with singles, full of bubbly synths and his whispery falsetto voice. His use of voice changers may be shocking at first, but this creative choice ties his music together and gives him a distinct sound. His first EP Bedroom Tapes was released in 2017 and features his most popular song “You Might be Sleeping” featuring Clairo. Other noteworthy songs of his to check out are “Velvet Light,” “All Your Light,” “Let It Pass,” and “You’ll Be on My Mind.”

The last artist is Good Morning, the Melbourne-based duo composed of artists Stefan Blair and Liam Parsons. Good Morning produces music with distinct folk and shoegaze/dream pop influences. Their mellow songs fluctuate between slow and mid-tempo, never too fast to spoil a calm wintry mood. Their first album Shawcross was released in 2014 and features their most popular song “Warned You.” While it is unclear whether this choice was intentional, Shawcross transitions from very slow to more upbeat songs, all with their same signature hazy guitar sound. Other songs to listen to from the album are “Don’t Come Home Today” and “Wednesday.”

Hopefully, these recommendations help you find a few new artists and songs to last you for the rest of the season. Happy listening!