Best Singles of 2025 | 40 Essential Indie Tracks

Last Updated on 2026-01-03 by a-indie

40 beloved songs representing 2025 and must-hear hidden gems gather here🔥

This time, writer RAM, who has been writing cross-reviews with Takita from Argentina, participates for the first time, and Maririn makes a comeback after nearly 10 years since 2016🎉

From the magically unhinged Geese, the overwhelming expressiveness of Kazumi Nikaido, to artists like KISS OF LIFE and Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso who colored 2025, diverse music is assembled!

Even if you don’t usually listen to indie music, reading each writer’s passionate comments will surely make you want to press the play button.

What kind of music colored the year 2025? Through this article, I hope you’ll enjoy discovering new music🎶

【Playlist】40 Songs from Best Singles of 2025

RAM’s 10 Selections | Best Singles of 2025

Sheena Ringo – La velada legendaria

Artist Name	Sheena Ringo
Song Title	La velada legendaria

The mixture of influences on Sheena Ringo’s music never fails to amaze me. And how does she sing like that? She has one of the most interesting and engaging voices I’ve heard.(RAM)

Mei Semones – Zarigani

Artist Name	Mei Semones
Song Title	Zarigani

The artistic evolution of Mei Semones shines particularly bright on this track. Being familiar with her releases before her debut album, this song feels like a perfect example of how much she has grown within her characteristic sound. It flows so beautifully between each section. I think anybody who has a passion for music should check ‘Animaru’.(RAM)

Ninajirachi – London Song

Artist Name	Ninajirachi
Song Title	London Song

For me, in the future, it will be hard to think back to 2025 and not have Ninajirachi’s ‘I Love my Computer’ pop up instantly in my mind. ‘London Song’ manages to open it beautifully, acting like a declaration of intentions. Opens the door to a wonderful world which has become very dear to me.(RAM)

Black Country, New Road – For the Cold Country

Artist Name	Black Country, New Road
Song Title	For the Cold Country

Black Country, New Road has gone through such a lovely reinvention following Isaac Wood’s departure. One which could not have been easy, and which gets beautifully displayed on this track.(RAM)

Candelabro – Haz de mí

Artist Name	Candelabro
Song Title	Haz de mí

Candelabro is a jaw-on-the-floor type of band. I kept getting them recommended throughout the year, and it took me no longer than a couple of bars to realise why. They took a massive amount of stylistic influences and mixed them with their amazing musicianship to create a masterpiece.(RAM)

kinoue64 – Victim

Artist Name	kinoue64
Song Title	Victim

Trance-like vocaloid noise-pop. Lovely combination, perfectly exemplified. (RAM)

betcover!! – Go-Go Steam

Artist Name	betcover!!
Song Title	Go-Go Steam

Sometimes you just have to surrender yourself to certain pieces of music; any further words would be superfluous. Mesmerizing.(RAM)

Courting – the twins (1969)

Artist Name	Courting
Song Title	the twins (1969)

With its mixture of rock and electronic elements paired with highly energetic performances, Courting lives rent-free in my mind.(RAM)

Geese – 100 Horses

Artist Name	Geese
Song Title	100 Horses

Magically unhinged. You cannot escape Geese this year.(RAM)

No Buses – Slip, Fall, Sleep

Artist Name	No Buses
Song Title	Slip, Fall, Sleep

This song got played in my house around a million times during the year because my girlfriend absolutely loves it, and so do I. No Buses have artistically grown so much in the previous year, and their newest album reflects it perfectly.(RAM)

Maririn’s 10 Selections | Best Singles of 2025

Electric Callboy – TANZNEID

Artist Name	Electric Callboy
Song Title	TANZNEID

Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso – EL DÍA DEL AMIGO

Artist Name	Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
Song Title	EL DÍA DEL AMIGO

DYGL – Big Dream

Artist Name	DYGL
Song Title	Big Dream

clipping. – Dodger

Artist Name	clipping.
Song Title	Dodger

Car Seat Headrest – Gethsemane

Artist Name	Car Seat Headrest
Song Title	Gethsemane

The Hellp – Doppler

Artist Name	The Hellp
Song Title	Doppler

Ugly – Gallowine

Artist Name	Ugly
Song Title	Gallowine

Elias Rønnenfelt – Love How It Feels

Artist Name	Elias Rønnenfelt
Song Title	Love How It Feels

dust – Drawbacks

Artist Name	dust
Song Title	Drawbacks

the hatch – M l d y

Artist Name	the hatch
Song Title	M l d y

I selected songs I loved without worrying about musical criticism. My body was craving songs with many developments and firmly carved beats.

In terms of my personal experience, I’ve been on a hardcore boom over the past few years, and since last year’s BABYMETAL collaboration, I feel I’ve been listening to a lot of metal, especially German metal bands led by Electric Callboy.

However, if I had to pick one artist, this year was the year of Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso. Since discovering them at Coachella, I couldn’t take my eyes off their music, fashion, and character. (Maririn)

Yuuki Takita’s 10 Selections | Best Singles of 2025

Oklou – blade bird

Artist Name	Oklou
Song Title	blade bird

Oklou is a solo music project by producer Marylou Mayniel from Poitiers, France.

She released her debut album ‘Choke Enough’ in 2025, produced with A. G. Cook and Casey Q, and this album was one of the works I listened to thoroughly throughout the year.

Among them, “blade bird” is fully rewarding just with the intro guitar tone, from which pure ambient soundscapes and clear vocals spread, plus playfully light-hearted beats and experimentally inserted sound gimmicks that add spice like rap phenomena.

My heart couldn’t stop racing at those vivid developments. It reminded me of the first day of moving, nervously wondering how to live in a freshly cleaned, blank room filled with anticipation. (Yuuki Takita)

Momma – I Want You (Fever)

Artist Name	Momma
Song Title	I Want You (Fever)

When I first listened to 90s alternative rock and grunge as a junior high student, for some reason I imagined a light blue color.

Since then, alternative and grunge music that really moves me evokes light blue. MOMMA’s album ‘Welcome To My Blue Sky’ coincidentally has a light blue jacket.

The sound pressure is strong, but guitars that create a sparkling, highly carbonated soundscape and sweet melodies sung by two fresh female vocals have a sweet-and-sour taste.

While simply reminiscing about my youth, “I Want You (Fever)” taught me why that color I imagined back then was that color. (Yuuki Takita)

Bon Iver – If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)

Artist Name	Bon Iver
Song Title	If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)

If you want to be maximally excited and moved by this song, first fully enjoy the “pitch black” prologue ‘SABLE,’ part of the concept album ‘SABLE, fABLE’ with clearly presented chapters.

The opening being black is proof of having painted many colors before, not shutting out light at all.

Gradually recovering brightness as if adding warm colors step by step, finally announcing the beginning of new life is “If Only I Could Wait (feat. Danielle Haim)” placed in the latter half of the album.

The sampler like ripples shimmering on water surface anticipates the restart of heartbeat, Vernon and Danielle’s gentle yet powerful voices giving breath, and the beat accelerates as if in response.

While feeling the mystery of life, it reminds us of the joy of living. (Yuuki Takita)

Lorde – What Was That

Artist Name	Lorde
Song Title	What Was That

The title of her album after four years was ‘Virgin,’ so like Bon Iver, Lorde also started over. More than 10 years of career since her debut album ‘Pure Heroine’ and once again “Virgin.”

Come to think of it, Hikaru Utada also titled her album about 20 years after debut album ‘First Love’ as ‘Hatsukoi’ (First Love). For Utada, it was a positive return to origins, but for Lorde, it was probably a new start after anguish, as the overall song themes symbolize.

Like a forced restart of a smartphone or PC that won’t fix its bugs. As if expressing that anguish, psychedelic feelings line up, but this song showed the liberating pop feeling like her 2nd album ‘Melodrama.’ I’m truly happy Lorde is back. (Yuuki Takita)

TAMTAM – Dragon in the Lagoon

Artist Name	TAMTAM
Song Title	Dragon in the Lagoon

There are really only a handful of bands I’ve continued to love with the same high intensity since their debut. It’s been over 5 years since I started writing for BELONG Media and A-indie, and finally an opportunity to write about TAMTAM came around.

Because it’s a band I have special feelings for, I wanted to write only when I was convinced it was truly a best song of the year, without favoritism.

“Dragon in the Lagoon” from the album ‘Where They Dwell’ created through self-recording and self-mixing based on experiences traveling various places.

How to express music that floats and drifts through multinational music genres from dub to afro, neo-soul, jazz, and city pop. There are no appropriate words for this exquisitely balanced delicate harmony.

If I pick up one element, other elements get damaged. Thought stops, and all you can do against transcendent sound is sway your body. (Yuuki Takita)

Florentenes – Fuel for The Flame

Artist Name	Florentenes
Song Title	Fuel for The Flame

An indie rock band from Bolton consisting of teenage members, based in Manchester.

Thanks to them, this year I was able to regain interest in aggressive and earthy rock, and also found interest in blues, which I had never explored before.

Should I call it sublimation of initial impulses? Raw vocals that directly express emotions are pushed to the forefront, vividly catching the ear, but behind them, somewhere detached and refined band sound continues to be played.

Since they’re based in Manchester, they inevitably watch surrounding bands, and probably get polished there. Rawness and refinement. That ambivalence is real. (Yuuki Takita)

KISS OF LIFE – Tell Me

Artist Name	KISS OF LIFE
Song Title	Tell Me

The song I listened to most in 2025. I really listened to it on infinite loop like crazy. I never thought I’d realize the beauty, ephemerality, and nobility of guitar tone through a Korean four-member girl group’s song.

Thinking back, “Sticky” released in 2024 featured afrobeat, and I was getting hooked. “Tell Me” that jumped in then is wonderful, of course, for unconditionally grooving with heightened pure afrobeat.

More than that, what I want to loudly convey is that it lets you hear the guitar tone (probably fingerpicking) not just organically but with such vividness and presence that it clearly floats before your eyes.

I want to say it again and again. This guitar tone is sublime and supreme. Since encountering this song, when I listen to music, I’ve started focusing on guitar tone. (Yuuki Takita)

Unknown Mortal Orchestra – DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY

Artist Name	Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Song Title	DEATH COMES FROM THE SKY

I thought once you bathe in addictive sound until you’re sick of it, you can’t reach the first pleasure you felt. Especially with Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s highly pure poison, I was even convinced it was difficult to reach past joy.

That’s why I felt something was lacking in their music since ‘Sex & Food,’ and it’s true I was satisfied enough with just past songs without expecting new releases.

The EP ‘CURSE’ betrayed that by giving new poison. Lo-fi guitar with funk and psychedelic. The components are the same as back then. The mixing method is different.

The roughly played guitars overflow with grief, even feeling bloody. The creator’s mentality changes the taste. (Yuuki Takita)

Blood Orange – The Field

Artist Name	Blood Orange
Song Title	The Field

Since it’s a new album after 7 years by a major artist like BLOOD ORANGE, there’s a lot to say and much to talk about, but putting aside themes, Caroline Polachek, Ben Watt, Lorde, and all the many guest features, I was just comforted by the pleasant sounds and vocals.

Maybe it’s okay to evaluate this album just on that.

The music was serene and minimal, so it seeped into the body slowly. The real pleasure of this work is noticing the gentleness of each individual sound that was played when all music stops.

I see, the album’s theme is “sorrow from family loss.” I was had. (Yuuki Takita)

Folk Bitch Trio – The Actor

Artist Name	Folk Bitch Trio
Song Title	The Actor

An indispensable topic when discussing 2025 music is their debut. And from Jagjaguwar at that. At first listen, it seems to be traditional folk music, but you can also confirm they’re nodding to indie rock and baroque pop.

It’s exciting to see them continue updating folk music as newcomers in the scene with a modern classic style, but most of all, what makes me anticipate Folk Bitch Trio is the harmony woven by three voices.

The ensemble shining like vocal music, while overlapping them with Taylor Swift who debuted as a new star in the country world might be different scenes and musical styles and seem premature, but in terms of potential, they seem fully capable of becoming icons not only in the folk scene but in the pop music scene. (Yuuki Takita)

yabori’s 10 Selections | Best Singles of 2025

Men I Trust – I Come With Mud

Artist Name	Men I Trust
Song Title	I Come With Mud

From Canada, Men I Trust’s song from ‘Equus Asinus’. I listened to it so much that meddlesome Spotify, which loves to compile at year-end, pointed out “you love this too much,” but it’s still good.

The moment the intro plays, the sensation of being taken to a surreal otherworld like the album cover is magic only they can produce. (yabori)

Smerz – You got time and I got money

Artist Name	Smerz
Song Title	You got time and I got money

The lead track from Norwegian Smerz’s album ‘Big city life’. While strings and beats intertwine, an eccentric, unapproachable atmosphere dominates.

They’re the only ones in the world who can create unique wobbly anthems. A song about loneliness and freedom that doesn’t go straight. (yabori)

denkyuu – Window

Artist Name	denkyuu
Song Title	Window

Tokyo duo denkyuu formed in 2022, from their EP ‘Shugou’. What floats up, invited by the sad harmonica tone, is the image of flowing in a museum 10 billion years in the future as traces of humanity.

Noise and pop mix together, a strange experience feeling the silence of the distant future. (yabori)

soraya – ひらめきを待っている(Waiting for Inspiration)

Artist Name	soraya
Song Title	Waiting for Inspiration

Speaking of units that showed dramatic change, it’s soraya. The transformation from pastoral atmosphere to hard, sharp beats!

The phrase “faint dance” sounds good, and bringing TAMTAM’s Kuro for lyrics was a great success!?

Having crossed over jazz and entered a new phase, I can’t take my eyes off them. (yabori)

Asagaya Romantics – Yoin

Artist Name	Asagaya Romantics
Song Title	Yoin

If you want to listen to quality Japanese pop, Asagaya Romantics is the answer. Their new song celebrating their 10th anniversary has vivid arrangements like changing from black and white to color!

Not flashy, but the subtraction in chorus and interlude is exquisite. The contrast of putting lyrics like “withered flowers” on moist sound is irresistible. (yabori)

Kazumi Nikaido – BILLIE

Artist Name	Kazumi Nikaido
Song Title	BILLIE

Kazumi Nikaido, known for the theme song of Ghibli film ‘The Tale of the Princess Kaguya’, reaches a tremendous realm of expressiveness in this work. Contrary to the cheerful melody, depth that gazes at life and death strikes the heart.

I couldn’t move for a while after listening, overwhelmed by energy that takes everything. (yabori)

orange flavored cigarettes – cici

Artist Name	orange flavored cigarettes
Song Title	cici

A new frontier song by them whose debut track was played worldwide. I can only take my hat off to the sense of reconstructing 60s retro texture in a contemporary way.

Sound production that eliminates excessive decoration rather highlights the song’s goodness. Listening, there’s a floating sensation like being taken to another world unknowingly. (yabori)

Steady Holiday – Seasonal Optimism

Artist Name	Steady Holiday
Song Title	Seasonal Optimism

A solo project by Dre Babinski based in LA. This work, like waiting for spring’s arrival, has strange charm where exhilaration and calm coexist.

Like wanting to just entrust yourself to sound on a sunny afternoon without thinking. A song that colors daily life a little more vividly. (yabori)

Shura – Richardson(feat. Cassandra Jenkins)

Artist Name	Shura
Song Title	Richardson(feat. Cassandra Jenkins)

British SSW Shura featuring Cassandra Jenkins. An ensemble that gently wraps wounded hearts loosens tense nerves.

I felt comfort like being asked “aren’t you pushing too hard?” Warmth that doesn’t deny loneliness but just stays close. (yabori)

Tennis – At The Wedding

Artist Name	Tennis
Song Title	At The Wedding

Married duo Tennis announced indefinite hiatus after 15 years of activity. From this work included in their final album, I feel a quiet determination unlike before.

Lyrics questioning marriage and love’s permanence overlap with the premonition of ending and tighten the chest. Tears for their aesthetic of leaving their masterpiece and departing. (yabori)

Contributing Writers | Best Singles of 2025

Writer: RAM

A student studying music composition at the National University of Arts in Argentina. Passionate about writing, discovering music, and sharing and engaging with music. Also works as a software developer.
Website:
Instagram: @ramcst

Maririn(@Igor_Bilic)

A music lover who plans and operates music events and conducts interviews for media.

After experience as staff at DaisyBar, hosts the individual project “SECOND SUMMER OF LOVE.”

As a writer, published interviews with Suchmos, Ykiki Beat, Never Young Beach, and others for BELONG Media.

Furthermore, with experience in discovering new talent at record companies and major label experience, continues pursuing the music scene from a multifaceted perspective.

Articles written for BELONG are here

Writer: Yuuki Takita

Born 1991, freelance writer from Tomakomai, Hokkaido. After graduating from the same university as TEAM NACS, entered music vocational school and majored in the writer course.

There produced 3 music free papers, conducting artist interviews to editing.

Utilizing that career, joined a cross music media company with free papers and web media, where experienced review article writing, editing, and sales.

After resignation, changed jobs to a certain large record shop employee, also writing disc review articles for their in-house media.

That became the catalyst to start activities as a freelance music writer. Currently a salaryman and music writer dreaming of holding an outdoor music festival in hometown Tomakomai.

Loves cats, movie watching, and reading. Nana Komatsu and curry & biryani exploration are lifestyle.

Articles written so far are here
Articles written for other media are here
Twitter: @takita_funky

Writer: Tomohiro Yabe(yabori)

Editor-in-Chief of BELONG Media and A-indie. Since 2010, wrote music blog “Timeless Masterpiece” which became BELONG’s predecessor.

After writing for “only in dreams” hosted by ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION vocalist Masafumi Goto, majored in music business at music vocational school.

Has written articles about Japanese and international music for over 10 years.

Previously was in charge of garage rock, psychedelic rock, and Japanese indie rock at a music CD rental shop with over 100,000 album titles.

Utilizing those experiences, published 26 issues of music magazine “BELONG Magazine” themed on “roots rock.”

Currently writes articles based on SEO measures learned at a web production company. Hobby is watching “Kaiun! Nandemo Kantei-dan.”

Articles written so far are here
Twitter: @boriboriyabori