There is nothing more amazing than music. A song can move you, inspire you, or even leave you with a feeling of creativity. There is no doubt that finding the perfect playlist to match your every mood and listening need isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

That’s why I’ve created a brand new playlist that’s aimed towards the road-tripper. As an independent producer myself, I enjoy discovering new acts from around the globe and this playlist certainly fits that criteria. I’ve hand picked some of my favorite artists — both consolidate names and lesser known — who are worth checking out if you’re on the look out for some new tunes.

With so many artists on the digital music platform today, its hard to curate a playlist that caters specifically to an active lifestyle, but that’s exactly what I’ve tried to achieve with my Indie Rock Playlist For The Road Trip.

There are a few tracks from each album in my playlists which really stand out to me as why they’re worthwhile listening to — those tracks are called key tracks for a reason. These songs aren’t just enjoyable for first time listeners; instead they’re meant for you to listen to over and over again when you’re exploring a new place for the first time.

Check it out! You can follow our full playlist or listen to each artist individually to support them too.

1) THE HELL BEINGS – Court Of Appeal

THE HELL BEINGS are a new band on the scene, and they’re doing things differently. They have a sound that’s all their own, with elements of Alternative Rock, Garage Rock, Grunge, Noise Rock, Punk Rock and British music.

Their single Court Of Appeal is a perfect example of what they do: it starts out slow with one note and explodes building up to something much bigger. The song has a very dark feel to it—it’s almost like you’re listening to it in an empty room full of flickering lights.

And that’s why this band is interesting—they know how to keep their listeners engaged throughout the entire song. They make sure there are no dull moments or “dead space.” Even when they’re playing at their slowest or softest point (which is often), they still keep your attention by changing things up just enough so that you don’t get bored with what they’ve created so far while still keeping things interesting enough so that you want them to keep going.

So if you like Alternative Rock music but want something darker than what most people enjoy these days—then check out THE HELL BEINGS today! Follow them on Spotify.

2) WAR HONEY – Last Woman Left At The Market

When it comes to new music, I’m a sucker for the same thing everyone else is: a good indie rock band.

That’s why I was curious when I found out about WAR HONEY. They’re an alternative rock/post-punk band from New York, and they came to make noise.

Their EP “Last Woman Left At The Market” is something to shake your body. It’s got that shoegaze sound that is strange but I love so much—just enough reverb on the vocals and guitars to give it an ethereal feel without making it too hard to listen to. It’s perfect for a road trip playlist if you like a rock!

Check the track Stupid Stature, and if you want to check out more of their stuff, they have an EP called “Shard To Shatter” available on Spotify as well. Follow the band on Spotify.

3) EVERYTHING BUT THE EVERYTHING – Jump

I’m a big fan of all kinds of music. I like to listen to my favourite tunes while I’m driving, and currently, I’m listening to this band called EVERYTHING BUT THE EVERYTHING.

They have an awesome single called Jump. It’s a great song to listen to when you’re on the road because it’s upbeat and makes you want to get up and dance around and wave your head.

I also love their other songs as well—especially the one called In Love… Again featuring Golden Plates. It’s less upbeat than Jump, but it still has that 80’s rock feel that makes me want to sing along with it!

If you’re looking for some new music to listen to while driving around town or going on long drives with friends or family, then check out EVERYTHING BUT THE EVERYTHING! Don’t forget to follow the band on Spotify.

4) 12 NOTES – The Little Things

12 NOTES is a country-rock band from the United States. They have a new EP called The Little Things, which is full of super-catchy tunes that will make you want to listen over and over again.

The first song on this EP, “Bourbon Kiss” has an anthem sound and it makes me think of the early 2000s when country music was mainstream in many countries too.

It’s got a very catchy chorus and has some great guitar riffs that make you want to get up and start dancing. The third song on this EP, “The Little Things” is a love song about finding someone who turns your world upside down and makes you feel alive again, and that almost acoustic vibe is spot on.

It’s upbeat and fun to listen to, but at the same time, there’s also an underlying sadness to it that reminds me of being in love with someone who doesn’t love me back.

So if you like a country rock with some pop influences then you’ll definitely want to give this one a listen! Follow this amazing band on Spotify.

5) ROMAIN GUTSY – When Leonard Met Dolly

Romain Gutsy is a singer-songwriter based in Paris, France. The band’s latest album, When Leonard Met Dolly, is a collection of songs about love and life. The album has a country vibe but also features some rock elements.

The songs on this album are super catchy and have good male vocals and harmonies. My favourite song is I’m a Married Man, really, this one doesn’t work for driving as you will definitely dance while driving. We can’t help.

If you’re looking for something that will get stuck in your head all day long, this is the album for you!

Following all their songs, this album is something else. Oh, don’t forget to follow the band on Spotify.

6) SEEK WARMTH – Minor Peace

SEEK WARMTH is an independent band from Bristol – UK, that specializes in alt-rock, pop, and alternative rock. Their debut album Minor Peace was released on April 17th of this year, and it’s already getting some serious buzz.

The album is a mix of dreamy vocals, beautifully layered instrumentals, and heartfelt lyrics that leave you feeling like you just got hit by a wave of nostalgia for the 90s.

It’s an album that reminds us all of what it was like to be young and in love—or at least what we think being young and in love feels like—and it makes us want to throw on our favourite pair of jeans and drive around with the windows down while blasting these songs from the speakers of our car.

Our favourite tracks include “Gather / Howl” and “Something Usual”, which bring some variation to the topics of lyrics. But even though some songs bring up not 100% happy memories for me, it’s still fun to listen to because it has such a catchy beat and positive message: you’re worth loving whether or not anyone else thinks so!

Please follow the band on Spotify to support them.

7) REDRUMSOCIETY – Street Fights

REDRUMSOCIETY is an indie rock band that was formed in 2008 in the United States, Boca Raton. Their name comes from the fact that they were all raised on Red Bull and a healthy dose of Skittles, which we can all agree is a winning combination.

RedrumSociety’s Street Fights EP embodies the funky style and flare of the group. Cohen’s songwriting abilities and his soaring vocals on songs like “With My One And Only,” “Love You No More,” and the album’s title track, “Street Fights,” are backed by stellar musicians and seamless chemistry that guides their sound. Cohen created the EP to express his various feelings and experiences when he was quarantined following the start of the pandemic, the political climate and his personal relationship at that time.

Their EP Street Fights is not their first release, it’s from 2020, and it’s a collection of songs that are both fun to listen to and easy to dance to (which makes them perfect for road trips). The lead singer’s voice reminds me of 90s indie rock bands, with a little bit of Stevie Nicks thrown in there too—it’s rough around the edges but still smooth as silk at the same time.

Check it out and follow the band on Spotify.

8) SALT – Fairytale On Fire

The band SALT is a pop-punk/alternative band from Scotland. They are known for their modern twist on 90’s rock, and their catchy, upbeat melodies.

Their EP Fairytale On Fire is very much a summer album – it’s perfect for a road trip or a backyard party. It has an indie vibe, but also has some of the feel of classic punk rock. The songs are quick and easy to sing along to, but there are also some slower songs that will make you want to sit back and relax after a long day at work.

The lead vocalist has a beautiful voice, and it really shines through on this album. Each song has its own unique sound that makes it stand out from others. The lyrics are fun and lighthearted – they’re perfect for when you need something uplifting after a bad day!

Follow the band on Spotify and support their art.

9) THE MAGIC EPIC – 36

The Magic Epic is a British-based soft rock band that released their album 36 recently.

The Magic Epic‘s sound is reminiscent of artists like The Beatles, Coldplay and Mumford & Sons. The band’s lead singer has a very unique voice that will make you want to listen to the whole album in one sitting. If not crying as I did.

The first song on the album is called “Starts With A Feeling” and it’s about what is in the tittle, feelings, and sounds cliche but it’s worth it in the end, what a feeling this man can pass trough his voice. Something almost spiritual. Pure talent!

Despite being short, I enjoyed this song because it makes me think about this kind of talent that is hard to find nowadays. It is hard to find singers who are able to cry with their voices.

One of my favourite songs on this album has to be “Summer”. It’s all about emotions, instruments, voices, the beat, drums, and bass, everything is perfect and sometimes brings a euphoric feeling. Take Cold Play, Kings of Leon, Sigur Ros and other great bands as examples.

These guys are magic. What a level of talent these guys have brought to us, wow! Despite being the one of the last on my list, Summer is the first song I personally chose. Just follow them on Spotify. No joke, I loved all of their songs!

10) THE RAPPORTS – Alive

THE RAPPORTS are a band I discovered on SoundCloud, and it was love at first listen.

The band is from Brighton UK, and they describe their music as “Melodic Pop Rock.” I’d say that’s about right—the songs have a strong emphasis on melody, with a chorus that just gets stuck in your head.

The single “Alive” is one of their most recent releases, and it’s a good one to start with if you’re new to the band. It’s got an upbeat tempo, but it also has some surprising depth to it.

The lyrics are thoughtful and it invites you to dance like Beatles’ songs. The song starts out with a beutiful ale voice alone, followed by some guitar riff before building up into layers of instrumentation: electric guitars, synthesizers, drums… It’s all tied together, and has authenticity.

If you like the sound of THE RAPPORTS’ music (and if you don’t already), then check out some other tracks from their album Taking Off, it’s britpop and is very entertaining.

Check out the band on Spotify and show your support!