Sun’s out, show’s book. With the county happily welcoming warmer weather, musician are ready to get their workouts on stage. Well, that fitness regime will continue well into the fall as Turnstile, Jessie J, Madison McFerrin, and Prof announced their upcoming tour plans.
Another thing indie music lovers are looking forward to once the season changes is the 2025 Americana Honors Awards ceremony. This year’s nominees were announced, and they featured Joy Oladokun, Nathaniel Rateliff, and MJ Lenderman (a big winner at the 2025 Libera Awards).
Other big news in the independent music sector includes two major deals. The first is Secretly Group’s acquisition of Merge Records. The second is Reservoir’s multilayered deal with Fool’s Gold Records.
As far as new music is concerned, our top independent release recommendations include Bambii’s Infinity Club II, Bas & The Hics’ Melanchronica, Hotline TNT’s Raspberry Moon, Maxo’s Mars Is Electric, Radamiz & FORTES’ Lightman, The Album, S.G. Goodman’s Planting By The Signs, U.S. Girls’ Scratch It, and Yaya Bey’s Do It Afraid.
Some of the album synopsis featured below were provided by their respective record label.
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Bambii - 'Infinity Club II'
In the wake of several notable album series revivals, Bambii joined the wave. However, on Infinity Club II, the producer extraordinaire managed to accomplish what others couldn’t–turn the page. While Infinity Club II honors the foundation laid by 2023’s Infinity Club, Bambii builds upon it with solid electronic innovation alongside a string of familiar voices including Ravyn Lenae, SadBoi, JELEEL!, and more. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Because Music
Bas and The Hics - 'Melanchronica'
Bas has turned a new leaf in his career. Still, there was something from the rapper’s past that he couldn’t walk away from–his yearning for collaboration. On Melanchronica, Bas reconnects with The Hics for a ten-track offering of genre fluid euphoria. Yes, the album is categorically classified as a R&B and soul release, but Melanchronica pushes far beyond that while keeping that sonic richness at its core. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Self-Released
Hotline TNT - 'Raspberry Moon'
The general rule of thumb that most bands operate from is that members find their lane and stick to it. For Hotline TNT, this code of conduct stifled their songwriting process. But Raspberry Moon breaks free of that mold. As a result, their musicianship flourished. Hotline TNT has removed itself from the debate about who gets to claim the subgenre label of shoegaze. But if Raspberry Moon doesn’t qualify, then what are we doing here? To stream or order, click here.
Source: Third Man
Maxo - 'Mars Is Electric'
As a genre, rap has faced a multitude of criticisms. The loudest complaint is that today’s rising acts aren’t saying much of anything. If you feel that way, you haven’t come across Maxo. On his fourth album, Mars Is Electric, no topic is too personal. “[‘Mars Is Electric’ is] my most present expression,” says Maxo. “[I’m] still creating for and from my heart; regardless of the outcome. In just under 30 minutes, Maxo opens himself up, bares it all for everyone to listen, then patches himself back up. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Smileforme
Radamiz & Fortes - 'Lightman, The Album'
It’s been six years since Radamiz’s last full-length LP. But Lightman, The Album, produced entirely by Fortes, isn’t some warmup exercise. The 18-track body of work is a miraculous display of the righteous emcees’ lyrical prowess. Somehow, the duo manages to top their EP installment. Between Fortes' laser-sharp production decisions and Radamiz’s innate ability to float between grooves, Lightman, The Album cements the two as indie rap’s most dynamic force. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Big Enough Home
S.G. Goodman - 'Planting By The Signs'
Typically, you can hear an artist’s sonic influences. While that might hold true for S.G. Goodman’s new album Planting By The Signs, that’s not where she pulled from. In the thick of mourning her mentor and dog, S.G. Goodman turned to literature. So, when you hear each of the project’s 11 tunes, you find yourself immersed in page-turning stories of her life as the daughter of a Kentucky farmer in Appalachia. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Slough Water/Thirty Tigers
U.S. Girls - 'Scratch It'
As U.S. Girls, Meg Remy has only dusted the surface of their musical capabilities. On their newest album, Scratch It, Remy abandons the production style that supporters have become accustomed to. Instead, Remy cloaks themselves with the warm sounds of country, gospel, garage rock, soul, disco, and folk because Scratch It’s lyrical contents are chilling enough. To stream or order, click here.
Source: 4AD
Yaya Bey - 'Do It Afraid'
Life is filled with gray areas, especially when it comes to emotional regulation. Far too many lack the ability to articulate that nuance. Well, that’s not a problem Yaya Bey has. On Do It Afraid, Bey masterfully weaves together tales of pain, loss, and joy, as well as the clusterf*ck of when all these emotional elements exist simultaneously. To stream or order, click here.
Source: Drink Sum Wtr