Noam Peri – I Wanna Be Your Ex
Noam Peri's 'I Wanna Be Your Ex' is a messy, magnetic slice of indie rock, turning romantic chaos into one of the most fun singles we've heard recently
Noam Peri knows exactly how confusing it feels to want someone back when you know you shouldn't. 'I Wanna Be Your Ex' opens with driving guitars and locks into a groove that refuses to let go, synth arps threading through the mix and lifting the whole thing skyward. The lyrics are honest and slightly chaotic, catching that push-pull of desire and better judgement without ever getting too neat about it. And the hook? It lands perfectly, catchy and just a little reckless. A bit like the relationship it's describing. Brilliant indie, all playful and emotionally sharp.
Noam Peri is a queer indie artist based in Los Angeles, blending 70s rock influences with electronic touches. Having studied and lived in Hollywood, she draws on the city's energy and culture to shape songs about heartbreak, self-discovery and real-life struggle. She's played venues like the Viper Room Lounge and Breaking Sound, and her live shows have a raw, rhythmic punch to them. We're keeping an eye on Noam Peri.
Prince Jelleh – First Fall
Prince Jelleh's 'First Fall' is a stunning slice of Swiss indie folk, a breakup song that earns every ache with rare honesty
There's a stillness at the centre of 'First Fall' that makes the whole thing hurt. Prince Jelleh open with soft acoustic picking and a vocal that sits right up close, intimate and chilled. The song is about the raw days after a breakup, that weight, and the arrangement never overplays its hand. Tillmann Ostendarp's production keeps the room wide and honestly, this one's a little stunner. The Chris Rea-esque guitar line sis the standout, it's beautiful. Tender indie folk, melancholic and utterly believable.
Prince Jelleh are a band from Winterthur, Switzerland, named for a Liberian boy singer Lukas Fuchs met at a Nashville middle school in 2005, both of them outsiders in a strange city. Their sound moves between indie folk and indie pop, lately reaching for synths too. They've toured as support for The Gardener And The Tree and played Zermatt Unplugged and Breminale. 'First Fall' is the first single from their EP Not the Dawn, out 20 November on Lauter Musik. A real autumn gem.
The Institutes – Don’t Go Knockin’
The Institutes' 'Don't Go Knockin'' is a massive indie rock anthem from Coventry, all driving grooves and a chorus built for thousands
The Institutes hit hard on 'Don't Go Knockin''. The track opens with atmospheric guitar textures before locking into a propulsive groove that doesn't let up, building toward a chorus that demands to be shouted back. Lyrically it's about loyalty and betrayal, the moment you realise the locks have changed and there's no going back. Matt Terry's production keeps things muscular but spacious, with a touch of the 90s to it, and the guitars shimmer and swell while the rhythm section drives underneath. The vocals is the standout here, confident and direct, and soaring into the chorus which lands exactly how it should. It's nice to hear a big vocal on an indie track, and this one's superb; anthemic and delivered in style.
The Institutes are a five-piece from Coventry who call their sound Stompgaze, blending shoegaze atmosphere with indie rock punch. Their debut album Colosseums established the template, and recent singles have pushed harder. 'Trick Of The Light' was named BBC Introducing Song of the Week, 'The Mountain Song' picked up airplay from John Kennedy on Radio X. They've played Isle of Wight, Kendal Calling and Y Not. One to watch this autumn, for sure.
Jay Pinto – Arrive or Company
Jay Pinto's 'Arrive or Company' is a warm, layered slice of Seattle folk rock, a song that asks hard questions about connection and makes them land
Jay Pinto asks a great question. What happens when getting there matters more than who you're with? 'Arrive or Company' builds from a great acoustic groove, a Wurlitzer hum that sits just underneath, and a brilliant drum performance. The vocals are great here; and I like the character and restraint in the lyric. There's real craft here, a song about small tensions that opens into something much bigger. And those harmonies? They're the heart of the track, stacking up wonderfully. It's stunning lyric-driven folk rock, but with a groove that I'm a huge fan of.
Jay Pinto is a Seattle songwriter and record producer with a proper ear for melodic folk rock. Graham Nash recorded his song 'We Breathe the Same Air', which tells you something about the craft. His current project, Beyond Blur, pairs music with essays and visual storytelling. 'Arrive or Company' is out now. A real beauty.
Baby Tapir – Bright And Morning Star
Baby Tapir's 'Bright And Morning Star' is a stunning, layered slice of synth indie rock from Milwaukee, all spectral disco drums and heart
Baby Tapir builds slowly. 'Bright And Morning Star' opens with textured synths and a deliberate pulse, letting space do the heavy lifting before anything else arrives. The arrangement unfolds in layers, each new element adding weight, and the synth works is fantastic. Beck handles every instrument, and you can hear the care in the mix: it's a lovely, ambitious piece that rewards a rewind. The track sits somewhere between art pop and indie rock warmth, melodic but restless. It's fantastic, spacious and wonderfully realised.
Baby Tapir is Beck, working out of Milwaukee, handling all instrumentation, recording and mixing alone. There's something hard to pin down in the project's sound: experimentally permanent is the phrase that keeps coming back, and it fits. Accessible but somehow unreachable, lived-in but strange. 'Bright And Morning Star' came out September 25th and marks another step in a catalogue that clearly takes its time. This project deserves your attention.