1. Braids - Evolution

The Canadian singer-songwriter Raphaelle Standell-Preston is involved in several music projects: Braids (band, 2006 - present), Blue Hawaii (music duo, 2010 - present) and her solo projects, including Indiensoci.

2. METRIC - Gimme Sympathy 

Emily Haines is the front woman of the 4-piece Canadian band Metric, which she founded together with James Shaw in 1998, initially as a musical duo under the name Mainstream.^[1]
Haines can also be heard as a vocalist on several albums by the Canadian band Broken Social Scene.

3. Feist - In Lightning

Feist is a Canadian indie pop and folk singer-songwriter who made it to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2007 with her single 1234.^[2] Several of her tracks have also been played in scenes of well-known American TV series such as Grey's Anatomy and Gossip Girl.In a track review article in the online music magazine Pitchfork, the single In Lightning was described as follows: "“In Lightning,” the most striking of the three singles from Feist’s forthcoming album, Multitudes, is wonderfully ramshackle in a way that fits her milieu:...".^[3]

4. Austra - Lose It

Katie Stelmanis, the singer of the Canadian band Austra, is a classically trained vocalist.^[4] So it's not surprising that Katie's voice in Austra leaves a big impression on many when listening to her songs.
Katie Stelmanis released her debut single Believe Me under her own name in 2009.
Lose It, the second single from Austra's 2011 debut album Feel It Break, is the most popular Austra song to date.

5. Purity Ring - Better Off Alone (Alice Deejay Cover)

Megan James from the Canadian musical duo Purity Ring is a singer and music producer. Purity Ring describe their musical style as "future pop", although this musical label "doesn't mean anything" to them according to Megan James, as she revealed in a Pitchfork interview from 2015: "It just feels comfortable, and that’s nice when you’re defining yourself as an artist, because nothing is going to make sense or feel right. Hopefully it stays without meaning."^[5] 
In September 2020, Purity Ring released a cover version of the 90s Eurodance classic Better Off Alone by Dutch music project Alice Deejay.

6. Mélissa Laveaux - Needle In The Hay

The Canadian singer-songwriter and guitarist Mélissa Laveaux describes her music as "indie rock with electric Afro-Carib guitar stylings".^[6] 
As a child, Mélissa was inspired to play music by an image of Sister Rosetta Tharpe: “Without that, I wouldn’t have thought I could play music.” ^[7] 

7. College & Electric Youth - A Real Hero

The Canadian synth-pop duo Electric Duo, which consists of the singer-songwriter Bronwyn Griffin and the producer, songwriter and musician Austin Garrick, released the single A Real Hero together with the French music project College (David Grellier) in 2010. A Real Hero is the main musical theme for the 2011 American film Drive starring Ryan Gosling.
Bronwyn Griffin and Austin Garrick have known each other since their school days (sixth grade). Griffin is Garrick's girlfriend and both are also musical partners.^[8]

• Female band member: Bronwyn Griffin
  
• Song release date: 11 January 2010
  
• Origin: Toronto, Canada
  
• Label: Valerie

8. Stars - The Night Starts Here

9. Men I Trust - Billie Toppy

10. The New Pornographers - Challengers

11. U.S. Girls - 4 American Dollars

12. Billianne - Crush

13. The Weather Station - Atlantic

14. Alvvays - Dreams Tonite

15. Crystal Castles - Affection

Margaret Osborn aka Alice Glass released her debut solo album Prey//IV in 2022. She was the frontwoman and singer-songwriter in the Canadian band Crystal Castles for around eight years (2006 to 2014). Crystal Castles released the song Affection as the third single from their third studio album III in 2012.

16. Basia Bulat - Infamous

17. Tegan And Sara - Back In Your Head

18. Grimes - Oblivion

19. Martha And The Muffins - Echo Beach

20. The Beaches - T-Shirt

22. Rah Rah - Prairie Girl

23. Princess Century - Desperate Love 

24. YOU SAY PARTY - Laura Palmer's Prom

25. Sook-Yin Lee & Adam Litovitz - Re-Veil

26. FRANKIIE - Funny Feelings

27. TOPS - Petals

28. Hannah Georgas - Evelyn

29. Shirley Hurt - Problem Child

1. Fazerdaze - Lucky Girl

I'll start our list with Lucky Girl, a track by New Zealand indie songwriter Amelia Rahayu Murray aka Fazerdaze. Lucky Girl appeared on her 2017 debut album Morningside. The music video is shot in 4:3 format and is artistically sophisticated, reminding me a bit of New Order's Blue Monday music video.

• Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music producer: Amelia Rahayu Murray
• Song release date for her single Lucky Girl: 07 February 2017
• Music genres: Dream pop, indie pop, indie rock, shoegaze
  

2. Lorde - Royals

New Zealand singer-songwriter Lorde hit the big time internationally with her debut single Royals and her debut album Pure Heroine. In 2013, she made it to number 1 with Royals and number 3 with Pure Heroine in both of the important American Billboard music charts - the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and the Billboard 200 albums chart.^[1]
The song Royals was already included on Lorde's 2012 The Love Club EP.

• Singer-songwriter: Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor
• Song release date for her single Royals: 3 June 2013
• Music genres: Alternative pop, art pop, electropop
  

3. Princess Chelsea - Monkey Eats Bananas

Princess Chelsea released her first music video for the track Monkey Eats Bananas in 2009. The music video for the song is minimalistic. In addition to Princess Chelsea, a small stuffed monkey plays the leading role in the video. Sequences are shown in between: Among other things, the album cover of Phil Collins' LP No Jacket Required appears for a moment. The song release date for her single Monkey Eats Bananas was: June 2 2009

Princess Chelsea was in the band The Brunettes with Jonathan Bree and the video with him for their song The Cigarette Duet is a YouTube hit with so far over 100 million views.

• Singer-songwriter: Chelsea Lee Nikkel
  
• Music genres: Baroque pop, indie pop, synth-pop
  
• Awards: Tate Music Prize for best album from New Zealand (won: 2023, for her album: Everything Is Going To Be Alright)
  

4. Kimbra - Settle Down

In 2011, a pop song with minimalist music was at the top of the singles charts worldwide: Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye feat. For the two singer-songwriters Gotye and Kimbra, the single and the corresponding music video meant unprecedented fame and record sales.
Settle Down is Kimbra's debut single, which she released in June 6, 2010, around a year before Somebody That I Used to Know.

About Kimbra

• Birth name: Kimbra Lee Johnson
• Occupations as musician: Singer-songwriter
  
• Music genres: Art pop, freak folk, indie pop, indie rock, pop, progressive pop, R&B
• Some of her Awards: ARIA Music Award for Best Female Artist (won: 2011, 2012), Grammy Award for Record of the Year (won: 2013), New Zealand Music Awards for Best Female Solo Artist (won: 2012)
  

5. Aldous Harding - The Barrel

6. Ladyhawke - My Delirium

7. The Beths - Expert In A Dying Field

8. The Naked And Famous - Young Blood

9. Ruby Frost - Water To Ice

10. Bic Runga - Sway

11. Yumi Zouma - December

12. Bachelorette - Blanket

13. The Gladeyes - One Million Kisses

16. Chelsea Jade - Laugh It Off

17. Mel Parsons - Offer Down

18. stellar* - Part Of Me

22. Vera Ellen - YOU! 

23. Nadia Reid - Oh Canada

24. Womb - Oceans

25. Anna Coddington - Little Islands

26. The Courtneys - Lost Boys

27. Lydia Cole - Love & Loss & Love

28. Zowie - My Calculator

29. Tiny Ruins - Olympic Girls

30. Tamaryn - Cranekiss

1. Wet Leg - Chaise Longue

Chaise Longue is the debut single from the British all-female indie rock duo Wet Leg. It is also the lead single from their debut album of the same name.

Wet Leg are already one of the indie highlights of 2020 and the indie duo have already received a lot of media attention.

Wet Leg performed on the Jimmy Kimmel Live Show and The Tonight Show with host Jimmy Fallon in 2022.

• Band Members: Rhian Teasdale, Hester Chambers
• Song release date: 15 June 2021
• Origin: Isle of Wight, England

2. Nilüfer Yanya - stabilise

British indie rock singer and guitarist Nilüfer Yanya released her second studio album Painless in 2022, on which the song Stabilise is the fourth track.

Stabilise was released on 9 November 2021 as the first single from this album.

Nilüfer Yanya released her first recording medium, her first EP (Small Crimes/Keep on Calling), in 2016.

• Singer-songwriter, musician: Nilüfer Yanya
• Song release date: 04 March 2022
• Origin: England

3. Jess Williamson - Wind on Tin

Los Angeles-based American indie folk singer-songwriter Jess Williamson released Wind on Tin as the first single from her fourth studio album Sorceress.

In a press release, Jess Williamson mentioned the inspiration for the 2020 song Wind on Tin.

Before a funeral service, Jess Williamson was playing guitar on a porch and drinking beer with friends who were very close to the deceased. 

Meanwhile, an inexplicable sound of wind on tin gave everyone present pause.^[1]

• Singer-songwriter, musician: Jess Williamson
• Song release date: 15 May 2020
• Origin: Austin, Texas (USA)

4. Sinead O'Brien - Kid Stuff 

Sinead O'Brien is an Irish punk poetry singer-songwriter.

She did not come to music as a performer first, but after other creative directions such as fashion design and poetry. She graduated as a fashion designer and completed an internship with John Galliano in Paris.
Her poems have been published in The London Magazine.^[2]

As in other of her music videos, in Kid Stuff (video released on YouTube on April 6, 2021) you can see how Sinead O'Brien's punk peotry spoken word, the guitar (Julian Hanson) and drums (Oscar Robertson) sounds, dance of all video performers and video scenery merge into a total work of art.

• Singer-songwriter, musician: Sinead O'Brien
• Song release date: 06 April 2021
• Origin: Ireland
• Based in London since 2014

5. Phoebe Bridgers - Kyoto

Originally, the American indie singer-songwriter Phoebe Bridgers wanted to compose the song Kyoto as a somewhat slower ballad.
But then her co-producers convinced her to increase the tempo of the track.^[3]

Kyoto was released on April 9, 2020 as the second single from her album Punisher.

• Singer-songwriter, musician: Phoebe Bridgers
• Song release date: 9 April 2020
• Origin: California, U.S.

6. The Big Moon - Trouble

The Big Moon is an all-female British indie rock band that formed in 2014.

Trouble is the second single from their 2022 studio album Here Is Everything. Juliette Jackson wrote a large part of the album when she was pregnant.^[4]

• Band members: Juliette Jackson (lead singer), Soph Nathan (guitarist), Celia Archer (bassist) and Fern Ford (drummer)
• Song release date: 5 September 2022
• Origin: London, England

7. Arlo Parks - Caroline

Arlo Parks is a British indie pop, indie folk and contemporary R&B singer-songwriter who won the 2021 Mercury Prize for Best Album.

Arlo Parks released her first single Cola in 2018, the year in which her musical activity as Arlo Parks began.

Caroline is the fifth single from her debut studio album Collapsed in Sunbeams, which was released at the end of January 2021, about two months after the single.

• Singer-songwriter: Arlo Parks
• Birth name: Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho
• Song release date: 23 November 2020
• Origin: London, England
• Labels: Transgressive Records, Beatnik Creative

8. Dry Cleaning - Unsmart Lady

The English post-punk band Dry Cleaning released their first single in 2019 and their first studio album in 2020.

The band's singer is Florence Shaw, whose deep spoken vocals add a unique touch to the sound.

Unsmart Lady is the third single from Dry Cleaning's debut studio album New Long Leg, which was released in April 2021.

• Female band member: Florence Shaw – vocals, percussion, tape loops (bassist)
• Song release date: 2 April 2021
• Origin: London, England
• Labels: 4AD, It's OK

9. Katy J Pearson - Take Back the Radio

In April 2020, Bristol-based English indie pop & folk singer-songwriter Katy J Pearson released the single Take Back The Radio. The song is included on her 2020 solo debut album Return.

Before her solo career, Katy released a few indie country pop songs with her twin brother Rob Pearson under the name Ardyn.

• Singer-songwriter: Katy J Pearson
• Song release date: 13 November 2020
• Origin: Bristol, England
• Label: Heavenly Recordings

10. Anna Fox Rochinski - Cherry

The American psychedelic indie rock band Quilt haven't released a record since 2016. Finally, Quilt lead singer Anna Fox Rochinski recorded her debut solo album Cherry in 2021.

The music video for the eponymous lead single from her debut album was filmed at the Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center near the small American town of Carefree in Arizona.^[5]

• Singer-songwriter: Anna Fox Rochinski
• Song release date: 26 January 2021
• Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
• Label: Don Giovanni Records

11. Aisha Badru - Move

Nigerian-American artist Aisha Badru was originally pigeonholed as an indie folk artist, which she does not deny. However, with her EP Learning to Love Again, released in 2023, she also wanted to show other facets of herself. Aisha Badru has deliberately chosen a different producer for every single EP track.

For the track Move, "a hymnal meditation that awakens into a dance track"^[6], which doesn't really fit into the indie folk category, Aisha Badru knew very well that she would choose producer Yuan Chang for a collaboration.^[7]

• Singer-songwriter: Aisha Badru
• Song release date: 2 June 2023
• Origin: New York, U.S.
• Label: Nettwerk

12. Snail Mail - Glory

Behind the stage name Snail Mail is the American indie pop & rock singer-songwriter Lindsey Erin Jordan. 

Glory is the sixth track on her second studio album Valentine, released in 2021.
Her album Valentine made it onto numerous best albums of the year 2021 critic rankings, including renowned music magazines such as Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME and Stereogum.

• Singer-songwriter, guitarist: Snail Mail
• Birth name: Lindsey Erin Jordan
• Song release date: 5 November 2021
• Origin: Maryland, U.S.
• Label: Matador Records

13. Altin Gün - Doktor Civanim

Anatolian Rock emerged earlier than you might imagine, in fact as early as the mid-60s. Currently, one of the best-known representatives of this musical genre is the Turkish psychedelic rock band Altin Gün from Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Doktor Civanım is the tenth and last, but not least, track on their fifth studio album Ask, released in 2023.

• Female band member: Merve Daşdemir – vocals
• Song release year: 2023
• Origin: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Label: Glitterbeat Records

14. Billy Nomates - No

Billy Nomate's solo career started almost simultaneously at the beginning of the 2020s. In 2020, the English singer-songwriter Tor Maries released her first single No under her stage name Billy Nomates.

No is the fourth track on her solo debut album, which has the same name as her stage name: Billy Nomates. The album was also released in 2020.

• Singer-songwriter, musician: Billy Nomates
• Birth name: Tor Maries
• Song release date: 11 March 2020
• Origin: Leicester, England
• Label: Invada Records

15. Luna - Fata Morgana

Ukrainian indie pop singer Krystyna Viktorivna Herasymova, who releases and performs music under her stage name Luna, began releasing her first singles in 2015. Luna cites the 90s as her key inspirational period.^[8]

The track Fata Morgana, which is characterized by trance music elements, was released in August 2020.

• Singer-songwriter: Luna
• Birth name: Krystyna Viktorivna Bardash
• Song release date: 14 August 2020
• Origin: Kyiv, Ukraine
• Label: Luna Prod.

16. Mint Green - Body Language

The American indie rock band Mint Green from Boston released their single Body Language on June 3, 2022, which is the second track on their debut album All Girls Go to Heaven.
Mint Green is fronted by singer Ronnica, who also is a guitarist for the band.

About Mint Green

• Female band members: Ronnica (lead singer, guitarist), Tiffany Sammy (bassist)
• Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

17. Cassandra Jenkins - Hard Drive

Cassandra Jenkins is an American singer-songwriter who has released two studio albums to date. From her album An Overview on Phenomenal Nature is her 2021 song Hard Drive, for which Cassandra Jenkins did not sing in a conventional sense, but gives the track an extraordinary touch with the help of her spoken word performance and minimalist instrumentation at the beginning, which becomes more complex as the song progresses.

About Cassandra Jenkins 

• Birth name: Cassandra Jenkins
• Occupations as musician: Singer-songwriter, musician
  
• Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

18. Soccer Mommy - circle the drain

Soccer Mommy is the stage name of American indie rock singer-songwriter Sophia Regina Allison. Since 2018, she has released three studio albums approximately two years apart, her first in 2018, the second in 2020 and the third in 2022. Circle the Drain was released as a single on January 14, 2020 and is the second track on her second studio album Color Theory.

About Soccer Mommy

• Birth name: Sophia Regina Allison
• Occupations as musician: Singer-songwriter, guitarist
  
• Awards won: Libera Awards for Creative Packaging (2021)
  
• Origin: Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

19. Mattiel - Jeff Goldblum

The singer Mattiel Brown from the indie rock music project Mattiel sings in Jeff Goldblum about a love for a man who looked like the young actor Jeff Goldblum.
Mattiel released the music video Jeff Goldblum on YouTube on November 16, 2021.
In January 2023, Jeff Goldblum, who is a musician as well as an actor, released the single Moon River featuring Mattiel Brown.

About Mattiel Brown

• Birth name: Mattiel Brown
• Occupations: Singer, musician, visual designer, music editing
• Origin: Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

20. The Marías - Un Millón

The Marías are an American indie band from Los Angeles. The 2021 song Un Millón is sung in Spanish by lead vocalist María Zardoya. The lyrics are about a couple's passionate dance. In the lyrics, the couple's togetherness is compared to Dembow. Dembow is a musical rhythm that is well known for being used as a musical element in reggaeton. 

About María Zardoya

• Female band member: María Zardoya – lead vocals
  
• Occupations: Singer-songwriter
  
• Origin: Los Angeles, U.S.

21. Sharon Van Etten - Mistakes

Mistakes is the third single (released on May 9, 2022) from the sixth studio album by American indie rock and indie folk singer-songwriter Sharon van Etten. In the official music video for Mistakes you get to see Sharon van Etten in Brooklyn.

About Sharon van Etten

• Birth name: Sharon Katharine Van Etten
• Occupation as musician: Singer-songwriter, actress
  
• Awards nominated: Libera Award for Video of the Year (2022) for Like I Used To (Sharon Van Etten & Angel Olsen)
  
• Origin: U.S.

22. Daughter - Be On Your Way

Female band member: Elena Tonra (singer-songwriter, guitarist)
Song release date: 9 January 2023
Origin: London, England

23. Beach House - Once Twice Melody

Female band member: Victoria Legrand (lead vocalist, songwriter, keyboardist)
Song release date: 18 February 2022
Origin: Baltimore, U.S.

24. King Princess - Ohio

• Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist: King Princess
• Birth name: Mikaela Mullaney Straus
• Song release date: 6 February 2020
• Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

25. Kate NV - Sayonara

• Singer-songwriter, record producer, designer: Kate NV
• Birth name: Ekaterina Yuryevna Shilonosova
• Song release date: 18 March 2020
• Origin: Moscow, Russia

26. Hurray for the Riff Raff - JUPITER'S DANCE

Singer-songwriter: Hurray for the Riff Raff
Birth name: Alynda Segarra
Song release date: 18 February 2022
Origin: New Orleans, U.S.

27. St. Vincent - Down

Singer-songwriter, guitarist: St. Vincent
Birth name: Anne Erin Clark
Song release date: 10 May 2021
Origin: Dallas, U.S.

28. Princess Chelsea - Everything Is Going To Be Alright

• Singer-songwriter, musician, producer: Princess Chelsea
• Birth name: Chelsea Lee Nikkel
• Song release date: 24 February 2022
• Origin: Auckland, New Zealand

29. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over The Country Club

• Singer-songwriter: Lana Del Rey
• Birth name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
• Song release date: 11 January 2021
• Origin: New York City, U.S.

30. Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine

• Singer-songwriter: Mitski
• Birth name: Mitsuki Laycock
• Song release date: 3 October 2023
• Origin: New York City, U.S.

31. Florence + The Machine - Free

• Singer-songwriter: Florence + The Machine
• Birth name: Florence Leontine Mary Welch
• Song release date: 20 April 2022
• Origin: London, England

32. Warpaint - Champion

• Band members: Emily Kokal (vocals, guitar), Theresa Wayman (vocals, guitar), Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass, vocals), Stella Mozgawa (drums)
• Song release date: 26 January 2022
• Origin: Los Angeles, U.S.

33. Loma - Going out

• Female band members: Emily Cross (singer)
• Song release date: 26 July 2021
• Origin: U.S.

34. Boygenius - Not Strong Enough

• Band members: Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus
• Song release date: 1 March 2023
• Origin: U.S.

35. Deradoorian - Corsican Shores

• Singer-songwriter: Deradoorian, Angel Deradoorian
• Song release date: June 2020
• Origin: Los Angeles, U.S.

36. Men I Trust - Billie Toppy

• Singer-songwriter: Men I Trust
• Song release date: 28 September 2022
• Origin: Montreal, Canada

37. Porridge Radio - Back To The Radio

• Female band members: Dana Margolin, Georgie Stott
• Song release date: 21 February 2022
• Origin: Brighton, England

38. The Weather Station - Atlantic

• Female band members: Tamara Lindeman, Christine Bougie, Karen Ng
• Song release date: 6 January 2021
• Origin: Toronto, Canada

39. Big Thief - Little Things

• Female band member: Adrianne Lenker (singer-songwriter, lead vocalist, guitarist)
• Song release date: 10 August 2021
• Origin: Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

40. Jade Bird - Different Kinds of Light

• Singer-songwriter: Jade Bird
• Birth name: Jade Elizabeth Bird
• Song release date: 13 August 2021
• Origin: Croydon, South London, England

1. The Beauty Way

This song, The Beauty Way by Buffy Sainte-Marie, is a timeless musical gem. Be sure to listen to it first in a quiet environment without the pressure of deadlines and stress before you learn more about the track, be it song analysis or facts about the song. This way, the music and the lyrics can affect you without any influences and you are unbiased. It's amazing that this song is not known to the masses.
The Beauty Way is featured on Buffy Sainte-Marie's 1975 album Changing Woman.
The lyrics of the song The Beauty Way, which I found on several websites in my online research samples, had nothing to do with the original song lyrics.
When you compare the real lyrics, you will notice the different lyrics, which certainly don't belong to this Buffy Sainte-Marie song.

2. The Big Ones Get Away

3. Universal Soldier

In April 2024, the song Universal Soldier, which was written by Buffy Sainte-Marie and is featured on her debut album It's My Way!, turned 60 years old.
Universal Soldier is an anti-war song and deals with the individual responsibility of each person for war.
According to Buffy Sainte-Marie, she wrote the song from the perspective of a student in the hope of giving her professor a different view of war.^[1]

4. The Circle Game

If you don't know the songs of Buffy Sainte-Marie yet, you might be familiar with the song The Circle Game from the soundtrack of the Quentin Tarantino movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

5. Qu'Appele Valley Saskatchewan

6. Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes

For the film An Officer and a Gentleman, Joe Cocker and Jennifer Warnes recorded Up Where We Belong, originally composed by Buffy Sainte-Marie. 
Together with Jack Nietzsche, Buffy-Sainte Marie won two of the most important music awards in the film business: an Academy Award as well as a Grammy Award in the category Best Original Song.

7. Starwalker

8. Disinformation

1. Blouse - A Feeling Like This

Charlie Hilton and Patrick Adams started the American indie rock group Blouse in 2010. They were based in Portland, Oregon.

It seems that the band Blouse no longer exists. Because neither the own band domain (meanwhile a domain parking page) nor the label band profile on the "Captured Tracks" website (Captured Tracks) provide information about the band.

The last album and single were released by Blouse in 2013.

"A Feeling Like This" is the sixth track on the album "Imperium", released in 2013.

Singer: Charlie Hilton

2. Poliça - Lay Your Cards Out

"Lay Your Cards Out" by indietronica  American band Poliça from Minneapolis is the seventh track from their debut album „Give You the Ghost“ from 2012.

Poliça was founded in 2011 and is based in Minneapolis. Channy Leaneagh is the lead vocalist of the band.

Poliça has so far put out six studio albums.

In a 2012 review by the music magazine NME (New Musical Express), the song "Lay Your Cards out" was described as follows:
"A mix of Roy Vedas’ ‘Fragments Of Life’ and Massive Attack’s ‘Safe From Harm’, it uncoils with its own sweet languor. Starting or finishing seems irrelevent;" (NME. (2012, March 23). Polica – ‘Lay Your Cards Out’ NME. https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-polica-12910-317975)

Singer: Channy Leaneagh

3. Santigold - Disparate Youth

American singer-songwriter Santigold is the author of the song "Disparate Youth."

On February 14, 2012, the song - the lead single from the performer's second studio album „Master of My Make-Believe“ - became accessible in the US.

In a 2012 article in the online music magazine Billboard, the result of the musical composition of "Disparate Youth" is described thus:
"With a dub reggae half-step tempo, shimmering synth leads, and soothing vocals, “Disparate Youth” sounds unlike previous bass-driving tribal Santigold tracks." (Cubarrubia, R. (2013, January 13). Billboard. Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/santigold-finds-spirituality-in-disparate-youth-video-502963/)

Singer: Santi White

4. U.S. Girls - Window Shades

The title U.S. Girls may be a bit misleading, because the music project consists of only one singer, Meghan Remy.

Megan Remy is American, however the music project U.S. Girls is a Canadian one.

The song "Window Shades" can be found on the 2015 album "Half Free."

In a 2015 article, Canadian music publisher Exclaim! described the song "Window Shades" in one sentence to the point as follows:
"The Slim Twig-produced song is a patchwork of sampled disco rhythms (from Gloria Ann Taylor's "Love Is a Hurting Thing"), inventive psych textures, soulful vocal lines and swooping disco strings." (Hudson, A. (2015, August 26). U.S. Girls “Window Shades” (video) | Exclaim!. https://exclaim.ca/music/article/us_girls-window_shades_video)

Singer: Meghan Remy

5. Sharon van Etten - Taking Chances

Sharon Van Etten is an American indie singer-songwriter. Taking Chances was released as a single on May 1, 2014.

Caleb Caldwell wrote about the song "Taking Chances" in a review about the album "Are We There":
"The paradigmatic “Taking Chances” evokes the dim and blurry resonances of dream pop, combining organ and Van Etten’s husky contralto in the manner of Beach House’s Victoria Legrand". (Caldwell, C. (2014). Review: Sharon Van Etten, Are We There. Slant Magazine. https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/sharon-van-etten-are-we-there/, para. 2)

Singer: Sharon Van Etten

6. Hurray for the Riff Raff - Hungry Ghost

Alynda Segarra, an indie singer-songwriter originally from the Bronx in New York, started the band Hurray for the Riff Raff in 2007 in New Orleans after they relocated there in the same year.

Hurray for the Riff Raff's musical style is largely Americana. 

Alynda Segarra had several of her albums released through indie labels.

Leah Mandel wrote in the music magazine The Fader about the music video for the song "Hungry Ghost":
""Hungry Ghost" is flush with sweeping guitar lines that are both ominous and invigorating;" (Mandel, L. (2017, January 17). Hurray For The Riff Raff’s Video For “Hungry Ghost” Is A Glowing Ode To DIY Spaces. The FADER. https://www.thefader.com/2017/01/17/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-hungry-ghost-video, para. 1)

Singer: Alynda Segarra

7. Mr Twin Sister - All Around and Away We Go

American indie band Mr. Twin Sister from New York City have published three EPs and three LPs.

Andrea Estella is the lead singer of Mr Twin Sister.

In the Pitchfork News of March 16, 2010 you can read among other things the following about the song:
"All Around and Away We Go"'s chugging guitars, airy bass, and chilled-out drumming work beautifully with frontwoman Andrea's smoky vocals." (Grisham, T. (2010, March 16). “All Around and Away We Go.” Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/news/12158-all-around-and-away-we-go/, para. 1)

Singer: Andrea Estella

8. MS MR - Fantasy

American indie pop duo MS MR, with vocalist Lizzy Plapinger and music producer Max Hershenow, is located in New York.

MTV published a news about the song "Fantasy" in 2013 and wrote:
"It's a song that could totally soundtrack an epic Game of Thrones battle, albeit one intercut with moments of melodramatic romance in the royal boudoir, of course." (Mtv. (2013, January 25). New Song: MS MR, “Fantasy.” MTV. https://www.mtv.com/news/sjit8b/ms-mr-fantasy, para. 1)

Singer: Lizzy Plapinger

9. Hundreds In The Hands - Pigeons

The Brooklyn-based indie electronic music duo The Hundred in the Hands was founded in 2008.

The single "Pigeons" was released on September 13, 2010 via the band's label Warp Records.

The music video for "Pigeons" was created by video directors DANIELS, who have also worked for other bands such as Foster The People, Passion Pit and Manchester Orchestra.

In the video, a young woman is shown who has looked too deeply into the glass at a party and goes through some unpleasant consequences of being drunk.

In an August 2010 interview with music magazine Pitchfork, Daniel Scheinert of music video maker duo DANIELS revealed the following:
"We tried to show as much variety in the drunkenness as we could because alcohol is equal parts hilarious and terrifying." (Dombal, R. (2010, August 5). Director’s Cut: The Hundred in the Hands: “Pigeons” Video. Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/news/39648-directors-cut-the-hundred-in-the-hands-pigeons-video/, para. 11)

Singer: Eleanore Everdell

10. Beach House - Myth

Beach House is an American dreampop duo from Baltimore. Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally formed as Beach House in 2004.

In mid-March 2012, the NME music magazine praised the then freshly released single "Myth":
"But while this first taster is a darker shade than anything on its predecessor, it’s also the most sky-scrapingly euphoric thing they’ve produced to date. Magnificent." (Schiller, R. (2012, March 13). Beach House – ‘Myth’ NME. https://www.nme.com/reviews/reviews-beach-house-12854-319635)

Singer: Victoria Legrand

11. Angel Olsen - Shut Up Kiss Me

American indie singer-songwriter Angel Olsen, originally from St. Louis, Missouri, now resides in Asheville, North Carolina.

The music magazine Pitchfork wrote about the song "Shut Up Kiss Me" on its website at the end of June 2016:
““Shut up! Kiss me! Hold me tight!” she commands over and over, like a hysterical 1920s actress hauled in to front a sharp bar band.“ (Nast, C. (2016, June 30). Angel Olsen: “Shut Up Kiss Me.” Pitchfork. https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/18414-angel-olsen-shut-up-kiss-me/, para. 1)

Singer: Angel Olsen (Birth name: Angelina Marie Carroll)

12. School of Seven Bells - Signals

In 2007, the American indie band School of Seven Bells from the Big Apple was founded. 

The song "Signals" is from the band's fourth and final album, SVIIB, which was completed posthumously (founding band member Benjamin Curtis died of a serious illness in December 29, 2013) and released in February 2016. For the album were used demos of songs written by Benjamin Curtis before and during his serious illness.

Alejanda Deheza completed the work for the album SVIIB with the help of Justin Meldal-Johnsen.
In a 2016 interview with The Guardian, she revealed: “I couldn’t have done it myself, and Justin was amazing in that way, treating everything with such love, care and respect,” (Rogers, J. (2018, March 22). School of Seven Bells’ Alejandra Deheza: ‘Ben feels part of everything now.’ The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/21/school-of-seven-bells-sviib-album-release-alejandra-deheza-interview).

In the intro of the music video for the song, the following now very well-known quote is displayed:
"Yesterday I was clever 
    and tried to change the world. 
Today I am wise
    and try to change myself."
-- Rumi

In the video, the quote is changed a little, but this should not affect the content of the message. The original quote reads:
"Yesterday I was clever,
    so I wanted to change the world.
Today I am wise,
    so I am changing myself."
-- Rumi

Singers: Alejandra Deheza, Claudia Deheza

13. Japanese Breakfast - Machinist

Michelle Zauner, a Korean-American artist, is the lead vocalist of the indie band Japanese Breakfast.

In the music video for the song "Machinist", the band's singer is seen taking care of various things in an IT environment with a lot of computer cables.
 
She is talking to a computer that is very similar to the HAL 9000 from the movie "2001: A Space Odyssey".
 
In the end, she can't seem to escape the computer, because she is entangled in a lot of cables.

Singer: Michelle Zauner

14. St. Vincent - Savior

Singer-songwriter St. Vincent is from the United States. Three Grammy Awards are among the honors St. Vincent has received.

The song "Savior" alternates between rhythmic talking (kind of rap) and melodic sections, you know from popular songs in a classical sense. The rhythmic talking opens the song until minute 1:31. And from minute 1:32 the melodic chorus of the song is heard for the first time.

On the American online education platform MasterClass, St. Vincent teaches creativity and songwriting.
On October 8, 2020, St. Vincent announced her collaboration with MasterClass in an Instagram clip.

In the MasterClass video course by St. Vincent (16 lessons total), the four lessons for the song "Savior" (lessons 5, 6, 7, and 8) are a large and important practice component of the songwriting course.

Singer: Anne Erin Clark

15. Dum Dum Girls - Rimbaud Eyes

Lead Singer: Dee Dee (Birth name Kristin Gundred)
Singers: Jules Medeiros, Malia James, Sandra Vu

16. Friends - I‘m His Girl

The band Friends did not exist for long, they were founded in 2010 and disbanded already in 2013. However, the official YouTube channel of Friends is still online. I'm his girl is the most successful track of the band.

Lead singer: Samantha Urbani
Backing vocals: Lesley Hann

17. Low - Try to Sleep

American indie rock band Low is from Duluth. The port city of Duluth is located on Lake Superior.

The music video for the song "Try to Sleep" features model Melissa Haro and actor John Stamos.

In an interview with American magazine Entertainment Weekly, John Stamos revealed:
"When it came time for them to cast the video, they asked if I’d like to be involved. I liked the concept. The new record is on all the time at my place." (Anderson, K. (2011, April 13). Low premiere new video “Try to Sleep” starring . . . John Stamos? Yes! Watch it here -- EXCLUSIVE. EW.com. https://ew.com/article/2011/04/12/low-john-stamos-video-try-to-sleep/)

On November 5, 2022, Mimi Parker, the singer of the band Low, passed away. She received a cancer diagnosis in December 2020. (Rettig, J. (2022, November 7). Low’s Mimi Parker Dead At 55. Stereogum. https://www.stereogum.com/2205232/low-mimi-parker-death/news/)

Female singer: Mimi Parker
Male singer: Alan Sparhawk

18. Big Thief - Masterpiece

Singer: Adrianne Lenker

19. Laura Veirs - July Flame

Singer: Laura Veirs

20. Warpaint - Disco//very - Keep It Healthy

American indie rock group Warpaint was founded in 2004 and is based in Los Angeles.

The music video I chose from the band's 2010 repertoire consists of two songs, namely: "Disco//very" and "Keep It Healthy".

In the first part of the music video ("Disco//very"), the band members are shown walking together along a street in sunny weather during the day. Every now and then a young man in a yellow T-shirt appears while skating.

In the second part ("Keep It Healthy"), which shows a skater facility outside at night, mainly young men are shown skating. The band members hang out at the skate park with the skaters and watch them skate.

Singers: Emily Kokal, Theresa Wayman, Jenny Lee Lindberg
Drums: Stella Mozgawa

21. Phantogram - When I'm Small

Singer: Sarah Barthel

22. The Kills - Future Starts Slow

Singer: Alison Mosshart

23. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Despair

Singer: Karen O (Birth name: Karen Lee Orzolek)

24. Deep Sea Diver - Wide Awake

Singer: Jessica Dobson
Band based in: Seattle

25. Wye Oak - Watching The Waiting

Singer: Jenn Wasner

26. EMA - Down and Out

Singer: Erika M. Anderson

27. Mitski - Nobody

Singer: Mitski (Birth name: Mitsuki Laycock)

28. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions - Sleep

Singer: Hope Sandoval

29. Asobi Seksu - Trail

Female lead singer: Yuki Chikudate
Male singer: James Hanna

30. Phoebe Bridgers - Motion Sickness

Singer: Phoebe Bridgers

31. Best Coast - Feeling Ok

Singer: Bethany Cosentino

32. Chromatics - Into The Black

Singer: Ruth Radelet

33. Jess Williamson - I See The White

Singer: Jess Williamson

34. Gossip - Move in the Right Direction

Singer: Beth Ditto (Birth name: Mary Beth Patterson)

35. Cat Power feat. Lana Del Rey - Woman

Singer: Cat Power (Birth name: Charlyn Marie Marshall)

36. Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill

Singer: Alexis Krauss

37. Lana Del Rey - Love

Singer: Lana Del Rey (Birth name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant)

38. Mattiel - Count Your Blessings

Singer: Mattiel Brown