One of the characteristics that gives indie its wide-ranging appeal is its ability to embrace a variety of sounds, moods, and geographies in ways that few other genres can. This overlap of influences is not lost on Spotify's global team of indie music editors, responsible for playlists such as All New Indie, Lorem, and Oblique. Though these three playlists have three unique moods, each is very much rooted in indie.
Groups of Spotify editors make up our Global Curation Groups, or GCGs. As the name suggests, they sit in offices around the world and are in the know on the artists that listeners are streaming the most, the new tracks that are about to break, and the trends that come out of these listening habits. Plus, they're genre experts-as well as fans themselves-who thrive on deep cultural discussions about the music they curate.
Which is why For the Record spoke to the indie GCG editors to get a sense of what's hot in 2022 and what to expect going forward. Here's what we heard.
A new sound for a new generation Indie has dramatically expanded its horizons in recent years, according to our editors. Sonically, indie is pulling inspiration from electronic, pop, and hip-hop more than ever, from a wildly diverse group of artists. And geographically, indie's increasing global popularity has led to the genre being infused with a diverse array of regional sounds.
This cross of so many different genres and cultures has led to it functioning as a springboard for exciting new creators who pop up in playlists like Modern Alternative.
One rising star in particular is RADAR artist Arlo Parks, who is also nominated for two Grammys in 2022. Drawing from a variety of influences, including folk, disco, and trip-hop, her music offers a window into growing up Black in London.
Artists who defy convention Thanks to the rising influence of Gen Z, the genre is also being pushed forward by a community-driven mindset that values collaboration and experimentation. For proof, look no further than PinkPantheress, another RADAR artist who skyrocketed from social media buzz to bona fide pop stardom in 2021. Her ability to seamlessly meld dance and pop sounds into something all her own led one editor to describe her as a genre chameleon. PinkPantheress' genre-bending sensibility aligns with that of artists like Grimes, who coined the term Ethereal to describe her own unique sound. It also inspired Spotify's editors to create the Ethereal playlist, which explores the different ways rock, pop, and electronic intersect.
The indie community is also drawn to those artists who defy convention at every twist and turn. That includes Shamir, whose influences can jump between house, country, and industrial, and whose music often touches on gender, sexuality, and their experience as a Black, non-binary individual.
But more than indie just pulling inspiration from other genres, a lot of its versatility comes from the stylistic approaches of artists. While Caroline Polachek blurs the lines between indie and Top 40 pop, an artist such as Mitski often takes a more conceptual approach to her songs, with lyrics that have a theatrical vibe to them.
Global fans, local influences This variety serves as a driving force behind playlists such as POLLEN, which provides a snapshot of the many different ways indie artists are playing between the lines. Our editors say that indie is less about a specific sound or location, and more about a feeling that fans identify with-but that doesn't mean indie lacks a sense of place.
For indie artists around the globe, the local sounds still serve as an important influence. Belarus's Molchat Doma rode the hype around post-punk and synthwave inspired by the '80s, which is captured in a new playlist called Insomnia. Colombia's Bomba Est reo, meanwhile, merges electro and cumbia with indie to create an unmistakably tropical sound. Including artists such as Mdou Moctar and Altin G n, the playlist Folk Fabrique encapsulates indie's mix of traditional sounds from across the globe.
Our editors expect indie will continue to become more representative of the different sounds and perspectives that are bubbling up from emerging artists. But at the same time, they believe that indie is getting back to its roots and embracing the underground, nonconformist mentality that gave birth to the genre. Instead of big-budget productions, we expect artists to embrace more of the lo-fi, DIY sounds that we've heard in eras past.
Perhaps, going forward, artists will get more of the spotlight they deserve because the emphasis will be put on the music-and not the production values.
Want to discover even more of the voices taking over indie in 2022? Be sure to check out some of our editors' picks for the hottest playlists: Outliers, not just a phase, and melomania.
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
28/11/2025
Nadia Fall attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Brides at the Egyptian Theatre on January 24, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Donyale West/...
28/11/2025
It's easy to ignore those little red update available badges. But when it ...
28/11/2025
WASHINGTON Federal Communications Commission has released a tentative agenda for the December Open Commission Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 18, 2025 ...
28/11/2025
The Professional Fighters League is looking to super-serve fans of mixed martial...
28/11/2025
Fubo has released in beta on select Roku devices a new feature that lets users display up to four simultaneous streams at once....
28/11/2025
The WNBA playoffs and Week 4 of the NFL regular season highlight the list of live sports events airing on television this weekend....
28/11/2025
The 32nd class of honorees to the B+C Hall of Fame took to the stage at New York's Ziegfeld Ballroom on September 26 for a gala induction event. Click below...
28/11/2025
We hold in our hands the very last Next Text for Next TV, the weekly back-and-fo...
28/11/2025
DirecTV said it made a deal with EchoStar to buy EchoStar's video businesses, including satellite-TV provider Dish TV and virtual MVPD Sling TV, for $1 plus...
28/11/2025
The Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame, the premier industry event paying tribute to the influencers, innovators and shining lights of broadcast, cable and streami...
28/11/2025
Friday 28 November 2025
Sky Sports x Slawn drop limited-edition football jersey...
28/11/2025
Rohde & Schwarz shows resilience in a challenging environment, revenue exceeds t...
28/11/2025
Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal - airing this Sunday on RT One and RT Player- s...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix's Raat Akeli Hai: The Bansal Murders Marks a Grand...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
One of the characteristics that gives indie its wide-ranging appeal is its ability to embrace a variety of sounds, moods, and geographies in ways that few other genres can. This overlap of influences is not lost on Spotify's global team of indie music editors, responsible for playlists such as All New Indie, Lorem, and Oblique. Though these three playlists have three unique moods, each is very much rooted in indie.
