TOP INDIE SONGS – WEEK 6

You have the gluten-free chocolates. You have the organic rose petals. You have the ironic greeting card. But do you, oh do you, have the music? Lucky for you, BitCandy has compiled a mixtape of all of the top indie songs that you need to impress your hipster love interest this Valentine's Day. Whether you're a Devonté and a Samantha, a Sky and a Zachary or a Bethany and a Nathan, there's something here for every couple from Freedom Fry, Oh Wonder, Birdy and more.

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FREEDOM FRY – THE WORDS

Freedom Fry explode back on to the scene in a ball of glitter this 2016 with “The Words.” Bringing together shimmering synths and girl-boy harmonies, the disco groove features everything that I love about the French-American duo. “It's written from the perspective of a boyfriend or girlfriend who just needs to hear that they're still wanted,” wrote Freedom Fry. “We really liked that the lyric 'Just say the words' kind of also sounds like 'Je sais the words.' 'Je sais' means 'I know' in French.”

OH WONDER – LOSE IT

Last Monday, you may remember that I complained that dance videos were dime a dozen. This one, on the other hand, is completely adorable. The story goes that British duo Oh Wonder invited five dancers to audition for their music video. What the dancers didn't realize at the time, though, was that they were already starring in it! The final result is sure to leave a big smile on your face – if only for the fact that you finally get to see what Oh Wonder look like in the flesh (hint: so cute).

TRANSVIOLET – NEW BOHEMIA

Forget Halsey's “New Americana” – 2016 is going to be all about Transviolet's anthemic “New Bohemia.” The youthful rallying cry and its epic official video are guaranteed to leave you feeling invincible this Monday morning. “Not in it for the fame, we do it for the thrill,” proclaims lead singer Sarah McTaggart. “Gonna light it up, wanna change the world/We're the new bohemia/We're the new bohemia.”

YOUR FRIEND – COME BACK FROM IT

Domino Records signee Your Friend embarks on a late-night motorcycle ride through the streets of Paris in the video for “Come Back From It.” Directed by Christophe Acker, the black-and-white voyage is the perfect accompaniment to the dark and brooding shoegaze track – one that makes me feel like curling up under my duvet and never coming out again.

BIRDY – KEEPING YOUR HEAD UP

In January, Birdy proved that the days of her covering “Skinny Love” were long gone with the unveiling of “Keeping Your Head Up.” The Florence And The Machine-esque stomper found Jasmine van den Bogaerde sounding more confident than ever. Much the same can be said for the music video. A fantastical odyssey directed by Chris Turner, it features the British vocalist looking every inch the goddess that she is.

THE HOUR – NO ONE'S GOING TO HEAVEN – CURATOR DUFFSTER

“Watch this completely blow up in the coming weeks” said Curator Duffster said when he introduced me to this track. He's right! This groovy banger from enigmatic British outfit The Hour is an instant classic. The official video, featuring a masked man violently destroying a car with a baseball bat, isn't going to stay at 7000 plays for long. If I were you, I'd pass it on to your friends before they pass it on to you, because it's only a matter of time before “No One's Going To Heaven” goes nuclear.

JARRYD JAMES – DO YOU REMEMBER (RAURY REMIX) – CURATOR DUFFSTER

“Do You Remember” came out over a year ago, but Australian crooner Jarryd James keeps his breakthrough single relevant this 2016 by getting rapper-of-the-moment Raury to record an additional verse of his own. “Every time I come home after nine you be trippin',” rhymes the Atlanta MC, his smooth delivery finding a perfect match in the soulful piano ballad. “Tell me why you always kill my vibe like I'm Kendrick.”

SHYLDE – TAKE ME HOME

After captivating us last year with “Fickle,” Shylde returns this 2016 with his second single. Combining hypnotic hi-hats and the Swedish act's Antony Hegarty-style falsetto, “Take Me Home” can only be described as transcendent. “You are the protagonist of your life, while the people you pass are the extras in your film,” Shylde told Blushing Panda. “The song is about the moment you step back and experience yourself as, rather than being the center, being peripheral to someone else's story.”

VOKES – CRUEL GAME

Los Angeles crooner VOKES introduces himself to the blogosphere in style this February with “Cruel Game.” Bringing together funky guitar work, slick synths and falsetto vocal hooks, the debut single takes the best of the 1980s and presents it in a contemporary package that's nothing short of irresistible. An impressive feat, even more so when you consider it's only the start of what's looking to be a very successful career in music indeed.

KLANGSTOF – HOSTAGE

As we wait for Radiohead to release their much-anticipated ninth album, Dutch musician Klangstof unveils some Thom Yorke and company-style nostalgia in the form of his debut single. Starting out intimate and guitar-driven before building into a vast and shimmering electronic odyssey of Ok Computer-proportions, “Hostage” comes as quite the introduction to the Mind Of A Genius (ZHU, THEY., Gallant) signee.

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Happy Valentine's Day, hipsters! x

“Photo” by Vladimir Kudinov is licensed under CC0 1.0 (cropped and resized).

About Jess Grant

When Jess Grant isn't writing on music, she can be found playing it – on her guitar, on her ukulele, and on her recently acquired mandolin. Playing it hideously, she ought to add. Jess also studies. She studies the English language, to be precise. Jess is currently on her way to a degree in the subject, and enjoys starting and never finishing novels, screenplays, and poetry in her spare time. She also likes dogs. Lots of dogs.