Every summer needs its own soundtrack, but when the same artists seem to top the charts every year it’s easy for that sound to feel recycled. So, if you’re looking for the kind of music that goes past familiar names and festival headliners, then these five artists are the perfect place to start.
Kevian Kraemer
If you are looking for a new artist to add to your summer playlist, there’s no better place to begin than with up-and-coming indie pop artist Kevian Kraemer.
I first started listening to Kraemer after the release of his 2024 EP “Seventeen.” With six songs, the EP manages to encapsulate first love in just 19 minutes through its emotionally rich lyrics. On social media, Kraemer has a “boy next door” charm that shines through in his music and will have you reminiscing about the kind of summer love only seen in movies.
If you’re looking for a song to add to your summer playlist, I would encourage you to give his 2025 single “Tan Lines” a listen. Not only does the music video’s vintage film imagery evoke the feeling of a nostalgic home video filmed at the beach, but the song itself captures the idea of young love, warm weather and an unforgettable summer.
And with plans to perform July 17 at the Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, you can even see him live on tour.
Claire Rosinkranz
If you were on TikTok in the early 2020s, you have likely heard of Claire Rosinkranz. Her songs “Backyard Boy” and “Frankenstein” reached massive popularity on the app. And to this day, every time I listen to those songs, I’m transported to an era of whipped coffee, the “Savage” dance and that one edit of Timothée Chalamet dancing. What not as many people realize is Rosinkranz has many more hits in her discography than just her viral songs.
Her catalog is full of youthful and upbeat songs that would make for a great addition to any summer playlist. Some personal favorites are her 2022 songs “i’m too pretty for this” and “123,” as well as anything from her 2023 album “Just Because.” I’ve seen Rosinkranz in concert multiple times, and her stage presence never fails to bring the same bubbly energy as her.
Rosinkranz is one of the biggest artists on this list, currently sitting at just over 3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, but most of her music is still unknown. So, if you are hoping to find a fun new artist then I definitely recommend giving some of her songs a listen.
The Greeting Committee
For fans of indie rock, The Greeting Committee is the band for you.
The band’s music is perfect for any late-night drive with your windows down. And with a healthy mix of raw, emotional lyrics and a rhythmic backing track, it’s easy to get that energetic feeling of seeing a band live when you listen to their songs.
I highly encourage listening to their 2022 song “Hopscotch,” 2021 song “Can I Leave Me Too?” or their 2025 EP “Animal At Best.” Despite being years apart in the band’s musical evolution, the songs share a distinctly candid songwriting that makes it easy to resonate with the band.
Few bands can balance emotional storytelling with an indie rock sound as well as The Greeting Committee does with their music. If you are hoping to add music with a heartfelt narrative to your summer soundtrack, their discography is full of cathartic tracks to add.
West 22nd
I first discovered West 22nd when trying to find other music that matched that energetic, guitar-forward sound I had grown to love as a fan of another up-and-coming band, Ax and the Hatchetmen. Where the two bands differ, however, is in how West 22nd adds a healthy dose of folk to their indie rock mix.
Though the entirety of their discography is one hit after another, I highly suggest starting your listening journey with their 2023 EP “All The Way Home.” Composed of five songs, the EP explores the realities of growing up and how early adulthood can often come with a series of mistakes, challenges and adventures that you might not expect.
While everyone’s summer might not feel straight out of a coming-of-age film like “Adventureland” or “Moonrise Kingdom,” West 22nd’s wistful music might get you close.
Go-Jo
Need to add a little more sunshine to your playlist? Then Go-Jo’s bright and charismatic discography is the perfect choice.
The solo project of Australian singer-songwriter Marty Zambotto, Go-Jo currently has just under 600,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.
I first started listening to Go-Jo when his 2023 single “Mrs. Hollywood,” a high-energy pop anthem, was recommended to me on Spotify. After that I was quickly drawn to some of his more recent work and I’ve been a fan ever since. While he has a lot of hits, if there’s one song you should listen to it is “Milkshake Man,” a campy synth-pop song which he used to represent Australia at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland.
Go-Jo’s music is infectious, playful and the perfect choice for those carefree summer moments when you just want to have fun.
