Check out the song “Honest” by Tessa Dalton. A catchy, simple, to-the-point song—I’m just being honest (no pun intended).

Two of her upcoming singles, “Honest” and “You See Me,” were selected among nearly 14,000 entries as semifinalists in the 2023 International Songwriting Contest.

“Honest” is an indie pop/rock song about a girl questioning whether a relationship has just been a placeholder. Dalton notes, “You get to that point in a relationship when you want to know whether it’s going somewhere. You talk, you spend time together, you become friends, but was the time worth it? Did the words have meaning? The truth is that most relationships don’t work out, and sometimes you have to be honest about that.”

Dalton is a 19-year-old fiddler, multi-instrumentalist, and aspiring singer-songwriter. She grew up in rural Idaho and is now based in Nashville, studying commercial music at Belmont University.

Watch out for Mal Sounds and the song “Fall Into You” off Still In New York EP. Reminiscent of The Weeknd, the track finds its place in the world of lo-fi beats, chill, and calm vibes. A perfect addition to Spotify’s Chill Tracks, Chill Vibes, Dreamy Vibes, and Relax & Unwind playlists.

Set in Mal Sounds’ home of Brooklyn, the record is about letting go and embracing stillness. Born from a period of mental unrest, “Still In New York” explores finding peace. Mal allows himself to fall in love, creating a space for fellow daydreamers.

The EP features Mal’s ambient, shoegaze-inspired production, with contributions from Harrison Lipton and Stevexcooper. Focused on mental health and the search for calm, “Still In New York” offers comfort for anxious minds.

Keep an eye on Trevor Dering, aka Fiji Blue, and the latest release, “Angel.” Reminiscent of Lewis Capaldi and Dean Lewis, this track is sure to resonate with anyone who enjoys melancholy pop. A perfect “sad boy” anthem, it could easily find a place on Spotify’s Indie Radar, Indie All-Stars, or Dreamy Indie Vibes playlists.

With over 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify, Fiji Blue is the project of singer-songwriter Trevor Dering. He explained, “I struggled to come up with a name for a while, but it was right in front of us the whole time. I always made music in blue lighting, and ‘Fiji Blue’ captures the emotional tone we aim for in our music. Plus, Trevor loves Fiji water.”

Watch out for Oslo, Norway-based singer-songwriter Linnea Vestre, aka SIKADE, and her indie folk track “Bloody Moon.” It’s a perfect song if you’re looking for something atmospheric, ambient, and dreamy. The track could find a home on Spotify’s Chill Vibes, Dreamy Vibes, Late Night Vibes, or Evening Chill playlists.

Swedish/American indie-pop duo Flora Cash releases “My Ex Would’ve Left By Now,” a melancholic track perfect for fans of sad pop, especially on a rainy day.

Cole Randall shares, “With ‘My Ex Would’ve Left By Now,’ we’re reflecting on the struggle to accept the care and patience of someone who stays, even when we feel unworthy. We aimed to capture the tension between recognizing our flaws and appreciating the rare love that endures despite them.”

After signing with Icons Creating Evil Art in 2015, Flora Cash earned nominations for Swedish Artist and Newcomer of the Year. Their full-length debut, Nothing Lasts Forever (And It’s Fine), was released in April 2017. Their breakthrough hit, “You’re Somebody Else,” topped alternative radio, went viral on TikTok, and achieved Platinum status in the US, along with multiple Gold and Platinum certifications worldwide.