10 Vibrant Indie Hits From the 2010s

As an adult in the 2010s, I never thought I'd feel nostalgic for this decade. And yet, when I listen to indie hits from that era, I feel wistful as I think about this cheerful, optimistic time when I'd recently started college, Marvel was about to make movie history with The Avengers, and bright, peppy tunes dominated the radio.

Of course, not every song was a hit. If you wanted to make a splash, you needed to experiment with different styles and arrangements without straying too far from the catchy riffs that brought mainstream success. Successful tracks might earn viral videos, airtime on SiriusXMU and the semi-coveted Glee feature.

Since then, most of the tracks on this list have faded from the public consciousness, but they take you back to a moment in time when music was bold, colorful and experimental. And if you weren't part of the 2010s indie scene, you might end up with some brand-new tracks for your playlists.

1. Listen To Your Love by MONA

"Listen To Your Love" dropped in 2010 to promote MONA's first self-titled album with Island Records. Since then, the band has released four more albums, including 2024's Smiley Creatures. This track starts with fuzzy distortion before plunging into a dizzying array of blissful sounds and charismatic vocals, making it a tribute to the decade's idealism.

2. Pumpin Blood by NONONO

In 2013, the Swedish band NONONO introduced the world to "Pumpin Blood." This single quickly became the group's signature song, with various remixes dominating their top ten Spotify tracks. Light, peppy instrumentals, quirky lyrics and an explosive chorus made the Glee cover seem almost inevitable--and gave the song a little more staying power.

3. Hurricane by MS MR

"Hurricane" comes from MS MR's 2013 debut album, Secondhand Rapture. The duo released one more record in 2015 before disbanding, but their legacy lives on in this memorable track that offers echoing vocals and a dreamy, ethereal vibe that predated the dark pop wave. The vocalist, Lizzy Plapinger, also co-founded the famous Neon Gold Records.

4. Wild by Royal Teeth

In 2013, Royal Teeth debuted with Glow, an indie pop record that included the single "Wild." The song's bright, fresh sound and exuberant chorus make you feel like you're running through the jungle with Nora Patterson's luminous vocals in your earbuds. After releasing a couple of EPs and live albums, the group dropped their final record, Hard Luck, in 2019.

5. Endless Summer by The Jezabels

After forming in primary school, The Jezabels played their first show at the 2007 University of Sydney Band Competition. In 2011, they dropped "Endless Summer" as a single from their then-upcoming album, Prisoner. Intense and passionate, the song takes you back to hot summer days that lurk at the edges of your memory.

6. Take Me Out by Atomic Tom

"Take Me Out" comes from Atomic Tom's first record: 2010's The Moment. This irresistibly catchy song came with a viral video that featured the band playing the track with iPhone apps instead of instruments. Despite this success, Atomic Tom has yet to break into the mainstream again, although they're still sharing new releases on their website.

7. Seasons (Waiting On You) by Future Islands

After a string of releases, Future Islands found mainstream success with their 2014 single, "Seasons (Waiting On You)." While publications raved about the track, the band's performance on Late Show with David Letterman received widespread acclaim. When you listen to the song, it's not hard to see why: this dreamy, summery track takes you on a journey through a whirlwind of emotions before quietly trailing off.

8. Peaches by In The Valley Below

In The Valley Below was ahead of their time with their 2013 record, The Belt, which offered a "dark Americana" aesthetic that later artists, such as Ethel Cain and Nicole Dollanger, popularized on social media. "Peaches" was the mythic, brooding single from a record that allowed the duo to travel and quit their day jobs while living in Los Angeles.

9. Shuffle by Bombay Bicycle Club

"Shuffle" wasn't Bombay Bicycle Club's first single, but the song brought the band greater attention when it hit the airwaves in 2011. It's no surprise that this track blew up: with cheerful, jangling arrangements, you'll feel like you're taking a bike ride through London. Since A Different Kind Of Fix dropped, the group has released four more albums, including 2023's My Big Day.

10. A 1000 Times by Hamilton Leithauser + Rostam

In the second half of the decade, indie darlings Hamilton Leithauser and Rostam Batmanglij teamed up to release a joint album: 2016's I Had a Dream That You Were Mine. The album's title came from their single, "A 1000 Times," which delighted listeners with light, delicate instrumentals and vibrant imagery. Still, the lyrics tell a decidedly melancholy tale.

Did any of these songs make you nostalgic? What are your favorite indie hits? Let me know in the comments.