The IINAG team has done the heavy lifting and curated this week’s essential new tracks so you don’t have to. Check out our picks below, then head over to the playlist for the full deep dive.
Modern Woman – Neptune Girl
Modern Woman continue to carve out a unique space in the London art-rock scene with “Neptune Girl.” The track is a restless, coming-of-age mirage that balances post-punk grit with a hauntingly nostalgic edge. Sophie Harris’ lyrics find strange poetry in the anxieties of childhood, particularly in the blurred lines of morality before they are fully understood. Musically, it’s a volatile mix of jagged guitars and propulsive rhythms that perfectly echoes the underbelly of the everyday. It’s a striking preview of their debut album that feels both lived-in and completely unpredictable. – Katie Macbeth
Courtney Barnett – Mantis / Sugar Plum
Courtney Barnett has unveiled two more tracks from her upcoming album Creature of Habit: “Mantis” and “Sugar Plum.” “Mantis” feels quintessentially Barnett and is the track she calls the record’s centrepiece. Her conversational storytelling flows over a bounding drumbeat and shimmering, ethereal guitars, capturing that restless, searching energy she does so well. Where “Sugar Plum” follows a more classical structure. Tender and melodic, it explores the anxiety of starting over somewhere new, “I’m in over my head”, before gradually lifting into cautious optimism. As the tempo rises, so does Barnett’s conviction, her vocals gaining force as she looks toward “brighter days.” Together, the two tracks offer an enticing glimpse of her highly anticipated new record. – Henry Dunn
American Football – Bad Moons
The story of American Football is still bewildering. Living with only one album for seventeen years, and now LP4 is around the corner. “Bad Moons” follows the footsteps of their previous effort with a bit more of an electronic nuance to their all-timer emo and math rock sound. True to form, the lyrics are honest to the point of degradation but meaningful all the same. This eight-minute track leads us to believe we’re in for a depressingly anthemic whirlwind of an album. – Evan Lurie
Bathing Suits – Empathy
On “Empathy,” Bathing Suits explores the delicate friction between human connection and emotional exhaustion. The track is built on a foundation of shimmering textures that feel both expansive and intensely claustrophobic. There is a raw, conversational quality to the songwriting that sidesteps typical indie clichés, opting instead for a vulnerable, human-sounding delivery. “Empathy” demands a quiet kind of attention, slowly unfolding its layers of synth and melody to reveal a core that is as bruised as it is hopeful. – Lauren Moreton
She’s Green – Mettle
Following their well-deserved spot on the NME 100 for 2026, She’s Green deliver a towering statement with “Mettle.” The track is a masterclass in contrast, pitting fuzzed-out, shoegaze-adjacent guitars against Zofia Smith’s soaring, ethereal vocals. While the music leans into a lush, dreamlike aesthetic, the lyrics provide a grounded dose of reality, tackling political themes with a grit that justifies the song’s title. It’s a dense, soaring piece of alt-rock that proves the band is more than just a hype story; they are an essential voice in the new emerging landscape. – Katie Macbeth
Swapmeet – I Know!
Australian outfit Swapmeet released an impressive shoegaze/alternative EP in 2024 and left many hungry for more. It is rare that a debut can capture such a formidable and identifying sound. Their latest single, “I Know!” wears their indie rock influence on their sleeve, upbeat but with all the fuzz and thunder you’d expect from the band. Who knows if this is just a one-off or indicates a new release this year, but we’re certain they will be more than a blip on everyone’s radar in no time. – Evan Lurie
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