Only recently did I realize the importance music has on my well-being. I probably should have realized sooner considering I’ve got hundreds of CDs, a handful of LPs and way too many gigabytes of music (all the material objects I’m currently trying to get rid of). But seriously: if I’m feeling down, or need a pick-me-up, music will most likely heal me. Seeing as this is a travel blog, what better place to showcase some of my favorite indie bands from around the world!
Iceland
Iceland is an eerie place. Anil wrote recently about the infamous IcelandAir stopover on foXnoMad, and Steph has covered it pretty extensively on her site as well with some amazing photos. I’m sure the amazing scenery & unique culture makes for a creativity-inducing environment. That’s why there’s a lot of great bands that come out of such a small country (population: 316,960).
And no I’m talking about more than Björk here.
There’s Emiliana Torrini (I’ve written about her before), The Sugarcubes, and my personal favorite: Sigur Rós.
“Gósóli,” Sigur Rós:
Sigur Rós is perfect for listening to when you don’t want to hear words but need to visualize something beautiful.
Australia
I’ve got a ton of interesting Australian indie rock bands to share, but for now, I’ll just mention Xavier Rudd.
“Better People,” Xavier Rudd:
If you visit his web site & sign up for his mailing list, you’ll get a free download of his newest single.
France
Alright, this indie band has made it pretty big recently. You’ve probably heard part of this song on the Cadillac commercials that have been on U.S. television for several months now. Regardless, Phoenix is one of my all-time favorites, and their song “1901” really makes me happy.
“1901,” Phoenix:
“Past and present, they don’t matter, now the future’s sorted out.” Uh-huh.
Thanks! I enjoyed these in my cube. I loved the Xavier Rudd. I'd never heard of him.
Crazy how much music comes out of such a little place. Always makes me wonder about Sweden too, about all that pop with only a population of around 9 or 10 million.
So glad! Xavier Rudd is amazing.
If you ever get the chance to see him live, DO IT! He puts on an amazing performance. So many of the sounds and instruments are just him, so he uses all the looping technology to meld it together. Every performance is unique but brilliant.
Sweden's got a ton of great music, too! I think a lot of those Nordic countries have a weird mix of bubblegum pop & melancholy which just makes for some really amazing albums. Their sounds are so different & unique.
Dude Alison! Aren't you in Miami and/or why aren't you on the beach!?
God do I love me some Xavier Rudd! Didge jam central.