You want the best indie folk songs without wading through endless playlists. Start with these five: they cover hushed heartbreak, big group harmonies and a stomping singalong.
If you are brand new to the genre, our guide on how to get into indie folk gives the wider picture.
| Song | Key fact |
|---|---|
| “White Winter Hymnal” (Fleet Foxes), running time | 2:27 |
| “White Winter Hymnal,” Pitchfork Media ranking | #2 song of 2008 |
| “Ho Hey” (The Lumineers), Billboard Hot 100 debut | Number 90 |
| “Ho Hey” (The Lumineers), Billboard Hot 100 peak | Number 3 |
Figures come from Wikipedia’s pages on “White Winter Hymnal” and “Ho Hey”, plus the other song pages cited below. Dates and chart positions can change or be corrected, so check the source before you rely on them.
What makes a song indie folk?
There is no official rulebook, but most indie folk leans on acoustic instruments such as guitar, banjo, piano and strings. The production usually feels close and unpolished, and the songwriting puts feeling ahead of hooks.
Voices matter more than virtuosity. You will hear fragile falsettos, stacked harmonies and lyrics that read like diary entries.
The five songs below were chosen because each shows a different side of that sound. They are a starting point, not a ranking carved in stone.
The songs to start with
Fleet Foxes, “White Winter Hymnal”
This is the easiest door into the genre. It is a short song, just 2:27 long, built from layered voices rolling over each other like a round.
According to Wikipedia’s page on the song, Pitchfork Media ranked it the #2 song of 2008.
Bon Iver, “Skinny Love”
“Skinny Love” is raw, strained and instantly memorable. Wikipedia notes it was the first single from Bon Iver’s 2007 debut For Emma, Forever Ago in the United States, and it came out as a UK single on April 28, 2008.
Many listeners assume it is a straightforward breakup song. Justin Vernon has called that reading “not entirely accurate,” saying it is about being in a relationship because you need help.
The song later became a staple of singing competition shows, and Birdy’s cover was released in 2011. If you like the mood here, our list of sad indie folk songs goes deeper.
Sufjan Stevens, “Chicago”
The song’s Wikipedia page describes it as a track from Stevens’ 2005 concept album Illinois, released on Asthmatic Kitty.
Stevens said he had “quite a few exceptional and traumatic experiences in Illinois,” including a difficult visit to Chicago. The song also appeared in the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine.
Iron & Wine, “Flightless Bird, American Mouth”
Sam Beam’s whisper-soft delivery is the draw. Wikipedia lists a release date of December 11, 2008 through Sub Pop, as the third single from The Shepherd’s Dog.
An orchestral “Wedding Version” also got a music video. Try both versions back to back to hear how much arrangement can change a song’s mood.
The Lumineers, “Ho Hey”
This is the crowd-pleaser, with stomps, claps and a shouted chorus. According to Wikipedia, it reached number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The page says it debuted at number 90 in the week of June 10, 2012. Some purists see it as more folk-pop than indie, but it is a handy bridge if you usually listen to radio pop.
How to listen to them
Play the songs in order and notice what changes. Each step below leads naturally into the next:
- Start with the voices in “White Winter Hymnal.”
- Move to the single exposed voice in “Skinny Love.”
- Add orchestration with “Chicago.”
- Strip it back again with the quiet delivery of “Flightless Bird, American Mouth.”
- Finish with the singalong energy of “Ho Hey.”
Use headphones for the first four. The small details, such as breath, finger squeaks and room sound, are a big part of the appeal.
What to listen for in each song
A first listen is about mood. A second listen is where you start noticing craft, and indie folk rewards that second pass more than most genres.
- Harmony: in “White Winter Hymnal,” notice how each voice enters at a different moment and the line seems to chase itself.
- Dynamics: in “Skinny Love,” the guitar is battered and the vocal cracks upward, which gives the song its tension.
- Arrangement: in “Chicago,” listen for changes in the arrangement.
- Restraint: in “Flightless Bird, American Mouth,” the quiet is part of the instrument.
- Rhythm: in “Ho Hey,” the kick drum and clapping are the song’s engine, not the guitar.
None of this needs music theory. Ask yourself where the song feels loud, where it goes quiet, and what the singer sounds like they are holding back.
Building your own indie folk playlist
Five songs are a sampler, not a library. A good playlist mixes tempos so a whole evening does not feel like one long sigh.
Try alternating a gentle track with a more lively one. Place a big communal chorus after a fragile ballad, and let the quiet songs open and close the session.
- Open with something warm and familiar, such as “White Winter Hymnal.”
- Put your heaviest emotional songs in the middle, where you are already settled in.
- Save a singalong for the end so the session finishes on a lift.
- Add one artist you have never heard each time you refresh the list.
Streaming services and community radio shows can help, but your own ears are the best filter. If a song stays in your head the next morning, keep it.
Where to go next
Once a song grabs you, follow the artist. Albums reward patient listening, and our picks of the best indie folk albums are a good place to continue.
Do not worry about hearing everything in release order. Indie folk is a conversation across years, and a newer artist may sound like an older one only because both are drawing on the same traditions of storytelling and close harmony.
Another reliable trick is to read the credits and liner notes. Producers, guest vocalists and labels often lead you to the next artist you will love.
Frequently asked questions
Which song should a complete beginner play first?
Show answer
Try “White Winter Hymnal.” It is short, melodic and gentle, so it shows the genre’s harmony-driven side in a few minutes.
Is Bon Iver’s “Skinny Love” really about a breakup?
Show answer
Fans often read it that way, but Justin Vernon has said that interpretation is “not entirely accurate.” He describes it as being about staying in a relationship because you need help.
Is The Lumineers’ “Ho Hey” indie folk?
Show answer
It sits near the pop end of the genre. It is still a useful bridge, since it uses acoustic instruments and group vocals but reached number 3 on the Hot 100.
Do I need to hear whole albums to understand these songs?
Show answer
No. Singles work fine alone, but albums add context once you are hooked.
