The Sound of Oakland Indie

"The Sound of Oakland Indie" brings together a wide range of local sounds that reflect the variety of the East Bay’s alternative music scene. From the laid-back grooves of Still Woozy’s "Goodie Bag" to the fuzzed-out garage rock of Shannon & The Clams’ "Real Or Magic," this playlist moves through dreamy pop textures, gritty punk edges, and spaced-out psych experiments. There’s a mix of rising artists and established acts, all with strong roots in or around Oakland’s diverse and DIY-centered music community.

You’ll hear lo-fi bedroom pop from Hazel English, the youthful punk urgency of Destroy Boys, jazzy synth-soaked beats from Brijean, and the vintage-tinged soul of Eddie Chacon. Acts like SPELLLING and Lumerians push boundaries with genre-blending experimentation, while bands such as Ultra Q and SWMRS bring high-energy alt punk. All in all, the playlist captures the sound of a city where indie is more of a mindset than any one genre.