The Modern Hip Indie Pop Cocktail Hour For Wedding Playlists

Perhaps its the musical tastes of my clients that may have rubbed off on me, but at this stage of my life, I would have to say that Indie pop is my favorite musical genre as we round out 2023.  Listening to the best radio station in Charleston, SC might also have something to do with it too. 105.5 The Bridge is an adult album alternative (AAA) station. This format caters to the ultimate music lover. On any given day you might hear classic rock songs from the 70s, new wave of the 80s, 90s grunge, yacht rock, Indie pop, and so much more.  Programmed by veteran, major market program director Bryan Schock, the Bridge occupies most all of my new music discovery. While my radio listening keeps me current on what types of new music is being released, it's my clients who also keep me on my toes and tend to introduce me to so much new music. Most of the selections you'll see on this playlist have been in my catalog since their release, as I have taken an interest in Indie pop probably for the past 15 or more years. You'll want to definitely read on to check out this very hip mix of music that is perfect for the modern bride and groom who are into the best of Indie pop.

Just a reminder. It's YOUR wedding and the music you choose for your wedding playlist should be put together based on your likes and dislikes. This Modern Hip Indie Pop Cocktail Hour Playlist is just one of many ideas you'll find over on my Spotify profile.  I was inspired to put this playlist together based on the requests of my clients back during the fall season, and my listening of 105.5 The Bridge. When you head over to my Spotify profile, all you need to do to find me is search for DJ Mike Bills. There you'll be greeted to well over 160 types of playlists to provide musical inspiration to the modern bride and groom lkooking to design the best mix of music for their wedding day.

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"Sit Next To Me" | Foster The People
From the Indie pop band who gave us "Pumped Up Kicks", Foster The People would release their album Sacred Hearts Club in the summer of 2017. This upbeat chill Indie pop track is ideal for cocktail hour. The song was released in July 2017 and would break into the Top 10 on the Adult Top 40 chart, and the Top 5 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart.

"Fire For You" | Cannons
Cannons are an amzing Indie pop band that formed in southern California (Los Angeles) back in 2013.  "Fire For You" was a part of their second album Shadows released in 2019. "Fire For You" began receiving airplay on alternative stations in 2020 and would peak at #1 on the alternative charts in early 2021. While I've added "Fire For You" into this amazing cocktail hour playlist, don't be surprised if the vibe of this song causes you to go out on the dance floor and get to dancing just a little early.

"Tongue Tied" | Grouplove
Grouplove is another Indie rock band with ties to the Los Angeles area. "Tongue Tied" can be found on the album Never Trust A Happy Song released in 2011. The song would peak at #3 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Chart in 2012.

"Lost In Yesterday" | Tame Impala
Kevin Parker is a truly exceptional music producer who writes, records, and produces for his project Tame Impala. Before the COVID pandemic in January 2020, he'd release the album The Slow Rush. "Lost In Yesterday" was one of the singles that hit the radio in 2020 and would peak at #5 on the Hot Rock & Alternative songs chart, as well as #2 on the Billboard Alternative chart.

"Heatwaves" | Glass Animals
This instant classic by Glass Animals is the perfect addition to any Indie pop cocktail hour playlist. I remember hearing the song during the first few months of COVID in the summer of 2020. The song would be played on alternative stations and also get airplay on CHR. "Heatwaves" would peak at #1 on the Hot 100 in March 2022. 

"Electric Love" | Borns 
BORNS is actually Garrett Clark Borns. He would release his first album in 2012, but it would not be until 2014 where he would score a Top 20 hit on the Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart with "Electric Love". You can also find the track on the 2015 album Dopamine. "Electric Love" has been known to be used for bridal party introductions. For more song ideas about your bridal party introduction <---CLICK HERE

"Cigarette Daydreams" | Cage The Elephant

Cage The Elephant were an Indie rock band formed in Bowling Green, Kentucky back in the mid 2000s.  By the fall of 2013, they would drop their third album Melophobia. "Cigarette Daydreams" was the third single to be released off the record in August 2014. The song would make it all the way to #2 on the Rock chart, and break into the Top 10 on the Hot Rock & Alternative chart.

"Tek It" | Cafune
Cafune are a pop duo that formed in New York City back in 2014.  The duo would release their first album in 2021 with the single "Tek It" peaking at #4 on the Rock chart. I first heard "Tek It" when it was part of the New Music Discovery category on 105.5 The Bridge. It's currently in the recurrent category. The song also went viral on Tiktok in 2022.

"Real Love Baby" | Father John Misty
I added this more mellow Indie track by Father John Misty after seeing a lot of requests for it during cocktail hours in the past few seasons.  "Real Love Baby" was released as a single in July 2016.

"Rollercoaster" | Bleachers
Originating from the very musically-inclined state of New Jersey, (don't believe me -- CLICK HERE for Best New Jersey musicians for your wedding playlist.  "Rollercoaster" was released on their debut album back in July 2014. For more information on Rollercoaster <---CLICK HERE - Back in the fall of 2021, one of my clients used "Rollercoaster" for their wedding ceremony recessional. Find out more by clicking HERE

"My Type" | Saint Motel
Saint Motel are another Indie pop originating from the Los Angeles, CA area. In the summer of 2014, the band would release the EP titled My Type. The title track would break into the Top 10 of the Adult Alternative and Alternative Airplay chart.

"Take Me To Church" | Hozier
It's hard to believe that at the time of publishing of this article that it's been about 10 years since the release of "Take Me To Church". "Take Me Church" would make it all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Adult Top 40, and the Hot Rock & Alternative chart.

"Can I Call You Tonight" | Dayglow
Dayglow was founded by Sloan Christian Struble in 2017. You can find this song on the album Fuzzybrain. "Can I Call You Tonight" was released as a single in 2018 and would peak at #3 on the alternative chart, and #5 on the AAA chart.

 "Safe And Sound" | Capital Cities
Capital Cities are a duo originating from Los Angeles and would release "Safe and Sound" on EP back at the beginning of 2011.  When Capital Cities released their debut album In A Tidal Wave Of Mystery in 2013, "Safe And Sound" would become a hige hit, peaking in the Top 10 on the Hot 100, and #2 on the Hot Rock & Alternative Chartsa.

 "Doin' Time" | Lana Del Rey
Originally released in 1997 by 90s alternative rock band Sublime, Lana Del Rey would record a cover and release the song just in time for it to become a song of the summer of 2019.  Her version of "Doin' Time" would peak at #1 on the U.S Rock chart.

"Out Of My League" | Fitz & The Tantrums
Fitz & The Tantrums released their second album More Than Just A Dream in early 2013. "Out Of My League" was the first single to be released from the album in February 2013 and would make it all the way to #1 on the U.S Rock chart. 

"Amoeba" | Clairo
Claiire Elizabeth Cottrill (Clairo) was born in Atlanta, but grew up in Massachusetts.  In 2017, her video for "Pretty Girl" went viral at which time she would sign a record deal. By 2021, she would release her second studio album Sling, which would feature the song "Amoeba".  I was introduced to Clairo by way of the New Music Discovery category on 105.5 The Bridge.

"Bad Habit" | Steve Lacy
Back in the summer of 2022, Steve Lacy released the single "Bad Habit".  "Bad Habit" was the second single to be released off his second album Gemini Rights. The song would be a tremendous crossover sensation peaking at #1 on the Hot 100, R&B, Rhythmic, Mainstream Top 40, and Hot Rock & Alternative chart.

"Are You Bored Yet" | Wallows (feat. Clairo)Back in the winter of 2019, Wallows would release their album Nothing Happens. "Are You Bored Yet?", which features Clairo was the lead single.  The song would peak at #7 on the Hot Rock & Alternative chart.

"Sex, Drugs, Etc" | Beach Weather
Formed in 2015, Beach Weather released their first full-length album in March 2023. The song peaked at #1 on the U.S Alternative charts in October 2022, and would be certified platinum by the RIAA in May 2023.

"Say That" | Toro Y Moi
Born in 1986 in Columbia, SC,  Chaz Bear (Toro Y Moi) graduated from the University of SC with a degree in graphic design. He got his first record deal shortly there after.  I was introduced to Toro Y Moi by one of my clients long ago.  Some of his music is categorized as "chillwave", but this track fits nicely into this Indie pop cocktail. Toro Y Moi was also featured on a tropical house cocktail hour playlist that ended up getting a lot of traffic over the years from prospective brides and grooms.

"All About You" | The Knocks (featuring Foster The People)
The sign of a great radio programmer is actually takes a chance on songs you think are awesome and adding them into rotation. That is exactly what Bryan Schock did on 105.5 The Bridge. "All About You" received a lot of airplay on 105.5 The Bridge in the winter and spring of 2021.  For those of you who don't know, The Knocks are an electronic duo based out of NYC. In 2020, they would team up with Foster The People for "All About You" - The song would peak at #20 on the Hot Dance / Electonic charts.

"Harmony Hall" | Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend is an Indie pop weekend based out of New York City. For more bands and musicians with ties to New York City, <----CLICK HERE. "Harmony Hall" was the first single to be released from their album Father Of The Bride. Released in January of 2019, "Hamrony Hall" would make it all the way to #1 on the Adult Alternative chart.

"Little Talks" | Of Monsters And Men
"Little Talks" was the first single to be released from the debut album from Of Monsters And Men, My Head Is An Animal in 2011. "Little Talks" would peak at #3 on the U.S Hot Rock & Alternative chart.

"Soul Meets Body" | Death Cab For Cutie
In the summer of 2005, Death Cab for Cutie would release their 5th album titled, Plans. "Soul Meets Body" would become the band's first huge hit. The song peaked at #1 on the Adult Alternative songs chart.

"Way Less Sad" | AJR
We wrap up this Modern Hip Indie Cocktail Hour with a song that is sure to make you smile. You can find "Way Less Sad" on their album OK Orchestra. Released in February of 2021, the song would peak at #2 on the U.S Alternative play chart. 

Interested In Speaking With DJ Mike Bills About Your Wedding?

And there you have it. An idea for a cocktail hour for your wedding playlist that was inspired by not only my clients requests, but also a lot of the songs that have been played on 105.5 The Bridge since Bryan Schock.  I really love this genre of music. I believe one of the reasons that I connect with this music is a lot of it uses synth and keyboards, which remind me of the 80s. Some of it reminded of The Sophistipop Cocktail Hour I put together <---CLICK HERE This is what true professional wedding DJs are constantly doing. Their mind is always thinking about music at weddings. Truth be told, the idea for this playlist has been floating around in my mind for several months and over the past week, I started to jot some songs while listening to 105.5 The Bridge. Thank you for making it all the way to the end of this post. Be on the lookout for more inspirational posts like this, and please check out the rest of my blog for a ton of music ideas. Click on the link up above if you are interested in setting up a time to speak to me about your wedding. I'd love to speak with you. Once again, thank you for stopping by and congratulatiuons on your engagement!