“Do you dream about the people that wrong you? Do you see those faces again and again?” – Lindsey Jordan, Snail Mail

So, what is an indie sad girl?

Sad girls aren’t a new concept, and they definitely aren’t exclusive to indie music. Everyone knows a sad girl, perhaps it was that one girl from high school who exclusively listened to Lana del Rey and Lorde and wrote everything down in a diary. Or, perhaps you are one. Embrace it! They have plenty of stereotypes too, if you can’t tell by the girl from high school I just described.

Stereotypes aside, sad girls have an active place in the indie music scene. There’s a strong melancholy force amongst the women of indie music, maybe you noticed if you read my last post about my favorite albums this year (spoiler: they’re not all the most upbeat).

This post is not meant to diminish this type of music at all. In fact, quite the opposite. Indie sad girls play the essential role in expressing the feelings that most people push down deep inside. And especially the feelings and experiences of teens/twentysomething women.

Indie artists like Soccer Mommy, Mitski and Lucy Dacus, to name a few, have become leaders of the sad girl pack.

But if they’re so sad, what makes the tunes of indie sad girls so appealing?

There’s not one specific sound, instrument or age to indie sad girl music, and no female singers are specifically “in or out” of the genre. However, their songs must revolve around incredibly introspective and thoughtful lyrics with the guitar/whatever necessary backup they require to best express this mood. A touch of lighthearted angst doesn’t hurt, either.

Whether it’s nonspecific sadness, anger, the patriarchy, confusion or any other conflicting feeling, they find a way to explore their feelings, bring them to the surface and channel them through music. They support the notion that music doesn’t have to be happy to be beautiful, not that this is a new idea.

Listen to these women to purge your negative thoughts, get over a breakup, deal with the cool girl who lives down the street, strengthen your emotional intelligence, cope with loneliness and realize you aren’t alone in how you feel.

I propose we celebrate these women for all they do. They may not be your first choice for your next dance party, but that’s ok; that’s not what they’re here to do.

Looking for some fan favorites? Here’s a playlist to get you started, and happy (or not) listening!