October was a big new music month. Here are 14 songs I’ve had on heavy rotation from October. If you prefer Spotify over YouTube, check out the Music Finds, October 2025 playlist.
“Tumbleweed” is a fun ride and the third single from TWEN’s third studio album, Fate Euphoric, released November 4th. I’m looking forward to seeing these guys live again in February. I am praying they can get Raavi to open for them again.
I stumbled on French artist Oklou via their recent Tiny Desk performance, which opens with a mind-blowing performance of this song, “ict”. Surprisingly, it was not a single from their first full-length studio album, Choke Enough, released back in February. Also check out “take me by the hand” and “harvest sky” on that album.
Tōth is the solo project of Alex Toth, co-founder of one of my favorite bands, Rubblebucket. I have seen Rubblebucket live 10 times and they always deliver. At their Boston show in February, they announced the band was taking a break to pursue solo projects. Last time they did the solo project thing, the band organized a summer festival in Holyoke to showcase both solo projects, introduce their audience to some great upcoming bands (that’s how I was introduced to Caroline Rose) and close out with an epic Rubblebucket performance. “Spiraling” is the first single from either solo project and definitely has a Rubblebucket feel to it.
“Dopus No. 1” by True Loves may be the funkiest song ever. I’d never heard of these guys, but this was one of those YouTube recommendations I absolutely fell in love with.
“Map of Manhattan” by Sorcha Richardson came out 2 years ago, so not technically new, but it’s new to me. I think this was a Spotify recommendation. I really dig the “Eye In The Sky” vibe going on here.
“Ontsnapt” by Dutch artist Eefje de Visser isn’t in English, but I don’t generally pay much attention to lyrics. I love the production and general sound of this, its strong melody and rich vocal harmonies.
“Madonna” is a remake of the song originally released on Toro y Moi’s 2024 studio album, Whole Erth. In September, Unerthed: Hole Erth Unplugged provided us with lush re-imaginings of what was originally recorded as electronic music, often drowning in auto-tune. This arrangement really highlights the song’s melody and happy vibe, and the whole album showcases Toro y Moi’s versatility in the studio.
Just 15 months after her very successful This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway, Lola Young dropped I’m Only F**king Myself in September. I wasn’t crazy about the singles released for this album, but tucked away on track 6 is this gem of an oddball song with a very cool piano bass line and infectious hook, “Penny Out Of Nothing”.
I’m a big Madison Cunningham fan and enjoyed all the singles for Ace, released October 10th. Taken as a whole, it’s her strongest album yet. “Skeletree” is one of the non-singles that hits the mark for what I love about this artist. Really interesting chord changes and melody, beautiful instrumentation. I caught her live at Sinclair in Cambridge during her last tour and was blown away by the level of talent on that small stage. Since then, Cunningham has become one of the artists I have in common with my daughter, and we’re looking forward to catching her Boston show in April.
Speaking of my daughter, she happens to be Lucy Dacus’s #1 fan, and I mean that seriously. This cover of Croce’s “Time in a Bottle” was released on the deluxe version of her recent album, Forever Is A Feeling: The Archives. It’s rare that a cover improves on the original, and especially a classic like this one.
“Money Hits” is a fun and quirky tune from Daughter of Swords sophomore album, Alex, released in April. The production on this album is really interesting, and this song showcases it well.
The third single released ahead of her November 7th album, Love and Fortune, “Feel it Change” is a head-bobbing ear worm. Although this isn’t it, I completely fell in love with the B‑side of the album’s first single, “Standing Ovation”. Like many of Donnelly’s songs, it’s a slow burn but the indie rock jam that starts out of nowhere halfway through is absolute gold.
My daughter turned me onto this tune, and it’s really grown on me. “Coinstar” by Big Dumb Baby.
Francis of Delirium is an indie rock artist from Luxembourg. I loved her 2024 album Lighthouse, and caught her powerhouse show at Boston Calling that year. I’m very excited to see new material coming out. “Little Black Dress” is the first single from what I assume is a forthcoming album.
