The four female artists leading the indie genre today all have something in common, and it’s not something you see in the music industry everyday. Phoebe Bridgers, Snail Mail, Soccer Mommy, and Clairo share a camaraderie that goes beyond a hello at a show or a few twitter interactions. The foursome provide support for one another and encouragement, go to one another’s shows, tour together, and derive inspiration from each other’s work - all while transforming the landscape of indie singer-songwriters. Even with different sounds, the common emphasis on deep, raw lyricism puts these women as the leading indie singer-songwriters today.

A somber, lonesome feeling drifts in with the year’s first few cold fronts. It seems as though the dreary atmosphere carries a perplexing desire to seek a source of comfort. This year, Cigarettes After Sex emerged right in time, delivering misty, impassioned sounds in their most refined release yet. The cathartic dream-pop band debuted their second full-length album, Cry on Oct. 25, delivering misty, impassioned sounds in their most refined release yet.

Claire Cotrill’s intimate and repressed vocals sound as if she’s quietly singing along to her favorite song in the car. Her songwriting is unique in the sense that it's deeply personal to her; however, someone who listens to her can automatically relate to her story. The people who felt the most connection to her and her music conglomerated at the Austin venue Emo’s on Oct. 22 to empathize with Clairo’s vulnerable lyrics and finally hear the physical manifestation of her critically acclaimed debut album “Immunity,” released this past August.