10 Indie Artists for Fans of Mazzy Star

Putting together a list of artists who exist in the same universe as Mazzy Star is not an easy task. In doing so, we focused on two overlapping qualities: the quiet, melancholic restraint of Hope Sandoval’s vocal delivery and the dreamlike, expansive atmosphere of the arrangements. We spent weeks circling these ideas, listening late into the night, revisiting the archives, and trying to zero in on what exactly makes that feeling so distinct. Without suggesting imitation, here are ten indie artists moving through a similar dreamlike, melancholic space.

Photo: Georgia Walters

Eleni Drake – “Guts”

A hazy, shoegaze-tinged glow runs through Eleni Drake’s “Guts,” where ethereal backing vocals act as the “spectral glue” holding everything in place. Drake’s soft, vulnerable delivery floats through a subtle vintage haze of ‘70s warmth and dreamlike melancholy. Read more

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Photo by Natalie Minguez

LINNEA – “Lone Star Motel”

From Los Angeles, LINNEA first introduced herself with “Lone Star Motel,” opening in hushed acoustic tones before gradually swelling into slide guitar, harmonies, and a full-band dynamic. The track carries a soft ‘90s warmth that lingers well after the final chorus. Read more

LINNEA · Lone Star Motel - LINNEA

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Photo by Bailey Dale

Mimi Pretend – “God Damn”

Mimi Pretend gives us “God Damn,” a slow-churning swirl of reverb, tremolo guitar, and layered vocal haze. At its core sits a shoegaze-adjacent drift where harmonies blur the edges of the mix into something weightless and submerged. Read more

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Photo by Jordan Altergott

Isadora Eden (Dollpile) – “Still”

Isadora Eden’s (Dollpile) “Still” unfolds with quiet precision, built from real instruments and a gently forming dream pop groove. Its strength lies in its refusal to push forward, instead settling into a soft, lingering presence. Read more

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Puppy Teeth – “Black Honey”

Edinburgh quartet Puppy Teeth gave us “Black Honey,” a track balancing organic indie rock dynamics with drifting dream pop textures. Dual vocals widen the stereo field, trading warmth and grit in a call-and-response exchange. Read more

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Photo by Jono White

Alice Costelloe – “Badmouth”

“Badmouth,” from Alice Costelloe, plays out as a slow, late-night ballad shaped by acoustic guitar, steady rhythm, and deep bass grounding. A faint vintage haze and restrained vocal delivery give it a reflective, intimate weight. Read more

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Photo by Chong

Nora Quinn – “Brave Now”

From upstate New York, Nora Quinn opens “Brave Now” in near-silence before gradually unfolding into a wider, emotionally charged arrangement. Piano, guitar, and layered vocals rise toward a performance that feels unguarded and direct. Read more

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Leem of Earth – “Shadow Sleeping”

Leem of Earth’s “Shadow Sleeping” shifts between ethereally calm and rhythmically driven, with Gileah Taylor’s vocal cutting cleanly through a layered, cinematic production. The track expands without losing its softness. Read more

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Photo by Drew Danburry

See Night – “Gravity”

See Night has given us “Gravity,” a suspended haze of reverb-heavy guitar, subtle percussion, and deeply intimate vocal work. It lingers in that twilight space between release and reflection. Read more

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Photo by Ada Chen

Zoya Zafar – “Clumsy”

Closing the set, Zoya Zafar has built “Clumsy” like a private recording left to decay in real time—lo-fi guitar, sparse piano, and organ tones widening the frame without breaking its intimacy. The result feels like stumbling into a lived-in emotional space. Read more

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These artists do not mimic Mazzy Star’s sound so much as extend a feeling that runs beneath it—quiet, spacious, and hard to shake once you've heard it.

We know you didn’t ask for one, but here’s a playlist:

-TM