The top 10 songs of 2025 by New Jersey-based indie artists, according to Makin Waves:
“My Best,” The Well Wish — Parenting is the most joyous part of life, but it also can be very tough. It’s even tougher when you have to balance being a working musician. The Makin Waves Song of the Year, “My Best,” is an ode to parents from the Jersey Shore husband-and-wife (and mom-and-dad) team of vocalist Anya Angeloni and guitarist Patrick J. Angeloni.
“Golden Cage,” Cranston Dean — Imagine a world where the immigrant is the hero rather than the villain. Highlands singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cranston Dean wrote this song while working on a construction job for a trustworthy immigrant contractor and friend. “Golden Cage” is in reaction to the prejudice his friend faced from a crew that did more yapping than working. The anti-MAGA sentiment is a subtle but powerful theme to a revolution.
“Wonderland,” Renee Maskin — All things must pass, the great George Harrison said, but, man, that really sucks when it’s one of your favorite childhood past times. Having come to prominence in Asbury Park, singer-songwriter Renee Maskin is no stranger to gentrification, but when she shares the nostalgia of Ocean City’s Wonderland Pier amusements as it falls to the wrecking ball of a luxury hotel, eloquence and charm balance on a fence of bitterness in a way that continues to showcase as her as one of Jersey’s best and brightest talents.
“Tethered,” Brielle Brown — The gospel-tinged quasi-title track of Jersey Shore singer-songwriter’s brilliant LP “In Art & Soil the Same” chillingly examines how time is running out for humanity due to a lack of forgiveness for each other and a lack of love for the Earth Mother.
“Diaspora,” Arlan Feiles — The title track to heartbreaking journey through the horrors that the Jewish Diaspora has faced during and after the Holocaust is a plea for peace and cry for justice that the splintering world desperately needs.
“Psychic,” Surfing for Daisy — I do not know if the psychic in this song is the Asbury Park Boardwalk’s legendary Madame Marie, but I do know that the artist protagonist of this absorbing, atmospheric tale is cut from the same cloth as the young gypsy minstrel who made her a legend.
“Mother,” Nefesh Mountain — Motherhood seems to be the underlying theme of this list. The three kids of Nefesh Mountain’s Doni Zasloff inspired this ringing endorsement of a life choice that is not for wimps.
“Thomas Duncan, Pt. 3,” Dogs in a Pile — A tasty jam ‘n’ groove that oozes Steely Dan and Pink Floyd into the Rock ‘n’ Blender, this third installment of the epic trilogy “Thomas Duncan” is as great a listen as it is a mystery as to why — having included “Pt. 2” on their 2021 debut studio LP, “Not Your Average Beagle” — Dogs in a Pile never released “Pt. 1.”
“Down,” Flycatcher — Nirvana-like ear candy meets soul dropkick from an impressive third full-length that paves the way for more great things ahead for this veteran Asbury indie band.
“Case Road,” Dan Haase — Nostalgic Steve Earle-like anthem for broke musicians whose deep, deep passion for music keeps them from being broken, courtesy of the singer-songwriter solo endeavors of one of the Jersey Shore’s best sidemen.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].
