indy has short blonde and brown hair and wears a navy shirt over a white t shirt

Pictured: Indy Newland

Visibility is more than just being seen—it’s about being heard, understood, and celebrated. For Indy Newland, that journey is laid bare in his debut album 'Little Man'. With raw storytelling and a sound that fuses jazz, hip-hop, and soul, the record serves as both a personal diary and a beacon for those navigating their own paths of self-discovery. Through music, Newland has found not just a voice, but a home—one built on resilience, chosen family, and an unshakable sense of identity.

In this conversation, Indy shares the deeply personal process behind 'Little Man', an album that became a survival guide of sorts—both for himself and for others who may find solace in its lyrics. From early songwriting that unknowingly foreshadowed his coming out, to the intentional weaving of influences like Paris Is Burning into his narrative, his music is a testament to the power of storytelling and self-expression. 

As he looks ahead, Indy is eager to build on this moment, with a new single, "Unmatched", live performances, and a growing connection with the audiences who see themselves reflected in his sound.

Creating your album ‘Little Man’ involved exploring themes like self-discovery, chosen family, and independence. How did this process shape you as an artist and a person?

The way I make music is by holding a mirror to my own life and reflecting my experiences in my words and the emotion within my music. I was figuring out my identity, and at times, where I had written some of the songs so early in the process, my music actually helped me learn about myself. I even wrote the title track before I came out as a trans man, which I think really says a lot. It really made me take a deep look inside myself, and made me not only understand who I am as a person, but as an artist, and what I want to achieve.

The album is intended to be listened to from start to finish, structured as a cohesive story. What journey do you hope listeners take with it? 

I hope that by fully experiencing this album you can understand who I am, and why music is so important to me. I feel like it’s really a mission statement for my career to come. Music saved my life, and so I want to give that gift back. I hope that listeners can both turn up to and get a little therapy out of the album.

You’ve spoken about the role of music in your journey as a trans man. How did your identity and experiences influence the tone and storytelling of the album?

I feel like the whole thing became a coming of age story or like a survival guide. I knew early on that I wanted to sample Paris is Burning because so much of the messaging behind what people were saying throughout that film resonated with me. It’s all about finding your chosen family, and keeping fierce hope even through the worst of times. I really hope trans kids can listen to the words in my songs and keep hopeful, and more importantly be proud of who they are.

The album blends jazz, hip-hop, and soul while drawing inspiration from legends like Erykah Badu and Tyler, The Creator. How did you approach songwriting and production? 

When I produce, I either make everything myself or start with a usually soul or jazz influenced instrumental, and I just make the stuff I want to listen to and that I could keep on loop for hours. Once I have a base for a song I can hear what it’s kind of asking for, and that's where I like to think about influences of mine. It's the little things, like extra little harmonies or weird synth parts that I really love.

Indy has brown and blonde hair cut into a mullet. he wears a white tank top and shows his arm tattoos

You hosted a listening party for the album release. What was the vision for the event, and what tips or learnings can you share with other artists who want to plan their own?

I figured that really the entire album was made in different bedrooms, as I moved about four or five times during the process of making it. So the vision was to just bring people inside my bedroom. I couldn’t bring people into my actual bedroom at the time as it could only fit about three people, so I dressed up Next Door Records to look like it instead. I invited friends and family and met new artists, and it was a really amazing time. My advice to others is; think big, then think small. At the end of the day, all you need is a bunch of people in a room listening to your work. 

With ‘Little Man’ marking such a pivotal moment in your career, where do you see your music evolving from here?

More, more, more. I really feel like I’m evolving constantly as a person and an artist. I have so much work ready to come out. I really can’t wait to tour, to do more festivals, more gigs, more albums and connect more with people through my music. I really want to thank Youth Music for the support I was given at such an important time in my career. I just can't wait to show everyone what I have in store - keep your eyes peeled, I have a lot of releases coming this year.

Tell us about your new single, "Unmatchable".

"Unmatchable" is about the moments when you feel so deeply for someone, but you always knew it won't last or work out. You've already lost, so all you can do is appreciate the beauty of what once was.

Stream "Unmatchable" on Spotify below, or purchase the single on Bandcamp.

Connect with Indy Newland:

Instagram: @indynewland

TikTok: @indythenewland