Record Label Spotlight: Fox Food Records

Based in Mirfield, UK, Fox Food Records is an indie label that signs slowcore, ambient, folk and dream pop artists with a uniquely rustic sound that you probably won't hear on the radio. When you scroll through their discography, you'll see collages, analog photos, original art and other oddities that contribute to the label's DIY vibe. In addition to digital releases, most of their albums come with a physical release that includes a cassette, a thank-you card and a small gift or two.

If you like any of the tracks on this playlist, you can currently buy Fox Food Records' entire discography—that's 69 albums—for a $4 minimum. You can also buy digital downloads with a name-your-price model. The physical editions sell out quickly, but with new albums as recently as October 2026, you might be able to snag a cassette if you keep an eye out for their next drop.

As a fair warning: some of these tracks aren't on Spotify, and since Vocal doesn't have an HTML editor, I had to go with the full-size Bandcamp streaming widgets. This means the album covers take up a lot of space, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it invites you to appreciate the cover art and think about what it contributes to each song.

1. Good Shepard by NEWFOUNDLAND

In 2015, Andrew Sumpner released his second EP under the name NEWFOUNDLAND. "Good Shepard," the second track on this EP, is an airy, ghostly tune that makes you feel like you're floating over a snow-covered ground while the sun sets behind the trees. Dusty vocals add another layer to this track, creating an unsettling vibe like you wandered too far into the wilderness and don't know how to get back. Information about NEWFOUNDLAND is pretty scarce, and the name makes this project difficult to search—but, luckily, the music tends to speak for itself.

2. God Dies Alone by Henry Demos and Lewtrakimou

Dropped in 2015, I Was Trying To Get There But It Was Hard To See From The Balloon is a truly unique release that you'd only find on Bandcamp. This split record from Henry Demos and Lewtrakimou is a stew of fuzzy recordings, nostalgic melodies and mysterious clips that sound like forgotten demos from an ancient cassette tape. "God Dies Alone" starts with eerie laughter before it plunges into a distorted, synth-heavy beat with vocals that you can barely make out. It's a strange listening experience, but if you think this track is out there, try listening to the rest of the album.

3. Dusk; falling asleep, know that you are loved by Sabbatical Wilderness

Night Life in the Lemon Town of Büshka isn't just an album: it's also the 2015 soundtrack for Sabbatical Wilderness' short story of the same name. I couldn't find the story online, but each track paints such a vivid picture that you might not need it. The titles also provide a clear description, and "Dusk; falling asleep, know that you are loved" has a quiet, repetitive sound that perfectly captures the feeling of drifting off to sleep at the end of a long day. The lo-fi production enhances this vibe, calling to mind the distorted thoughts that float through your consciousness before you fall asleep.

4. I Got My Piano At Sixteen by FANPAGE

If you looked at the title, you might think that FANPAGE's "I Got My Piano At Sixteen" is a slow, nostalgic track. In fact, this 2015 song defies all expectations as it burns into your consciousness with a harsh, echoing sound and simple, repetitive notes that sound like an alien's composition. As the track goes on, bursts of noise appear in the landscape like starbursts, followed by distortions, haunting screams and a rush of static. At the end, the song quietly trails off like a spaceship abruptly leaving Earth, implying that its mission is over—and we'll probably never know exactly what it wanted.

5. dark hearts by ratbath

"dark hearts," the third track on ratbath's 2016 release, is the essence of a rural childhood: delicate instrumentals, fairy-like vocals and soft, lilting melodies that sound like a forgotten memory. As Karlie Efinger's voice cuts through the fuzzy production like a voice calling through your childhood home, you can't help but think about those foggy, surreal days when you didn't know you were a human being yet. True to Fox Food Record's commitment to limited-edition physical releases, the (now sold-out) version included a glittery green cassette and a hand-drawn zine: a rare piece of music memorabilia from Efinger herself.

6. Not Enough by Good Good Blood

If you're feeling bored, "Not Enough" snaps you out of your trance with a bold, ethereal sound that slowly builds momentum like a ritual in the woods. When the vocals start, you're so captivated that you can't stop listening, even if someone's calling your name. With over a dozen releases, Good Good Blood is one of Fox Food Records' most prolific artists, and it's not hard to see why—they've mastered the art of building layered soundscapes that manage to be haunting, exhilarating and breathtaking at the same time. This song comes from their 2015 release, Hymnal EP, which features a cover photo by Catherine DeGennaro.

7. Third Sunrise by Obelisk Grove

Fox Food Records excels in signing artists with a strange, otherworldly sound, and Visitors is a fitting name for Obelisk Grove's 2025 album, which features the deeply unsettling "Third Sunrise." This track hums and vibrates like a spaceship hovering over a small town (maybe it's the same aliens that make up FANPAGE), but it also cultivates a mystical, hypnotic sound that leaves you with a sense of awe. The slight cracks in the audio bring you back to reality, right before the song abruptly fades away like a meteor turning into dust. Other songs on the record are equally mysterious, and it makes you wonder what inspired this eerie release.

8. the wave of ages by Winter Calvary

"the wave of ages" sounds like an old recording, and sure enough, the entire i fly... then i fall and die album comes from a once-forgotten CD dated back to 2010. Ten years later, this collaboration between Winter Calvary and NEWFOUNDLAND made a solid addition to Fox Food Record's discography with its humble, folksy sound and soothing melodies. In particular, "the wave of ages" captures the essence of a winter day when you're wandering through the woods, trying to understand yourself as you think about the past—or maybe you're simply enjoying the snow on the ground.

9. Berwyn by Fairy Godmother

"Berwyn" might be a quieter song with traces of folk and dream pop, but the emotion that Alyssa Thomas conveys is so intense that you almost feel like bursting into tears. As the notes trickle through like rain pattering against a window, Thomas sings about a failed relationship that left her mourning what could have been, although she admits, "I said some things I did not mean / And I have let you down." This 2018 release is strikingly honest, and despite the subject matter, it sounds like it'd be a privilege to have Thomas write a song about you. Right now, this album is Fairy Godmother's only release, but let's hope she picks up the pen again.

10. New Year by Freya

"New Year" might start off slow, but as the layers start to unfold, the song conjures images of city streets, early sunsets and long nights spent alone—and that's before Tamara Westwood's vocals break in. Just when the darkness seems unbearable, the song erupts into a blissful explosion of fuzz and distortion while Westwood pleads to the heavens. Her voice is strong and powerful, matched only by the song's dramatic conclusion. This track comes from 2018's The Fifth, and it makes a perfect album closer because, after this flurry of emotion, there's nothing else left to say.

11. Heathen Astronaut by Good Good Blood and Astral Social Club

To celebrate Fox Food Record's fifth birthday in 2019, the record label invited its artists to collaborate on a special album: Something's There But You're Not Sure What. "Heathen Astronaut," a collaboration between labelmates Good Good Blood and Astral Social Club, is a twelve-minute epic that paints a vivid, surreal landscape like the sound of an astronaut floating hopelessly through space. It's a fitting tribute to this record label that's given indie artists a voice, and if this playlist isn't enough, this album includes tracks from Nice Legs, Fazed On A Pony, Plant Food, Deer Scout and much more.

What's your favorite independent label? Would you add any of these tracks to your playlists? Sound off in the comments.