If you love Gigi Perez’s “Sailor Song”, start with Hozier, Phoebe Bridgers, Adrianne Lenker and Bon Iver.

Those artists capture different parts of the song’s appeal.

Some share its raw acoustic sound.

Others explore the same mixture of devotion, vulnerability and emotional intensity.

“Sailor Song” became one of the defining indie-folk breakthroughs of the mid-2020s.

Its success was particularly unusual because the recording feels intimate rather than conventionally commercial.

Perez has explained that she grew up listening to both alternative music and 2000s pop, influences that came together naturally in the song.

That combination helps explain why it reached audiences far beyond traditional indie-folk listeners.

What makes “Sailor Song” sound so distinctive?

The vocal performance.

The acoustic guitar.

The emotional intensity.

And the way the production remains relatively simple while still sounding enormous.

Perez doesn’t need a huge electronic beat.

The song works through repetition and vocal expression.

It also combines the intimacy of folk music with the melodic accessibility of pop.

That creates an interesting crossover.

Listeners who normally prefer acoustic singer-songwriters can enjoy it.

So can people discovering indie music through TikTok.

1. Hozier – Like Real People Do

One of the closest matches for atmosphere.

Hozier combines intimate vocals with poetic songwriting.

“Like Real People Do” is quieter than “Sailor Song”, but both recordings make affection feel almost sacred.

The arrangements avoid unnecessary complexity.

The emotion comes from the voice and guitar.

If you love Perez’s intensity, Hozier is an essential artist to explore.

2. Phoebe Bridgers – Moon Song

For listeners drawn towards emotional vulnerability.

“Moon Song” is delicate, intimate and quietly devastating.

Bridgers sings about devotion that may not be entirely healthy.

The arrangement gives her voice enormous space.

Like “Sailor Song”, the recording creates the feeling that somebody is communicating something unusually personal.

It doesn’t sound designed for a stadium.

It sounds like a confession.

3. Adrianne Lenker – anything

One of the strongest acoustic recommendations.

Lenker’s songwriting frequently combines ordinary images with enormous emotional weight.

“anything” sounds fragile and spontaneous.

The guitar and vocal feel close to the listener.

If you enjoy the sense of intimacy surrounding Perez’s recording, Lenker is a natural next discovery.

Her wider solo catalogue is worth exploring too.

4. Bon Iver – Skinny Love

A particularly good match for vocal intensity.

Justin Vernon recorded much of For Emma, Forever Ago in relative isolation.

That atmosphere is audible.

“Skinny Love” sounds raw and emotionally exhausted.

The acoustic guitar provides the foundation.

The vocal carries everything else.

Perez’s style is different, but both recordings demonstrate how powerful imperfect-sounding performances can become.

5. Ethel Cain – A House in Nebraska

For listeners who enjoy the dramatic side of indie folk.

Ethel Cain creates music that can feel cinematic and intensely personal simultaneously.

“A House in Nebraska” is longer and slower than “Sailor Song”.

But it explores similar emotional territory.

Longing.

Attachment.

Memory.

The difficulty of leaving somebody behind.

If the scale of Perez’s feelings appeals to you, Ethel Cain is worth exploring.

6. Daughter – Youth

A haunting indie-folk recording.

Daughter combine delicate guitar with restrained vocals and atmospheric production.

“Youth” has a melancholy quality that makes it especially effective for late-night listening.

The emotional delivery is quieter than Perez’s.

But both artists understand how to make a simple arrangement feel enormous.

7. Lizzy McAlpine – ceilings

A natural recommendation for listeners discovering emotional acoustic music through social platforms.

“ceilings” begins with an intimate arrangement.

The lyrics create a romantic scene.

Then the emotional perspective changes.

That storytelling quality gives the song much of its power.

If you love the combination of romantic imagery and vulnerability in “Sailor Song”, McAlpine is worth exploring.

8. Searows – House Song

A particularly strong recommendation for fans of darker indie folk.

Searows makes music that feels quiet and emotionally exposed.

“House Song” combines acoustic instrumentation with a haunting vocal performance.

The recording is less immediately pop-oriented than Perez’s breakthrough.

But the emotional atmosphere overlaps significantly.

This is an excellent route into smaller, more intimate singer-songwriters.

9. Julien Baker – Appointments

Julien Baker is known for intensely personal songwriting.

“Appointments” gradually builds from a restrained beginning into something much more emotionally powerful.

The recording combines vulnerability with an underlying sense of hope.

That mixture should appeal to listeners drawn to the emotional intensity of “Sailor Song”.

10. Gregory Alan Isakov – The Stable Song

A gentler recommendation.

Isakov’s music often feels rural, spacious and reflective.

“The Stable Song” combines acoustic instrumentation with beautiful melodic writing.

It doesn’t have the same explosive vocal delivery as Perez.

Instead, it creates emotional depth through restraint.

If you want something calmer, start here.

11. Noah Kahan – Orange Juice

Another emotionally powerful folk recording.

Kahan combines direct storytelling with a relatively traditional acoustic arrangement.

“Orange Juice” explores complicated relationships and personal change.

The subject differs from “Sailor Song”.

But listeners who appreciate honesty and emotional storytelling may find plenty to connect with.

12. The Japanese House – Saw You in a Dream

A more electronic direction.

The Japanese House blends alternative pop with dreamy production and intimate vocals.

“Saw You in a Dream” has a floating, nostalgic quality.

It’s a good recommendation if you enjoy Perez’s emotional atmosphere but want something less traditionally acoustic.

13. Gigi Perez – Fable

Don’t overlook Perez’s wider catalogue.

“Fable” demonstrates another side of her songwriting.

The recording is emotional and deeply personal.

It also shows that Perez’s appeal extends beyond one viral single.

If “Sailor Song” was your introduction, exploring her other songs is the most useful next step.

14. Big Thief – Change

Big Thief move between folk, rock and experimental indie.

“Change” belongs closer to their softer side.

Adrianne Lenker’s vocal is intimate.

The songwriting explores time, attachment and the inevitability of change.

The recording is an excellent choice for listeners interested in the more reflective side of Perez’s music.

15. Phoebe Bridgers – Scott Street

Another Bridgers song deserves inclusion.

“Scott Street” is a beautiful example of ordinary conversation becoming emotional songwriting.

The arrangement gradually expands.

By the end, the music carries far more emotional weight than its understated beginning suggests.

That progression is one reason it works so well alongside “Sailor Song”.

What genre is “Sailor Song”?

Indie folk.

Alternative folk.

Singer-songwriter pop.

There are also obvious alternative-rock influences.

Perez’s sound isn’t limited to traditional acoustic music.

Her songwriting contains pop structure.

Her vocal delivery can become extremely intense.

That makes her music appealing to listeners who enjoy both folk and more dramatic alternative pop.

Why do these songs work together?

Because they share emotional qualities rather than identical production.

Some rely on acoustic guitar.

Others use electronic effects.

A few build towards enormous climaxes.

What connects them is the sense that the singer is communicating something deeply personal.

The best indie-folk recordings often sound less like performances and more like conversations.

That intimacy is central to Perez’s appeal.

Which three songs should you listen to first?

For the closest acoustic atmosphere:

Hozier – Like Real People Do.

For emotional intensity:

Phoebe Bridgers – Moon Song.

For raw, intimate songwriting:

Adrianne Lenker – anything.

Those three provide excellent starting points.

Where should you go after “Sailor Song”?

Follow the songwriting.

If you enjoy powerful vocals, explore Hozier and Julien Baker.

If you prefer quiet acoustic performances, move towards Adrianne Lenker and Searows.

If you’re drawn to dreamy production, try The Japanese House and Daughter.

And if you want another emotional experience directly from Perez, explore Fable.

“Sailor Song” may have introduced you to indie folk.

There’s an enormous musical world waiting behind it.