A List of Contemporary Christian Music Indie Rock Artists

Here is a list of some great contemporary Christian music indie rock artists that you can check out!

Jars of Clay

Jars of Clay is a Contemporary Christian Music Indie Rock band formed at Greenville College in 1992. The band has released eleven studio albums, one holiday album, one greatest hits album and two live albums. They have sold over seven million records worldwide, including two million in the United States. Their 1995 self-titled debut album sold two million copies and contained three Top 40 singles on the Billboard charts. Their 1998 follow-up album, Much Afraid, was their critical and commercial breakthrough and included the Top 40 hit “Flood.”

Anberlin

Anberlin is a rock band formed in 2002 in Winter Haven, Florida. The band’s name originates from the novel City of Glass by Paul Auster. They were originally a part of singer Stephen Christian’s side project, SaGoh 24/7, and releasing two EPs, What We Believe and Never Take Friendship Personal before eventually changing their name to Anberlin and recording their debut album, Blueprints for the Black Market.

The band’s first four albums were released by Tooth & Nail Records: Blueprints for the Black Market (2003), Never Take Friendship Personal (2005), Cities (2007), and New Surrender (2008). Subsequent albums Dark Is the Way, Light Is a Place (2010) and Vital (2012) were produced by Brendan O’Brien and released through Universal Republic as the band exited Tooth & Nail Records right before recording. Devotion: Vital Special Edition was released on January 29, 2013 through Tooth & Nail Records, containing fourteen tracks: all of Vital wide-release tracks plus five brand new songs. On October 23, 2013 they released their sixth full-length album devotional entitled Devotion as well as announced that they have signed with Sony Music Entertainment onto its RED Associated Labels group. Lowborn was released on July 22, 2014 via Spinefarm Records[2] while Faithless was released on August 5, 2016 also via Spinefarm Records.[3][4] The final album Catch Fire was released on May 19th, 2018 again via Spinefarm Records.[5]

Their seventh studio album Cities reached No. 24 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers chart,[6] and the single “Feel Good Drag” peaked at No. 16 on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart,[7] No. 18 on its Rock Songs chart,[8] No. 25 on its ChristianRock Songs chart,[9][10] making Anberlin one of only seven bands to have topped all three of these charts with the same song.[11][12] The lead singer Stephen Christian met bassist Deon Rexroat while they were both attending Warner Southern College in Alabama; Christian transferred to Rollins College in Winter Park near Orlando in order to be closer to Rexroat; this is where he met young drummer Nathan Strayer with whom Christian had previously attended high school.[citation needed] Guitarist Joseph Milligan joined Anberlin in 2002 prior to the recording of their debut album Blueprints for the Black Market.[citation needed]

David Crowder Band

David Crowder*Band was an American contemporary Christian and indie rock band from Waco, Texas. They were formed in 1996 by David Crowder and Mark Waldrop while students at Baylor University. Their final album, Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]), debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Christian Music Album. The band announced their “farewell” tour on October 18, 2012, stating that they would be “dissolving” after it ended in 2013.

Switchfoot

Switchfoot is a contemporary Christian music indie rock band from San Diego, California. The band was formed in 1996 by brothers Jon and Tim Foreman. They have released ten studio albums, one live album, one compilation album, and one DVD. Their ninth studio album, Where the Light Shines Through, was released on July 8, 2016.

Needtobreathe

Needtobreathe is an American rock band from Seneca, South Carolina, United States. The band’s name comes from Psalm 42:1. The group is composed of Bear Rinehart, brother Bo Rinehart, Seth Bolt, and Josh Lovelace. They have released seven studio albums: Daylight (2006), The Heat (2007), The Outsiders (2009), The Reckoning (2011), Rivers in the Wasteland (2014), Hard Love (2016), and Out of Body (2020). “Washed by the Water”, “Something Beautiful”, “Multiplied”, and “Happiness” were all chart-topping singles on Christian radio.

Relient K

Relient K is an American rock band formed in 1998 in Canton, Ohio. Since its formation, the band’s musical style has ranged from punk rock to alternative rock to pop punk, making it difficult to label with a single genre. The band is currently signed to Mono vs Stereo, Gotee Records, and Capitol Christian Music Group. Relient K’s musical style relies heavily on pop-punk melodies and harmonized vocals.

Relient K was originally a solo project of Matthew Thiessen, who at the time was a fifth-grade student in Canton, Ohio. He began working on some songs in his bedroom, which he recorded on a four-track tape recorder. One of these songs was “Be My Escape”, which Thiessen later released as Relient K’s debut single. The name “Relient K” came from Matt’s car, a Plymouth Reliant K car which he considered to be “the worst American car made”; the two “Ks” represent the two worst cars ever made: the Plymouth Reliant and the Ford Pinto.

The band’s first full-length album, titled All Work & No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy, was independently released in 2000. The album sold poorly until Capitol Records caught wind of the song “Be My Escape”. Capitol promptly signed the band and re-released All Work & No Play later that year with “Be My Escape” as its lead single; the single went on to become a top 40 hit on both Christian and mainstream radio stations.

In 2003, Relient K released their second studio album, Two Lefts Don’t Make a Right…But Three Do; the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Gospel Album. The album featured more mature themes than their previous work, with Thiessen exploring his doubts and fears about his faith. The singles “I So Hate Consequences” and “Mood Rings” were both hits on Christian radio stations; additionally, the song “Forward Motion” was featured in an episode of Alias and in the film Down with Love.

The band’s next album was 2005’s Mmhmm; Mmhmm debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The first single from Mmhmm was the top 40 hit “Give Until There’s Nothing Left”; other singles from Mmhmm include “Who I Am Hates Who I’ve Been”, “The Anatomy of Tongue-in-Cheek”, and “Life”. In 2007, Relient K released their fifth studio album Five Score and Seven Years Ago; inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Five Score… debuted at number six on the Billboard 200 chart—the highest chart position achieved by any of Relient K’s albums to date—and has been certified Gold by the RIAA. The lead single from Five Score…,”Must Have Done Something Right”, peaked at number 28 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart—the highest chart position achieved by any of Relient K’s singles to date—and also topped both Christian radio charts and mainstream rock radio charts.

In 2009, Relient K released their sixth studio album Misery Loves Company; Misery Loves Company debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and produced three singles: “#9 Dream”, “‘I Need You”, which peaked at number one on both Christian radio charts and mainstream rock radio charts;and “‘Therapy”.

The Classic Crime

The Classic Crime is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 2004. The band’s first full-length album, Albatross, was released on May 23, 2006. It peaked at No. 28 on Billboard’s Top Heatseekers album chart and No. 18 on the Top Christian Albums chart. The album’s title track peaked at No. 10 on the Hot AC radio charts and No. 5 on the CHR radio charts.

Fireflight

Fireflight is an American rock band from Eau Gallie, Florida, United States. Formed in 1999, the band is composed of female vocalist Dawn Michele, guitarist Wyatt Durrette III, drummer Phee Shorb, and bassist Glenrocket Vela. They have released seven albums: The Healing of Harms (2002), Stay Close (2004), Unbreakable (2006), For Those Who Wait (2010), Now (2012), INNOVA (2016), and WALLS (2018). Fireflight’s music has been characterized as falling under the genres of alternative metal[1][2] and Christian rock.[3][4]

Thousand Foot Krutch

Thousand Foot Krutch is a Canadian contemporary Christian music band formed in 1997. The group has released eight albums, with their eighth album, Exhale, releasing on May 13, 2016. They have also released two live albums and three remix albums. The band consists of lead vocalist Trevor McNevan, bassist Joel Bruyere and drummer Steve Augustine.

Skillet

Skillet is an American Christian rock band formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. The band currently consists of husband John Cooper (lead vocals, bass) and Korey Cooper (rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals) as well as Seth Morrison (lead guitar) and Jen Ledger (drums, vocals). Skillet has released ten studio albums: seven on Atlantic Records and three on their own label, Invincible Records. The band’s success with Comatose in 2006 launched them into mainstream popularity. The album peaked within the top five of several album charts and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Gospel Album.

Skillet went on to release two more gold-certified albums—Awake in 2009 and Comatose Comes Alive in 2010—and a platinum-certified live album, Alive & Awake, in 2008. They have also had multiple singles—”Monster,” “Sick of It,” “Back from the Dead,” “Would It Matter,” and “Rise”— reach No. 1 on various active rock and Christian radio charts. Their ninth studio album, Unleashed entered the Billboard 200 at No. 3 while their single “Feel Invincible” reached number 17 on Billboard’s Hot Rock Songs chart making it their highest-charting song yet.