I have declared "Nearly Daffodils" the greatest indie song ever written, and I absolutely stand by that.

English Teacher are a Leeds-based quartet made up of vocalist Lily Fontaine, guitarist Lewis Whiting, drummer Douglas Frost, and bassist Nicholas Eden. They originally met at Leeds Conservatoire, starting out as a dream pop outfit called 'Frank' in 2018 before rebranding as English Teacher in 2020.

On Nearly Daffodils I love the way the interlocking guitar lines shift from clean, stuttering math-rock riffs into dynamic explosions. It twists and turns through unexpected rhythm changes without ever descending into self-indulgence, keeping it commercial enough to stick in your head. By the time it came out in 2023, a track this accessible and inventive felt long overdue.

Nearly Daffodils by English Teacher

While "Nearly Daffodils" takes my top spot, I also have to shout out "This Could Be Texas," the title track from their debut album. It builds from a delicate, shimmering guitar motif into a sweeping finale.

This Could Be Texas by English Teacher

The album rightfully took home the 2024 Mercury Prize, breaking a nine-year winning streak for London-based acts and proving that Northern guitar music is...the best?

English Teacher have achieved a massive amount in a short time, and while I’m fascinated to see what they do next, they’ve comfortably bagged spots on both my 2023 and 2024 lists.

(They also once stole a Drenge poster from a venue, which earns them instant bonus points, petty rock 'n' roll theft is a lost art form.)