When we think about Heaps Indie, we think about Royel Otis. The Sydney duo—Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic—released their third EP (Sofa Kings) in 2023, and it opened on a track we’ve had on repeat ever since. “Kool Aid” is as warm as it is giddy: a svelte, jangly ode to that intoxicating feeling of being absolutely smitten. It’s doting (“You’re far more cooler than your body could’ve known”), it’s silly (“Cheese won’t melt in the fire, please don’t turn into milk”), it’s over the top (“Save my body, step on me, ’cause I want your love”). And it’s everything we love. Heaps Indie is all about eclectic earworms, easy breezy hits and festival-ready faves. Simply put, it’s for the tunes that make us feel good. “Kool Aid”—which the duo have said was inspired in part by Bruce Springsteen—ticks every box in dreamy fashion. Listen to “Kool Aid” here, along with more tracks that put smiles on our faces in 2023.