How does it feel to be loved? is a central pillar of London’s indie pop communities.

But it’s more than that. Over the course of two decades, club night has brought like-minded people together, fostering friendships, marriages, and even bands in its wake.

Currently based in central London’s Phoenix, the lockdown has placed challenges in his path, but he has also bought opportunities.

Using social media in innovative ways, the team behind How Does It Feel To Be Loved? are now augmenting their events with live streaming on Mixlr – gaining a global audience – while enabling a VR recreation of the Canterbury Arms on Altspace.

Yet the club still remains firmly attached to its roots. Along with honoring the founding voices of indie pop — think Sarah Records, Orange Juice — DJs are busy creating new bands and bold, fresh vocals.

Clash spoke to How does it feel to be loved? co-founder Ian Watson on the current choices rocking the dancefloor…

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The Bug Club – “We Need No Room To Love”

Super adorable lo-fi indie pop from brilliant new Welsh trio The Bug Club that feels like a dance between Jeffrey Lewis and Half Man Half Biscuit. This one always makes everyone in the room bounce with joy.

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Pip Blom – ‘Keep It Together’

Three minutes 20 seconds of pure bliss, ‘Keep It Together’ blurs the classic grunge pop of Bettie Serveert, compatriot of Veruca Salt and Pip Blom, with Camera Obscura elation at its finest. We love soaring pop melodies and huge choruses at HDIF, so this song was an instant favorite.

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Nation Of Language – “Across That Fine Line”

Take the best outtakes from Future Islands, early OMD and The Drums’ “Let’s Go Surfing” and you get the latest new wave sensations from Brooklyn, Nation Of Language. One of those atmospheric songs that can fill a dance floor in seconds.

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Waiting for Ana – “I’m a Man You Don’t Meet Every Day”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WORtkml_2A

En Attendant Ana’s latest album, ‘Juillet’, was a huge hit at HDIF – who could resist the idea of ​​a French version of Alvvays’ sublime fuzz pop? – and this fantastic post-punk cover of the traditional Irish song made famous by The Pogues was a surprise hit on the dancefloor.

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Butcher Boy – ‘Dear John’

Classic literary indie pop in the style that seems to have been short-lived recently, Dear John marks the very welcome return of Glasgow’s Butcher Boy. If you’ve ever found yourself dancing with your eyes closed to Tindersticks, Belle & Sebastian or The Left Banke, then this song was written for you.

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Ducks Ltd – ’18 cigarettes’

One of the highlights of last year’s superb Modern Fiction album, this adds a burst of youthful urgency to the classic jangle pop sound of Flying Nun from The Chills and The Bats, and fits in perfectly with the many classics of Sarah Records that we play at How Does It Feel.

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Breakup Haircut – “Out of My Way (I’m Not Getting on the Night Bus)”

The last gig I saw before the first lockdown hit was Big Joanie backed by Breakup Haircut, so it feels good to celebrate a glorious, life-affirming new single from Breakup Haircut. Anyone who’s ever jumped around bellowing their heads off about Martha or The Spook School will fall in love with it in an instant.

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How Does It Feel To Be Loved? 20th Anniversary Party will take place on Saturday April 16 at the Phoenix, Cavendish Square, London // ticket link.

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