Okay, real talk: sometimes a song hits and you just… leave your body for four minutes. That’s exactly what happened the first time I pressed play on Shayan Regan’s new single “Pink Mars”. It’s the kind of track that feels like lying on the hood of a car at 2 a.m., staring at the stars, wondering why everything down here has to be so loud. If you’ve ever needed melodic, melancholic indie-rock escapism with a warm hug built in — this is it.
From the opening clean arpeggiated guitars and that deliciously prominent bass line, “Pink Mars” pulls you into its own little galaxy. The groove is spacious, the drums gentle, the reverb roomy enough to get lost in. And then there’s that hook — “Life on Mars… what’s it like on Mars?” — delivered with this floating, almost whispered repetition that burrows straight into your brain and refuses to leave. It’s nostalgic and futuristic at the same time, like if Nick Drake and early Bon Iver decided to write a love letter to David Bowie from inside a snow globe.
Shayan describes it as “melancholic indie-rock escapism,” and that’s spot-on. This isn’t sad music that wants to drown you — it’s the kind that lifts you just above the noise of Earth and lets you breathe in a softer, stranger sky. Perfect for those indie melancholy, alt-dream, spaced-out indie, sad-but-comforting, or late-night chill rock playlists we all secretly live in.
If the name Shayan Regan already rings a bell, it should. The UK-based independent singer-songwriter and producer built his entire world the old-school way: recording on his phone with nothing but voice, guitar, and raw feeling. That DIY spirit carried his debut album A Poison With An Aftertaste past 3 million streams, into the Apple Music Top 25, onto Spotify’s Fresh Finds, Apple’s Breaking Indie, and editorial playlists across the US, UK, Europe, and Asia. Critics have thrown around comparisons to Jeff Buckley, early Ed Sheeran, Damien Rice, and Bon Iver — but the truth is Shayan’s carved out a lane that’s completely his own: poetic, transparent, and achingly timeless.
Don’t just take my word for it. Veteran artist Charles Connolly called him “a professional with a heart,” praising the “brilliantly written, beautifully sung” songs and “pretty much perfect” arrangements. Indie Music Fanzine said his voice sits somewhere near James Arthur, but the overall vibe lands closer to Stephen Fretwell or Damien Rice — “emotionally raw” and impossible to fake.
“Pink Mars” is the latest proof that Shayan’s still ascending. He’s already planning the rollout with lyric videos, soft-aesthetic reels, and cosmic visuals (I’ve seen the moodboards — trust me, it’s gorgeous). Anything we can do to push this into the ears of people who need that warm, introspective, slightly cosmic indie sound right now will make a real difference.
So stream it, share it, add it to every moody playlist you own. And if you’re an artist reading this thinking “I want my music to find its people too,” DistroKid is still the smartest, fastest way to get your songs on Spotify, Apple Music, TikTok — everywhere — while keeping 100% of your royalties. New members get 7% off their first year with this link: https://distrokid.com/vip/seven/2058328. Seriously, it’s the move every independent artist I know swears by.
Now I need to know — does “Pink Mars” hit you the same way, or are you already packing your bags for Mars? Drop your thoughts below, tag a friend who needs this vibe tonight, and let’s get Shayan Regan the orbit he deserves.
