Songs Similar to Riptide by Vance Joy
Released 2013 · Album: Dream Your Life Away · Indie · Happy
"Riptide" is the song that introduced Australian singer-songwriter Vance Joy (James Keogh) to a global audience. It first came out in 2013 on his debut EP, God Loves You When You're Dancing, and later appeared on his first album, Dream Your Life Away, in 2014. The track is built around a bright, strummed ukulele, light percussion, and Keogh's warm, slightly nasal vocal, with lyrics full of quirky, surreal images. Its breezy, sing-along chorus is the reason it shows up at campfires and busking spots everywhere.
A song that sounds like "Riptide" usually has acoustic instruments at the front, such as ukulele, acoustic guitar, or banjo, plus a steady, foot-tapping rhythm and a big, easy chorus made for group singing. Look for folk-pop with a sunny tone even when the lyrics are anxious or odd, minimal production, and a conversational vocal style. It belongs to the early-2010s folk-pop wave that brought stomp-and-holler bands and acoustic songwriters onto mainstream radio.
20 songs similar to “Riptide”
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Data: Last.fm, updated 2026-10-11.
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FAQ about “Riptide”
What songs are similar to Riptide?
The closest matches are upbeat acoustic folk-pop songs driven by strummed ukulele or guitar, with a relaxed vocal, simple percussion, and a chorus that is easy to sing along to. On our list, the closest matches are “The Night We Met” by Lord Huron, “Ho Hey” by The Lumineers and “Little Talks” by Of Monsters and Men.
Who does Riptide sound like?
"Riptide" is frequently compared to The Lumineers and Mumford & Sons, whose acoustic, chant-ready choruses defined early-2010s folk-pop. Listeners also link it to Passenger for the gentle, storytelling vocal, and to Of Monsters and Men for the bright, communal feel. Ed Sheeran's acoustic singles are another common comparison because they share the same stripped-back, singer-songwriter approach to pop.
Is Riptide Indie?
Largely, yes. "Riptide" is usually described as indie folk or indie pop, and its simple acoustic arrangement fits those labels well. That said, it became a mainstream hit, so it lives on pop and acoustic radio as much as on indie playlists. Calling it folk-pop is probably the most accurate description, since the ukulele and singer-songwriter style point to folk while the hooks are pure pop.
How do you find similar songs to Riptide?
Start with ukulele or acoustic-guitar songs that keep a cheerful strum under slightly offbeat lyrics. Early-2010s folk-pop playlists, "acoustic road trip" mixes, and Australian singer-songwriters from the same period are productive places to search. Pay attention to tempo too: "Riptide" is brisk but never rushed. SongSimilar's list above ranks matches using listening data, which helps separate genuinely similar folk-pop from songs that merely share an acoustic instrument.