Enfnts Terribles

1. Raye – Love Your Life

Even when you don’t know who Raye is, we’re 100% sure that you’ve already danced to one of her songs. The British singer has already written hits for the biggest stars like Beyoncé, Charli XCX, and Mabel, but her Jax Jones Collaboration “You Don’t Know Me” is her biggest success to date.

Luckily, the 23-years old artist isn’t slowing down any time soon and has another smash hit with “Love Your Life”. The infectious chorus and the groovy bass line are a match made in heaven and make us question why Raye isn’t a world star already. Get the crown, sis.

2. Ruby Grace – Don’t Talk 2 Me

Don’t talk to me because I’m listening to the Belgian pop princess Ruby Grace on repeat. The newest single “Don’t Talk 2 Me” has everything we’ve grown to love from the 21-year-old singer-songwriter. She used to be a busker but got noticed for her remarkable, strong voice, and on this new track, that voice got its moment to shine. Grace blends kitsch elements à la Charli XCX with electro-pop and soul, creating a playful, unique sound. With all these magic ingredients and some glitter on top, “Don’t Talk 2 Me” will definitely find a way to your heart.

3. Nathan Boaz – Waters

Another Belgian talent to watch out for: Nathan Boaz. You may know the young actor from starring as Jens on the popular Belgian Skam series, WTFock. But with his debut track “Waters” he proves that he literally can do anything he wants, singing included.  He gives us mellowly, slow vibes, perfect for a Fall evening. But there’s also this badass feel to the song, which makes us want to hear more. In the accompanying, artsy music video, Boaz got to show off his acting skills and great storytelling. Worth to watch!

4. Loyk – Love Again

Antwerp has evolved to one of the most important cities in the Belgian hip-hop scene and there’s still a lot of talent to be discovered. Rapper and singer Loyk has scored some modest hits this year, but his final breakthrough could happen thanks to his new Track “Love Again”.

Together with his producer Anders, who’s also making the tunes for a.o. Chibi Ichigo, ICTO, and Bhavi, he was determined to mix pop and hip-hop. “Love Again” serves happy vibes and gets stuck in your head immediately.

5. Tomi Agape – Better

2020 wasn’t the easiest year for Tomi Agape, but she used all these setbacks to work on her craft as a songwriter. The singer has been a key figure in London and Nigeria’s Alté scene and was put on the map as one of the first women the experiment with the genre.

“Better” is a wonderful dreamy song with the right balance between melancholic and happy, which underlines her power as a singer. The single is produced by Juls, who already worked with Burna Boy and Mr. Eazi, and indicates that she’s a force to be reckoned with.

6. Shelly – Steeeam & Natural

Clairo, Claud, Noa Getzug, and Josh Mehling united under the name Shelly and started a brand new band that will immediately conquer the heart of indie-pop fans. Superstar Clairo is providing the lead vocals on “Steeeam” and “Natural”, but her best friend Noa gives the extra touch with her sweet voice.

Both songs are quite similar to each other, and are a perfect combination between Clairo en Claud’s sound. “Steeeam” and “Natural” are slightly depressing but have a hint of hope and happiness that uplifts the vibe of the tracks. We’re curious to see what this new band will do next…

7. Matt Wxsted – far from home

Matt Wxsted is only twenty years young but is already part of Antwerp’s hip-hop collective RENEGADES (with a.o. Rare Akuma). His new song “far from home” is, once again, a very personal and deep song where he puts all his feelings on the table. He’s not shy to show his emotional side and receives a lot of praise for his honest words.

This year has been a rollercoaster for the young artist. Wxsted released his first album Awful Nights and all the pieces seem to come together. The only thing that’s missing, is the recognition of the big media to help him enlarge his fandom.

8. Miley Cyrus & Stevie Nicks – Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)

When two legends meet, you know that you’re for a treat. Miley Cyrus has been turning heads with the amazing “Midnight Sky”, which is on its way to become one of the best popsongs of the year. To spice things up, she invited another legend to remix the song and give it another twist.

Together with Fleetwood Mac-legend Stevie Nicks, the American superstar gives another spin to her song by mashing it up with Nicks’ song “Edge of Seventeen”. The result is another example of Miley’s reincarnation as a highly acclaimed popstar and is her big comeback to the charts.

9. Birdy – Just Like A River Does

It’s been a busy year for Birdy and her angelic voice as the British singer’s been dropping tracks like “Open Your Heart” and “If This Is It Now”. And this Friday, she released her EP Piano Sketches. All four singles have two things in common: first, they are limited to just her pure voice and the piano. Moreover, they are all enchanting and just so good.

Birdy is known and loved for bringing emotional, fragile ballads and that’s exactly what she did with “Just Like A River Does”. This personal tune is about having to leave someone and gives us all the feels. What’s even better is that Birdy is getting ready to release a fourth LP next year, which we’re very excited about!

Co-written by Nelke Roose