Enfnts Terribles

1. Abor & Tynna — Liebe mit Verdacht

“Liebe mit Verdacht” came out at the last minute of the previous year but is ready to make the rounds in 2023. An uptempo production with synths provides the perfect counterbalance to Tynna’s soft vocal lines, with their lyrics also coming across perfectly. Their music contains an awful lot of atmosphere through the small tempo changes and subtle details in the production. Austrians Abor & Tynna sound innovative and may finally put German music back on the map. “Liebe mit Verdacht” is already an alluring calling card for that, as it allows them to extend the success of their previous single “Winx Club”.

2. Raissa — I Want Your Sex

“I Want Your Sex” is a collaboration with producer Daiko, with whom Raissa made a lot of songs, especially during lockdown. With a slight retro touch, the Malaysian–British singer-songwriter catapults us back to the past with the synths, reminding us of the British project La Roux in the choruses. Production-wise and lyrically, this single is a true pleasure to listen to because there are new things to discover with every listen. “I Want Your Sex” completely seduces us and reawakens our interest in Raissa.

3. Bebi Monsuta — Julia Fox

“Julia Fox” is Bebi Monsuta’s first song as a trio, which immediately makes the energy different from before. With this single, the New York City-based trio not only wants to showcase their new sound but, at the same time, pays tribute to Julia Fox, who dominated the pop culture of 2022. In the stanzas, they give each other space to bring their own dynamics but manage to find each other again in the chorus with a cool flow where they seek harmonies. In this way, Bebi Monsuta stands out and also brings something innovative. “Julia Fox” is cool, laidback, and, above all, delightfully casual, making us confident that the group could soon become the next TikTok hype. The ladies already have Julia Fox’s blessing.

4. Finn Foxell — Red & Blue

On the brand-new “Red & Blue”, Finn Foxell alternates between profound raps and light-hearted choruses like a true chameleon. The single shows a more romantic and sensitive side of the Brit, making us believe every word out of his mouth. In the stanzas, we hear him in a way we haven’t often heard, and a certain calmness in his flow really tries to emphasize what he wants to say. Additionally, the choruses are the ideal counterpoint with a catchy undertone, and the fine instrumentation adds a nice pace to the song. “Red & Blue” is thus anything but a song that requires the artist to turn red or blue from embarrassment.

5. meija — Time For Us

The Los Angeles-based indie rock singer meija starts his year off right with a video for his last song of 2022. “Time For Us” is a sensitive uptempo ballad, where the guitar is an absolute plus and adds another layer of roughness. So be sure to take the time to immerse yourself in “Time For Us” because the musicality exudes from it. So it’s about time we all start to discover and appreciate him.

6. DEBBY FRIDAY — SO HARD TO TELL

“SO HARD TO TELL” is certainly not an easy track, but the experimental edge and slight abstraction immediately give the song that distinctive DEBBY FRIDAY character. A transcendent undertone with soaring backings becomes increasingly imposing through a building production and is the ideal match for FRIDAY’s razor-sharp vocals. Sometimes the Vancouver-based artist seems to want to take us into a dreamy landscape but then immediately takes us back to a dark and desolate world of thought. Those contrasts make “SO HARD TO TELL” a particularly nice prelude to her long-awaited debut album GOOD LUCK, coming March 24th.

7. Kate Bond — Divide and Rule

Kate Bond already wears a crown on the artwork, and she continues that regal feeling with “Divide and Rule”. We spontaneously think of artists like Arlo Parks, Nilüfer Yanya, and Biig Piig, yet, the British cool kid has an absolute uniqueness to her voice by putting nuances in her vocals. The strings in the background add another push towards a melancholic mood, but she never quite falls into the tristesse. “Divide and Rule” is an exciting song that lashes out in the lyrics, but otherwise, mostly spreads a lot of peace of mind.

8. Daimy Lotus — 1st Class D-Bag

Because of TikTok, pop punk is totally a thing again, and we hear those influences in a lot of artists. “1st Class D-Bag” is a textbook example when it comes to that genre, as Daimy Lotus lets out all her frustrations about a bad ex with a cool je-m’en-fou attitude. The emphasis is obviously on the chorus, which is already screaming to be sung along by hundreds of fans in a dark concert hall. While Rotterdam-based Daimy Lotus didn’t release anything completely new, she did release something damn remarkable.

9. RHODES — Good to You

British heartthrob RHODES has spent years working on the follow-up to his debut album and finally releases his second album at the end of this month. “Good to You” will be a song on Friends Like These (out 27 January) and sounds different from what we have heard from him before. The melancholy in his voice sounds more hopeful than ever before, and a choir joins him in the chorus. The whole thing is a touch more upbeat and uplifting, making us curious to see how that will continue on his second album.

10. MEROL — Applaus

A new revolution is underway in the Netherlands, as Dutch music is hip and trendy again. One of the frontrunners is by far MEROL, perhaps the coolest pop star of the Low Countries. On her new single “Applaus”, she once again reveals herself as a true pop diva, who will make everyone dance to her music. No one does it like MEROL, making her a true class act. We can expect her next EP this spring, which will be presented at a nearly sold-out tour. Some applause for “Applause”.

Picture of MEROL by Bibian Bingen