Enfnts Terribles

Maxim Meyer-Horn

13 Jan 2023
Music

The 10 Best Releases of the Week

A new year also means a brand-new dose of good intentions. This year, we will once again search weekly for the most exciting new music releases from emerging talent and established names. We don’t look at genres because we choose music that makes us feel something. To kick the year off right, we again chose ten songs you must hear this week. From queer indie pop to Miley’s big return, there is something for everyone.

1. Miley Cyrus — Flowers

On her new single “Flowers”, Miley Cyrus sounds like we have never heard her before, as the rock influences are much less evident this time around. The American artist opts for a calmer pop song, characterized by a bass guitar and steadily building up to a slightly more dynamic melody. In the song, she talks about self-love and how her break-up with Australian actor Liam Hemsworth has changed her, which is also reflected in a hopeful and motivating melody. “Flowers” shows how Miley Cyrus continues to blossom as an artist and makes us look forward to her eighth album Endless Summer Vacation, which will be released on March 10.

2. Tsar B — Underwater

The new “Underwater” sounds more dreamy and less danceable than we heard of Tsar B on her debut album, The Games I Played, but that change makes us lose ourselves in her delicious, electronic melodies all over again. The whole thing— like “Auwtch”—sounds a lot more organic and ensures that the Belgian singer still sounds particularly haunting. The dark undertones of “Underwater” rob us of our breath, and her signature interplay between strings and backings works even more intriguingly than ever before. The ethnic drums and Eastern influences set her apart from all other Belgian artists and leave us to conclude one thing: Tsar B is purely world-class.

3. Kai Bosch — My Jeans

Kai Bosch wrote “My Jeans” a year ago and describes the song as his favorite song he ever wrote. Expectations are therefore high, and fortunately, the English artist lives up to them. His androgynous voice radiates such warmth, giving his melancholic trip-hop-inspired productions a golden edge. “My Jeans” is about liking someone who unfortunately does not like you. This heartbreaking feeling is given so much depth musically on his brand-new single that we completely sympathize with his story. Kai Bosch continues to give us beautiful music and will no doubt blow our socks off more often this year.

4. Cailin Russo — Psycho Freak

While on Cailin Russodelivered fairly predictable pop on her debut album  House With a Pool, the American singer now opts for slightly more alternative sounds, going for playful details on “Psycho Freak”. After a short French intro, Cailin Russo goes for it on a dreamy dance beat in the first stanza. There is something sensual and haunting in her singing, which becomes even more noticeable in the bridge towards the chorus. “Psycho Freak” is both an absolute hit for friends of commercial pop music, as well as for the value-added seeker. Her upcoming album is thus an exciting new chapter for the intriguing multimedia heroine.

5. YOUR ANGEL — Misbehave

YOUR ANGEL wrote “Misbehave” at the beginning of her current relationship when the LA-based singer realized she wanted to surrender completely to her partner. The dreamy pop also fits perfectly with the message of the song, where longing and love take center stage. Warm sounds offer a lot of tranquillity, while drums and ethereal sounds enhance the whole thing and make “Misbehave” a more than pleasant trip. YOUR ANGEL is a pop angel who will spread her wings even more when she releases her next project. At least, we got that feeling anyway thanks to this single.

6. Freya Ridings — Weekends

“Weekends” is a somewhat atypical song compared to Freya Ridings’s previous work, as she resolutely goes for a song she would have success with even on the dance floor. The loneliness that befell her during lockdown in 2020 inspired Ridings to turn those thoughts around and evolve them into something positive. The first few phrases of her song, “I don’t really have friends, I don’t go out at weekends, I don’t have a lover left to hold,” come right in through the subtle framing, but the grand disco melodies then eventually take us by the hand towards a particularly catchy chorus. The English artist did not miss by going for something new that suits her very well.

7. Fortress — Don’t Knock

“Don’t Knock” is the first song for which Hanne Torfs took charge of production and is worth listening to. The darkness that still makes its way to our hearts in the first part is exchanged for a much more hopeful sound in the chorus. New member Joppe Van Wetswinkel’s synths certainly contribute to this, while Nils Tijtgat provides the song with impressive bass. Belgian Torfs provides the extra depth with her soaring and purposeful vocals, turning “Don’t Knock” into a musical trip we have so admired of Fortress in the past.

8. Chérine — Ça m’ennuie pas

The Eurovision Song Contest is described by many as the Olympics of music, and who knows, maybe Chérine Mroue will represent the Belgian flag in May. The young Belgian singer has mostly written for other artists in recent years but is now getting her deserved moment of fame with “Ça m’ennuie pas”. With that song, she is competing to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest in the Belgian preliminary round, and if it was up to us, she would go to Liverpool. Chérine sings in French and goes for a retro pop sound that no one can stand still on. Douze points? Douze points!

9. Hemlocke Springs — stranger danger!

In “stranger danger!”, the 23-year-old Hemlocke Springs pulls out all the stops, choosing to go with different sounds this time. The track sounds much darker although its playful quirkiness is still upheld by her quirky vocal lines. There is something creeping into the production, creating a sense that danger lurks around the corner at any moment. “Stranger danger!” is an incredibly exciting track, where the American singer showcases her production and writing skills and already catapults herself into one of the best music finds of the year. Wonderfully moody and self-deprecating, but at the same time extremely sharp and intriguing

10. RYLO — Thru My Chest

With a duration of less than two minutes, “Thru My Chest” is a short yet fond ride with nifty sounds. The signature industrial sounds are also in this release from RYLO, giving the song a spicier character. The LA-based singer lets her voice build up in multiple layers and adds melody with the backing vocals. “Thru My Chest” goes straight to the heart of hyper-pop fans but also has a lot to offer to the average pop fan as well. A nice discovery.

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