Enfnts Terribles

1. Caroline Polachek — Welcome To My Island (George Daniel and Charli XCX Remix)

We rarely to never write about remixes, but today, thanks to George Daniel and Charli XCX, we are making an exception. The two took “Welcome To My Island” by American singer Caroline Polachek and gave the song one of the best remixes we have heard in a long time. English singer-songwriter Charli XCX instantly changes the dynamic of the song by performing her own verse with full conviction while the Belgium-born drummer of The 1975 George Daniel reshapes the elements of “Welcome To My Island”. This is an absolute bop and belongs in everyone’s playlist.

2. Kim Petras — brrr

Back in November, German Kim Petras opted for a quieter pop song with “If Jesus Was A Rockstar”, but on “brrr” she goes for a hyper-pop-inspired sound with industrial, chilly beats that provide a counterbalance to her soft vocals. The song begins with heavy sounds that are not immediately accessible, making the track sound interesting, reminding us a little of the tragically deceased producer SOPHIE. “brrr” shows that Kim Petras does not go for monotony and continues to challenge herself as an artist. She pulls pop into the extreme and goes in search of perfection. Based on this single, we can only conclude that she comes very close to that.

3. Rose Gray — Sun Comes Up

There are some certainties in life like the fact that Rose Gray always releases excellent singles. “Sun Comes Up” is made for the dance floor and stands out with its tight beats combined with live strings. It’s a tad moodier than previous releases and sounds a bit like Kavinsky but that doesn’t necessarily mean “Sun Comes Up” is any less catchy. The British artist has dance pop in her blood and gives us a slightly nostalgic feeling thanks to this excellent track.

4. JGrrey — Theirs13

“Theirs13” is the first solo single released by JGrrey since 2013 and immediately highlights her uniqueness as an artist. The song was written when the English artist met her current non-binary partner and reflected on the past. The introspection yields a very stylish, jazzy single where she delivers her vocal lines with a beautiful nonchalance. “Theirs13” is a hair-trigger song for any musical value-added seeker who likes to be swept up in mesmerizing R&B and soul.

5. Danny Ray — Anything For Jennifer

On Danny Ray’s second single, “Anything For Jennifer”, the London newcomer shows a way more funky side of himself compared to his debut single. The playfulness in his production and the different build-ups towards the particularly cool choruses do not lie; this could be a real hit. The slightly flawed tunes, like exaggerated synths or cat meows, show his creativity and courage but never sound forced or overdone. “Anything For Jennifer” is an extremely playful track from an incredibly promising newcomer

6. Gatlin — Still Not Me

“Still Not Me” has a lot of similar elements that we have heard in Gatlin’s music in the past, yet also manages to sound different. Her vocals are mixed much more in the foreground, allowing us to admire the American singer’s pleasant vocal timbre even better. Gatlin has a knack for making small arrangements sound grand and knows how to keep an intimate singer-songwriter song still interesting. “Still Not Me” is a heartbreaker and contains everything to give young teenagers a heart-to-heart. Even Taylor Swift could be jealous of this song’s beautiful melodies and instrumentation.

7. Lea Rue — Company

On “Company”, a piano mainly keeps Lea Rue company, finding strength in the quiet melodies. The indie-pop ballad puts her voice at the center and focuses on the emotions of the lyrics. With a catchy endearment, the Belgian singer-songwriter delivers beautiful vocals that are at times somewhat reminiscent of Birdy and sound particularly strong in all their fragility. Lea Rue shows a different side of herself with “Company”, which has already found a listening ear with us and could become a hit even without a remix.

8. Kelela — Contact

Anyone thinking of R&B should spontaneously think of Kelela as well. The American singer delivered a monumental album with her debut album, Take Me Apart, which is considered one of the best within the genre. Its successor RAVEN will be released on February 10 and has another particularly strong single with “Contact”. Each time, Kelela manages to create a highly idiosyncratic atmosphere that lies somewhere between the sensuality of Sade and the dreaminess of Solange. We already can’t wait for her new album as she continues to prove to be a groundbreaking artist.

9. WIINSTON — care4

Copenhagen duo WIINSTON has already managed to win over a lot of fans with their R&B folk and will continue to do so with their new single “care4”. The personal track drags you along through feelings of aggression, melancholy, and sadness, which also makes you incredibly sympathetic to the song. In the stanzas, they keep it modest with just vocals and guitar, but in the choruses, they let out all the frustrations. “care4” is profound and inspiring.

10. CHAiLD — Hardcore

If a song is called “Hardcore”, we know that in most cases it will not be a ballad. Luxembourg pop star CHAiLD goes for thumping bass, tight verses, and, above all, good lyrics on his fresh single. He manages to overwhelm us several times in two minutes, really puts his own stamp on it. CHAiLD has been working hard on new tracks in recent months and is experiencing undeniable musical growth. “Hardcore” is the best proof of that.

Pictures of Kim Petras by Jason Omar Al-Taan