Enfnts Terribles

1. felicita and Caroline Polachek — Spalarkle (Alys)

On the hyper-pop fairy tale “Spalarkle (Alys)”, Londoner felicita and American singer Caroline Polachek join musical forces to come up with an ominous result that feels somewhat like a walk through the fairy forest with LSD in the blood. The screeching synths and pumping beats make for an interesting whole, where the yearning cries manage to achieve their effect, and Polachek’s soaring vocal lines only add to the mystery. Felicita makes it bold, and that’s exactly what makes them so interesting.

2. ABRA — FKA MESS

“FKA MESS” is a real comeback single, putting ABRA back in the spotlight. Anyone who knows her music knows that the American singer does not go for predictable choices and always manages to deliver on a production level. She does the same on her new track, playing with angular electro beats and adding warm sounds like guitar synths. “FKA MESS” is her perfect return, as her uniqueness within the R&B genre makes her a pioneer, according to many.

3. AYRA — Destructive Habits

We’re always curious about hyperpop made in Belgium. Especially considering AYRA’s recent releases. Having abandoned her dreampop, she now opts for ravishing productions that take their cue from drum, bass, and techno, among others, leaving you overwhelmed by electrifying beats. On the taut “Destructive Habits”, the singer plays with fierce melodies, which will undoubtedly help her build her career. Sexy, wild, and unpredictable, just the way we like it.

4. waterbaby — Airforce blue

A first single under a label is always an important calling card to showcase yourself to the world. On “Airforce blue”, Stockholm-based artist Waterbaby plays with soft productions to create a quirky atmosphere. The mix between organic elements and electronic undertones creates a magical edge, which the slight autotune on her voice only adds to. “Airforce blue” lies somewhere between the eclectic of a PinkPantheress and the intimacy of Clairo, which immediately shows that great things can happen.

5. Georgia — It’s Euphoric

Georgia finally announced her third album Euphoric, and “It’s Euphoric” kicks off the new project. On it, the London-based artist plays with drums, while adding some new touches. Those expecting a dancefloor magnet like “Never Let You Go” or “About Work The Dancefloor” will have to get used to the softer approach, but thanks to the right nuances and an atmospheric build-up, there are also enough elements in “It’s Euphoric” to get euphoric about. Georgia takes a risk by trading danceability for dreamy melodies, but it hits the mark.

6. girli — Cheap Love

The British pop whirlwind girli is finally touring Europe again for an extensive tour, so she released her newest song, “Cheap Love”, to make her fans happy. In her music, she often tells queer love stories, giving a different perspective on the rusty love songs everyone knows. Fun always comes first and is always reflected in particularly catchy choruses, which certainly applies to “Cheap Love” as well.

7. The Aces — Solo

We have been following the American band The Aces since 2020 and are always happy to see how projects continue to evolve. On “Solo”, the cool all-female band takes big steps, seeking new references. This time their indie rock includes snippets of hyperpop and the iconic group LCD Soundsystem, making for a very fine single. So we are all the more looking forward to this summer, as the four girls will tour European festivals, including a show at Pukkelpop.

8. Berq — Achilles

We have been spotlighting the German music scene more than once in recent weeks, as there is a whole new generation of artists worth exploring. Newcomer Berq opens his heart again on his second release, “Achilles”, needing only a piano and his voice to create a dreamy, melancholic atmosphere. Although not everyone will understand the lyrics due to the language barrier, everyone will undoubtedly be able to crystallize the emotions from his music.

9. Icona Pop — Faster

Icona Pop has that name for a reason. With “I Love It”, the Swedish duo, along with Charli XCX, have a giant timeless banger behind their name. Since then, things have moved fast, and they keep dropping bops. On the new “Faster”, they once again let go, providing a wild ride on house beats. We don’t care; we still love them!

10. K.ZIA — Love Is

Love remains an inexhaustible source of inspiration for many artists and is also the central theme of “Love Is”. On it, K.ZIA stays true to her soulful R&B and uses her warm voice to guide you through the musical sounds. The Brussels-born artist has found her sound and continues to refine it with each release, almost daring us to say that “Love Is” can be counted among her best songs to date. It gets us hot.

Picture of felicita by Vasso Vu