Enfnts Terribles

1. Willow Kayne — cola head

“cola head” is an important single for Willow Kayne. After the single went viral on TikTok before its release and her label still wouldn’t release it, the British artist took matters into her own hands. The sassy pop song has a Y2K energy, including snippets from hip-hop and R&B, but also has something youthful and frivolous because of the punky attitude. In other words, “cola head” will not be easily forgotten, and this is also due to the particularly catchy chorus.

2. Lauren Auder — we2assume2many2roles

“we2assume2many2roles” is the first release of the British-French Lauren Auder in over a year and deals with impermanence in the human experience. We hear that poetic slant in the musical aspect of this single as well, as the contradiction between rough guitars and dreamy piano melodies à la “A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton gives “we2assume2many2roles” an élan we don’t hear in many songs. This is music that pauses time for a moment and makes us reflect on human existence, ultimately leaving us completely fascinated by this musical spectacle.

3. Kylie Minogue — Padam Padam

The Australian Kylie Minogue is one of the biggest pop icons in the world and, at 54, still doesn’t seem to be thinking of stopping. Her sixteenth album, Tension, will be released in September and features the delicious new single “Padam Padam,” which fetches references in the club scene and has become a real banger. Minogue is clearly in the prime of her life and stuns in the accompanying music video.

4. Chérine — l’âge que je n’ai pas

For years, the Belgian artist Chérine dreamed of conquering the big stages and breaking through as a pop star, which is finally happening. Despite not being picked to represent Belgium at the Eurovision Song Contest, she put herself on the map with her French pop tunes in January. Now she delivers another incredibly cute song with “l’âge que je n’ai pas”. The synthpop with a nostalgic vibe lingers quickly, and the dolphin sounds—her second great talent besides singing—complete this bop.

5. Zara Larsson — End Of Time

Zara Larsson already has world hits behind her name, yet we often feel that the Swedish pop diva is unfairly overlooked by many. “End Of Time,” for example, is another perfect pop song, reminding us a bit of Abba’s “Lay All Your Love On Me” and using her voice to pull out all the stops. For those who do not recognize that this is an absolute banger, we would like to encourage you to take a taste test.

6. Wallice — Loser At Best

While her previous single “Best Friend” was a rather quiet preview of the new project, on “Loser At Best” the American Wallice goes for a slightly heavier sound for which she took inspiration from ’90s pop punk. The emphasis here is mainly on the chorus, where contrast is sought with the stanzas and furiously unleashed. The a cappella transition only enhances the mood creation and ensures that the thumping guitars do not miss their effect. In other words, “Loser At Best” is an absolute must for all indie pop fans, as Dirty Hit has yet another gem ready to go.

7. Kito and GrimesAI — Cold Touch

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic and is increasingly being integrated into the music world. American producer Kito received permission from Grimes herself to mimic her voice through AI to create a song, which has a flashy result with the fantastic “Cold Touch.” In any case, Kito’s production already makes us feel like throwing ourselves into the summer festivals when this song is played.

8. Ama Lou — Caught Me Running

Ama Lou celebrated her big breakthrough four years ago, but since then only unloaded new music sporadically. After an EP in 2021, things were quiet again for a while, but with “Caught Me Running”, the English artist celebrates her return, once again letting her distinctive voice slide over dreamy melodies. Ama Lou has such a unique sound that we are quietly awaiting a full-length project, so let’s pray that our wishes will be granted soon.

9. Kiimi — Sun Goes Down

In London, Kiimi has long been hotly-tipped in the scene because of their amazing DJ sets, which their new track “Sun Goes Down” will undoubtedly be a part of. In just under five minutes, the founder of Hunny Sound creates a liberating atmosphere where transcendent sounds and a summery vibe will quickly take your mind off things. “Sun Goes Down” lets the sun rise within us.

10. Afriqua — LVSCK

Next weekend we will be dancing in the shadow of the Brussels Atomium at the second edition of the CORE Festival, where the first release of CORE Records will also be celebrated. In fact, Berlin DJ and producer Afriqua will play a set there and provide plenty of dancing with the brand new “LVSCK”. The mix of house, techno, and disco is particularly catchy, so you know where you can catch us.

Single art of Lauren Auder by Crowns & Owls