As a part of our year-end celebrations, Atwood Magazine invited artists from around the world to share short blurbs about their own favorite songs, albums, and artist discoveries of 2024. Dive into the best music of the year, according to our favorite artists!

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Hear from Adeline Hotel, Amanda Bergman, Bathe, BAYEM, Brian Warren (Angry Blackmen), brother bird, Caroline Romano, Christian Hayes, Circa Waves, Clara Mann, Courting, Curses, Danielle Durack, Death Lens, Desire, Dr. Dog (Eric Slick), Eighty Ninety, Ella Rosa, EthanUno, Friedberg, guccihighwaters, Half Waif, Hannah Frances, Hongza, Humbird, Illiterate Light, Isabella&Sebastian, Jo Hill, Joyer, Kandle, KÁRYYN, Katy J Pearson, Koyal, Lauran Hibberd, Leah Mason, Lee Lewis, Mat Kearney, Medium Build, meg elsier, Mia Day, Microwave, Mike Watt, Mila Degray, Nonpareils, Ora the Molecule, Papa M, Pillow Queens, Quentin Branch (Angry Blackmen), Red Ribbon, Runnner, Seafoam Walls, Sheppard, Sinkane, Softcult, Stranger Cat, Tamar Berk, Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers, Thee Marloes, total tommy, Vicky Farewell, Wahid, Why Bonnie, Wilderado, and Winnetka Bowling League!

Click on the artist’s name to skip right to their entry!

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The Best Music of 2024

According to Our Favorite Artists!

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Dan Knishkowy’s Adeline Hotel unveiled new album Whodunnit, billed as “the striking and ambitious record he has ever released,” earlier this year.

“Deep Fake” by Marina Allen.

I listened to this song obsessively when it came out. There’s a few lines that really resonate with what I was trying to convey in my own record, Whodunnit, particularly “I thought I had to rescue to prove I was worthy.” I’m endlessly fascinated by the lyric “love is sitting in your beloved’s loneliness and letting it be / letting the truth unravel, it amazes you, well that’s love to me.”

Below A Massive Dark Land by Naima Bock.

I was lucky enough to play a few shows with Naima this fall, and it was such a pleasure to hear these songs every night. “Feed My Release” is one of those immediate all-timer songs, and there’s such an intention and cohesion in the production and emotional resonance throughout. I love the coda on “Takes One,” it’s constantly stuck in my head.

Marucoporoporo.

I was on tour in Japan with Jackie West in March and we played this incredible gig on a rooftop in Nagoya as the sun set over the city. Marucoporoporo played too, and I can’t remember the last time I was that knocked out by a set from someone new to me. The record, Conceive The Sea, is amazing: haunting, ethereal melodies, a constantly surprising listen from top to bottom.

Swedish singer/songwriter Amanda Bergman released her sophomore LP Your Hand Forever Checking On My Fever this year. Named one of our “Best Albums of 2024,” Your Hands Forever Checking on My Fever is a breathtakingly beautiful triumph of the human spirit: A spellbinding set of sweet serenades that envelop the ears while warming the heart and nourishing the soul. Calm yet cathartic, charming yet charged, it’s at once tender and dramatic – an infectiously catchy, all-consuming collection of radiant reveries, intimate inner reckonings, and vulnerable reflections on life and death, purpose and place – what it means to live, and what it means to live well. Amanda Bergman has described music as “the answer to life,” and this album certainly feels like the full-bodied realization of that philosophical statement.

“Donut Seam” by Adrienne Lenker.

With everything that has been going on this year, if you wanna try to be some sort of world citizen and try to have an idea of what’s going on… This year has been so overwhelming in every way, and this time that we’re living in is just like impossible to grasp. I think I found a lot of comfort in that line, “This whole world is dying. Don’t it seem like a good time for swimming?” That’s a recipe. I find great comfort in that line.

Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker.

Two Star & The Dream Police‘ by Mk.gee has definitely been something I’ve also been listening to a lot, but Adrianne Lenker’s Bright Future has been really influential and a big gift to this year. I think it’s such an amazing and a comforting thought to just know that… I think with this album, she’s reminded so many of us of something that we need to remember, that we are able to listen to music that is, in a way, so simple. Because the way that they recorded this, in a time when we’re so bombarded by information, also the way the record sounds like these days is, we’re so used to a super produced sound – so when someone is just like playing a song out in a room, something that’s supposed to be so natural becomes a big surprise.

That, in itself, is powerful enough. Just that realization that ‘I’m a person who loves music and I’m surprised that music can sound this way.’ It’s reminding me how it doesn’t have to be so complicated… I think also as a music maker, sometimes you get caught in this idea that it has to be so polished and so produced for people to relate to it. And then I listen to the Adrianne Lenker album and it’s like, ‘this is all I wanna hear, this is the best thing ever.’ It’s like reading a book. It’s just a reminder that we don’t have to have all the information; we can also make it up ourself…

Mk.gee.

He’s not inventing, but he’s reestablishing a way to play guitar and sing. It’s like when you’re making music, everything has been done so very, very many times. But the magic of music is that things can feel reinvented a hundred times over. It’s not easy, but when it happens, it’s a big thing, and I think he’s reminding us of some something. I really love that album and I think it’s really inspiring.

Bathe, the radiant R&B duo of singer-songwriter Devin Hobdy and guitarist-producer Corey Smith-West, released their EP Inside Voice(s): Side A this year.

Corey: My favorite song is “ThankGod4Me” by Schoolboy Q. The beat changes are intoxicating. This song has gotten me through so many gym sessions.

Dev: “Juna” by Clairo is the kind of song I can play while biking solo to Herbert Von King park, cooking with my mom in Jamaica, Queens, or in the car with the homies- and it never feels out of place. It feels familiar in all the right ways, and I’ve worn it like a comfort blanket more times than I care to admit haha.

Corey: “I loved 1-800-Fantasy by Blk Odyssy. Concept albums are hard to pull off. Switching genres to a new sound is also hard to pull off, they made both look easy.”

Dev: “I really tried to find another answer here, but you can’t outrun the truth and all that. Two Star and The Dream Police has delighted, challenged, inspired, and frustrated me and every other musician in Brooklyn this year. Mk.gee really took the leap, and I’m impressed af by the growth this project captures.”

Corey: “I just found out about Jack J this year. His album Blue Desert gives me the same feeling I get when I get super stoned and watch an art house film on the 80s on my projector. He’s criminally underrated.”

Dev: “The relatively new brother/sister duo Jia* will probably be my favorite artists in a few years. I heard one of their earlier singles ‘Lying’ back when their Spotify page was almost empty, and I remember being on the verge of tears. Then their project ‘Yes, No Question’ dropped and I let the water flow. They channel an earnesty in their music that can’t be taught, and I’m excited for the world to feel what I do.”

A longtime Atwood favorite, Indianapolis-based modern pop artist and producer BAYEM released his EP TAPE 3 earlier this year.

“Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar.

The song itself was epic, but the context around it is what really made it shine. I’ve always been a rap connoisseur, and this was the first time I was able to experience two heavyweights trading diss tracks in real time.

We Don’t Trust You by Future.

I enjoyed this album for two reasons. First, It acted as the catalyst for the Kendrick vs. Drake beef. Next, it felt like Future and Metro were returning to their old form as collaborators. Dirty Sprite 2 is one of my favorite projects, and this felt the closest to it.

BigXthaPlug.

BigX has a phenomenal mix of new school appeal and old school flair. His voice by itself sounds like it was chopped and screwed, so his music brings me back to the days I would listen to Screw Tapes on repeat.

2024 saw Angry Blackmen deliver The Legend of ABM, described by Atwood‘s Oliver Crook as vulnerable, universal, and soul-shaking: “This album sounds like nothing Angry Blackmen has released before — or like much else in music right now… This evolution not only freshens the Angry Blackmen sound, but also continues their experimental streak, taking them into a whole new direction. Like Bob Vylan, Genesis Owusu, Clipping., and Busta Rhymes put through a broken amp, it’s an abrasive experience that keeps you entranced for the whole eleven songs…“

“Tailor Swiff” by ASAP ROCKY

“Tailor Swiff” by ASAP ROCKY is my favorite song of the year. He brings that assuring clean bounce of 808s and different sound texture every time he releases. One thing I can say about Rocky is his releases are never wasted and it always sticks with the wave of sound that’s going on that moment.

RICHAXXHAITIAN by Mach Hommey.

Dropping earlier in the year amidst the biggest beef in history. His album still stands in a wholesome spot on my list of albums. He never disappoints in my book, Mach still has more to offer as I hear in his music moving forward.

BigXthePlug.

“BigXthePlug is an artist I’ve been listening to since 2023 with his first studio album, Arma. Following up with his latest album Take Care, he is still independent and growing rapidly amongst the community of hip-hop. I have high hopes for his career and where he takes his sound next.

This year saw brother bird release her sophomore album another year, hailed as a “cathartic, emotionally charged exhale of pain, love, loss, and longing” by Atwood Magazine‘s Mitch Mosk.

“Ruined”by Adrianne Lenker.

She can do absolutely no wrong in my eyes. This whole record is brilliant, but the first time I heard that song it literally stopped in my tracks. It’s otherworldly to me. Just so deeply moving and emotional. She has a way of saying something seemingly pretty simple… but in a way that feels so wildly profound and authentic. I just love her brain. She’s a true one of one.

Only God Was Above Us by Vampire Weekend.

This was in pretty heavy rotation in the van this spring. It’s so sonically creative and chaotic and unpredictable. I found myself loving it more and more each listen. Constantly discovering new weird little flourishes that I hadn’t noticed before. It’s insane. And perfect. And reminds me why I’m so obsessed with music. No rules!

Honestly, probably the band Frog. They didn’t release anything this year, but their record, Count Bateman, has a literal chokehold on me. I just can’t get enough of it. It’s a no skipper.

Nashville-based Caroline Romano has established herself as a versatile artist, effortlessly transitioning between misty-eyed ballads and fiery alt-rock anthems. Her songs showcase her witty, introspective and hopeful take on modernity, romanticism and the highs and lows of being a young woman in today’s world.

“In My Room” by Julia Wolf

“In My Room” by Julia Wolf is undoubtedly my favorite song of the year. It’s lyrically so poetic yet utterly relatable. It’s also so dynamic sonically, with Julia’s haunting vocals gliding over this incredibly heavy instrumental. She’s created this world that just pulls you. It’s quickly become one of my all-time favorites.

The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams.

Without a doubt, The Secret of Us by Gracie Abrams gets my pick for the best album of 2024. It’s an absolute masterpiece — cathartic, beautiful, and deeply moving in every way. It’s everything I could ever want in an album and then some.

Royel Otis.

Royel Otis is an incredible duo that I discovered this year. Their sound is truly addicting. I’m so excited to keep up with where their project takes them next!

This year saw singer/songwriter Christian Hayes sign to Capitol Records and release his debut EP, Last I Love You.

“Nobody Knows” by Shawn Mendes.

I love the simplicity in the lyrics and music.

Deeper Well by Kacey Musgraves.

From a songwriter perspective, her ability to tell a story through lyrics is amazing. The simplicity of her music is beautiful – every song on that project belonged – and she did a good job of creating a world around it. The song “Deeper Well” is my favorite.

Hans Williams.

I love his music and its genre bending. His song’s just make you feel good and they are very uplifting. Everything is cohesive and just makes sense.

Liverpool indie powerhouse Circa Waves have been releasing songs in the lead-up to their sixth studio album all year long. Described as “both terrifying and liberating to write,” the band’s highly anticipated LP Death & Love Pt. 1 is set to release in January 2025!

“365” by Charlie xcx.

The last song on Brat is my favourite, I spent months signing ‘Bumpin That’ over and over at my wife. Obsessed. From now on I believe all history will be talked about as pre-Brat and post-Brat.

my anti-aircraft friend by julie

I’ve had this on repeat ever since I first stumbled upon it. It’s a superb record – it’s really refreshing but at the same time you can pick out threads of the other bands that have influenced it. I’ve been waiting for an album like this to come along for years.

Slow Fiction.

I don’t know much about this band, other than they’re from New York and every new single they release is great. Really looking forward to what they put out next year.

London-based singer/songwriter Clara Mann spent the year releasing singles in anticipation of her debut album Rift, an exploration of those liminal spaces exposed between light and dark, growth and remorse, loss and reclamation. The record is set to release in March 2025.

“Take Guilt” by Junior Brother.

I love it when you hear someone’s music and you think ‘how are they doing that?’. There’s something magic about the writing, but his guitar playing in particular really mystifies me, in a good way. There are very few artists who can make you laugh and cry at the same time, and for me. Junior Brother is one of them.

A Horse Named Proletariat by Deloyd Elze.

Technically an EP, but a friend sent this to me recently and I was absolutely blown away. Such a beautiful voice, and the production is really special, it’s like there is a whole landscape contained in each song.

Allegra Krieger.

Probably a lot of people’s favourite discovery of the year, Allegra Krieger and her music are strange and brilliant. The songwriting is complex and imaginative, full of humour and darkness. They’re like epic poems if epic poems were sexier and more fun. I’m a huge fan.

Liverpool’s Courting released their sonically and thematically adventurous sophomore LP New Last Name, described by frontman Sean Murphy O’Neill as “a theatrical play within an album,” at the top of the year. Now, the band are gearing up to release their third album the wonderfully titled Lust For Life, Or: How to Thread the Needle and Come Out the Other Side to Tell the Story – an exploration of duality that boasts a “leaner, sharper sound” for the band – in March 2025.

“Highjack” by A$AP Rocky.

The best new song I’ve heard this year is probably “Highjack,” by A$AP Rocky. The vocals at the end get me every time.

Charm by Clairo.

My album of the year is Charm by Clairo, the concept is executed perfectly and it is full of great, interesting, pop songs. I think it is a real left turn in her discography, and it suits her massively stylistically.

Prefab Sprout.

Not a new artist, but I spent a lot of this year really getting into Prefab Sprout, who I think are fantastic. We’ve had them on our pre-show playlists for years so it was great to properly dive in.

2024 saw the release of Curses’ new album Another Heaven.

“Speed of Light” by Geneva Jacuzzi.

This new album feels like she’s elevated into this new stratosphere of planet Geneva Jacuzzi. I love how this song is a dark pop anthem, with elements of Art of Noise and shoegaze grittiness, still keeping true to her signature romantic avant-loud sound.

The Collective – Kim Gordon.

Being a huge Sonic Youth fan, I was apprehensive at first when Kim Gordon dropped The Collective. But, damn. It grew and grew and grew on me with its contagiously infectious soundscapes and sampled dirty drums and guitars and hypnotic vocals. Absolutely refreshing.

A.M.Q.N and the whole 22 Recordings gang from Barcelona. These guys are doing some really exciting raw, Valencia 80/90s inspired club music mixed with punk vocals and lofi synth antics.

2024 saw the release of singer/songwriter Danielle Durack’s acclaimed third studio album Escape Artist, an extraordinarily personal record that, per Atwood‘s Kevin Krein, “examines, with grace and, humor and honesty, the human condition.”

“Jackie Onassis” by Sammy Rae & The Friends.

This song came out a long time ago (behind. the. pulse.), but was introduced to me this year and I would bet good money it will be my most played song of 2024. It’s an odyssey of a song that gives me chills, makes me want to dance, and passes the Bechdel test with flying colors.

Heavy For a While by Byland and Alchemy by J Lind.

I’m usually behind the pulse with my listening habits (i.e., I totally missed out on having a brat summer, but had a great brat fall), however the 2024 release Heavy For A While by Byland quickly captured my heart. Arrangements are dynamic, moody and brooding which appeals to the coolest, least shameful corners of my music taste without being so cool that it’s void of humanity. This album sounds like a project from an alternate universe where Sharon Van Etten or Margaret Glaspy becomes the front woman of Manchester Orchestra.

Although it was technically released in late 2023 (like I said, behind the pulse…), I have to include J Lind’s album Alchemy as an honorable mention because I have been burning through that record all year long. He is as masterful in his craft as he is heartfelt and thoughtful in his lyricism, and this album beautifully captures the many facets of the human condition.

Slap Dragon.

Slap Dragon is a new Nashville-based band which includes one of my favorite vocalists in the world, Laura Berens. They are an acoustic funk act, or “groove grass” as they put it, giving joyful, soulful, Stevie-Wonder-esque tunes that are as technically impressive as they are “feel good.”

Los Angeles alt-punk band Death Lens released their album Cold World this past spring.

“Thought You Were Waving” by Militarie Gun.

Lyrically this song hits every time emotionally, along with the catchy guitar riffs. That one song that never got a skip from me when it came on. The message behind the lyrics resonates deeply with me and I feel like they captured the 00’s sound.. might be the nostalgic feel, but I’m a sucker for that sound.

Romance by Fontaines D.

Easily I’d have to say Romance by Fontaines D.C. The record from top to bottom doesn’t have their usual heavy wall of sound, but man can they write a good theatrical piece. Each song came with its own persona and it felt like I was sitting in a balcony watching each segment of a play. Heavy on the lyrics with a dash of the ’80s sound somehow. It’s like slam poetry rock. A genre if its own, a breath of fresh air.

Lambrini Girls.

Got to properly meet them in Europe and play the same festival with them, and man when I tell you they can put on a show. Those girls are something to look out for in 2025, they’re going to take over. So raw, passionate, and aggressive in a beautiful way that allows you to go in the pit, but not beat each other up. They stand up for what is right going around the world and we’re right there with them. If you like IDLES, Amyl and the Sniffers then you GOTTA CHECK THEM OUT.

2024 saw the release of Desire’s Drama Queen, is a high-energy disco anthem built for the dance floor, blending classic piano house with bold, modern production.

“Sao Paulo” by The Weeknd & Anita.

“Sao Paulo” has been on repeat for me lately—it’s got that bold, dancey energy that’s just impossible to resist. It really inspired me to embrace that same fearless vibe as we prepared to release Drama Queen our last single. This track radiates confidence, and it feels like the perfect anthem for the year.

BRAT by Charli XCX.

Charli XCX’s BRAT totally owned my summer this year. It’s bold, fun, and full of attitude—everything you want in a girl-power album. I had it on repeat for months, and Talk became my favorite track—a high-energy love song that hits all the right feels. BRAT is fearless and addictive, the kind of album you can’t help but keep coming back to. I loved every second of it.

Fcukers.

Fcukers totally stole the show for me this year. They’re fearless, they’re bold, and they’re doing their own thing without a care in the world—and honestly, it’s so inspiring. In an industry that can be tough, they prove that staying true to yourself is the ultimate power move. Fcukers are exactly what we need right now—raw, real, and completely unapologetic.

Philadelphia’s Dr. Dog released their eponymous 11th studio album Dr. Dog, a record bursting with joyfully unfettered psych rock, this year.

“Haircut” by Finom.

Finom is my favorite band in the world. They’re from Chicago. Something really inspiring is going on in that city. “Haircut” somehow fuses ESG, B-52’s, Gastr Del Sol, and the Bulgarian Women’s Choir into one perfect pop song. And there’s Rototoms. You can’t lose.

The Collective by Kim Gordon.

May we all be making our most outlandish and perfect records this far into our careers. An insane masterwork and seemingly prophetic.

Mamalarky.

A super sick band from Georgia that I believe is now LA based. Artful groovy pop songs with a slight bent forward dissonance.

Eighty Ninety fuse intimate storytelling, sticky melodies, and minimalist pop productions built on acoustic instruments and electronic sounds in a style they call “808s and telecasters”—a shorthand for both their music and their anything-goes mentality in the studio. The band released their self-titled debut album in late 2023.

“Sober” by Bartees Strange.

“Sober” is a song that really resonates with us. The lyrics are so vivid in their depiction of his emotional landscape while still leaving space for listeners to project their own stories and experiences onto the song. The music strikes this balance too — it’s both dense and spacious, personal yet expansive. It feels deeply real, creating a resonance that invites you to live inside it.

Ten Days by Fred Again.

This album is a masterclass in letting emotion, instead of genre conventions, drive the production. Fred Again has so profoundly internalized the ‘rules’ of pop music that he is able to create tension, release, and emotional storytelling through these sound collages. It’s like he’s speaking a new musical language that we instinctively understand. It’s one of the most inspiring listening experiences we’ve had this year.

Chloe Slater.

Chloe Slater just keeps on putting out great music. It’s political, personal, catchy, clever, and has a real sense of fun. We’re really excited to hear more from her!

Ella Rosa is a UK-born, LA-based dance-pop sensation. Her music invites you to go out, party and be your beautifully unhinged self all evening. Just make sure you’re tidied enough to visit your grandparents the following day, so no one suspects any trouble.

“ZOOM (feat. Tinashe)” by Machinedrum.

I love how this song instantly transports me to the club in my mind, no matter where I am. I can almost see and hear the colors in the song—it’s dark yet shiny. It’s one of those songs that I wish I had made.

iris by sunflwr & obli.

It’s technically an EP, but I love it too much not to mention it. I get goosebumps every single time I listen to it. I’ve always been really enamored by the way in which sunflwr is able to transmit so much emotion with electronic music. It’s something I’m always striving to do, and it’s not easy.

Khadija Al Hanafi.

There’s something special about discovering an artist who is still very underground but undeniably destined to rise to the top. Khadija Al Hanafi is a phenomenally talented Tunisian producer. She is definitely one to watch.

While EthanUno is just at the start of his journey, he’s already picked up cosigns from Frank Ocean (who played “pensando en ti” on Homer Radio) and a growing army of followers across socials and DSPs.

“real gangsta love” by Trueno.

This song should be bigger than it is, to be honest. It’s just such feel good energy, so nonchalant and easy to rock with. I also love the subtle Sean Paul energy that’s all over the track. The ad libs in the first hook always got me dead too, it just puts a smile on my face.

PND4 – PARTYNEXTDOOR

I’ve been a fan of this man since middle school and honestly he hasn’t missed since. His music is so unique to him and so real, I’ve used that as a blueprint for my whole career. In terms of pure enjoyment, there is so much repeat value in this album. “No Chill” is top 3 songs this year easy.

Chappell Roan.

The story of her resilience and dedication to her career is insane and sooo inspirational. Not to mention she’s so incredibly talented and her music is so strong and fresh. Her entire 2024 has just redefined what it is to be a pop star in the current landscape of the music industry. She is the new blueprint.

2024 saw the release of London-based alt-pop band Friedberg’s debut album, Hardcore Workout Queen.

“Patterns” by Laura Marling.

I like the whole record actually. It’s so intimate and it’s so crazy close, and I really like that actually – the sound of that one.

Romance by Fontaines D.C.

I just like that they kind of try to do something new and it’s kind of so weird, and sometimes it’s so pop all of a sudden. But I kind of like it! I really like that track “Starburster,” and I like that they kind of try something new and are not scared to do a bit more pop. The lyrics are always great.

Model/Actriz.

They’re just absolutely crazy. They’re so energetic, but they have this weird style that there’s always this super driven synth, little mini synth that gives such a crazy energy. It’s such a different, new kind of sound. You feel like you’ve heard it before, but no, it’s different and it’s just a crazy energy. You can’t listen to it all the time because it can be a bit too much, but I really like it.

After kickstarting his career on SoundCloud as a shy high schooler, Morgan Murphy created the guccihighwaters persona and started singing over the beats he’d been uploading. Through his angelic vocals, heartbreakingly reflective lyrics, and gorgeous piano melodies, he was quickly set apart from his peers. This year, guccihighwaters has steadily released a collection of singles that display a wide array of emotional depth. From the raw honesty of “shame” to the defiance of “DON’T TALK ABOUT LOVE” or the melancholic vulnerability of “the one”, his music remains heartfelt and self-reflective.

“KEHLANI” by Jordan Adetunji.

My best song of 2024 has to be “KEHLANI” by Jordan Adetunji. I admire the artist for the simplicity of the track, the bounce of the instrumental keeps an energetic tension throughout. The sped-up vocals are really tasteful; even though it’s a popular trend to speed something up I think it really added to the feel of the song here.

yustyna by Artemas.

My best album of 2024 is yustyna by Artemas. I’ve been a fan of The Weeknd’s “Trilogy” ever since I discovered it in my mid-teens, The synths and distorted guitars on “yustyna” really bring me back to when I first found Trilogy. It feels versatile instrumentally; some songs are straight up rock and then others are synth heavy. The raw songwriting feels genuine and the vocal performance on this album is insane.

Artemas.

Artemas. This is kind of implied with my last choice of best album. He blends his influences well, puts on a really good live show and has pumped out a lot of music in 2024.

“Alesis” by Mk.gee.

After our Brooklyn album release show in October, my bandmate Josh and I decided to drive 2.5 hours upstate rather than crash with friends in the city. Driving north on the Taconic parkway late at night is not for the faint of heart. We got through it by swapping favorite albums, and he put on Mk.gee, which I’d never heard before. “Alesis” is such a standout track—when I heard it, it felt immediately familiar, like a beautiful dream I had just remembered.

Great Doubt by Astrid Sonne.

Weird, surprising, gorgeous, inviting. I’m a sucker for orchestral instruments that are treated electronically. It’s the perfect mash-up of sonic worlds. There’s such a beautiful casualness to this album that still feels extremely intentional, in a way that reminds me of Alex G.

Grumpy.

I’ve known Heaven Schmitt for years. Then in a surprise twist of fate, I did a photo/video shoot in June and the photographer, Logan White, brought Heaven along as an assistant. After a very long day of shooting, when we were sitting around drinking wine and decompressing, Heaven played us some new Grumpy tracks, and I was absolutely floored. The Wolfed EP they put out this year is innovative, catchy, strange, mesmerizing, and a marker of great things to come.

2024 saw singer/songwriter Hannah Frances release her fifth album Keeper of the Shepherd, a “narratively-dense exploration of the cycles of grief and the search to find yourself” per Atwood‘s Kristian Burt.

“Spinning” by Julia Holter.

Julia’s 2024 album Something in the Room She Moves is brilliant, and this song has this propulsive percussion that keeps you tethered in a trance. The arrangement is mystical and the production is simultaneously massive and intimate. Holter is doing something no one is doing, and this song is an encapsulation of that.

Endlessness by Nala Sinephro.

This album was an immediate best-of, Nala is tuned into a Pharoah Sanders-level spiritual expression. I find this record almost daily as a meditation, it seeps in and around the room like a translucent orb, moving through the subconscious like water morphing and transmuting form. I always feel changed after listening to it.

Zsela.

I found Zsela when I was in London for Pitchfork London Festival, as she was the opener for Arooj Aftab. I usually let artists surprise me if I’m seeing them live and am unfamiliar with their recorded work, but the whole day prior to the show I rode around on the train listening to her record Big For You and was completely rapt. I kept forgetting where I was going, she has a voice with such gravity you transcend time in her every word.

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan.

What a proper belter of a track, I just love how the strings bounce off each other and how beautiful Chappell’s voice sounds on the record. It’s defo made it into my Spotify wrapped this year!!

Romance by Fontaines D.C.

There’s so much edge that flows out of this album, it takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. The ‘urgh’ in Starbuster gets me going every time I hear it.

GIFT!!

Such a great shoegaze hidden gem from New York, I’ve been bopping to “It’s All Too Fast” 24/7!!

2024 saw the release of Humbird’s impassioned and electric third album Right On, a warm Midwestern reverie full of raw grit, intimate reflection, and infectious, unrelenting energy.

“She’s Leaving You” by MJ Lenderman.

This is a song I love singing along to and I just don’t get tired of it. I find it to be a satisfying combination of longing and grit.

Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib, and Dylan Day by Sam Wilkes, Craig Weinrib, and Dylan Day.

This album is on constant rotation in my home as well as in the tour van with the band. It is a masterclass in melodic exploration and every time I listen to it, I hear a new moment, a new pulse, an interaction. It is so inspiring.

Mr. Sam & the People People.

I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Sam for the first time in person this year when he opened up for another favorite, Chris Acker. Mr. Sam’s set was so playful, with so much heart. I did actually cry and laugh at the same time. it was medicine of the goofy, loving variety. And I think it is wonderfully represented on his new album Again! Again! that just came out. Please discover him, too! It’s so good!

2024 saw Illiterate Light, the Richmond, VA-based duo of Jeff Gorman and Jake Cochran, release their third album Arches, a record bursting with thunderous anthems, biting lyrics, and lush harmonies that they themselves describe as “not a passageway, but an arrival.”

“Old Scratch Blues” by Jack White.

Really love the whole record but this verse riff is chunky and rad.

Songs of a Lost World by The Cure.

I’m obsessed with the new Cure record, Songs of a Lost World. I saw them on their 2023 tour and they opened with ‘Alone’ over a year before the song was released. It was stunning. The song “I Can Never Say Goodbye” is my current favorite on the album.

Abby Hamilton.

I saw her live at my local club The Golden Pony a few months ago. She’s out of Kentucky and has an amazing voice with timeless songs. Her band was really dialed in and the whole show was breathtaking.

Memphis-based duo Isabella&Sebastian (Isabella DeFir and Sebastian Stephens) have been making original music their entire lives. Having first collaborated as members of the rock band Soundbox, the pair quickly honed in on their similar musical interests, eventually coming together to craft organic pop deliciousness on their new project, Isabella&Sebastian.

Isabella: “Sailor Song” by Gigi Perez.

I’ve been a fan of Gigi Perez for ages and I’m so happy to see her get the recognition she deserves. The song is gentle but still so powerful. I love her style of writing, it’s pure poetry.

Sebastian: “Cinderella” by Remi Wolf.

It’s a funky, upbeat track — I love the poppy vocals and vibrant production. Its groovaliciousness goes along with the playful aspect of it. It makes it a really fun song.

Isabella: Big Ideas by Remi Wolf.

Every song on this album makes you want to dance, but there are also some emotionally moving songs on there. It’s playful, it’s colorful, and just cleverly written.

Sebastian: CRY by Hulvey.

This was my favorite album of 2024. It blends hip-hop and worship into a journey of vulnerability and redemption.

Isabella: Chappell Roan.

She is a trendsetter and a trailblazer for this new generation of pop music. She brings a certain strength, assertiveness and vulnerability to the genre.

Sebastian: Flawed Mangoes.

He’s definitely my choice this year. His guitar medleys have such an emotional part to them. I’m glad to see he’s finally getting some attention.

2024 saw artist-to-watch Jo Hill release her spirited debut album girlhood., a liberating coming-of-age record of raw passion, inner beauty, and human connection that sees the Cheddar-born, London-based singer/songwriter channeling intimate emotions and experiences into indie pop songs we can sing, dance, and cry to all at the same time.

“A Tree Falls” by Annika Bennett.

It’s just one of the best written songs ever. It’s amazing! She’s actually a friend of mine and she wrote “Where did Ella Go?” with me. She’s just released an album and I just think she deserves to be the biggest artist in the world. I really recommend going and listening to it… I think I saw it live first actually. And it’s all just about like, why do we need to be witnessed doing anything for it to be real? Like, why do you need to post that photo? Why is everything for show? I can still love someone and maybe they’ll never know; it’s really potent and beautiful, and kind of a comment on modern day society/someone not loving you back as well. It’s a song where a few messages are in there.

Country by Medium Build.

He’s been a massive inspiration for my debut album, girlhood. It’s very obvious that the ‘girlhood’ record has these really raw moments, and then also more built-up moments. And I loved how Medium Build did that – and the one thing that ties it all is his lyricism. His country lyricism is amazing, but I love how he’s got “Hey Sandra” and it’s just him chatting. Oh, and the saxophones and the way that it feels, oh my God. And “Knowing U Exist”… I just think the songwriting and the way that he plays around with production, so it’s not just this acoustic record, this is a thinky record. It’s a bit bandy, a bit acoustic here at points…  I was never bored, and that’s a cool thing.

Lola Young.

I really, really, really am obsessed with her writing and her album This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway. She’s epic and her sonic is just… I love an artist where they’ve moved, they’ve changed, like they’re nothing like they were at the beginning. I think that’s really inspiring, and she’s just so in her own lane and I’m all here for it. I don’t think there’s many UK female artists that are doing what she’s doing. It depends what mood I’m in, but I am addicted to “Messy.”

2024 saw shoegaze up-and-comers Joyer release Night Songs, a world of atmospheric slowcore and urgently catchy noise pop.

“AFV” by fantasy of a broken heart.

We saw fantasy of a broken heart play “AFV” live around the time it was released, when we played with them in NY. Their whole set was great but that song in particular really stood out to us and we both listen to it all the time.

Diamond Jubilee by Cindy Lee.

There’s not much more to say about this album that hasn’t already been said but it really is an insanely good album. It’s really cool how an album that long can feel so varied and consistently good all the way through.

Touch Girl Apple Blossom.

We ran into them a couple times when touring in Austin at a few unofficial SXSW shows and it kind of happened at the exact time we started getting really into the type of music it seems like they’re inspired by. They don’t have a ton of music out but their live set was really great so I’m excited to hear more from them.

Montreal-based alt-pop artist Kandle released her fifth studio album Danger To Dream this year.

“CHIHIRO” by Billie Eilish.

I’m sure I’m not the only one to pick that song! The first time I heard it I danced sexy on the counter and wept uncontrollably. Oh what power Billie has over us all! Showcasing her incredible tone and range as usual and writing such a striking pre chorus melody it had all my singer friends in awe and singing it in every single soundcheck. I must have stacked a hundred harmonies on this gem since it came out! This song hits hard (and soft hah) for me. A perfectly penned masterpiece that makes us all recall a time when a loved one suddenly became a stranger.

Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons.

Yes I am admittedly the biggest Portishead fan ever, but for me the best album of 2024 is Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons. Seeing Beth perform when I was just a wee 16 year old is the whole reason I got into this crazy business in the first place. Her cathartic songwriting and raw powerful vocal delivery is consistently brilliant. The album is dense, exploratory and perfectly haunting. Her melodies are strong, heartbreaking and can’t help but give you full body chills. The queen of depth and melancholy, Beth finds her way into my headphones and my soul every damn day.

Apacalda.

Montreal based soft grunge crooner goth babe Apacalda. Yes the rumours are true haha we have become close friends, but this artist has absolutely blown me away this year. Her latest single released just last week “Dead Weight” is a melancholic masterpiece describing addiction and watching a loved one hopelessly fall into darkness. With lyrics like “Drag your bones on the concrete, Bind your body to the backseat,” I for one am fully ready to join her coven. Produced by Montreal’s finest Mishka Stein (TEKE::TEKE/Patrick Watson) and Sam Woywitka (Fhang/Samwoy) it’s no wonder that Apacalda has the whole city turning heads! Look out for the stunning duet “Fever Dream” coming out next year!

Armenian-American producer, songwriter and vocalist KÁRYYN released her EP Calm KAOSS! this year. The project sees KÁRYYN commune with her past, present and future selves, traveling through time to reveal transformative premonitions from the future in a scientific and spiritual language.

“Anthem For Those Who Know” by KÁRYYN.

Honestly? “Anthem For Those Who Know” by none other than me! lol. I’m not trying to shamelessly plug-truthfully it just encapsulates the empowered courageous vibes I needed in the face of so much hate, disruption, and violence in the world! It’s just gives me such a huge sense of strength.

Sorry not sorry, even though it came out in 2023, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess!!!! The queen, Chappell Roan, bringing sass and queer joy to all!

I discovered an artist this year: Garth Stevenson. His 2011 album Flying is amazing. I listened to it nonstop by the sea in Margate, England, and it was gorgeous and glorious.

“I’m All F*ed Up” by This is Lorelai.

This song has been on repeat since I discovered the album Box for Buddy, Box for Star. It’s just such a great song—love the production, the vocals, and lyrically it’s excellent. It makes me feel so nostalgic but also very alive. I like putting it on for the last five minutes of a long drive or when I need to walk up the hill to my house (it’s steep, and this song gives me the motivation!).

Eight Pointed Star by Marina Allen.

I heard of Marina through some mutual friends who played in my band when I did some shows in America. We were hopefully going to play a show together, but we couldn’t make it happen. She ended up supporting Andy Shauf, so I caught her performance in Bristol, and it was a beautiful show. This album is stunning, and Marina is such a talented songwriter. The album artwork is also amazing.

MJ Lenderman.

OK, well, I know he’s blowing up now, but I only discovered MJ Lenderman recently, and I am obsessed with his new record Manning Fireworks. I can’t stop listening to “Wristwatch”! I’m a big fan and can’t wait to see him play live!

“BODYGUARD” by Beyoncé.

Definitely one of the underlooked tracks off her new album. It’s breezy and light, but still finds a way to groove really well? It’s got lyrics that are really cute and wholesome, but not toooo cute and wholesome. Wrap all this up with some super creative layering + tight production and “BODYGUARD” is for sure a standout pop song and our choice for 2024.

Only God Was Above Us by Vampire Weekend.

Vampire Weekend’s 10-track Only God was Above Us is a phenomenal sonic wonderland, and listens like a final act to a 5-LP epic of the band’s maturation and experimentation. MVotC’s melancholy yearning is present in the expansive “Capricorn”, their light punk influences of their first two projects are heard in “Classical”, and the loose indie-folk sound of FotB is heard in “Hope.” Despite calling back to reliable sounds, Only God was Above Us also offers new fruits, lovely and joyful experimentations like “Connect” and “Mary Boone.” Is it worth a listen? Absolutely.

Joe P.

An influential new artist for us is Joe P! His new album Garden State Vampire kept us company on our cross country road trip, with heartfelt anecdotes about his friends, catchy pop bangers like “shadow in the sun”, and ripping guitar solos. We had the opportunity to see him live in LA at the Roxy, and are even bigger fans now. Joe and his band are so tight and put on a hell of a show.

The tongue-in-cheek humour that won Lauran Hibberd early praise is still present, but it’s joined by new layers of nuance and candidness – think songs that can make you laugh, cry and feel less alone, all within under four minutes. Sonically she entered new ground, bringing together forever influences like Avril Lavigne, Weezer and Green Day with the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, Liz Phair and Taylor Swift.

“Superman” by Wunderhorse.

I love Wunderhorse, and I’ve been a fan like the rest of us since ‘Teal’. But for me, hearing ‘Superman’ from the Midas album this year just solidified them as my new favourite band. This song makes me ache in places I didn’t know was possible. It captures feelings you didn’t know you had. There’s a real pain in a lot of these songs but for me it shines through more than ever in this track. I caught them at the Brixton headline, and it held even more heart hearing it live.

BRAT by Charli xcx.

It would be a sin to not include Charli XCX in any of these categories this year. I adore Brat. It’s raw, self aware and unapologetic. My highlight is ‘I think about it all the time’. It’s so honest it’s uncomfortable, and has been stuck like glue in my head along with the rest of the album. As an artist, I have been totally inspired by Charli’s journey. It’s become more than an album, and shifted a culture unlike anything i’ve seen in a while. I mean, she owns a colour now. So Brat 100% gets the album of 2024 for me.

Medium Build.

I discovered Medium Build this year when he opened for Holly Humberstone on her UK tour. I heard his track ‘In My Room’ and instantly wrote it down in my notes so I didn’t forget. He since released his album ‘Country’ this year and I have been completely obsessed. He is such a powerful songwriter, and creates the perfect cry whilst you drive soundtrack. It’s beautiful. ‘Hey Sandra’ is another of my favourites. Total heart wrenching music. Will be a fan for life I reckon.

This August saw the release of pop singer/songwriter Leah Mason’s coming-of-age debut album HEXED, the 24-year-old’s most confident, raw and real project to date.

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan.

From the moment I first heard it, I’ve been completely obsessed. The melody and production are absolutely intoxicating, and I’ve listened to it on repeat so many times (which is something I rarely do). Chappell really is a once-in-a-lifetime artist, and while I love all of her music, this song is an undeniable standout!

Short n’ Sweet by Sabrina Carpenter.

This was 100% my favorite album release this year. Every song on the album is hit after hit. No two songs sound the same, yet they all sonically fit together so seamlessly — which is harder to do than people may think. With this album, Sabrina proved to the world that she’s a true artist, and I can’t wait to hear more from her!

Lola Young.

I came across Lola Young’s TikTok earlier this year and was immediately hooked. She’s so cool and you can tell that her music really comes from her soul. I’ve loved every song I’ve heard from her so far, and I can’t wait to see her career skyrocket!

LA artist-to-watch Lee Lewis formally introduced himself on this year’s debut EP Something Burning, an achingly intimate and all-consuming seduction of smooth, sultry R&B and smoldering soul that instantly sets Lewis apart as a singular powerhouse of passionate, breathtaking sound.

“DJ Got Me” by Maeta.

I’ve listened to a ton of music in 2024, but the song I’ve had on repeat without question, is DJ Got Me by the absolutely incredible Maeta. Usually I gravitate toward slow and emotional tracks, with big vocals, but the beat, pocket, and vibe on Maeta’s song is sexy and infectious. Makes me want to dance! And considering the shitshow that 2024 was for the world, I think dancing is good and necessary.

Cyan Blue by Charlotte Day Wilson.

Okay, so for my favorite album of the year, I had to return the moody music. It just feels right! Cyan Blue by Charlotte Day Wilson is absolutely my winner for 2024. Her talents are paramount on this record, and she gets better and better with each release. From her haunting vocals, to co-production with River Tiber, and features like the iconic Snoh Aalegra, she filled her 13 song project with the best collection of beautiful music and storytelling. And her cover of “Over the Rainbow” is incredible. CDW can really do it all as far as I’m concerned.

Chezile and CASISDEAD.

I have to give you two options here. One is Chezile, with his songs “Porn Star” and “Still In Love.” Very soul oriented but still modern. And then second, I found this rapper named CASISDEAD, who was def big long before I landed on him. His song “Walkin'” is like crack for me. And it’s on my inspo song playlist for one of the upcoming EPs,

“The highlight of the year was putting out a self-titled record I’m very proud of. That or maybe playing the Ryman in Nashville. It’s always nerve racking to step foot on that stage. I was still searching for confidence around the third song when my 2 year old daughter Ruby, seeing me play for the first time, sprinted down the center aisle waving at me with a huge smile. From that moment on we played one of the most memorable shows of my life.”

“May Ninth” by Khruangbin.

– My favorite song that came out this year is “May Ninth” by Khruangbin. It feels like one of those moments in life where the mood is perfect and everything is right in the world.

The Great American Bar Scene by Zach Bryan.

I am hesitant to pick this as the best album of the year because it isn’t an artistic triumph or even the artists best record, but if I’m honest about which album I listen to the most it would be Zach Bryan’s The Great American Bar Scene. Zach’s youthful confidence and ability to casually land a mic drop line of truth is deeply beautiful to me. It reminds me (though maybe a parodied version) of some of my favorite Springsteen songs. That’s a well I never tire of drinking from.

“Agape” by Nicholas Britell.

My favorite discovery of 2024 was a song called “Agape” from the soundtrack for If Beale Street Could Talk, it didn’t come out this year but I found it and listened to it on repeat for hours. It truly something beautiful.

“Good Graces” by Sabrina Carpenter.

The song I’ve busted my ass down to more than any tune this year is probably “Good Graces.” We’re gonna give Sabrina a song. I was in my little situationship that “Triple Marathon” is about… We were fighting a lot, we were having a lot of tension. I’m always gone, I’m never home. They’re like, how are we gonna do this? And one of the last things they said to me was, it should be easy. Like, it should be just so easy for us to make each other happy. And then all of a sudden Sabrina puts out this song that is so toxic… Like, it’s not that complicated. It was actually healing for me to hear it said from a third party and be like, no, that’s toxic as f***. “Good Graces” has been so essential for me because I got to hear it and process it and grieve and shake my ass to a beat that feels familiar and nostalgic. So song of the Year, “Good Graces”. Don’t quote me, but yeah, that’s it.

No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire by Dora Jar.

I wanted to say that my song of the Year is “Debbie Darling,” because that is maybe my favorite song I’ve ever heard. I’m just obsessed with Dora. I’m lucky enough to be kind of friends with her and kind of friends with Cole Ralph who writes and produces a lot of it with her, and they made some of it in Alaska. It’s very special to me. I listened to it probably every day of this fall tour we just did. Hard to pick a favorite on there. I think “Ragdoll” is perfect. I think the titular “No Way to Relax” is incredible.

For me, it’s her melodies. The way she plays with her voice, I always overwrite lyrics and I feel like she just lets them be these fantasy fictions. She doesn’t overwrite. She’ll get to a big part and instead of shoving a lyric on, it’s just… perfect. I cannot recommend Dora Jar enough. I think that she and her team crushed this one out of the park.

Underscores.

They’re not new, but they’re fresh. There’s this artist called Underscores. They have this sort of hyper-pop low bedroom sound. It’s just cool. It feels queer and it feels punk. They put out a record I think last year, but the deluxe came out this year and I think Spotify just put one of their things on my shit. It’s just amazing. It’s been a while since I felt like I entered a world, you know? When you just get into it and you’re like, this is an awesome place to be. I’ve never been here. That’s how it feels. Underscores.

This June saw the release of indie rock artist meg elsier’s debut album spittake, an eleven-track introduction that blends elements of grunge, contemporary pop, folk, and alternative rock into dynamic, versatile, and effortlessly catchy music.

“Girl, so confusing featuring lorde” by Charli xcx.

I don’t care what anyone else thinks, this song is perfect. Healing so many miscommunications and promoting working it out on the remix! Such a power girly pop anthem that truly touches on things lyrically that no-one else has!!

Imaginal Disk by Magdalena Bay.

I only discovered this one recently after my friends recommended it to me, and I haven’t been able to stop listening since. It scratches every itch in my brain. It gives you these abrasive, overstimulating songs and then the next track will be bouncy, easy-listening. I love albums that give you a little bit of everything.

Addison Rae.

From re-recording Lady Gaga demos to the anthem “Diet Pepsi,” I think her artist rebrand has smashed!!! It’s sugary sweet dopamine pop for my brain.

2024 saw Seattle based indie rock artist Mia Day release her album Hellier, Forever, a love letter to the alternative rock and grunge sounds of her youth.

“Indebted” by Noa Jamir.

I listened to “Indebted” by Noa Jamir when I sat in my car not wanting to go to work. I listened to it after hard phone calls with family members, and when I ignored texts and when I felt like the world was out of control. Noa’s voice is soft but powerful, and proves that it’s not volume that silences a room, but character. Roll your car windows down and scream “Anyone, and anything” during the bridge for full effect.

Romanticism Hana Vu.

Hana Vu is one of the most slept on artists. Romanticism absolutely blew me away and has become so important to me. This album perfectly captures the broken bones and growing pains of your early twenties. It’s cinematic, sweeping, gritty indie-rock that is perfect for any coming of age.

MJ Lenderman.

MJ Lenderman snuck into my life through different artists that I love, and I’m so grateful that he did. His duet with Katie Crutchfield of Waxahatchee on the single “Right Back To It” made me want to hear more of his voice. When I saw the band Wednesday live at the Neptune in Seattle, Lenderman (who plays lead guitar in Wednesday) played a few of his original songs. “TLC Cage Match” made the room stop. His latest album Manning Fireworks is just the beginning.

Atlanta rock trio Microwave took listeners on a psychedelic journey on 2024’s LP Let’s Start Degeneracy, an album that focuses on taking accountability for your actions and how they make you feel, or “choosing your own adventure.”

“Champion” by Pom Poko.

Sam from The Dirty Nil showed me this band in the green room in Cologne, Germany on our spring UK/Euro co-headline tour. I was binging on Big Thief and Blonde Redhead at the time. Pom Poko scratches the same itch in a cheeky, no-waveish, Scandinavian way. I had the first half of the year to digest their incredible 2021 album Cheater before they dropped Champion. Both albums slap and have been on repeat. “Champion” is the title track and my favorite song from the record.

Shirt by Porches.  I’ve been following this band ever since Ben Carey showed me while we were filming the music video for “Vomit”.  Ben, who was DP for the “Vomit” video, is boys with Porches and has filmed several videos with him.  Shirt is undeniably the best Porches album so far.  The songs are so good.  “Itch”, “Rag”, and “Joker” are my favorites (and everyone else’s on Spotify apparently), but the whole album is really good.  Aaron Maine (Porches) self-produced and recorded the album and then had it mixed by Geoff Swan who mixed the last couple Charli XCX and Ed Sheeran releases.  That’s pretty similar to how Microwave did Let’s Start Degeneracy so I have a special respect and admiration for how hard Aaron crushed every element of making this album.

Pink Siifu.

If my sleepy-time rain sounds don’t obscure the data, I’m sure that my Spotify Wrapped will reveal that Pink Siifu is the artist I listened to the most this year.  He does a cool mix of experimental r&b and hip hop.  Growing up, I listened to a lot of Outkast, A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and such.  More recently, I had Frank Ocean’s discography on repeat for a few years.  Pink Siifu combines my favorite elements from the 90’s hip-hop and r&b and takes it to a new place with production and concepts that remind me of Frank.  He collabs with some of the same artists that Outkast did like Big Rube who does those fire, smooth, gospel-influenced rhyming monologues with his low rumbly voice.  Pink Siifu has also done tons of other great collabs with artists like Rivers Cuomo, The Avalanches, and Liv.e.  He’s released so much good music and is criminally underrated.  A good starting place is his 2023 Album Leather Blvd.

“Backwash” by Black Moth Super Rainbow

Total mindblow: love mr tom’s musical journeys, they always teach me something about myself, always… am I super indebted to this cat? I believe on of the greatest gifts one artist can do for another is get them lit so yeah, I am super-indebted to mr tom.

timelines 2 by afterlife.

yeah, something I got turned on to by the _pull-proxy_ people in Germany. Very unexpected, which is the way I like stuff sometimes in order to get more intense authentic response and then looking for reasons why after, capito?

maxx katz.

I got turned on to maxx katz last month when on tour with the corsano baiza watt trio and shared the stage in Portland, Oregon. It was a complete surprise to witness what I experienced and I got big time lit. Crimony. Wow.

Mila Degray’s 2024 debut album Silver Meteor 98 is the culmination of formative and memorable teenage years. The record is a compilation of hand-picked stories and letters from those years that result in a grand shoegaze and alternative rock laced Frankenstein of a record that keeps Mila’s upward trajectory going.

“Pivot & Scrape” by Sophie Thatcher.

Sophie’s music in general is really refreshing. I feel like i’m waking through a muddy forest barefoot but in the most calming way. I love putting it on to write in my journal.

Manning Fireworks by MJ Lenderman.

MJ Lenderman is a gem find as well. He’s just organic and real as fuck. I know if a person saw him live they’d leave the venue feeling like they just went back in time when live music was just so real. I don’t know how to explain it.

Happy Diving.

Happy Diving only released two projects so listening to them makes me sad, but also I appreciate every track all the more.

“Better Hate” by Jessica Pratt.

Not a new artist by any means but I never listen to new music when I’m working on an album. Usually, I get really excited to catch up on newer artists once I’ve finished but I’ve been a bit slow this time. I really love this whole album and am really excited to check out more from Jessica. I think this song manages to sound somehow old, but new and through a fresh pair of eyes and ears with a big love for what is being created.

Hypnagogia by Maritna Bertoni and Retaliation Aesthetics by Rump State. 

Full disclosure, neither of these came out in 2024 but I’ve been listening to them like they did (whatever that means). Martina Bertoni is an incredible artist, both recorded and live, somehow both deliberate and precise while also exploratory and expansive. Martina has a new album coming out next year that I can already say is my favorite album of 2025. Rump State features an old friend of mine, Mark Morgan, on guitar/vocals with bandmate Gaute Granli. I’ve known Mark since my early years in Brooklyn when I was playing with Liars and he was playing with Sightings. I’ve always been a big fan of both Mark and his music. Mark’s guitar playing usually gets everyone’s full attention and rightfully so. I think with this Rump State project however people might start to appreciate his vocals a bit more, something I think he’s always used to incredible effect in all of his work.

Blood Incantation.

I realize this is probably a common thing that’s happened this year, people discovering Blood Incantation that is, but with their new album being as incredible as it is, it’s difficult not to be won over by them. I think this is an incredible album that, similarly to the Jessica Pratt song, sounds like it was made by people that love music.

“Dirty Love” by Thomas de Pourquery.

It has this instant classic vibe, it’s confrontational, true, raw and catchy. Soundtrack to life.

Let The Monsters Fall by Thomas de Pourquery.

I stick to Thomas on this one. So many good songs here. I say it’s full of hits. “Back From The War” is another one that stands out to me. It’s both glamours, sexy and tragic. The whole album feels so genuine and expressive while at the same time being stylish and hot.

Annahstastia.

Her song “Sunday” hit me right in the third eye. What a voice. Ancient energy. We need this.

“You’re Not Singing Anymore” by Mekons.

Mekons were huge for my little gang in Louisville Kentucky, pre-Spiderland. Mekons started when they would fool around on Gang of Four’s equipment back in the late 70s. Since I’ve been playing with Jon King and Hugo Burnham of Gang of Four, my love for both bands has skyrocketed!

Live in Keel 1977 by Can.

Does this count? A new release of an old recording? Well, who doesn’t love to hear a certain combination of musicians, riffing on themes in an era when music felt unlimited.

Pleasure Coffin.

Pleasure Coffin, in Boston MA. I saw a clip on social media that immediately reminded me of the Eugene Chadbourne show I saw in 1984 in Louisville KY. At said show, there were maybe a half dozen people in attendance, plus staff. One was a hobo regular who drunkenly danced alone, yelling “Play Born In The USA!” Meanwhile, Eugene Chadbourne from Shockabilly was on the little raised stage with an electric rake—a rake with a mic / distortion pedal on it. Raking the walls with skreeeeeech, raking the ceiling with raaaaawwwwwrrr. Pleasure Coffin naturally came from this same pedigree of noise, innocently dirtifying and fortifying corners indoors and outdoors in the Greater Boston area. The clip I saw, she was rolling around with a distorted mic attached to her bra, screaming berseker-styles. She can do no wrong in my arrogant opinion!

2024 saw Irish indie rock band Pillow Queens release their bold, brutal, and breathtaking third album Name Your Sorrow, a heavy, sweaty, beautiful mess channelling grief and pain into a thick, unrelenting, and irresistible musical heat.

Sarah: “Right Back to It” by Waxahatchee ft. MJ Lenderman.

Katie Crutchfield has had my heart in a chokehold since the early years of PS Eliot. Admittedly I torrented Introverted Romance in Our Troubled Minds from a local hardcore forum in 2009 and have been stinging from her lyricism ever since.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen her live, pestered her at the merch table for autographed records, or insisted she take my old band’s EP to play in the van during an early Irish Waxahatchee tour.

By the time Tigers Blood came out I assumed I’d cried all I could cry to Waxahatchee, but how wrong I was. From that opening gut-punching chord, to the banjo plucks wrapping around my veins, her voice soared through the middle of my brain and somehow balanced me out entirely. We got to see her perform it alongside MJ Lenderman at Hopscotch Festival in NC this year and we all cried our eyes out.

Pamela: BRAT by Charli xcx.

Charli xcx’s BRAT was my favourite album this year. The whole vibe basically took over summer 2024 and there could be several theses written on the branding alone of this album. The way I’d mindlessly point at something lime green and just say ‘Brat’ should be studied. To me the album feels fun in a way that allowed me to kind of let loose in a way that a whole album hasn’t done for me in a long time. Every song just hits so perfectly—like it knew exactly when to make me feel cool and when to make me dance like I’d had three coffees. I think there’s such a power in knowing you could play any or all of this album ‘in the club’ and everyone would be completely satisfied.

Cathy: Chanel Beads.

I am probably really late to the game here, but I just discovered Chanel Beads. I don’t really know much about them but I NEEDED to know who was playing on my speakers instantly. Super interesting dreamy pop vibe. I think Unifying Thought was the song that pulled me in but Chanel Beads just keep on giving! Annoyingly I just discovered that they played Dublin unbeknownst to me. Devo. We are but ships in the night.

2024 saw Angry Blackmen deliver The Legend of ABM, described by Atwood‘s Oliver Crook as vulnerable, universal, and soul-shaking: “This album sounds like nothing Angry Blackmen has released before — or like much else in music right now… This evolution not only freshens the Angry Blackmen sound, but also continues their experimental streak, taking them into a whole new direction. Like Bob Vylan, Genesis Owusu, Clipping., and Busta Rhymes put through a broken amp, it’s an abrasive experience that keeps you entranced for the whole eleven songs…“

“St. Chroma” by Tyler, The Creator ft. Daniel Caesar.

“St Chroma” by Tyler, The Creator is my favorite song of the year. In my opinion Tyler is one of the most innovative and influential artists working today and I appreciate his consistency when it comes to releasing great music. I personally don’t think he’s put out a bad album yet.

GNX by Kendrick Lamar.

Coming off one of the biggest hip-hop beefs in music history, I absolutely love how regional this project sounds, it feels like a love letter to California culture and the west coast as a whole. It was a surprise to hear a new album from Kendrick in 2024 and I’m blessed enough to be alive to witness this.

Doechii.

Doechii is an artist that I’ve been aware of since her signing with TDE but her newest project caught my attention. I appreciate how original her music sounds and her approach to artistry in today’s modern music landscape.

“Golden God” by Yung Lean.

One time I played a show at an underground venue in Seattle below Yung Lean. The floor was moving above us, and fire alarms started blaring. The building had to be evacuated. Turns out it was the smoke machines. Thinned out ride or die crowds returned, music resumed, and it was honestly beautiful.

Baggy $$ EP – Fcukers.

Something kinda funny about this. The way they spell their band name, the 90s dub and house references, the use of drum presets, the lackadaisical delivery of lines like champagne in my cereal. I love it.

Charley Crockett.

New artist to me. His song “Good At Losing” sounds old school. Like a riff on how being a musician is being a clown. Familiar but with a sense of humor to it so I’m listening…

After releasing his critically acclaimed debut album Like Dying Stars, We’re Reaching Out in 2023, Runnner’s Noah Weinman put out the ambient album Starsdust – a twelve song record expands the possibilities of what Runnner can be – earlier this year, later following it up with the improvisational LP Dust 2 in September.

“Barrel” by Surf Party USA.

Probably the most fun rock saga of a song I’ve heard in a long time. Plus the lyric: I’m not just a baby / I’m a full on grown up dude.

GNX by Kendrick Lamar

We listened to this in the tour van when it came out and I can’t remember the last time I listened to an album on release day and loved it this much. I’m always in awe of how Kendrick shows internal dialogue and conflict so well.

SIM SIM SIM by Bala Desejo.

I ended up at their show in Paris by luck this year (flight cancellation coming back home from tour) and it was the best thing I’ve seen in years. Three hours of high energy and incredible musicianship. Each of the four front people have such distinct stage personas, it felt like what I would imagine seeing the early Beatles for the first time would be like.

This year saw Seafoam Walls release their sophomore LP Standing Too Close To The Elephant In The Room a “sweeping evolution” of the band’s knotty mix of jazz, shoegaze, rock, hip-hop, and Afro-Caribbean rhythms — self-dubbed ‘Caribbean jazzgaze’ — first displayed on their debut LP XVI.

“Take Your Mask Off” by Tyler, The Creator.

I know this song is fairly new but the melodies on this song are so infectious and the message is just as potent. It’s a very tasteful reminder to stay true to yourself. You do yourself and others around you a huge disservice trying to be someone you’re not.

Alligator Bites Never Heal by Doechii.

Doechii is such a breath of fresh air for rap and hip-hop. Her recent feature on Tyler’s album was the cherry on top of an already incredible year. The creative direction for the rollout, tour, and music videos have all been a joy to watch unfold. There aren’t many artists out today as well-rounded as her.

South Hill Experiment.

This year I had my first SXSW experience. There I met a band called The South Hill Experiment. They immediately stood out with their costumes but the music separated them even further from the pack. It was only natural that I came back home with one of their LPs.

Sheppard’s inner light shines on 2024’s sun-kissed fourth album ZORA, an irresistibly radiant record of life, love, and hope that sees the Australian sibling trio basking in the triumph of the human spirit and celebrating the magic of being alive.

“Austin” by Dasha.

This song feels like the exact cross roads of what Sheppard is writing, what Amy (Sheppard) is vibing for her upcoming country music album and brings the world of our new home Nashville into the rest of the world. Country is so big right now but this song fully nails the cross over brief – super catchy, well written and most of all just great fun to put on and play out loud!

Moon Music by Coldplay.

They have always been a huge inspiration for us – visually and sonically – and we were lucky to see them on their world tour this year. The album is everything we love about them so it’s been great to see them go number one again. It remains one of our biggest dreams to open for them, share a stage with them and we are not giving up on that dream any time soon.

Chappell Roan.

While she has been working hard for years it feels like we discovered her properly in 2024 and feel inspired that only a year ago she was playing to 1000-cap rooms in Sydney Australia and less than 6 months later she is performing to 100,000 people who knew every word at Lollapalooza. It certainly helps inspire us to keep going, writing new music and touring the world to connect with our fans and make new ones.

2024 saw the release of Sinkane’s bold, ambitious, sentimental, and soul-stirring eighth studio album We Belong, billed as a “love letter to the Black experience.”

“Red Flags” by Brittany Howard.

This song taps into the complexity of navigating the darker corners of love and self-realization. It’s a journey through the emotional dissonance that comes when we overlook the signs that should have warned us. Howard paints these red flags as part of a parade that we march right into, sometimes blinded by our own desires. The song’s sound is both intense and atmospheric, with a gritty, almost dystopian edge that echoes the emotional chaos of growth. With Shawn Everett’s production, it balances richness and tension, creating a soundscape that’s deep yet expansive—very much in line with Howard’s blend of psych-soul and experimental vibes. It’s a track that forces you to reckon with those uncomfortable moments of truth.

Endlessness by Nala Sinephro.

Nala Sinephro’s Endlessness is a meditative journey through ambient jazz and cosmic soundscapes. It intertwines modular synthesis, delicate harp melodies, and soft, breathing textures, creating a space that feels both infinite and deeply intimate. The piece invites the listener to lose themselves in its expansive serenity, offering a sense of weightlessness and boundless possibility. It’s music that feels like floating in a serene, timeless void.

Tomcbumpz.

This guy makes ear candy. It’s music that is so delicious and sweet. So moorish. So … utterly delectable. Tomcbumpz’s music is like stepping into a glitchy, nostalgic dream where lo-fi beats meet experimental soundscapes. It’s a blend of chopped samples, warm textures, and quirky rhythms that feel both laid-back and intricately crafted. His tracks often evoke a playful, DIY energy while hinting at deeper emotions beneath the surface—perfect for vibing out or getting lost in your own head.

2024 saw the release of Softcult’s Heaven EP, a ‘90s grunge-meets-riot grrrl record that reinvents the concept of “heaven on Earth,” lyrically dismantling systems of corruption and inviting listeners to embrace inclusivity.

“Loud Bark” by Mannequin Pussy.

I’d say my best song of 2024 is Loud Bark by Mannequin Pussy. Just such a well written song and a masterclass in subdued, controlled passion and rage.

Frog In Boiling Water by DIIV.

My best album of 2024 would have to be Frog In Boiling Water by DIIV. I feel like it’s everything I wanted from them but I also hear a huge progression and evolution in their sound.

She’s Green.

I just discovered She’s Green recently and they’re quickly becoming one of my favourite bands. I love their ethereal wall of sound, and the dynamics in their music. It’s inspiring!

2024 saw Miami/NYC-based vocalist, producer and multimedia artist Stranger Cat share her resilient, self-produced sophomore album Slow Jam Love Letters To My Body In Pieces.

“Eusexua” by FKA Twigs.

She never misses. She keeps growing. Just when you think she’s hit the top she takes it over the top. So raw and modern and feminine and organic at the same time. QUEEN.

BRAT by Charli xcx.

BRAT for me was the best album of 2024, and very unexpected for me. I always resist something when it’s very popular… but it got to me at the end of the summer and by 1st listen I was smitten with the vocals, amazing production, and playful fun danceable attitude.

Chappell Roan.

Honestly, I discovered Chappell Roan in 2024… women, especially young girls need her as our new pop star! Unafraid, bad ass, raw, unrestricted and truly talented!

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan.

The production is super inspirational. As a songwriter and a producer I find a lot of elements in this song production that gets me excited. Sometimes I try to chase sounds or ideas that I hear when I listen to a song like this! It’s so amazing. Everything from the vocal performance to the amazing bridge! That bridge elevates the song from just a simple pop song to something much more. It reminds me of how important and cool a bridge can be and how much it can add to the dimension of the song both lyrically and musically.

The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess by Chappell Roan… Technically this was out in 2023 so if this doesn’t work I would say, Untame the Tiger by Mary Timony of Helium.

Both are from amazing women I admire, but also who have been doing this a long time and have a real point of view and sound. They are very different but there is a pop element to Mary Timony’s songs which I’ve always loved going back to her first album I bought “Dirt of Luck.” Both are collections of songs that tell a story. This is always what I try to do with my albums. They are all connected and when played in order the listener goes on a journey and this is always what I hope to achieve with my albums.

Chappell Roan.

This may be obvious (at this point) but I DON’T CARE because I love catchy pop songs that carry a lot of emotional weight. So happy Chappell Roan exists! Learning about her story, her inspiration and her drive inspires me. I love that we both have midwest roots! I hope she wins a Grammy!

“Where do we start! It’s been such a huge year for us and there’s been so many highlights but just to name a few, we did our first long overseas tour with the vaccines earlier in the year which was an absolute dream. Released an extended edition of our debut album and toured it all around Australia. We went to the US for the first time and got to play shows in NY and LA. And we finished off the year winning our first ARIA and supporting Pearl Jam on a stadium tour!!”

“Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan.

What can we say, it’s the year of Chappell Roan! Every song she’s released is perfect from start to finish and “Good Luck, Babe!” is no exception. There’s a reason it’s the song that has made her become one of the most talked about artists of 2024. Chappell, we love you!

Romance by Fontaines D.C.

This album has carried us through 2024, and we simply cannot stop listening! We’ve always been big fans of Fontaines, but this album is something else. Hearing the album’s single “Starburster” for the first time was sort of a religious experience, and another single ‘favourite’ is definitely going to wiggle its way into our Spotify wrapped. Fontaines for parliament I say !!

Magdalena Bay.

Only about 3 months ago I got shown Magdalena Bay for the first time and since then I’ve formed a codependent relationship with their music. I can’t stop listening. Not only is their new album Imaginal Disk perfection but their entire discography is just as good!!

“Sangsara in Cumbia” by The Panturas.

In this middle of the year, we really enjoyed some Cumbia songs like “Los Mirlos” and “Juaneco Y Su Combo.” When The Panturas released their EP last November, we were hooked by this song called “Sangsara in Cumbia.” The song has this enchanted Cumbia grooves along with Sundanese lyrics. A rare and unique piece that we treasure a lot.

Ripple On The Wing by Ella Thompson.

Ella knows how to telling her stories and thoughts through such delicate sounds. Songs wrapped in perfect arrangements, choosing nice organic sounds, and the way she sings giving such a fresh ambience. A perfect album to end this great year.

Hermanos Gutiérrez.

It amazed us how the simplicity of the sound could create such rich music. How can you feel all those emotions from just a pair of guitars? Their sounds, techniques, and atmospheres, that’s all there is.

2024 saw total tommy’s Jess Holt release her intimate, unfiltered, and brutally raw debut album bruises – a grungy and gritty coming-of-age record that aches inside and out as the Sydney-based artist bares her full self, scars and all.

“Starburster” by Fontaines D.C.

This entire record was pretty monumental for me this year, but Starburster hit a part of my brain and unlocked some shit in there. What an incredible song.

Scream from New York, NY by Been Stellar.

This album was everything I needed this year, it’s an absolute masterpiece and I love everything these guys are doing right now.

NewDad.

I saw them play when I was in London and they’re so damn good. “Where I Go” is a daily play of mine at the moment.

This May saw Vicky Farewell release her enchanting sophomore album Give a Damn, a wet hot summery seduction of soulful, sun-kissed indie pop that hits like a sweet summer rain.

“How Long Has This Been Going On” by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Paul Motian.

Does this count as a song? Sure. I love this standard and I love Keith so much. It was such a privilege to hear this recording, I played it on repeat during a flight to Japan.

Here in the Pitch by Jessica Pratt.

She can do no wrong. Her writing is so beautiful and skillful. She has something real special.

Yuki Chiba.

I heard about him when he dropped “Team Tomodachi,” and the music video is sick too. It’s nice to find a genuine artist like him and I’m glad he’s getting more global attention.

This October saw Orlando-based rapper Wahid release his EP THEY ALL GO MAD!, showcasing his gift in merging classic MC traditions with forward-thinking cadences and melodies.

“Blueslides” by ScHoolboy Q.

The best song of the year or really my favorite is “Blueslides” by ScHoolboy Q. I love the stripped down production and vulnerability in his lyrics. That song was on repeat for me, as it was or is super relatable to my personal life at the moment.

BRAT by Charli xcx.

I think the best album was Brat by Charli XCX. I’ve been a moderate fan of her music for some years now, but this album was a culmination of all things I love about her. To take pop centric sounds and be so experimental with it, is nothing short of inspirational.

It’s a toss up between Mk.gee and Sailorr. Mk.gee’s album is damn near perfect, and Sailorr’s single “POOKIE’S REQUIEM” scratched my melodic itch for the year. They both were very pleasant discoveries for me this year.

2024 saw indie rock band Why Bonnie release their sophomore album Wish on the Bone, a record that “gazes into an uncertain future with hopeful resolution” per Atwood‘s Will Yarbrough.

“Music” by porches.

This is the last song on the newest album Shirt, and it honestly took me off guard. The rest of the album is really grungy or more pop, but this song is just an unadulterated love song to music itself. The chords waiver and pull at the heartstrings and the sentiment just really made me feel seen. I think any music lover would like this song.

Dulling The Horns by Wild Pink.

I’m not gonna say BRAT, even though I want to. But if I can’t say BRAT (which I’m not going to) then I’d have to say Dulling The Horns by Wild Pink. I’m a huge fan of their discography but this album in particular really feels like they arrived somewhere special. The tones are amazing, the lyrics are sentimental but humorous, and is vibe is just simply immaculate.

Olivia Kaplan.

Olivia’s music feels so pure. Her vocals, arrangements, and storytelling are so crisp. There’s something so familiar and comforting about her songs. My friend, Iris (Bloomsday), turned me onto her and I listened to both albums on repeat for days.

“Buffalo” by Hurray For the Riff Raff.

A friend of ours showed me this track late one night while we were playing pool. I’ll never forget that evening. It’s one of those tracks that makes me feel a little bit sad and a little bit happy at the same time, which I love. The entire album, The Past is Still Alive, is incredible, but I keep coming back to this song.

Two Star & the Dream Police by Mk.gee.

Seems like I hopped on the bandwagon here, but a pretty undeniably good album. His guitar work is phenomenal! Enjoyed every song on here. Saw the video for “Are You Looking Up,” and was instantly hooked.

Ethan Tasch.

We had the pleasure of having Ethan and his band out for our west coast run this year. He’s an incredible songwriter and musician. Found myself listening to his Got Him! album a lot this year. Some really great tracks on there like “Holdup,” “Shell”, “Love and Japan.” Looking forward to hearing what he comes out with next!

2024 saw the release of Winnetka Bowling League’s debut LP Sha La La, an album that chews up American idealism and spits it back out in catchy verses and pop-heavy melodies.

“Make America Great Again” by Brian Kelley.

I haven’t laughed this hard in so long and it supports my belief that bad music is sooo much better than good music.

Submarine by The Marías.

I’m a Marías bitch through and through, so Submarine was a mainstay this year. I also loved the Medium Build record, but truthfully listened to the RedHanded podcast more than any music.

John Moreland.

Not a new artist by any stretch but my dumb ass just got hip to him, and he blows my mind.

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The Best Music of 2024, According to Our Favorite Artists:

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