TRF.
ATRL+ Member
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Everything posted by TRF.
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Thank you so much @supaspaz for this opportunity to present the Lifetime Achievement Award!! Pop is a very broad term. When we, people on a website like ATRL, think of what a pop artist is, generally we think about charts. And when we think about women in pop music, we think of girls doing the most to serve choreo and looks, singing songs that are relatively straight-forward and radio/streaming-friendly, and not always very complex. This is all obviously very reductive, and if you think about it most main pop girls themselves don't fit that criteria, but subconsciously, it is what a lot of people believe there is to pop stardom. But pop entails many things. It can include larger-than-life stars like Beyoncé, Gaga or Taylor, it can be the maximalist experimentalism like that of Rosalía's LUX or Kate Bush's Hounds of Love, or the minimalism of Lorde's Pure Heroine or Oklou's Choke Enough, the absolute chaos of Jane Remover, the detailed production of SOPHIE, the eeriness of Jenny Hval or Caroline Polachek (even music made by men! unfortunately ), it can vary widely from culture to culture, country to country, it can be a thousand things and more. It can be weird. It can be uncomfortable. It can be what Björk does. And it can be more influential than you would think. The list of artists that have claimed Björk as an influence can probably be counted in the thousands. From SZA to FKA twigs, from Missy to Xtina, all acknowledge the Icelandic songstress as an inspiration. It makes sense as to why – since breaking through a solo artist with 1993's Debut, she's had an impressive career fueled by the fusion of electronic music genres that were big at the time (i.e. house, techno, trip-hop) with a more avant-garde style of songwriting that immediately threw you off, but with an ability to compose memorable hooks and honest, heart-felt lyrics that drew you in and pulled you into her world. Her work would only become more idiosyncratic as time went on, more experimental, less accessible to the average listener, but more rewarding for it. From the emotive "Hyperballad" to the volcanic beats of Homogenic, her work is, to this day, characterized by the fusion of the organic and the electronic, strings and wind instruments fused with abrasive glitches, experimental takes on a cappella music – not a single work from hers could be described as predictable, as derivative. And while someone might argue projects like Vespertine might be considered her "peak", the truth is that she still is someone with the will to innovate, with albums that sound as current and ahead of time as any of her other work – collaborating with then-up-and-coming producers like Arca or The Haxan Cloak on career highlight Vulnicura or borrowing influences from gabber and industrial-techno on her most recent full-length Fossora, her desire to push the boundaries of music to this day is what has given her legend status. And in ATRL, Björk may not be understood by everyone, but she sure is respected, and she sure is influential as well. Among those of us who are a little more alt (s/o to all the #indieheauxs and the O.G. Björk stan @Owl), she is given the recognition that is deserved, every album release is an event in a way that I, sadly, very rarely see on here from any other artist older than 50. But it makes sense why: she's constantly pushing herself as an artist, and her relevance is in constant growth still – even getting her first top 10 song on Global Spotify last year thanks to "Berghain", her collaboration with Rosalía. It is tough to explain why Björk is so important, either from a personal point of view, or from a more analytic, "music industry" kind of way. What makes Björk's music appealing to some, might be what makes it repellent to others. But one thing she'll never be is milquetoast, her work invites active thought, without ever rejecting pop as an approach even in her less conventional music. It is just a different take on it. This is why the ATRL Grammy's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026 goes out to Björk. It's what she deserves! Now Björk, do you have anything to say to accept your award?
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Eusexua robbed :(
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Very obvious win lol but not the worst choice so happy for her
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she's blonde now!
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Not mad at this at all although Black Star is imo better and Choke Enough deserved a spot on the list too but w/e
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Headphones On... now that's a deserving win.
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deserved Kendrick wins!!
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late arrival but i'm here
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25 PinkPantheress Illegal 24 Six Sex Performance Actitud (Pose) 23 Le Diouck Émeraude 22 Swank Mami Baddiez 21 Slayyyter Beat Up Chanel$ 20 Sayuri & Sopholov Secunena 19 fakemink Easter Pink 18 Ethel Cain Nettles 17 Jim Legxacy father 16 Sudan Archives Dead 15 Lauren Duffus NUMTE 14 Juana Rozas Bad Choice 13 Kinara Underground feat. nusar3000 12 James K Play 11 Indi Over 10 Oli XL Love & Pop feat. Chanel Beads Genre: Glitch Pop, UK Bass A remix of Chanel Beads' "Idea June", pulled effortlessly into Oli XL's world. Beautiful, complex yet bouncy electronic-pop that's made to stick in your head. 9 Rosalía Berghain feat. Björk & Yves Tumor Genre: Art Pop, Orchestral, Classical Crossover Possibly one of the most insane comebacks for any major pop girl in recent memory. One of the weirdest moments in LUX, obviously I was made to love this. 8 Terra Fiebre feat. Six Sex Genre: Changa tuki Six Sex has been collaborating with a lot of artists in 2025, like Shygirl, Emilia or MCR-T, but none other shined more than her and Terra, a match made in Latin club heaven. 7 JT Girls Gone Wild Genre: Pop Rap, Ghettotech Produced by Chicken, JT dives fully into club music with this song. References to Detroit techno, Miami bass and Chicago juke sound great on their own, but JT's fun, witty lines truly sell it. 6 FKA twigs Striptease Genre: Alternative R&B, UK Bass One of EUSEXUA's highlights, twigs pushes her vocals into really interesting places, the production sounds busy, inspired by different eras of dance music, but still uniquely hers. 5 Oklou Blade Bird Genre: Alt-Pop, Indietronica The closing track in Choke Enough is also its most heartwarming moment. Inspired by a Basque poem about setting a bird free, it sounds like 00s nostalgia used with an actual purpose, a gorgeous pop song. 4 Tracey Sex Life feat. Riko Dan Genre: Dubstep, Grime One of the most memorable hooks I heard all year, a fun, unserious ode to sexual desire clearly inspired by the peak of UK dubstep and grime, but still feels very current and relevant to today. 3 Amaarae S.M.O. Genre: Dance-Pop, Gqom, Bacardi Amaarae's music has always been very sensual, but even then "S.M.O." took me by surprise. Inspired by Ghanaian classics like Ata Kak's Obaa Sima, translating that into a contemporary club-pop vibe works perfectly. 2 Addison Rae Headphones On Genre: Alt-Pop, Contemporary R&B, Trip Hop Telling someone "Addison Rae will be the one to bring trip hop back into the mainstream" in 2020 would've been crazy. And yet it's kinda true? A perfect metaphor for escapism, it's magical, probably the #realest song of '25. 1 Smerz You Got Time and I Got Money Genre: Downtempo, Bedroom Pop I have always associated Smerz with a particular style of cold, disaffected, experimental Scandinavian dark-pop. So something as earnest and direct as "You Got Time and I Got Money" feels surprising, but also what I needed most in my life. A song that feels like falling in love for the first time, a pop ballad that might seem simple, but feels so beautiful and detailed, something potentially timeless. Even Sky Ferreira was gagging! So was I!
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50 EsDeeKid LV Sandals feat. Fakemink & Rico Ace 49 Tate McRae Revolving Door 48 SPELLLING Portrait of My Heart 47 Nadah El Shazly Magnolia 46 KATSEYE Gnarly 45 Tainy & Feid Monstruo 44 Luedji Luna Apocalipse feat. Seu Jorge 43 Milo j Bajo de la piel 42 Hayley Williams Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party 41 tovi Jiggy 40 NMIXX High Horse 39 Kim Petras Freak It 38 Tyla Chanel 37 Klein rich dad, poor dad 36 Underscores Do It 35 Zara Larsson Midnight Sun 34 billy woods Dislocated feat. ELUCID 33 Rochelle Jordan Doing It Too 32 Clipse Ace Trumpets 31 haloplus+ untitled<3 30 JADE Unconditional 29 Malibu Spicy City 28 NEW YORK Together 27 Dexter in the Newsagent Special 26 After 300 Dreams
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#10.FKA twigsEUSEXUA //EUSEXUA AfterglowGenre: Art Pop, Electronic Dance Music Alternative R&B, Glitch Pop, Downtempo, Trance, Dance-Pop, Post-Dubstep From: Cheltenham, UK || Label: Young I feel like in some kinda way, EUSEXUA has been a bit maligned. It was a weird release strategy indeed: announced like 5 months before its release date, including a few questionable sogs, the visa issues (I was never gonna see her live so don't care much about that), also the vibe it exuded overall seemed a bit too... pretentious. But I don't think it matters much in the grand scheme of things when the music is good, and FKA twigs would never leave us without it. These tracks represent a more accessible version of her style, with clear nods to club music and references to 90's pop, without leaving behind her natural desire for experimentation. And its companion project EUSEXUA Afterglow does a great job of expanding on what EUSEXUA represents. With a freer, more uncompromising sound, it takes a lot of the glitchy, distorted sound she worked on and developed on her projects like LP1 or her earlier EPs, and updates it for the present day, making it a little more pop without sacrificing complexity. Many will say different, but 2025 was indeed a great year to be a fan of FKA twigs. Highlights: "Eusexua", Girl Feels Good", "Perfect Stranger", "Drums of Death" (with Koreless), "Room of Fools", "Sticky", "Keep It, Hold It", Striptease", "24hr Dog" / "Love Crimes", "Slushy", "Wild and Alone" (feat. PinkPantheress), "HARD", "Cheap Hotel", "Predictable Girl", "Sushi", "Stereo Boy" If you like: Madonna, Björk, Eartheater #9.Gaby AmarantosRock doidoGenre: Tecnofunk Brega calypso From: Belem, Brazil || Label: Deck Gaby Amarantos is one of the biggest figures in all of tecnobrega. A genre originated in the North-East of Brazil, its historically been characterized as "tacky", but Gaby has taken it seriously from the very beginning, earning her a legendary status in Brazil and even a Latin Grammy win. And in no project is that love and dedication better exemplified than on her most recent album, Rock doido. The project works as a deep dive into the sound and culture of "rock doido" (term roughly translated into English as "crazy rock"), the peak of ecstasy reached during the aparelhagem parties from the state of Pará, this term would eventually begin to describe a music genre of sorts that would merge elements of regional genres such as tecnomelody, carimbó, Brazilian funk, reggaetón and especially tecnobrega. This album feels like an actual party, each track flowing immaculately onto the next one, barely crossing the two minute mark at most, but packing a ton of energy onto every second. Rock doido is Gaby's homage not only to these parties, but to her Amazonian and Afro-Brazilian heritage, her passion for music and to the state of Pará. Highlights: really works better as one piece itself If you like: Pabllo Vittar, Irmas de Pau, Luísa e os Alquimistas #8.Juana MolinaDOGAGenre: Ambient Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Folktronica Minimal Wave, Post-Rock, Krautrock, Freak Folk, Avant-Folk From: Buenos Aires, Argentina || Label: Sonamos The amount of time between DOGA and Juana Molina's previous album Halo, released in 2017, is the longest she's been without releasing any full-length projects. This doesn't mean the Argentinian musician has been inactive, but it did make the anticipation for a new record climb through the roofs, and thankfully, DOGA is among her most daring, interesting works. This new album sees her seperated from conventional song structures, instead building on psychedelic, hypnotic progressions that feel very free, using her signature loops as building blocks for her wonderful compositions, and it makes sense as it is adapted from hours of improvisation. It is out there, atmospheric and intentionally complex for sure, but never solemn (she was a comedian, after all! the sense of humour is built pretty much onto every single moment), DOGA is experimental-adjacent music at its most joyful, there really is no one like Juana, not in Argentina, not anywhere else. Highlights: "Uno es árbol", "Desinhumano", "Caravanas", "Siestas ahí", "Indignan a un zorzal", "Miro todo", "Intringulado", "Rina soi" If you like: Animal Collective, múm, Lucrecia Dalt #7.Earl SweatshirtLive Laugh LoveGenre: Abstract Hip Hop Experimental Hip Hop, Jazz Rap, Drumless From: Los Angeles, USA || Label: Tan Cressida It has really been a pleasure to watch Earl Sweatshirt grow and evolve throughout the years. Since his early days making edgy horrorcore, to his later albums exploring his inner turmoils and issues, his journey as a rapper has been special, especially considering the amount of quality music he's delivered throughout the years. Live Laugh Love sees him in his 30s, as a father, sort of a veteran in the genre by now and offering some of his best work too. Just like any other Earl album, it is very personal, confessional, with inventive and attention-grabbing instrumentals, but more than anything, there is an overall tone of optimism prominent over the tracklist. It's sincere and vulnerable but the lyrics demonstrate hope, a desire to move forward, to live, laugh and love indeed. The grief and anxiety explored in many of his other projects isn't completely gone either in Live Laugh Love – but maybe that's the point, you just get better at riding the waves. Highlights: "gsw vs sac", "FORGE", "Infatuation", "Live", "Static", "CRISCO", "Tourmaline", "exhaust" If you like: Navy Blue, MIKE, Mavi #6.Erika de CasierLifetimeGenre: Alternative R&B, Downtempo Trip Hop, Hip Hop Soul, Ambient Dub From: Lisbon, Portugal/Copenhagen, Denmark || Label: Independent Jeep For several years now, Portuguese-Danish artist Erika de Casier has made a name for herself with her own style of R&B, drawing influences from popular music of the 90s and 2000s. She has made an impact on both the underground and mainstream pop worlds, collaborating with figures such as NewJeans and Dua Lipa. Just over a year after the release of her previous album Still, Erika returned with Lifetime, her first independent release since her debut, and probably among her best work to date. Produced entirely by Erika, her soft voice over gorgeous, wonderfully-crafted trip-hop and ambient instrumentals sounds very ethereal, but also clearly harkens back to classic R&B groups like TLC and artists like Brandy, without being overly derivative. Lifetime feels very direct, containing some of her best (and most relatable) lyrical content, over instrumental that sound very detailed and well-crafted, but not overly complex, just great on their own. Perhaps at this point, nostalgia for the 90s and Y2K era is reaching saturation point, but what Erika de Casier does on Lifetime is clearly several steps above the rest. Highlight: "Miss", "You Can't Always Get What You Want", "Seasons", "You Got It!", "December", "Moan", "Two Thieves", "Lifetime" If you like: Dido, Everything But the Girl, Brandy #5.Juana RozasTANYAGenre: Electropop, Post-Industrial Industrial Rock, Electro-Industrial, Art Pop, Deconstructed Club From: Buenos Aires, Argentina || Label: Sony Argentina's underground pop scene is going through a very exciting moment, and Juana Rozas is one of the key artists to it. A part of the SAMA collective alongside Six Sex, Fiah, Faraonika and more, unlike plenty of her contemporaries, much of her work opts for something darker in tone and in concept, using her experience in acting to explore different characters. Enter TANYA, Juana's second album, which is a character analysis of a woman forced to lose her mind, accompanied by music that indeed sounds like it, an eclectic and electrifying record that has the sinister, uncompromising energy of industrial music, but the structure and the melodic ear of radio hits. TANYA has some of the most abrasive moments that can be found in any major label pop album this year, and whilst not necessarily openly political, it does a good job of capturing purely on a emotional level what 2025 has felt like in Argentina in all of its glory and doom, all in the shape of pop music. Highlights: "Bad Choice", "Qué importa" (feat. MARTTEIN), "Antonio", "Wanna Hotel", "Buenísimo", "Tanya Loca", "Un ángel", "Déjandote ir" If you like: Charli XCX, Nine Inch Nails, Black Dresses #4.RosalíaLUXGenre: Art Pop, Classical Crossover Flamenco Pop, Orchestral Music, Electronic From: Barcelona, Spain || Label: Columbia An album like LUX feels like it shouldn't exist as such. One of the most important popstars on the planet releasing an album influenced by classical music, singing in 13 languages, following up a project that sonically had very little to do with its predecessor. But if someone can pull it off is Rosalía – peeling back the layers of dense context and influences (and of discourse) you are met with an excellent record that is pop at its core, but knows to approach it from a different perspective, that demands full attention. The record's arrangements are beautiful, the production is maximalist and always manages to surprise. LUX also contains some of Rosalía's best lyrics and best vocal performances, using her roots in Spanish flamenco to push herself onto different stylings, like opera – and sounding like a natural at it. Much can be said about the album's usage of religious imagery, about what it represents or not, but regardless of the narratives at play, it feels good to have a record that is as commercially successful and acclaimed, be genuinely ambitious and meaningful, and to deliver on the hype. Highlights: "Sexo, violencia y llantas", "Reliquia", "Divinize", "Porcelana", "Mio cristo piange diamante", "Berghain" (feat. Björk & Yves Tumor), "Mundo nuevo", "De madrugá", "La yugular", "La rumba del perdón" (feat. Soleá Morente & Silvia Pérez Cruz), "Memória" (feat. Carminho) If you like: Björk, Mercedes Sosa's rendition of Misa criolla, Lole y Manuel #3.Rochelle JordanThrough the WallGenre: Deep House, Alternative R&B, Dance-Pop UK Garage, Garage House, Post-Dubstep, UK Bass From: London, UK/Toronto, Canada || Label: Empire In the early 2010s, singer-songwriter Rochelle Jordan was a key member of Toronto's alternative R&B scene, which spawned several artists who are now well-known, such as The Weeknd and PartyNextDoor. However, Rochelle was out of the public eye for many years, only returning in 2021 with her album Play with the Changes, featuring beats influenced by house, dubstep, and more, but with the melodic R&B style that characterized her. But if Rochelle put one foot on the dance floor in Play with the Changes, in Through the Wall she dives right in. Rochelle's latest album is a tribute to dance music, from Chicago house to the music of London's underground clubs. Rochelle's voice sounds smooth, demonstrating remarkable vocal ability without losing focus on the experience of each track as a whole, in which every element fits together perfectly. Accompanied by production of people like Kaytranada, as well as her most frequent collaborators such as KLSH and Machinedrum, they all give their best in Through the Wall to create, together with Rochelle, one of the best pop albums of 2025. Highlights: "Ladida", "The Boy", "Doing It Too", "Never Enough", "Words 2 Say", "Bite the Bait", "On 2 Something", "TTW", "Crave", "Sweet Sensation", "I'm Your Muse", "Around" If you like: Kelela, Moodymann, Crystal Waters #2.OklouChoke EnoughGenre: Alt-Pop, Electronic Alternative R&B, Indietronica, Trance, Ambient Pop From: Paris, France || Label: True Panther Back in 2018, I came across Oklou's music due to her association to Sega Bodega's NUXXE label, and was enchanted by her minimal, abstract approach to pop music, something that she's continued to master on her following releases, including 2020's mixtape Galore, one of the most memorable projects released during the pandemic. Choke Enough, her much awaited debut album feels like her delivering on the promise of this earlier work into a perfect collection of songs. Aided by collaborators like Underscores, Casey MQ, A.G. Cook or Danny L Harle, much of the music in Choke Enough is ~vibey~, but transcends being merely background noise, using the language of ambient and club music in equal parts to craft pop songs that thrive in their subtlety. Addressing growing up in a digital world and the connections these spaces both foster and damage, Choke Enough feels like a very uniquely 2025 album in that the usage of these genres and topics merge is something that might only exist in this day and age, but feel the more special for it. Highlights: "Endless", "Thank You for Recording", "Family and Friends", "Obvious", "ICT", "Choke Enough", "Plague Dogs", "Harvest Sky" (feat. underscores), "Blade Bird" If you like: Imogen Heap, Caroline Polachek, FKA twigs #1.Los ThuthanakaLos ThuthanakaGenre: Indigenous Andean Music, Experimental Rock, Latin Electronic Epic Collage, Bolivian Huayño, Neo-Psychedelia, Post-Rock, Digital Cumbia, Caporal From: California, USA || Label: self-released I have been following Chuquimamani-Condori for over a decade at this point, since their days as E+E, with all of the stuff they've released as Elysia Crampton throughout the years as well. Each project has been a world of its own, in which influences of traditional Aymara music are collaged with maximalist electronics, contemporary popular music (like cumbia, Southern rap, country and more), her DJ sets, albums, compilations, Soundcloud loosies and more, everything felt extremely layered, complex, and uniquely distinctive of their artistry. For a few years she's been working on the Los Thuthanaka project alongside their brother Joshua Chuquimia Crampton, who has on own right also developed his own style of music in homage to their indigenous Aymara heritage, with an approach closer to psychedelic rock and experimental drones. And their sounds blend perfectly well on their first official project, a self-titled album released after a long time touring together, that merges the best elements of each's work, the hypnotizing guitar-led compositions of Joshua and glitchy, unpredictable, production characteristic of Chuquimamani-Condori. Pretty much every track in Los Thuthanaka feels massive, the intentional choice of not mixing it makes everything sound even more abrasive, with the intense noise of many pieces engulfing you into the almost-jam like nature of their compositions, but also showing a sensible appreciation of rhythm, present in many musical traditions of the Andes like caporal, huayno or kullawada, but addressed from their own perspective. This album feels like the culmination of the sound each artist developed, but also an exciting starting point, not just for them, but for the possibilities that music in general has to offer in the 2020s and onwards. Highlights: "Q'iwanakax-Q'iwsanakax Utjxiwa", "Huayño "Ipi Saxra"", "Huayño "Phuju"", "Caporal "Apnaqkaya Titi"", "Kullawada "Awila"", "Parrandita "Sariri Tunupa"", "Salay "Titi Ch'iri Siqititi"" If you like: **** Buttons, Luzmila Carpio, Lightning Bolt
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#20.23waAZGenre: Epic Collage, Art Pop, Post-Industrial Alternative R&B, Glitch Hop, Deconstructed Club, Glitch Pop, Glitch, Experimental Hip Hop, Noise From: Aix En Provence, France || Label: self-released French artist Ethan Crespi, known as 23wa, has been blending rap, hyperpop, and abrasive experimental music since starting in his teens. His latest album, AZ, is a remarkable 17-track, 83-minute project showcasing his growth, featuring a sensory overload of glitches and samples, but also revealing deep vulnerability and emotional honesty on it. AZ features collaborations with underground French artists like ptite soeur and Gemroz, and from Tokyo's avant-garde sce such as Cwondo, MON/KU or Hakushi Hasegawa, it is a complex mix of various genres, making it dense and ambitious, potentially overwhelming, but ultimately rewarding to listen to. Highlight: "Atto, Alto", "Corps", "Arise" (feat. Gemroz), "Pasde signal", "Alphabet" (feat. vq), "L'échec" (feat. Cwondo & ptite soeur), "MOMOMO" (feat. Botsu a.k.a NGS), "Alphabet pt.2" (feat. Tennyson), "Chevi", "Crespism", "Y" (feat. feat. Gemroz & Nariaki Komatsu) If you like: Oneohtrix Point Never, León Cordero, Five Star Hotel #19.Addison RaeAddisonGenre: Alt-Pop, Contemporary R&B Downtempo, Dance-Pop, Electronic Dance Music, Alternative R&B From: Los Angeles, USA || Label: Columbia Much has been said about Addison Rae's evolution from TikTok personality to cool popstar/Internet it-girl. I don't think that is the most interesting narrative there is to the album – what makes Addison special is how genuinely great the music is, no gimmicks, just a collection of excellent pop songs driven by her personality. Aided by co-writers/producers Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, they created together tracks that take inspiration from mainstream 90s/00s pop/EDM (and uh, Lana Del Rey) but with the uncompromising, carefree nature of underground artists, Addison's one of the most defining pop moments of 2025 – deservedly so. Highlights: "New York", "Diet Pepsi", "Aquamarine", "High Fashion", "In the Rain", "Times Like These", "Fame Is a Gun", "Headphones On" If you like: Britney Spears, Imogen Heap, 90's Madonna #18.SmerzBig City LifeGenre: Art Pop, Alternative R&B Trip Hop, Indietronica, Hypnagogic Pop, Alt-Pop From: Oslo, Norway/Copenhagen, Denmark || Label: Escho Norwegian duo Smerz's debut album, Believer, was one of the weirdest pop records of 2021 – marked by experimentation and a deadpan delivery, often found a middle point between abstract industrial music and dreamy R&B. Big City Life does have a lot of that, but comparatively feels more... human. Conveying the feeling of going out with your friends in a big city, fun, often romantic and intimate. Less ambitious, but by no means bad or less important, a little more in tune with the rest of the Copenhagen scene, sure, but also in their own world in the best way. Highlights: "Big City Life", "But I Do", "Roll the Dice", "Feisty", "A Thousand Lies", "You Got Time and I Got Money", "Dreams", "Easy" If you like: Jessy Lanza, Dean Blunt, Fine #17.DebitDesaceleradasGenre: Ambient, Electroacoustic, Tape Music Cumbia rebajada, Drone, Dark Ambient From: Monterrey, Mexico || Label: Modern Love Cumbia rebajada originated in Monterrey in the 1990s, attributed to Gabriel Dueñez, who slowed down Colombian cumbia songs, creating a unique style similar to chopped and screwed. Over thirty years later, artist Delia Beatriz, known as Debit, draws inspiration from this style in her album Desaceleradas, pushing it to new limits, further slowing down Dueñez's recordings, creating a sound that strays far from traditional cumbia. Debit's approach resembles the musical deconstruction by The Caretaker, evoking a distant memory of 1990s Monterrey. The album features dark ambient sounds, distorted drones, and unpredictable effects while occasionally hinting at its musical roots. Highlights: "Desplazos", "La ronda y el sonidero", "Sonido Dueñez", "Bootlegs", "El puenta del papa", "Rebajadas", "Gabriel Gabriela Dueñez" If you like: The Caretaker, Graham Lambkin, Gabriel Dueñez #16.MalibuVanitiesGenre: Ambient New Age, Drone, Choral, Space Ambient From: Pau, France || Label: YEAR0001 Since first listening to "Held" back in 2017 in PAN's mono no aware compilation, French artist Malibu became one of my faves in ambient music. Her releases (that weren't under other aliases, at least) were sporadic, but they all felt like windows to majestic worlds. Malibu's debut album Vanities is no exception – released under YEAR0001, it does feature a lot of her characteristic sounds: electronic flourishes, engulfing eerie drones, and her voice sounding like a ghost haunting each track. It is very pleasant to see that style she developped translated into a full-length project as well as Vanities did. Highlight: "Nu", "So Sweet & Willing", "L'empire du vide", "Spicy City", "Lactonic Crush", "Contact", "Jaded", "Vanities", "Watching People Die" If you like: Enya, William Basinski, Drumloop #15.billy woodsG*lliwogGenre: Abstract Hip Hop, Experimental Hip Hop, Conscious Hip Hop Jazz Rap, Horrorcore, Political Hip Hop, Drumless, Experimental From: New York, USA || Label: Backwoodz The character "Golliwog," created by Florence Kate Upton, gained popularity in the 19th century in the UK, Australia, and the south of the United States, modeled after racist minstrel shows, with dark black skin, thick red lips. Rapper billy woods named his latest solo album after this figure to explore themes of colonialism and white supremacy, and how they intertwine with life experiences. No billy woods project is an easy listen, but this album in particular induces terror, whether through its unsettling and unpredictable production or lyrics that paint a vivid picture of a world full of atrocities and trauma. Highlights: "Jumpscare", "Star87", "Misery", "Waterproof Mascara", "Corinthians" (feat. Despot), "All These Worlds Are Yours" (feat. ELUCID), "Maquiladoras" (feat. al.divino), "A Doll Fulla Pins" (feat. Yolanda Watson), "Golgotha", "Lead Paint Test" (feat. ELUCID & Cavalier) If you like: Backxwash, ELUCID, Moor Mother #14.Milo jLa vida era más cortaGenre: Art Pop, Hispanic American Folk Music Nuevo Cancionero, Chacarera, Huayno, Zamba, Latin Alternative, Milonga, Contemporary Folk, Alternative R&B, Carnavalito From: Morón, Argentina|| Label: 15love Despite only being 19, Argentinian rapper and singer Milo j has been one of the biggest figures in the country's rap scene of the past few years. La vida era más corta is not really that though – in this excellent album he explores Argentina's folk traditions with the heart of a seasoned troubador. Chacarera, chamamé, milonga, carnavalito and more, he pays homage to the greats of the genre and his own/the music's Indigenous roots, with touching, mature songwriting – but doesn't feel like rehash of the past, with modern production placing it in contention with other contemporary pop music. Highlights: "Bajo de la piel", "Niño", "Ama de mi sol", "Lucía" (feat. Soledad), "Llora llora" (feat. AKRIILA), "Cuando el agua hirviendo", "La vida era más corta", "El invisible" (feat. Cuti y Roberto Caravajal), "Jangadero" (feat. Mercedes Sosa) If you like: Feli Colina, Raly Barrionuevo, Bad Bunny's Debí tirar más fotos #13.james KFriendGenre: Downtempo, Indietronica Trip Hop, Ambient Pop, Dream Pop, Atmospheric Drum and Bass From: New York, USA || Label: AD 93 New York artist Jamie Krasner, known as james K, has played an important role in the city's alternative pop and experimental electronic music scene, collaborated with notable artists like Yves Tumor and releasing music through various labels. Her latest album, Friend, is her most accessible work yet, blending dream-pop, trip-hop, and alternative electronica, incorporating elements of drum and bass and ambient music. This hour-long album is highly melodic and offers a friendly, welcoming sound compared to her past industrial or lo-fi projects, serving as a brilliant introduction to her musical world, ensuring every moment is enjoyable. Highlights: "Days Go By", "Blinkmoth (July Mix)", "Doom Bikini", "Idea.2", "Peel", "Play", "Lung Slide", "Hypersoft Lovejinx Junkdream" If you like: Love Spiral Downwards, Portishead, a.s.o. #12.Javiera ElectraHelíadeGenre: Art Pop, Hispanic American Folk Music Art Rock, Cueca, Latin Alternative, Folktronica From: Rancagua, Chile || Label: self-released Chile's been a hub for alternative music in Latin America for decades, but a surge of diverse artists and bands emerged recently. And one notable act from this wave is Javiera Electra, who released her EP Reprís in 2023, combining ethereal folk with psychedelic ambience. Her debut album, Helíade, showcases her ambition, incorporating Chilean folk styles like cueca and tonada along with electronic and avant-garde rock elements, its lyrics exploring themes of love, loss, her trans identity, and sociocultural issues, enriched with mythological references. Helíade reflects well on Javiera's artistic skills, someone who clearly knows what she has to offer. Highlights: "Espada", "Ambar", "Lágrima del sol", "Sagrado por esencia", "Te voy (a'mar)", "Sangre oliva", "Helíades: Roma, mar y sol", "Me retiro" If you like: Chini.png, Mitski, ANOHNI #11.AmaaraeBlack StarGenre: Dance-Pop, Electronic Dance Music Funk brasileiro, Alté, House, Alternative R&B, Pop Rap From: Accra, Ghana / New York, USA || Label: Interscope Amaarae's second album Fountain Baby represented a massive jump forward for the artist, in which afrobeats was merged with a billion other things to create one of the most stellar pop albums of the 2020s. That spirit is also present in her latest record, Black Star. It wouldn't be erroneous to say that album is a homage to her Ghanaian roots – just look at the cover, there's plenty of that – but it is first and foremost a homage to dancefloors, to a lifestyle of hedonism, bridging African and Afro-diasporic electronic dance subgenres into her own vision of pop music. Highlights: "Stuck Up", "Starkilla" (feat. Bree Runway), "ms60", "Kiss Me Thru the Phone pt.2" (feat. PinkPantheress), "S.M.O.", "Fineshyt", "Dove Cameron", "100DRUM" (feat. ZACARI) If you like: Charli XCX, Tinashe, Rema
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#30.DijonBabyGenre: Neo-Soul, Alternative R&B, Neo-Psychedelia Hypnagogic Pop, Bedroom Pop, Psychedelic Soul, Glitch Pop, Synth Funk, Sound Collage From: Los Angeles, USA || Label: R&R 2025 was a huge year for Dijon: getting his first Grammy nomination, working on Justin Bieber's SWAG, but releasing an album as good as Baby was a milestone in and of itself. With lyrics about fatherhood but also love and sexuality, Baby pays evident homage to some of the greatest rock, pop and R&B from different decades, but updating his sound into the best version of what he's offered in his career. The result is music that is never inaccessible, but has a ton of stuff going on at the same time, maximalist and chaotic, but with a soul. Highlight: "Baby!", "Another Baby!", "(Freak It)", "Yamaha", "FIRE!", "Rewind", "Loyal and Marie", "Automatic" If you like: Jai Paul, Prince, Mk.Gee #29.mu tate, NEXCYIA & Exzald SLabègeGenre: Ambient, Ambient Dub IDM, Glitch, Trip Hop From: Paris, France/Latvia || Label: Good Morning Tapes Producers mu tate, NEXCYIA and Exzald S crafted their joint album Labège while on a retreat in the French region of the Occitanie. Inspired by the slower pace of life in the area, the record is largely composed of field recordings collaged onto gorgeous ambient music. But that also might be selling Labège a little short: glitches predominate throughout it, aiding in its spacious sound, but more often also feeling intense, with gorgeous vocals that pop through and float over the production. Labège brings the best out of each musician, one of the most memorable releases in ambient-adjacent in 2025. Highlights: "Termag", "Eg", "Railce", "Vaep" If you like: Basic Channel, Huerco S., Sky H1 #28.weed420Amor de encavaGenre: Epic Collage, Latin Electronic, Hypnagogic Pop Reggaetón, Plunderphonics, Chopped and Screwed, Salsa romántica, Latin Rap, Field Recordings, Deconstructed Club, Va*****ise From: Caracas, Venezuela || Label: Deprerreo Experimental collective weed420 explores Venezuelan culture and art through collages that evoke nostalgic emotions for a past distant from the country's current political/social turmoil, which Venezuelans both in the diaspora and the country itself know all too well. Amor de encava, their debut full-length project, mashes up bits and pieces of reggaetón and salsa hits through distorted ambience and noise. The music's chaotic nature is meant to mimic that of encavas (buses/public transport in Venezuela), and it does a great job at representing the context and concept, it's hypnotic and loud, but in its abrasiveness, there's a lot of vulnerability. Highlights: "Lara Branger (O 'como duermes')", "Camisa ovejita blanca", "Maluca", "Mala intencion 'PEGADITAS MIX 2008'" (feat. Nhil ov Curse), "El chiste más largo de toda la historia", "Terminal" If you like: Chuquimamani-Condori, James Ferraro's early work, Negativland #27.Blanco TetaLa debacle de las divasGenre: Art Punk, Noise Rock Hardcore Punk, Sludge Metal, Experimental Rock, Post-Punk From: Buenos Aires, Argentina || Label: Bongo Joe On their second album, Buenos Aires band Blanco Teta perfect their sound to create noise-rock and punk that is undoubtedly intense and rebellious but still has a ton of sense of humor on it. And La debacle de las divas is exactly the record I've been waiting for them, with moments so heavy that almost border on metal and distortion that engulfs you, yet with many funny one-liners about say, getting older or the current economic situation in Argentina, like not knowing how you're gonna pay rent. The dichotomy is, indeed, crazy, and works to Blanco Teta's favour. Highlights: "La debacle", "Subiduki", "Metalera", "Sin nafta", "Joven promesa", "Deseo deseo", "Sin bombacha" If you like: Chat Pile, Reynols, Mannequin P***y #26.KleinThirteen SenseGenre: Noise, Noise Rock Experimental Rock, Ambient, Drone, Post-Metal, Glitch, Shoegaze, Post-Industrial, Epic Collage From: London, UK || Label: Parkwuud Last year, Klein released Marked, one of her best projects, her version of a "rock" album of sorts, though its sound is unique despite the guitar's presence. Her recent album, Thirteen Sense, released merely six months after its predecessor, aligns more with the industrial sound of Throbbing Gristle and sonic experimentation of Kevin Drumm than with most rock music. Thirteen Sense, while an extension of Marked, expands Klein's sonic possibilities. Combining the intensity of black metal with heavily glitched electronic sounds, shoegaze with trap instrumentals, Thirteen Sense is a record just as haunting and surprising as any other Klein project. Highlight: "Great Guilt", "Double Life", "Role of Fear", "Nobody Sees What the Tree Knows", "Goodnight Mommy, Goodnight Daddy", "Hard 2 Kill Vol 2", "Blood on the Flag" If you like: Throbbing Gristle, Kevin Drumm, The Goslings #25.MIKEShowbiz!Genre: Abstract Hip Hop Jazz Rap, Drumless, Experimental Hip Hop, Cloud Rap, Hypnagogic Pop, Conscious Hip Hop From: New York, USA || Label: 10k Not much more can be said about MIKE - the New York rapper has been for the past years developing one of the greatest discographies in all of hip-hop this decade. Showbiz! doesn't differ greatly from some other projects, but it doesn't need to. Colorful production that can sound lo-fi at times but very meticulous and with a very creative use of sampling, lyrics that deal with grief and sorrow hit the hardest because of MIKE's vulnerable, yet deadpan delivery, what Showbiz! reflects is his evolution as a producer and songwriter, succeeding in every way his best work does. Highlights: "Bear Trap", "Clown of the Class (Work Harder)", "Then We Could Be Free..", "Artist of the Century", "What U Bouta Do? / A Star Was Born" (feat. 454), "Belly 1", "Lost Scribe", "#82", "Strange Feeling", "Miss U" (feat. Duendita), "Diamond Dancing (Broke)" If you like: Earl Sweatshirt, Navy Blue, Ka #24.Raisa KAffectionatelyGenre: Neo-Psychedelia, Art Pop, Indie Rock Slacker Rock, Trip Hop, Hypnagogic Pop, Glitch Pop From: London, UK || Label: 15love Having been for years a member of the band Micachu and the Shapes, now Good Sad, Happy Bad, London-based musician Raisa K has only put out her debut album this year. Affectionately is a record that carries the group's uncompromising spirit, still doing its own thing however. Released through Copenhagen label 15love, its music is not distant from the artist's rock roots, but Affectionately is also marked by heavy dissonance, constantly present glitch-y production haunted by demonic-sounding samples, like the most deformed indie-rock possible or the most unpredictable electronic-pop music, that's part of why it's as charming as it is. Highlights: "Affectionately", "How Did You Know", "Feel It", "As It Seems", "Both Still", "Step", "Stay" (feat. Coby Sey), "Final Generations" If you like: Mica Levi, Still House Plants, ML Buch #23.Yasmine HamdanI remember I forget بنسى وبتذكرGenre: Art Pop, Arabic Pop Trip Hop, Mūsīqā lubnāniyya, Neo-Psychedelia, Indietronica From: Beirut, Lebanon || Label: Kwaidan Lebanese singer-songwriter Yasmine Hamdan has been one of the country's greatest contemporary pop artists for decades now, first as part of trip-hop duo Soap Kills, then as Y.A.S alongside Mirwais. But her most recent album, I remember I forget, feels like a true revelation in her discography. Inspired by the social unrest in Lebanon and her love of her native Beirut, I remember I forget sees her fusing Lebanese folkloric traditions with ominous and psychedelic-sounding electronic beats, this project is her most accomplished solo effort to date, putting onto sound the busy spirit of Beirut. Highlights: " هون (Hon)", "شمالي (Shmaali)", "بنسى وبتذكر (I Remember I Forget)", "سبع صنايع (Vows)", "مر التجني (Mor)", "غروب (Reminiscence)" If you like: Natacha Atlas, Nicolás Jaar, Stereolab #22.Joanne RobertsonBlurrrGenre: Indie Folk, Psychedelic Folk Ambient, Chamber Folk, Loner Folk, Slowcore From: London, UK || Label: AD 93 For many, their introduction to Joanne Robertson was through her frequent collaborations with Dean Blunt, but she's also a great composer of her own. And Blurrr, released via AD 93, is one of her best – lush folk music accompanied by guitar and strings courtesy of Oliver Coates, surreal, vivid poetry and production so hazy and ethereal it's bordering on ambient music. Written "between painting sessions and also whilst raising a child", Blurrr may seem relatively straight-forward in its approach, but towers above many contemporary singer-songwriter records thanks to how haunting it can sound, how beautiful it can be. Highlight: "Ghost", "Friendly", "Exit Vendor", "Always Were", "Gown", "Doubt" If you like: Grouper, Nico, Vashti Bunyan #21.Sudan ArchivesThe BPMGenre: Art Pop, Electronic Dance Music Alternative R&B, Dance-Pop, House, Jersey Club, UK Bass, Pop Rap, Glitch Pop From: Cincinnati, USA || Label: Stone Throws Sudan Archives' second album Natural Brown Prom Queen was one of the highlights of 2022, a record that felt deep, complex and eclectic but had all the markings of pop classic. So I guess something like The BPM being its follow-up feels only natural – expanding on the sonic horizons led by her previous material, this new album puts electronic dance music at the forefront. Sudan Archives collages house, Jersey club, breaks, IDM and more, referencing the contributions of Black artists to club music in a record that can range from hedonistic to heartbreaking, but it's always a fun time. Highlight: "DEAD", "Come and Find You", "Yea Yea Yea", "The Nature of Power", "My Type", "She's Got Pain", "David & Goliath", "A Computer Love", "The BPM" If you like: Kelela, Beyoncé, Björk
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Yes S.M.O. yes Headphones On yes Anna YES TALENT
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