How did you find 2024, musically speaking? Any favourites, any flops? For me, personally, it was a bit disappointing year, expectation-wise, with some albums, from the broadly-understood mainstream, not delivering sufficient music-induced emotions. That’s why, for example, even though I love their previous albums, you will not find anything by London Grammar in this list summarising my favourite tunes of the year.
You will find some other, mind-blowing voices, though, so – in a sense – the balance in the universe has been maintained. But, as I came up with my top 10, I must admit, I was slightly surprised. Positively surprised, in hindsight, as some much needed space created itself naturally to contain some really good music which I have been passionately listening to in 2024.
Here they are, with short descriptions, and the main focus on the songs themselves.
10. Diane Birch “Shade” – I have been a fan since her 2016 album, “Nous”. “Shade” is more along the lines of Diane’s original style, quite retro-ish, but at the same time super cute, romantic and with her trademark poetic story-telling.
09. Kovacs “Mycose” – do you tango? Kovacs, a Dutch singer-songwriter, created this amazing Gotan-Project-induced tune, with her word-play lyrics and unmistakably amazing vocals.
08. Carlos Antonio “Walk On Water” – the only debut in this list. Carlos Antonio’s vocals have a quality which makes them unforgettable and this particular track, with its spacious soundscapes, gave me shivers more than once. I loved it so much, I actually reached to the Artist directly, and asked for a permission to make my own remix of it.
07. Joywave “Sleepytime Fantasy” – Joywave never disappoints. Their blend of all sorts of rock and electronic vibes always make me feel hooked and craving for more. With “Sleepytime Fantasy” it was no different.
06. Nothing But Thieves “Oh No :: He Said What?” – pure rock emotion which somehow pays a brilliant tribute to the vibes of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. Or is it just me? I don’t know anymore. Great tune regardless.
05. Halsey “Arsonist” – from “The Great Impersonator” album where each song represented an inspiration coming from a different Artist. “Arsonist” was supposed to reflect the style of Fiona Apple. I’m not sure if it actually does but, as a standalone song, it is not only the highlight of the album, but also an amazing trip into your inner self.
04. Michael Kiwanuka “Rebel Soul” – while the reviews of “Small Changes” were slightly mixed, I found this change in the musical direction quite impressive, with its soul warming sounds and calming melodies. “Rebel Soul” is a stand-out here as it always makes me drift away in the most pleasantly introspective way. When I listen to it, I literally disappear.
03. Celeste “This Is Who I Am” – Celeste, oh Celeste! With her unforgettable vocals, James Bond vibes and trippy percussion, the build up in this song is mind-blowing, with full on goosebumps, and an occasional jaw dropping. Pure pleasure!
02. Billie Eilish “WILDFLOWER” – for those of you who are surprised with my choice, this is truly an anthem of my 2024 evenings. I would listen to it endless times and literally hold my breath before every “Did I cross the line?” – sung with such painful uncertainty that your heart almost stops. Pure beauty!
01. Loren Kramar “Glovemaker” – my greatest discovery of 2024, Loren Kramar and his “Glovemaker” made me want to run away from the world and hide within myself for as long as I could hear this song. I probably broke the Spotify algorithm listening to “Glovemaker” but who cares. “Everyone’s a dreamer, til the dream fights back”, by the way. Pure fascination!
Thank you for listening. And if you have your own favourites, please share them in the comments below.
Happy 2025 to each and every one of you!
Photo: unsplash.com
“Arsonist” is fire 😁, liked it at first listen. I also like songs from Celeste and Carlos Antonio.
Greetings.
Cool! Thanks for sharing your favourites. Have you noticed that you picked the most trip-hop-ish tunes from this playlist? 🙂 That makes me happy – my mission has been achieved 😉