10. Gabriela Eva – “Everything”
One of our favourite discoveries this year, Gabriela Eva had us hooked in the run up to her new EP, Recovery. “Everything” is an honest documentation of love and loss, as well as an account of mental health. Gabriela’s vocals lead the way through an instrumental that envelops the world its in. Soft chords and harmonies fill the room, creating a soundscape that makes way for a booming finale that shatters with the realisation of I am not my thoughts/I’m not my feelings. It is a powerful but vulnerable listen, and is hugely relatable as a result.
09. Sunflower Thieves – “Same Blood”
“‘Same Blood’ is a unique type of love song about female friendships, the ones that are actually more like sisters than friends. The vocals are candy sweet and the production shimmers; this one is sonically happier and more upbeat than its counterparts, but equally effective in evoking nostalgia.”
08. PleasureInc. – “2:45”
“My personal highlight of Plastic People is ‘2:45’. The shortest track on the EP has a lot of content within its modest lifespan, with a snappy beat and strutting bassline that sounds so effortlessly cool, setting the foundation for the fast-paced vocals to do their thing all over it. Its driving tempo really sinks into the feet and leaves you moving like a boss. Stomping tarmac harder than the Hardest Geezer.”
07. better joy – “Situations”
“With an intro that sounds straight out of mid-2000s Indie golden age, ‘Situations’ pairs together the classic tropes of Indie with a modern flair that makes it fly by at a blistering pace. It sounds accessible from the get-go and introduces brief moments of respite, adding some atmosphere into the airwaves, and pausing for a second before ramping the energy back up again.”
06. Half Happy – “Bloom”
Nobody does world-building quite like Half Happy. There’s a flourishing music scene occurring in Cardiff, with the quartet at the heart of it, and “Bloom” shows exactly why that is. Soft melodies ease into a world that moves at its own pace, with an idyllic sound that has a tension within it to keep us on our toes. Soaring vocals and shoegaze-y chords blend into its snappy beat to create something far bigger than its parts.
05. Magdalena Bay – “Image”
One project we feel that has been hugely overlooked this year is Magdalena Bay’s Imaginal Disk, with “Image” being a real highlight.
“Image” transports you to a world that seems pristine at first, but soon reveals its strange ways. Its bassline will forever sink into the hips, meaning the song will always be catchy, but it’s the added quirks that really make it full of personality. From the little melodies to the breathy harmonies, there’s something quite alien about this song, and it’s excellent.
04. Blusher – “Accelerator”
Another act who made the most of their year was Blusher. The Melbourne trio didn’t waste any time getting their name out there. Releasing a string of singles and remixes that introduced their in-your-face sound to the masses, with “Accelerator” being our favourite.
If you’re ever in need of a boost for anything, like running to the top of a mountain, this is the song for you. It’s booming bass and thunderous beats ramps up the energy no matter how times you hear it, and its chorus is as infectious as it is powerful.
03. Geordie Greep – “Holy, Holy”
We all mourned the end of black midi, but out of those twisted flames arose an equally strange phoenix. Geordie Greep emerged from the ashes to deliver more of the bizarre-but-accessible grooves that had even the most confused of listeners hooked, and “Holy, Holy” is the jewel in the crown.
From the intense guitars to the wandering chords, right through to the ominous horns and rambling keys, there’s no way this song should be as catchy as it is. The over-the-top vocals projecting the biggest and boldest statements only enhances just how ridiculous it is, and we can’t get enough of it.
02. Fontaines D.C. – “Favourite”
Very few artists experienced a year as good as Fontaines D.C. New album Romance is a triumph, and it’s bolstered by arguably their best single yet. While we have a lot of love for “Starburster”, “Favourite” has a nostalgia to it that makes it sound familiar. Taking the best qualities of 90s and early 00’s Indie Rock, and adding Grian Chatten’s typically poetic lyrics through a romantic filter results in one of the biggest and best singles of the year.
01. Home Counties – “Uptight”
If you ever happened to be a fly on the wall, or on our ears (gross), this wouldn’t come as a shock. Home Counties enjoyed one hell of a 2024. Releasing their debut album Exactly As It Seems and heading off on a glorious tour. A year full of milestones, but the one constant that remained throughout is how much of a hold “Uptight” has on us.
Commenting on the shittiness of nights out, “Uptight” captures the freedom that comes with escaping an evening of overpriced drinks and increasingly annoying people. It’s the ultimate anti-club, club song. The lyrics and riffs flow so smoothly. (Far smoother than a £7 pint of beer). It is ridiculously catchy, and a real departure from Home Counties’ old sound, which makes it even more of a surprise.
It has been the soundtrack to a lot of moments this year, and even made the dull ones sound a little better. It is our favourite single of the year, and probably will continue to be one of our favourites every year too. Big up Home Counties.