Five tracks, five powerful voices—confident, bratty, groovy, fragile, and conjuring. From Jessiquoi’s futuristic rap-styled single to a vulnerable, stripped-down reckoning by PHEA, our weekly selection explores prejudices, self-awareness, betrayal, and darkness alike.
Jessiquoi – Happy Girls
„Happy Girls isn’t here to be nice,“ writes Jessiqoui. And surely, this pumping single kicks ass. Fuelled by quirky bass and beats, a Chinese string melody, Happy Girls is a catchy declaration of female independence. Bratty rap lyrics meet a neon-light soundscape, taking an unapologetic and confident stance.
LIN – Your Own
German indie artist LIN explores the physical bodies and the related societal devaluation—from weight to gender. LIN’s melancholic vocals float sombrely above a colourful future pop composition, creating a liminal space between anticipation, euphoria, and bittersweet sadness.
Lily Costa – Not Like You
With Not Like You, Lily Costa released a truly stunning debut single. Here, Costa effortlessly blends elements of soul and jazz into a balanced pop tune. Naturally, this makes Not Like You both accessible and captivating, yet there’s still playfulness and unexpected details which catch the attention.
PHEA – The Girl With The Secret Garden
An ethereal intimacy meets a minimal, earthy yet expressive sound. The heart-wrenching honesty in The Girl With The Secret Garden stems from Phea’s personal experiences living with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An emotional betrayal during one of her most vulnerable phases. A haunting reckoning.
Cult of Luna & A.A. Williams – Beyond IV
It’s hard to imagine a more atmospheric collaboration: Cult of Luna, Sweden’s Umeå-based post-metal heroes, paired with London’s A.A. Williams’ dark-angelic vocals. Beyond IV sways like the night sea—black, deep, and calm but with a sense of danger and an all-overpowering force.
