Next Wave: Georgia Gets By

Georgia Nott, known for her work in the music duo Broods with her older brother Caleb Nott, has embarked on a solo career under the name Georgia Gets By. In late 2023, she began releasing several singles that explore her personal experiences through a brilliant and smooth indie pop sound. This year she released "When All You Can Manage is a Sigh" and "Madeline" and both songs come with music videos that can be streamed below.

Next Wave: Telenova

Telenova is a Melbourne-based trio formed in the early 2020s. The band comprises singer Angeline Armstrong and multi-instrumentalists Edward Quinn and Joshua Moriarty. Since their formation, Telenova has released two EPs and several singles, establishing a distinctive sound that blends electronic art pop with influences of trip hop and indie folk. Their music has been noted for its atmospheric qualities and intricate production, creating a unique sonic palette that sets them apart.

Their debut album, set for release in August, is highly anticipated and expected to further cement their place in the contemporary music scene.

photo courtesy of Blunt magazine

Next Wave: Sunship Balloon

Sunship Balloon emerged in 2020, comprising two-thirds of The Wombats. When lead singer Matthew Murphy ventured into Love Fame Tragedy, his bandmates Dan Haggis and Tord Øverland-Knudsen embarked on a new sonic journey as Sunship Balloon. Their music blends Synth and Indie Pop, resulting in a captivating indietronica sound. To date, they have released two studio albums, including Real Humans, which debuted in January of this year and has swiftly become one of our favorite albums of 2024. Follow the link below for YouTube links.

Next Wave: Holy Wire

Holy Wire, also known as Alain Paradis, is a musician based in Austin, Texas. Starting with the release of his first singles in 2022, followed by more in 2023, Holy Wire's music bears the influence of bands like The Smiths and The Cure, infused with the electronic soundscapes of the early 80s, often with a dark undertone. Recently, Alain relocated to Brooklyn, NYC, where he crossed paths with producer Abe Seiferth, known for his work with Nation of Language. Anticipation is high for Holy Wire's debut album, slated for release this year. In the meantime, be sure to check out his latest single below.

Next Wave: Minimal Schlager

Minimal Schlager is a synth-pop duo based in Berlin, originally from Argentina. The duo comprises siblings Fran and Alicia Parisi, who debuted with their first single in 2020. Since then, they have released their debut album, Love, Sex & Dreams, in 2022. In 2023, they released Dance is a Place of Resistance, a compilation featuring newly released reworks, remixes, demos, and covers. Their musical style is characterized by industrial melancholy and darkness, reminiscent of artists like Chromatics and Gold Zebra.

https://minimalschlager.bandcamp.com/

Next Wave: Candy Riot

 Candy Riot, based in Austin, Texas, is a synth-pop band that emerged during the Covid pandemic in 2020. While it appears to have started as a duo, it has now expanded into a quartet, with Bobby Cheatham (formerly of Bad Birds and Distance Runner), Liz Feezor, Ricky Rodriguez, and Erica Porter. Musically, they skillfully incorporate influences from the vibrant sounds of the 80s, offering an energetic and fresh take on synth-pop. Follow the link below for more.

Photo courtesy of band's Soundcloud

Next Wave: The Last Dinner Party

Formed in the vibrant musical landscape of London in 2021, The Last Dinner Party stands as a promising all-female band carving their niche in the Indie Pop market. With four singles under their belt, their talent has caught the attention of Island Records, leading to an exciting development – the upcoming release of their debut album, 'Prelude to Ecstasy,' slated for February 2023.

Credit: Phoebe Fox for NME

Inspired by the iconic David Bowie, The Last Dinner Party brings a fresh and dynamic energy to the indie pop scene. Drawing comparisons to contemporaries such as Florence and the Machine, Warpaint, and Wet Leg, the band showcases a blend of influences that promise a captivating and unique musical journey. With their swift rise and the anticipation surrounding their debut album, The Last Dinner Party is undoubtedly a band to watch, contributing to the vibrant and evolving landscape of indie pop.

Next Wave: Working Men's Club

Workings Men's Club is one of the finest new comer bands to emerge this year. Hailing from Todmorden in West Yorkshire, England, the band were formed in mid-2018 by vocalist/guitarist Sydney Minsky-Sargeant, guitarist Giulia Bonometti, and drummer Jake Bogacki. The band is known for their very unique turbulent post punk sound which draws influences from both the 80's and early 90's. After releasing a single "Bad Blood" heavily influenced by guitar-based post-punk,  Working Men's Club signed to Heavenly Records under which they released their self titled debut album. Their lead single   "Valley" is where you will certainly feel the 90's influence both in sound and video production.

Next Wave: Cindy

Cindy is a music project of the electronic artist Kai based in Antwerp Belgium who also recorded music under the name Palmbomen II in the 10's. His music could be categorized as living room DIY synth pop and chill wave. 

With the Cindy project he gives a new context to his music where Cindy is the main character and the songs are soundtracks to her own world. In 2019, he recorded several songs about Cindy where she sings about her mom, her boyfriend Justin, her cat and other personal sides of her life. Cindy is portrayed by the actress and artist Blue LoLãn who also provided vocals for the songs on the album.

Musically this record is a collection of dance songs and ballads where smooth Shoegaze melts down with Italo Disco drive. Cindy's debut album I'm Cindy contains 13 tracks and it was released on World Of Paint on June 5, 2020

Next Wave: SRSQ

SRSQ (pronounced seer-skew) is  the  solo  project  of  Kennedy  Ashlyn who was previously a female half of Them Are Us Too who released two studio albums in 2015 and 2018 respectively. The duo split after the tragic death of Cash Askew who was Kennedy's close collaborator, friend and the other half Them Are Us Too. In 2018, Kennedy also released her first solo album through which she explored sorrow and loss in darkwave rhythms.

Now in 2020 she is back with a new single which is in the same vein and the previous releases, Ethereal Wave and dream pop of the perfect quality which takes cues from the best of the past including the likes of Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance. Her single "Temporal Wave" was released in end of last year while the video (below) for the song was premiered in March 2020. 

Next Wave: Porridge Radio

Porridge Radio were formed in Brighton in 2015 when they released their debut album Misery Radio. The band’s nucleus is the very charismatic singer, songwriter and lead guitarist Dana Margolin while the other members are keyboardist Georgie Stott, bass guitarist Maddie Ryall and drummer Sam Yardley. This year they have released their second album Every Bad and the first on the new record label Secretly Canadian. The album is certainly going to make it to our year end list as it has a perfect balance between good song writing, sound production and vocals. It tenders to get loud and burst out yet it remains emotional and melancholic. It has been promoted by the series of singles including “Don’t Ask Me Twice” and their latest “Circling”, released in March.

 

Image courtesy of  www.loudandquiet.com

 

Next Wave: Nation of Language

Nation of Language is one of the outstanding synth pop acts in 2020 to release their debut album. The Brooklyn based trio made their first appearance with the "Nation of Language" EP in 2015 which was followed by a string of single releases. Now, most of this singles have been incorporated into their debut album Introduction, Presence. The band draws inspiration from 80's New wave and Post punk when synth pop evolved from experimental to a commercial music genre. High praised by the music critics, they manage to deliver retro synth pop, by giving their own personal note. "Friend Machine" has been put forward as the lead single from the album and can be streamed below.

https://nationoflanguage.bandcamp.com/album/introduction-presence

Next Wave: XTR Human

XTR Human are a three piece Post Punk outfit from Berlin who are just up for their second album Interior. The band has already been around during the last decade when they released their debut album Atavism in 2014. XTR Human manage to catch the best influences and musical heritage from previous decades, but also keeping up the pace with the best contemporaries. Most of the album is influenced by cold atmospheric post punk fueled by the throbbing bass and energetic vocals while it also has playful synth sections which relaxes off a bit the tense dark atmosphere on the album.

The album has been released on May 29th and is available on band's Bandcamp page.

https://blackjackilluministrecords.bandcamp.com/album/interior

Next Wave: Structures

Following their debut EP release from 2018, the French Post punk quartet Structures have returned with a new single this year called "Sorry, I Know It's Late But….". Influenced by 80's Post punk and 90's Brit pop, they manage to deliver a very dynamic indie rock sound they like to call "Rough Wave". Along with Protomartyr and Fontaines D.C. among the best music of this sort on the music market in this moment. Their debut album How Does It Feel? is announced for release in September.

  

Next Wave: MOTHERMARY

Mothermary were already around for three years now and it is in this catastrophic times that the duo caught our attention. They are twins, Elyse and Larena and as they say on their website, they left religion (Mormon upbringing) and decided to do music together. Their base in the last few years seems to have been NYC and this is also where they create their specific art form of electropop. So far they have released the debut EP 'Not a Virgin' and their brand new single/video for the song "Catch Fire" is out now on Italians Do It Better.

Next Wave: Borusiade

Born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, Borusiade aka Miruna Boruzescu started DJ-ing in 2002 as one of the very few female DJs in the city’s emerging alternative clubbing scene. Influenced by a classical musical education, a bachelor in film direction and fascinated by raw electronic sounds, Borusiade first combined these universes in the construction of her DJ sets and starting 2005 also in her music production. A sound of her own has slowly crystallized, often dark with poignant bass lines, obsessive themes and by all means melodic. She released several EPs on different labels and her debut album ‘A Body’ in 2018.

‘Fortunate Isolation’ is perhaps Borusiade’s most personal release to date. Eight songs that capture a bystander witnessing the world as it undergoes drastic changes. The album’s sound is gloomy and powerful mixing sonic film sequences, rhythmic excursions and soothing yet obsessive vocals that touch one’s deepest senses. Lyrically the songs tackle themes of forgotten memories, spirituality, mortality, and destruction. All songs have been mastered by George Horn at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley.

Next Wave: PRIZM

PRIZM is the one of the exciting new duos to emerge in 2019 an their sound superlatively combines 80's retro synth wave with lushly pop and high energy beat. Based in Dallas the duo consisting of Krisluv and Danni Jame released their debut EP last year which features 4 tracks. For the song "All Night" they even recorded the music video which finally brings the nice face to the neon genre.

Next Wave: Riki

Contracted through DAIS records and sharing the label with the likes of Body of Light, Cold Cave and many more in the similar vein, Riki is one of the new additions to this already exciting roster of artists. Based in Los Angeles, Riki has been around in the LA scene as visual artist and musician before she went on to launch her own career and started experimenting with rhythm and sound. Also known as Niff Nawor, when she started her solo career in 2017, she released a Hot City Cassette tape and also toured with Light Asylum and Black Marble. Her official self-titled debut album is announced for release in DAIS in 2020. According to some info from the artist presentation on the label, the album will be modern electro-pop with lot of influences from NDW, Italo disco, ZYX and classics from Kate Bush, Madonna and Pat Benetar. this week she has premiered the video for the possible first single from the album "Napoleon" which can be watched below.

Next Wave: Earth To Mickey

You will hardly find any info about this Minimal synth act on the internet which sounds as it could also be one of the obscure bands coming from the early 80's. As per debut EP which has been released this year, the duo comprised of Delroy Edwards and Mickey van Seenus, might be new to the scene but very much striking forward with their unique cold wave formula. Their debut EP is titled 'Brace&Beat'and it has been released through L.A. Club Resource this summer.

Next Wave: Dark Water

Dark Water is a three piece based in Birraranga (Melbourne) whose music is mainly inspired by 80's darkwave and synthpop.  Lead by vocals of singer, synth player and guitarist Jack Siren, driven by dark bass lines of Dettie Sebastian and reverb drenched drums by V. the band manages to create very atmospheric darkwave sound. The band have released their self titled five track EP (digital/cassette) which features the magnificent and so far outstanding track "Wasteland".