Arooj Aftab
arooj ROCKS. every time I return to her music I am happy to do so haven’t found music of hers that I dislike but as far as ones I can personally vouch for, Night Reign is really varied and interesting and Vulture Prince is a wonderful semi-active-listening-but-not-quite album
Madeline Kenney
hyper fixation artist for 2026 - for albums, start with Sucker’s Lunch and then go forward to Kiss From A Balcony to get a bit more drums and weirdness and back to Perfect Shapes for more ambient action
Wisecrack, Haley Blais
God what a phenomenal album. I’m such a sucker for art that feels like every part is there for a reason, and this album is a masterclass in that. It’s so listenable and unassuming on its face and yet there is not a single instrumental line or unique synth sound or atmospheric addition you could take out while still keeping the feel of the album. It feels so relaxed and yet so intentional, like the most “chill girl” bubbling over of emotion you could have. This album earns the climax of “Winner” ten times over. Also, the drummer just perfectly understands their role in the album and contrasting that with the synth sounds but very acoustic rest of the album is just a delight. highly recommend.
Escaper, Sarah Kinsley
I never thought of myself as a synth pop listener, and then I found Sarah Kinsley’s 2024 album Escaper and she immediately became my top artist for the year. Absolutely no skips on this album; specifically, the run from Sublime through Barrel of Love is one of the best four song runs I’ve heard in a very long time. I’ve seen her live twice, and both times were borderline euphoric. Give her a listen, then take a tour through her back catalogue of EPs as well – you won’t regret it
