GL.24.02: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 Songs: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.24.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.24.02: ISABEL VERMAAK

GL.24.03: Megan Swidler

Isabel’s Top 17 Songs of 2024

In no importance of order, here are my top 17 songs of 2024.

My criteria are as follows; only songs released in 2024 & have to be in heavy rotation in my playlists. There are some familiar names in here from last year (shout out to Kevin), and some newer names (I have high hopes for Kybba), but I am very much looking forward to discovering some new artists through other folks’ lists. 

Last year’s list focused on high BPM dance/techno and was all about speed and intensity. This year is similar but with a chiller vibe. A quick debrief under each title - happy listening! 

1. “Ter Zake” - Kevin

“Als ik ga dan is het bovenaan de trap daar net als Tony

Waar zij mee bezig zijn, ze doen maar wat, ik snap het ook niet

Ik kan niet al die mannen coachen net als Trapattoni”

A Tony Soprano AND Giovanni Trapattoni reference in one verse?! Kevin, you’ve outdone yourself.

2. “i like the way you kiss me” - Artemas

I only had the opportunity to spend 1 year in the 80’s and had basically no consciousness at that point, so it was cool to feel like there was a mini revival of the vibe from that decade with some distorted vocals and raunchy lyrics.

3. “Samurai” - Lupe Fiasco

The Cool by Lupe Fiasco is one of my favorite albums ever and I really feel like there’s a lack of ‘conscious’ hip hop that speaks to my taste specifically, so I was thrilled when Lupe dropped a new album this year that had the same feel from Food & Liquor II (2012). Overall this song is super smooth and a great listen. 

4. “Too Sweet” - Hozier

I know this song has been played to death already, but it’s really good! I knew when I heard it play at the grocery store in Tampa this summer, that it had hit its max plays for me, but I’ll pick it up again in a year or two and probably enjoy it just as much. 

5. “I Want You” - Versatile Verse, WESTSIDE BOOGIE

For some reason the beat reminds of a low-key version of “Blueberry Yum Yum” by Ludacris. WESTSIDE BOOGIE just has a great voice. It’s weird and I love it. 

6. “Addicted - Zerb Acid VIP” - Zerb, The Chainsmokers, Ink

The perfect pool party song, or getting ready in the bathroom for a wild night out when you have a new mascara that you are dying to test out. 

7. “GLIMMER.” - Snakehips, Earthgang

Snakehips + Earthgang = SNAKEGANG. Cool house-y beat with great lyrical interjections. 

8. “NOD YA HEAD!” - Terror Reid

If Cypress Hill and Eminem had a baby and then made it work at a gas station for its formative years. 

9. “Birds of a feather x I Remember” - Lewis Hanton

I listened to this on repeat for multiple 60km bike rides through the French Pyrenees mountains, so I’m not sure if this is the best song ever created or that so many chemicals were released in my brain while listening to this, that I tricked myself into thinking that. 

10. “I Only Smoke When I Drink” - nimino

So when I added this song to this list and copied and pasted the Spotify link, I saw the lyrics for the song and thought, god is this actually a good song…? And yes, it is. 

11. “Nasty” - Tinashe

Tinashe has been hitting the two-step since 2014, and then to come out 10 years later with a very very sexy, culturally resonating song, is motivating. Way to go, girl. 

12. “Wervelwind” - Kevin

I felt so cool when Kevin gave a shout out to Giraffe Coffee in this song, the only coffee worth drinking and so Rotterdam coded. Kevin, he’s just like us.

13. “Ba Ba Bad” - Kybba, Sean Paul, Busy Signal

Kybba (Amsterdam based DJ - of course) has really taken over the Dancehall scene in 2024. And this one really makes me want to drop it and slap the floor. 

14. “Kickdown” - DODO

I know I’m just a white girl from Connecticut, but when I’m bumping this track going 130 kmph in my ‘instap-model’ BMW 1-series on the A4, I feel like a motherfucking G. 

15. “Did i tell u that i miss u” - adore

Okay, so imagine if you were transported into the Pokemon Gameboy game (yellow edition) and got to skip through the Cerulean gardens catching lil Weedles, this would be the soundtrack. 

16. “Younger Me” - CJ.

What would younger me tell me right now? Probably something along the lines of “you never ended up getting that belly-button piercing we so desperately wanted?!”

17. “Like a Freak” - Megan Thee Stallion

When I was a sophomore in college, “Like a G6” was the anthem to get shitfaced to, and 4Loko was the drink of choice. So when Megan The Stallion used the beat to spit some hot girl shit, I fucking lost it. Just a great song to round out the list. 

GL.23.04: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom
GL.23.01: Ilana Bergstrom
GL.23.02: Curt Trnka
GL.23.03: Marisa Plaice
GL.23.04: ISABEL VERMAAK
GL.23.05: Raffa Pantaleo
GL.23.06: Erik Kristjanson
GL.23.07: Lukas Brooks
GL.23.08: Jem Stirling
GL.23.09: Max Einstein

***

Guest DJ: Isabel Vermaak

This year has been fast-paced, intense, and all about hard work. Whether it was behind the computer, on the road bike, or on the A4 highway (~30.000KM), I used up every ounce of fuel and spent most of 2023 in 6th gear. If you’re looking for 100+ BPM tunes, a manifestation of repressed anger from slow drivers in the left lane, hardstyle, hip hop, house, or perhaps just a splash of f(dr)unk, then here you go. 

(1) Diorange, A.R. Rahman, Nooran Sisters - “Ali Ali”

(2) Yung Felix - “I Need You”

(3) Boef - “Discman”

(4) Natte Visstick - “In De Tram”

(5) Cordae - “Two Ten” (Ft. Anderson .Paak)

(6) Lyrical Lemonade - “Doomsday” (with Juice WRLD & Cordae)

(7) BUNT. - “Renaissance”

(8) Martial Simon - “Tu Vuò Fà L’Americano”

(9) Dave, Central Cee - “Sprinter”

(10) Swimming Paul - “Fading”

(11) Tove Lo - “I like u”

(12) Jungle - “Dominoes”

GL.22.02: Isabel Vermaak

 

100 SONGS: Aaron Bergstrom

GL.22.01: Ilana Bergstrom

GL.22.02: ISABEL VERMAAK

GL.22.03: Dionicio Solano

GL.22.04: Tony Schoenberg

GL.22.05: Curt Trnka

GL.22.06: Scott Lawson

GL.22.07: Remko Van Knippenberg

GL.22.08: Megan Swidler

GL.22.09: Jem Stirling

GL.22.10: Russell Abdo

GL.22.11: Erik Kristjanson

GL.22.12: Marisa Plaice

***

Iz Tha Bizz Brings You The ‘Toppers’ of 2022

Ranked in order of importance, all released in 2022

(1) Yhung T.O. - “Sport Mode” (feat. YG)

Yhung T.O. asks the important questions right from the jump:

Is that ass fat? Do you fuck good? Do you cook clean? Do it smell like it should?

And then consequently asks from time out of his partner’s schedule. A modern love song at its finest.

 

(2) Mozzy - “In My Face” (with 2 Chainz, Saweetie feat YG.)

A catchy hook and a fire verse from 2 Chainz, aka tityboi, puts this banger close to the top of the list. Raunchy and upbeat, a hit at any house party or a pick-me up after a 2 hour works council meeting.

 

(3) Noah Kahan - “Homesick”

A gentle departure from the previous songs, Noah Kahan almost makes me feel homesick for New England until he clearly outlines why ‘home’ makes you ‘sick’. Masochistic weather, people from high school who never left, and all the streets being named after someone’s grandfather. Clever and nostalgic, a good listen if you want that cozy wook-y Vermont feel. Guaranteed this dude wears a drug rug.

 

(4) Armani White - “BILLIE EILISH”

It’s been close to a decade since I’ve heard a beat this solid. It’s giving early 2000’s Timbaland (prior to his Justin Timberlake sell-out era).

 

(5) Antoon, Big2 - “Tantoe Lekker”

The ‘Anne-Fleur’ in me goes hard for this. Is that a twerk beat? Did a hairclip magically appear in my hair? Does Antoon have a Van Moof? The answer is yes to all of the above. This song is Tantoe Lekker.

 

(6) Megan Thee Stallion - “Plan B”

If she became the President of the United States, world peace would be a fact. Anthem worthy when you’ve had a bit too much of the Geert-Jan’s and/or Chad’s.

 

(7) EARTHGANG - “ALL EYES ON ME”

I usually expect a more gritty and grungy delivery from EARTHGANG, but this one is smooth, heartfelt, and reflective. Pair with whiskey on the rocks in front of the fireplace. Plus-points if there’s a rainy window to gaze out of.

 

(8) Kevin - “Airmax BW”

I never met a Kevin I liked until I moved to Rotterdam. An ode to Airmax’s and the ‘grind’. Slow flow.

 

(9) Day Sulan - “Teach U How to Play”

Da Brat walked so Day Sulan could run. Clear cut instructions; “And if you evеr trying to escape him, just say you fucking with a Laker”. I’ll make sure to keep that one in my back pocket. Thanks, Day.

(Pro-tip; the music video was sponsored by 7/11, Rolls Royce, and made possible by the ghost of Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopes)

 

(10) FISHER, Shermanology - “It’s a Killa”

This one hits the spot. Glad FISHER can still deliver after knocking it out of the park with ‘Losin’ It’ a few years back.

 

(11) The FaNaTiX, Idris Elba, Lil Tjay, Davido, Koffee, Moelogo - “Vroom”

This song is just as extra as the slew of artists who made the track. Probably not surprising that it’s the soundtrack for PS5’s Gran Turismo 7. It sounds just like you’d expect it to. Pair with BANG! Energy drink and nun-chucks.

 

(12) YG - “Run” (feat. Tyga, 21 Savage & BIA)

Yes, I really like YG. Especially when he doesn’t just show up as a feature. You guys can skip this one if you want. I’ll be hanging out here if you need me.

 

(13) Khruangbin, Leon Bridges - “B-Side”

Hand me my ochre-yellow bell bottoms, green crocodile cowboy boots, and a quaalude. This one is far-out, dude.

 

(14) Hayden James - “Lights Go Down” (with SIDEPIECE)

We’re ending 2022 on the dancefloor. Sultry, funky, and seductive.

 

Honorable Mention:

GRIP - “Dirty Work”

You were good, I’m waiting for you to be great. Let’s circle back in 2023?