GL.24.06: Caseysimone Ballestas
GL.24.17: LUKAS BROOKS
GL.24.18: Shay Corbett
GL.24.19: Jamie Pfeifer
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INTRODUCTION
Here we are again at the end of another year, and what a year this was for pop music! Narrowing down a year in music to a “short” playlist was especially difficult this year. I think a lot of my favourite songs this year were also your favourite songs, and for the sake of avoiding redundancy, I chose not to include some of the year's biggest artists (Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, Charli xcx etc.). But these women made 2024 a huge year for music. But so did the artists I did choose to include in my list. Hopefully you can find things both new and familiar, but most importantly I need you to affirm my taste in music.
SONGS
Tierra Whack - “27 CLUB”
I had a few rough moments in 2024, and apparently so did Tierra Whack. But we’re both ok and came out on the other end of the year stronger for it.
beabadoobee - “Beaches”
Great album. I guess she’s been around for a while but she was a new one for me this year.
Annika Bennett - “Power, Sex, Dreams”
Just stumbled on this artist/song at some point this year but it wound up being one of my favourites; just so catchy!
Conan Gray - “Fainted Love”
Cool 80’s inspired pop album.
Jean Dawson - “Houston”
The bottle rocket sound after the bridge tickles my brain.
Empress Of ft. MUNA - “What’s Love”
Did MUNA put out any new music this year? No? Were they featured on something? Yes? Ok it’s on the list! But jokes aside, Empress Of’s album For Your Consideration was a seriously great pop album from an artist consistently putting out excellent music.
Maude Latour - “Cursed Romantics”
They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery; no that’s not Marina you’re hearing, it’s indie-pop artist Maude Latour who released an album (that doesn’t sound like Marina for the rest) that feels a lot like 2010 Sleigh Bells.
Porter Robinson - “Cheerleader”
I didn’t expect this EDM artist to make this move into pop(-punk?), but it’s his best work to date and I’ve been obsessed all year.
Peach PRC - “Secret”
If you don’t know Peach PRC already; she’s a pink-haired, mentally-unstable, fairy lesbian former-stripper from Australia who is TikTok famous and making vocoder-heavy music that is gay gay gay, and honestly what more could you ask for?
Griff - “Miss Me Too”
“Miss Me Too” was easily my top played song of the year, mostly because I can play it on repeat and never get tired of it. This is Griff’s 3rd time on one of my lists and it seems like the rest of the world is wising up to her now too. This year, she opened for Taylor Swift in London and toured with Sabrina Carpenter as her opener. And a few weeks ago she released a song that didn’t make it onto her album - “Last Night’s Mascara” - and I think this is the song that will make her career. If “Miss Me Too” wasn’t such a huge part of my year in music, this would have been here instead.
Dagny - “In My Bones”
Dagny is another 3x veteran of my playlist, consistently very Scandinavian (aka perfect) pop music.
SZA - “Saturn”
This song feels like “Good Day”, and if I can have that feeling again in a new form I’m thrilled.
Rachel Chinouriri - “Never Need Me”
Florence Pugh heard Rachel Chinouriri’s music this year and liked it so much that she reached out to Rachel directly to say so - and the result of that conversation was Florence appearing in the music video for this song. Anyway, I agree with Florence on this one.
Hemlock springs - “enkee1”
“I have learnt people aren't puzzles, but they puzzle me”. I just think there’s a lot to relate to here.
This song came out in 2023 but I played it so much over the summer that it belongs on my list.
Hiatus Kaiyote - “Everything’s Beautiful”
Experts in genre blending.
Mk.gee - “ROCKMAN”
I had heard of Mk.gee earlier this year, but it wasn’t until “ROCKMAN” came out that I really started paying attention. And now it’s an obsession.
Remi Wolf - “Toro”
Big Ideas was an album I listened to obsessively this year, and picking a favourite from the album was difficult - and to be honest I really wanted to choose “Wave” for the pop-punk vibes (please check that out as well), but ultimately I chose “Toro” to include on this list. I love the sexy 70’s nostalgia.
PROP - “Crash Course”
At some point this year, I just stumbled onto this song randomly and it wound up being one of my top of the year. Every time I play it in public people comment on it. Less than 80k monthly listeners means I get to say I liked them before they were cool if it ever happens for them.
Amber Mark - “won’t cry”
If you’re missing Jessie Ware in 2024, you’ll love this one.
KAYTRANADA ft. PinkPantheress - “Snap My Fingers”
Timeless was another album that I had on repeat this year, and the PinkPantheress collab made for the best song on it (in my opinion).
Doechii - “NISSAN ALTIMA”
It’s never been more clear that we have a new Queen of Rap. Not sure who had that title before; Nicki or Kim, but Doechii has the crown now.
Magdalena Bay - “Image”
It feels weird to choose just one track from Imaginal Disk to include on this list because this body of work should be enjoyed from start to finish.
Jamie xx - “Dafodil”
Another album that deserves to be listened to from start to finish; I’ve had it on repeat since it was released (in parts).
Flying Lotus - “Let Me Cook”
It’s been a while since I thought about Flying Lotus. I gave this album a listen but actually didn’t do too much for me - aside from this song. This song does something to me. Something bouncy.
Fana Hues - “Rental”
So so so vibey, listen to the whole album.
Gigi Perez - “Sailor Song”
This song recently got big on TikTok, and that’s great for the artist, and I can’t hope to keep a gem like this to myself. But there will always be a part of me that hates it when that happens.
James Blake - “Like The End”
Yeah James, life in 2024 has felt a lot like the end. Bleak but the way most of us are feeling I suspect.
Maggie Rogers - “Don’t Forget Me”
Maggie Rogers.
Katie Pruitt - “Out Of The Blue”
This is the moment I’m gonna break my own rules more than I ever have; this song came out in 2020, but when I heard this song early this year I completely fell in love. Katie Pruitt is not well known - around 160k monthly listeners on Spotify. And she even came out with a new album this year. I listened to it, it’s good. But for me, “Out of the Blue” is just leagues beyond any other song she’s released this year.
Laura Marling - “Patterns”
Give me a woman with a guitar and a folky album and I’ll be happy. And this one is exceptional.
Laufey - “Goddess”
Songs like this are my favourite way to end these lists. Hope you enjoy. Happy New Year!
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