In a time when music is more accessible than ever, listeners are seeking unapologetic perspectives from their favorite artists. This year’s Grammys proved to be a refreshing highlight, marking a long-awaited moment of recognition. Amy Allen made history as the first woman ever to win Songwriter of the Year, a monumental achievement. Known for her work on Sabrina Carpenter’s hits like “Espresso” and “Please, Please, Please,” as well as every track on Short n Sweet, Allen’s journey and inspiring words are a testament to the power of creative expression:
“Listeners are just getting smarter and smarter now. They want something to be odd, something to be off, something to be really catchy and unexpected about a lyric or melody. The days of really polished pop are shifting out.”
Amy Allen for the New York Times
Watching Charli XCX, Chappell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter dominate the charts and take the stage at the 2024 Grammys felt like personal victories. This year, it was clear that bold, unapologetic artists were leading the way. Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter made waves by controversially winning both Best Country Album and Album of the Year, proving once again that genres are just labels and artists should follow their passion. As we reflect on 2024, here are some standout perspectives from the year that deserve a spot in your music rotation.
Magdalena Bay
Magdalena Bay’s album Imaginal Disk takes the cake for the most unique album I’ve ever heard. The pop duo comprising Mica Tenenbaum and Matthew Lewin’s record Imaginal Disk is about a character named True, whose body rejects a “disk upgrade” forced into their foreheads by aliens, designed to bridge the speculative connections between humans and apes. It underlines a different type of vulnerability, one in which truly believing in your outlandish ideas pays off to the highest extent. The songs take twists and turns that mirror the futuristic bend of the lyrics. One of my favorite lyrics comes from the track ‘Watching TV.’ It begins with the line, “Too much watching TV, it’s gonna rot you from the inside out.” Musically, the high-context concept album is where prog rock meets pop. Some of their influences for Imaginal Disk include Electric Light Orchestra, Flash Gordon, Paul McCartney, Fiona Apple, Peter Gabriel music vidoes – “Steam” to be exact, Unarius Academy of Science, and more.
Cosette
Nashville native Cosette is a rising star in the pop scene. After studying audio engineering at Berklee College of Music, she has quickly made a name for herself as a producer, singer, songwriter, and director. Cosette’s music and music videos are a showcase of her boundless creativity. Blending infectious electro-pop beats with lush, layered harmonies, she crafts a unique glitch pop sound that is entirely her own. Known for her use of distorted synths, unconventional drum patterns, chopped-up samples, and heavy basslines, Cosette’s music explores the limitless possibilities of electronic elements and modern pop.
Her voice is mesmerizing, softly looping and playfully flirting with autotune, creating a sense of calm amidst the storm of complex beats that blend seamlessly. Growing up in the choir, Cosette developed a love for intricately layering her dreamy vocals, crafting rich, thick harmonies that add depth and texture to her music.
Cosette’s EP CONQUEST is packed with one hit after another, each track flowing effortlessly into the next. She uses songwriting as a way to process her emotions, and you can feel the thought and care she’s put into every piece of music.
The Maria’s
Grammy Award-nominated band The Marías are the musical love child of Puerto Rican singer Maria Zardoya and Los Angeles native Josh Conway, whose 8-year relationship birthed both the band and its unique sound—a fusion of slow rock, psychedelia, dream pop, and Latin influences. With their highly anticipated sophomore album Submarine, the band dives into uncharted waters. Born from the heartache of their recent breakup, the album pulses with the raw sadness and emotional turbulence that defined its creation. Each track offers a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the complicated feelings of moving on, all wrapped in the band’s signature dreamy style.
Just a glance at the Submarine album cover tells you it’s not a light listen: Zardoya is submerged in deep, dark blues, symbolizing the emotional depth of the album. After the Grammy-nominated Cinema, which was bathed in dark reds reflecting a romantic world, Zardoya wanted a stark contrast for this new chapter. Submarine captures the end of her relationship and the complex journey of grief and healing that followed. The album features a sensual, futuristic, and dreamy sound, blending electronic music with elements of reggaetón, and showcases lyrics in both English and Spanish. One of the standout tracks, “Lejos de Ti,” is the first of two songs in Spanish, where Zardoya pleads with her lover not to forget her, even as they drift apart.
The narrator resigns herself to sorrow in a piano ballad on “If Only”: “Even when I dream / You are next to me/ I can’t fall asleep / If only.”
Submarine draws inspiration from Krzysztof Kieslowski’s 1993 film Three Colors Blue. The film’s use of blue to symbolize both grief and loss, as well as hope and aspiration, deeply influenced the album’s themes and sound.
Faye Webster
Atlanta’s own Faye Webster is the ultimate earworm artist—her music doesn’t just get stuck in your head; it puts you in a trance. Her 2024 album Underdressed at the Symphony is one of the most underrated releases of the year. Driven by spontaneity and gut feeling, the writing process unfolded effortlessly, allowing collaborators to escape the burden of overthinking. I was lucky enough to experience her magic live at the Ryman. The story of how I got there makes it even better.
It all started on a Saturday morning when I was working at a smoothie shop in downtown Nashville. While manning the register, I struck up a conversation with a Ryman employee, naturally asking about her job. She casually mentioned that the smoothies were for Faye Webster and her band, so I decided to decorate the cups with lyrics and doodles from Underdressed at the Symphony. After we closed, she came back and surprised me with two tickets for Faye’s Sunday night show. My coworkers handed them to me the next morning—making it one of the best weekends I ever had working!
Faye Webster’s live performance is nothing short of theatrical. Draped head to toe in Braindead—a brand started by her friends—she rocked a kilt and a patched-up top that matched her unique vibe. The stage design at the Ryman was one of the most stunning I’ve ever seen, transforming the venue into a laundromat. It felt like she was stepping into character for a play, fully immersed in the performance. My favorite moment of the night was hearing Jonny live, but I also couldn’t get enough of Wanna Quit All the Time, Tttttime, and Lego Ring from the album.
Fontaines DC
I can’t talk about the standout albums of 2024 without mentioning by the Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. The band has earned fans like Harry Styles, Chris Martin, and even Elton John, who’s called them “the best band in the world.” Fontaines D.C. is made up of Grian Chatten (vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums), and Carlos O’Connell (guitar). Hailing from Dublin, the band initially bonded over poetry while in college, and their first three albums captured a raw, fiery spirit, addressing anti-Irish sentiment in England and the historical oppression of Ireland.
Although Fontaine’s D.C. is often labeled as a post-punk revival band and even categorized under terms like ‘post-Brexitcore,’ their latest album Romance marks a shift in direction. The band has embraced a more alternative/indie rock sound, with cinematic influences and a touch of ’90s aesthetics, setting this release apart from their recent work.
In an industry where many artists work with a team of writers, Chatten proudly handles all his lyrics himself. The lyrics explore themes of Irish identity, diaspora, and the impact of imperialism.
Producer James Ford, known for his work with Blur and the Arctic Monkeys, decided to dial back the intensity of the sound on Romance, allowing the album’s emotional depth to take center stage. This shift towards a softer, more atmospheric tone hints at a move into shoegaze territory, setting the stage for the band’s evolving sound.
Fans ‘eagerly devoured’ Starburster – the band’s first single from Romance – an eerie, harmonious, spiraling track, with twinkling keys, bellowing drums and a vicious guitar. The track was inspired by a panic attack Chatman had in St. Pancras London tube station, his sharp inhales and sonic breaks in the track mirror his inner distress.
Fontaines D.C. has firmly cemented their place as one of the most compelling bands of the year. With Romance earning them the prestigious Album Award at the Rolling Stone UK Awards and their latest single It’s Amazing to Be Young rocking the airwaves, they’re showing no signs of slowing down. Romance isn’t just an album; it’s a statement of resistance against both societal expectations and the overwhelming mood of the world today. As Grian Chatten puts it, ‘As the world becomes more and more apparently and inescapably troubled, the more the idea of romance and escapism become really intriguing to me.’ This album offers a much-needed escape, reminding us that even in times of uncertainty, there’s power in embracing hope and the idea of something better.
References: Stereogum, GQ, The Guardian, Nashville Voyager, NPR, and the New York Times.
BOOGIE WITH EMMA 