Ready for 2024 at IDOL

SPRINTS – Letter to Self
This four-piece Irish garage punk band is starting the year off with a flying start on their first album. Capturing everyone’s attention – especially the press -, their cathartic and danceable sound propels them to 20th place of the UK charts on the first week of release.
“SPRINTS are one of the most exciting young rock bands in the world, one that could hold their own alongside some of their most fiercely beloved inspirations.” Stereogum
Find out more about SPRINTS

Duñe – Better Never than Late EP / Leos (Divine)
Formerly half of the duo Saje, Duñe is a French producer and electro-soul singer with a minimalist approach. To hone his style, Vincent Goazempis has collaborated with Crayon, Ichon and Angèle, and returns with a new EP.
“‘Think About You‘ leans primarily towards the pop genre, but also incorporates elements of alternative scenes such as R&B and hip-hop, allowing Duñe to once again showcase his unique and authentic style.” Uno TV

Rone – Of Money and Blood (soundtrack) / InFiné
Since 2019, Rone has been trying his hand at on-screen music, and to say the least, he’s succeeded, having won a César in 2021 and an award at Cannes in 2022. In 2023, he lent his composing talents to the acclaimed ‘D’argent et de sang’ series.
“His timeless music, blending electronic and classical elements, brilliantly serves the heavy atmosphere and thrilling rhythm of the series.” CNews

Gareth Coker, Mentrix – Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Original Game Soundtrack) / Ubisoft Music
To kick off the new year, Ubisoft is revisiting the 80s franchise Prince of Persia with a new chapter. To modernize the game and especially its soundtrack, Ubisoft Music has called on composer Gareth Coker, winner of the 2023 Ivor Novello Awards.
“Music is always an important part of a game, but in The Lost Crown, it elevates the whole experience. I can’t wait to hear more.” Destructoid

La Femme – La Femme Ressort / Disque Pointu
Thirteen years after its release, La Femme has decided to reissue its very first EP, never before released on streaming platforms. For this occasion, the band re-recorded new versions of this EP, and pressed a limited edition vinyl which quickly sold out.
“If you’re after a band that tears up the rule book and creates a wildly inventive, kaleidoscopic musical party, look no further.” Somersethouse

YĪN YĪN – Mount Matsu / Glitterbeat Records
Dutch band YĪN YĪN have undergone some changes in their working process, with a more democratic approach to composition. This third album is as eclectic as ever, including organic sounds, a 70s live band aesthetic, and danceable nu-disco tunes.
“Mount Matsu finds the band morphing their sound to include pentatonic scales, vintage synthesisers, huge dynamics and a deep dive into Japanese musical motifs.” The Line of Best Fit

TEKKEN Project – TEKKEN 8 (Original Game Soundtrack) / Bandai Namco Game Music
Bandai Namco releases a new chapter in the famous fighting game, officially the longest-running video game in history! This version features 32 redesigned fighters, plus a new, unstoppable technique: the Heat System.
“There is a standout banger for the Yakushima stage. It feels like a more rounded composition with gorgeous strings, stunning vocals, and a pumping backbeat that keeps the song moving forward. “ Destructoid

Vera Sola – Peacemaker
Five years after her critically acclaimed debut album, singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Vera Sola is now ready to begin a new chapter. Co-produced by Kenneth Pattengale, this sophomore album has been recorded in Nashville with a dozen musicians.
“Despite the ambition of the project, Peacemaker wasn’t intended to be years in the making but so it was. Loss, righteous anger, climate despair, illness and eventually radical acceptance seemed to domino over the years of creation.” The Line of Best Fit

Stuck in the Sound – 16 Dreams a Minute – Upton Park
Borrowing from the likes of Rage Against the Machine, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies and Sonic Youth, Stuck in the Sound have been making their mark on the French rock scene since the early 2010s. After a long break, the band is back with their seventh album.
“Stuck in the Sound are still well and truly up there with the coolest Parisian bands.” Rolling Stone

Meltheads – Decent Sex / Mayway Records
Antwerp-based art-rock band has earned itself a terrific live reputation in Belgium and the Netherlands with their raw punk energy, visceral noise, and the beautiful bold attitude of their impressive frontman Sietse Willems. So much that Belgian legends dEUS invited them on tour.
“The band are cult heroes on the continent, with their frenzied yet absorbing sound sitting somewhere between the Gun Club and those early Birthday Party cuts, yet with a singular approach that is utterly their own.” Clash

Stormy – Iceberg / Austora Records
Hailing from Rabat, Stormy is one of the leading artists on the Moroccan scene. In 2020, his track ‘Africain’ earned him new audiences abroad. Building on his collaborative album with Tagné, Jackpot, released in summer 2021, Stormy returns to champion a solo project.
“Described as one of Morocco’s most promising rappers, Stormy has made it to the top of the Moroccan charts on Spotify”. Mouv

Flavien Berger – Contrebande 02. le disque de l’été / Pan European Recordings
Returning just one year after the success of ‘Cent ans‘, the last part of his mystical trilogy, unclassifiable experimental musician Flavien Berger is back with a counter-album that we hope will be just as poetic and psychedelic as usual.
“Flavien Berger, artist à contretemps, will be back this spring with a new counter-album”. Radio Nova

El Perro del Mar – Big Anonymous
After eight years of silence, Sarah Assbring resurrects her El Perro del Mar project. On her sixth studio album, the Swedish multi-instrumentalist and composer continues to enchant us, taking us on an introspective journey into mourning, loss, and mortality.
“With Big Anonymous she goes places where few choose to venture in public; dialogues with the dead, musings on her own mortality, reflections on the inner darkness that she inherited.” The Line of Best Fit

Afro B – ‘Sexy‘ / AfroWave
After ‘Wo Wo Wo (Ebony)‘ in collaboration with Rich The Kid and Rimzee, and just a month after the release of ‘Boum Boum‘ with the recently deceased Afrobeats icon Mohbad, the Afrowave pioneer continues his momentum with a brand new single designed for the dancefloor.
“Known for his versatility, he effortlessly navigates between Afrobeat, dancehall, and other genres, creating a sound that transcends borders.” GRM Daily

Makèz – Midnight Time EP / Heist Recordings
This team of DJs & producers have come together around a shared love of classic disco records, jazz and hip hop albums, and soulful house. For years, Makèz have made themselves known for their deeply soulful electronic tracks, blended with R&B, future jazz, and deep house.
“With their skills, extensive musical knowledge, and expertise, you can rest assured that there will never be a dull moment when Makèz is playing.” Resident Advisor

Elle & the Pocket Belles – Whats a Girl to Do / Freshly Squeezed
The Londonian quintet revitalizes the classic girl-group with a contemporary touch, infusing jazzy vocal harmonies and soul influences. Branded as “new retro”, they uniquely blend vintage storytelling, swinging renditions of contemporary hits, and classic jazz.
“Inspired by the sounds and the glamour of a by gone era, Elle & The Pocket Belles have created their own modern-retro sound.” Electro Swing Thing

Erick the Architect – I’ve never been here before / Architect Recording Company
For his first solo album, Erick the Architect has entrusted production to James Blake, and welcomes long-standing collaborators and new friends such as Joey Bada$$, Westside Boogie, George Clinton, Channel Tres, Kimbra, Lalah Hathaway, Pale Jay and FARR.
“The record is a winding, perilous, and deeply personal body of work that celebrates his mastery as both a storyteller and conductor of his own authentic sound.” Rolling Stone
Find out more about Erick the Architect, a multi-dimensional artist.

Mooneye – Come with Me and Hide / Mayway Records
Mooneye, emerging as a top indie act in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany, follows the success of their debut with a more mature and intimate second album. Compared to Fleet Foxes and Neil Young, they are committed to songwriting that blends folk and country to create timeless melodies.
“Fans of melancholic indie pop will hear a promising debut from very talented musicians. This tastes like much more.” **** | Het Nieuwsblad

Caravan Palace – Gangbusters Melody Club / Lone Diggers / Le Plan
Since 2008, Caravan Palace have established themselves as the reference for electro-swing. In fact, they are one of the few French groups to have achieved a certified platinum single in the United States. Five years after Chronologic, the quartet is preparing to release its fifth album.
“Over the course of a decade, Caravan Palace transitioned from being a sensation in the Parisian jive scene to becoming a globally viral pop phenomenon that effortlessly incorporates a diverse range of musical influences.” Broadway World

Jane Weaver – Love In Constant Spectacle / Fire
Independent and resilient female experimental songwriter, Jane Weaver prepares the release of her twelfth album, her most open-hearted and intimate to date. Collaborating with producer John Parish (PJ Harvey, Aldous Harding), she recaptured the melancholy of her early work to deliver a dreamlike record.
“The whimsical synth-loop is a Weaver staple, but it’s artfully used to meander through the track, mimicking her stream of consciousness about a relationship slipping away.” Paste Magazine

Skull & Bones (original soundtrack) / Ubisoft Music
At the latest Game Awards, Ubisoft confirmed the release of the action-adventure game Skull and Bones. Only a few weeks to go before you can play the role of a pirate captain and dominate the Indian Ocean with naval battles.
“Where Skull and Bones’ audio teams offer something unique is through their very different sailor songs.” Jeux Vidéo
Read our YouTube Series #4 about lyric videos