High Hi
Emerging from Belgium's fertile underground with the quiet assurance of those who know exactly what they're doing, this trio has methodically carved out a space where atmospheric experimentation and razor-sharp pop sensibilities coexist in perfect equilibrium. The Antwerp-based trio debuted with a dreamy, shoegaze-infused style that evolved across releases into a nuanced balance of introspection and accessible hooks.
Julia Adriana
What started in a student room in Rotterdam with just an acoustic guitar has grown into a warm blend of indie, pop and folk. Inspired by artists ranging from Joni Mitchell and The Eagles to Dutch legends BLØF, singer-songwriter Julia Adriana crafts songs filled with melancholy tones and enchanting harmonies. Her single Where R U Now was featured in Spotify’s New Music Friday playlist in both the Netherlands and Belgium. Her new EP Homemade Love is coming soon, and you can experience it live at Hit The City!
Casey MQ
Casey MQ mixes pop sensibility with classical training and a sharp ear for electronic production. After releasing his debut album babycasey in 2020, he’s collaborated with artists like Oklou, Eartheater, and Shygirl, and co-founded the queer virtual club Club Quarantine during lockdown. His latest record Later that day, the day before, or the day before explores memory and identity through rich, genre-blending songwriting. Expect a live show that’s honest, layered, and full of unexpected turns.
C'est Qui
Dutch band with a French name: C’est Qui? (No, not “Who’s that?”, it’s French slang for throwing someone out of a window). They deliver fast, chaotic garage punk with a political edge and just enough groove to get your hips moving. C’est Qui is a whirlwind of loudness and unpredictability, hitting like a punch in the gut. You’ll enjoy every noisy second of it.
Emma Hessels
Sometimes, all you need is a moment where everything falls still. A space where emotions run wild, hearts race, and a voice not quite of this world touches the deepest corners of your soul. Singer-songwriter Emma Hessels offers exactly that. Armed with nothing but her voice and guitar, Hessels walks a fine line between longing, love, and loneliness with disarming grace. Her presence is both fragile and fierce. An impossible balance that makes her utterly unmissable. Since being named a laureate of Sound Track 2023, Emma has been winning hearts across the country, show after show. On May 9, 2025, she released her hauntingly beautiful debut single ‘Insular’, the first glimpse of her upcoming debut EP, set for release in October 2025.
IDER
IDER is the London singer-songwriter duo of Lily Somerville and Megan Markwick, blend moody indie rock and sleek electronics with haunting vocal harmonies rooted in their folk origins. The result? Raw, clever, emotionally charged pop that cuts deep and lifts high. Expect plenty of new material at Hit The City, as IDER’s third album ‘Late To The World’ dropped in February. Its tongue-in-cheek title reclaims the power of late blooming, doing things on your own terms, in your own time. Early singles ‘You Don’t Know How To Drive’ and ‘Know How It Hurts’ hint at a richer, bolder sound: cinematic, minimal, and laced with defiance. Live, IDER is intimate yet fierce. A spellbinding mix of softness and strength, heartbreak and humour. Come for the harmonies, stay for the honesty.
Joya Mooi
Singer-songwriter Joya Mooi creates music for the fearless blending R&B, indie and pop with soulful depth and introspective lyrics. Drawing from her South African heritage and Amsterdam roots, she delivers a sound that’s both rich in identity and emotionally resonant. With her EP ‘Open Hearts’ (Aug 2024), Mooi enters a fresh chapter: groove-driven, disco-tinged tracks crafted with producer duo Easy Freak and Bastian Langebæk (Olivia Dean, Jessie Ware). It’s a vibrant evolution of her signature style. Having toured South Africa and supported Benny Sings across Europe, Joya is no stranger to the stage. Now she brings her magnetic live energy to Hit The City. Expect soulful melodies, bold storytelling, and a live show that stays with you long after the final note.
Little Moon
Step into the cosmic world of American indie folk band Little Moon, the dreamlike project of Utah’s Emma Hardyman. What began as a romantic album for her husband evolved into Dear Divine. A breathtaking exploration of love, grief, and spiritual rebirth, written in the wake of her mother-in-law’s passing and her own departure from the Mormon church. Her soaring vocals and lush, future-baroque arrangements evoke something between a Zelda soundtrack and Vashti Bunyan. On stage, she’s joined by close friends Bly Wallentine, Bridget Jackson, Chris Shemwell, Grace Johnson, and Nathan Hardyman, weaving a rich, emotional soundscape. It’s a transformative, celestial experience. An act of radical love and healing. Don’t miss it.
Luca St
Where house music blasts from the bathroom at 7AM on a Monday, where adrenaline is force-fed through kick and bass, and the gas bill hits harder than your hangover, that’s where you’ll find Luca St Feel the pressure rising? Good. With self-proclaimed “love songs, but my way,” Luca delivers raw emotion wrapped in relentless rhythm. Think spoken word caught in a rave, or as he puts it: “ritmisch gelul op een housebeat.” This is hip-hop reimagined. Catch him live at Hit The City, where love gets loud and lyrics hit like a strobe.
BUG
Trust us — there's no way you'll leave the Dynamo venue without breaking a sweat after a BUG show. Within minutes, the place transforms into a writhing mass of bodies or something that can only be described as pure chaos. BUG delivers an explosive blend of rap, punk, and pounding rave beats, topped off with raw, unfiltered lyrics. Think The Prodigy-level madness, but with a sharper, more contemporary edge. Add in choreographed elements and performance art, and it’s no surprise they became a crowd favorite at both Popronde and ESNS in recent editions.