Min Taka
Taking her name from a myth of a vanishing planet, Min Taka shares her inner world through a genre-bending sound that moves between indie, liquid DnB, synth and hyperpop. Her songs reflect on themes of identity, belonging, femininity and connection. Min Taka’s sonic universe ranges from intimate and soft to intense electronic commotion. The pixie-pop artist’s latest album Partiyi Durdurun! (2023) was inspired by the likes of Mitski, Sassy 009, Cocteau Twins, Kero Kero Bonito and Charli XCX.
Narco Polo
Narco Polo is a Dutch rapper with roots spanning from Ghana to Java. With a heart pulsing with hip-hop vibes, he delivers raw tales and celebrates life in equal measure. His music effortlessly blends laid-back rap with trap, offering a unique perspective on life. Narco Polo is shaking up the Dutch rap scene with his car freestyle sessions, catching the attention of well-known names such as Adje, Joysilvio, Winne, RBdjan, Heffs and Willem. Rooted in diverse experiences, he promises to keep surprising with his musical versatility and genuine, down-to-earth outlook on life.
FIEP
FIEP writes captivating, distinct indie pop anthems that are both outgoing and introspective. Veerle Suzanna Driessen’s songcraft has a distinct ear for great hooks, but also a unique narrative quality. Her music reveals the inward thoughts as frequently as the outward scream: the restlessness, the doubts, the musings and – most of all – the dreams. On stage, Veerle captures these dreams along with her band FIEP into an energetic, powerful and outstanding live performance.
Bowl
Bowl brings post-punk with spoken vocals and garage rock or indie influences, offering a sound that's both mosh-worthy and danceable, yet equally enjoyable for a home listen. With their sharp and socially conscious lyrics, disorienting riffs, and gripping hooks, accompanied by solid drums and bass, they bring a massive energy wherever they play. Their songs delve into the experience of coming of age amidst the tumultuous crises of today, sparking meaningful conversations on topics like toxic masculinity. Guaranteed to get you off your feet just to knock you down again.
Peuk
A cigarette is something you casually toss aside or crush underfoot after deriving pleasure from it. Short drags, long pulls, deep into your lungs and your brain. Then it's onto the ground, off to chase the next rush. Coincidentally, that's also how you can describe the music of Peuk (Dutch for cigarette). This three piece enjoys laying a layer of tar on your soul and is as addictive to listen to as nicotine. Think Hole, think Pixies, think Sonic Youth, think The Breeders.
Porcelain id
Rwandan artist Porcelain id, aka Hubert Tuyishime, burst onto the scene in 2020 with a unique blend of raw vocals and emotional depth. They effortlessly switch between Dutch and English, crafting lyrics about identity, gender, and racism. Influenced by artists like Destroyer, Bon Iver, and Daniel Johnston, their music has made them a standout talent in Belgium. While their debut ‘Mango’ was a concept EP about queerness, police brutality and identity, follow-up 'Reprise' is an intimate and poetic state of affairs. It's highlight? Vlaanderen, a heartfelt gospel song sung in Porcelain id's Flemish accent and a poignant ode to life's struggles, echoing their own childhood challenges as a black and queer individual. Their debut album Bibi:1 (2024) is an eclectic infusion of inspired folk with raw soul and edgy electronica, and already acclaimed as utterly unique and ahead of its time. The kind of record people later make documentaries about, so make sure to not miss this live.
Staatseinde
The interstellar cosmonauts from Staatseinde have landed their spaceship in 2006 to bring their sound, described as ’Neue-Niederländische-Welle’ (New Dutch Wave), Robo-punk or bumper car-techno to earth. From wave to EBM, from NDW to punk and techno and everything else in and out of the box. Going to a show of Staatseinde is like going to the club meeting up with Kraftwerk on speed and The Sex Pistols on Acid. Staatseinde creates a theatrical mix of pulsing electro with nostalgic hopeful synth lines, all performed live with synthesizers, a sequencer and tantalizing vocals.
Takeshi's Cashew
Highway, dance floor, solitary beach — Takeshi's Cashew provides the perfect soundtrack for every scenario. Their music is wildly eclectic and arranged with flair, falling somewhere between music school precision and anarchic creativity. The six musicians push the boundaries of melody and rhythm, using a variety of instruments that only the most dedicated music nerds could identify. Their performances feature lovely melodies, whimsical flutes, diverse percussion, and carefully selected vintage synthesizers, all with a touch of echo that transports listeners to an idealized hippie world before bringing them back to reality.
In their second album, Enter J’s Chamber (2023), Takeshi’s Cashew blends groovy rhythms with electronic beats and 70s psychedelic rock, all recorded in analogue and bursting with vibrant colors. Curious about what psychedelic cosmofunk is all about? Then you'll have have to experience Takeshi's Cashew live.
SUBFICTION
SUBFICTION is a veiled artist and guide of absorbing audiovisual worlds. Worlds that consist of organic elements, contaminated by technology, exploring musical landscapes beyond genres. The guide, SUBFICTION, controls these worlds through live performance and provides the audience an interface between fiction and reality. The universal creature demolishes every dance floor glitching and switching between melancholic breakbeats, IDM and narrative driven house and hip-hop.
SUBFICTION provides your naughty nightly escapades with some of the most sub-soakin’ breakbeats and flashy, futuristic visuals (for all you after-freaks, bassheads and rainbow ravers). In 2022 SUBFICTION seemed to appear and disappear, often unannounced, at festivals and underground parties.This Casper the fashionable ghost lookin character always gets every audience to go completely berserk.
Durry
Durry is a duo consisting of songwriter Austin - a millennial - and his sister Taryn, a Gen-Z. By joining forces, they show just how much the neighboring generations have in common. The immediate result of their musical partnership was the pop-punk/alternative anthem 'Who’s Laughing Now', which leads with wry, tongue-in-cheek lyrics about the futility of young adulthood. After posting an unfinished version of it on TikTok, it swiftly took off, galvanizing thousands of viewers who shared their coming-of-age frustrations. Invoking alternative, pop, and pop-punk influences such as Weezer, Sum 41, the White Stripes, and the Killers, their album Suburban Legend (2023), contains songs packed with energy, gumption, and razor-sharp lyricism that explores themes around suburbia, capitalism, mundanity, ambition, perseverance, passion, mental health — and Taco Bell. Regardless of where you are in life — city or suburbs, school or work, or pursuing a creative dream of your own — Durry will meet you there with a wink and a high five.