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.
Malice K
Malice K is a New York-based artist whose sonic palette is made up of 90s alt and brash lyricism, creating a rare fusion of off-kilter pop-forward indie rock. As a former member of the Artist Collective Deathproof Inc, he has amassed a cult following as an atypical artist with a capricious nature, hopping from provocative punk-thrash-rock to lyrically melodic and acoustic. Emerging from the convergence of introspection and innovation, Malice K is a visionary musician who intricately weaves emotive narratives through his music. With a commitment to authenticity and an old-school ethos, his artistry illuminates the modern landscape.
On his 2022 EP Clean Up On Aisle Heaven, FADER said “Pivoting easily from an Elliott Smith croon to an Isaac Brock bark, Malice K pushes past the usual pop pleasantries. He shows a cool disdain for the vibe he’s encapsulated so effortlessly, but his structures are studiously rendered. It’s clear he’s a disciple of the genres he seemingly scoffs at, always taking the time to read the book before he throws it away.” His debut album is slated for 2024.
Yellowstraps
Electric guitar loops, vocals, and piano drift through a sea of reverb, interlaced with elements of UK garage, 2-step, and neo-soul-infused drums: Yellowstraps presents a hybrid art form that pushes the boundaries of genres. The outcome is remarkably cohesive, enchanting, and at times, sensual, with irresistibly catchy melodies throughout. Recently propelled by the success of his track ‘Slowdown (girl what’s up),’ which garnered millions of streams on Spotify, Yvan Murenzi reappropriates the garage atmosphere he loves so much and decides to reformulate it. Infusing it with his unique artistic vision, characterized by his electric ukulele and his alter ego, vividly portrayed in his handcrafted videos. In early 2024, he collaborated with Sofiane Pamart to remix his own track ‘blue,’confirming his mastery of this hybrid formula between soaring sounds and dry UK-style drums. For fans of Tom Misch, Daniel Ceasar, Jordan Rakei, River Tiber, and Moonchild, Yellowstraps.
Kans
A few years back, rapper YOUNGBAEKANSIE was turning heads at nearly every festival, gaining fame for his role in 'Doe Je Dans' by Bizzey and delivering one of 101Barz's catchiest hooks with 'SAUCEMAN'. Fast forward to today, Randall Felter, now going by Kans, has taken a whole new path, delving into sensitive R&B with influences from hip-hop, trap, and his Caribbean heritage. Through his latest project, he reaffirms the Dutch hip-hop scene's wealth with talent. On his sophomore album, 'hennessy & beckies' (2022), he's joined by established names like Jonna Fraser, Murda, Yade Lauren, and Ray Fuego. Yet, the whole album has an incredible sensitiveness and freshness to its sound. Among his favorite artists and key musical influences are Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Future, André 3000, Drake, The Weeknd, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Hef.
Sampa the Great
Sampa the Great is a a poet, singer-songwriter, and global artistic visionary in the truest sense of the term, dedicated to catalyzing positive change and empowerment. Hailing from Zambia but raised in Botswana, she seamlessly blends abstract hip-hop beats with African influences, neo-soul, and R&B. Her delivery oscillates between assertive, confident rap and smooth soul-jazz vocals intertwined with poetic and introspective reflections. Following the acclaim of her debut album 'Birds and The BEE9' in 2017 and its successor 'The Return' in 2019, she now presents 'As Above, So Below' (2022). With an album so heartfelt and punchy, she proves she really is Sampa, the Great.
Promis3
Carving out their space in the nu-rave scene, Belgian duo Promis3’s captivating productions, mesmerizing visuals and striking aesthetic are a tribute to European club and queer culture. The duo constantly pushes the boundaries of their recognizable, yet confronting identity. Shaped by Europop, hyperpop, y2k-trance, rave and so much more, it’s clear that Promis3’s shared influences span far and wide. They already shared the stage with big names like Shygirl, Dorian Electra, Cobra and Ascendant Vierge. Get ready for the sound of the future with a nostalgia touch of the past.
Snõõper
In the briefest of descriptions, Snõõper is a band who, in a 33 1/3 rpm world, make 45 rpm music they play at 78 and it completely works. Even at this incredible speed, Snõõper (the kinetic duo of musician Connor Cummins and visual/video artist, Blair Tramel) is super precise instrumentally and skillfully melodic vocally, even though, again, they’re flooring it almost the entire time. The overall effect is a megadose of extremely cool and unique songs that while at the speed of tomorrow, would lose their overwhelming fun factor if played any differently. Featuring one of the wildest liveshows out there, as well as the most promising punk debut in decades.
Polyphonic
Polyphonic is the most energetic orchestra you’ll ever experience! This booming orchestra has been throwing parties all across The Netherlands with their unique blend of classical music and drum ’n bass. Their unique covers were praised by the likes of Noisia, Netsky and Macky Gee and have gathered a dedicated following on YouTube. Polyphonic was developed by a large group of musicians, including the renowned Phion Orchestra, drummer Koen Herfst (Armin van Buuren), vocalist Diandra Faye (Da Tweekaz) and drum ’n bass rapper Wolf MC. Expect a euphoric multi-genre party.
Meltheads
Meltheads is a young band originating from Antwerp, with loads of talent and as much drive and swagger. Propelled by the metronomically tight rhythm section of Tim Penseart (bass) and Simon de Geus (drum), and fueled by the sharp and virtuoso guitar of Yunas de Proost. With frontman Sietse Willems as the glowing center, who resembles the incarnate bastard of Jim Morrison's charisma, Robert Plant's sex appeal and Iggy Pop's fury. No wonder the band storms every stage and plays every show like it's their last. Meltheads brings you infectious garage, smart post-punk and (cold) wave indebted to The Chats, Amyl and the Sniffers, Gang of Four and Wire.