Emmy d'Arc
Meet Emmy d'Arc, the new name you need to know. She's blowing up the music scene with her raw, real vibes. Think Joan of Arc, but with a guitar and killer stage presence. She’s played with some of the biggest names and hit up the coolest festivals. Emmy has opened for big hitters like Amy Macdonald, Birdy, Walk off the Earth, and Mimi Webb. She's also lit up stages at Roma in Antwerp, Ancienne Belgique in Brussels and festivals like Pukkelpop, Gent Jazz, Nostalgie Beach Festival, and M-Idzomer in Leuven. Her debut album is dropping in 2024, and it's all her – every track is straight from her soul. She's teamed up with the legendary Jean Blaute, and it's pure fire.
Emmy’s voice and guitar will grab you and never let go. On stage, she’s a force – not just the girl next door. Behind her smile is a serious artist with big ambitions. Her 2024 debut album is all about keeping it real – written, developed, and polished from her perspective. With Jean Blaute on board, it’s even more epic. Emmy sings about life, thoughts, and everything we all go through, with a raw honesty that's rare to find. Go find her at Hit The City!
John-Robert
John-Robert, hailed as a small-town teen poised to become the next big singer-songwriter, seamlessly blends traditional folk and Appalachian country with modern pop. At just 19, he was signed by Grammy-nominated producer Ricky Reed (Leon Bridges, Lizzo) to Nice Life/Warner. His debut single, “Adeline,” has garnered over 11 million streams, and collaborations with Alessia Cara and Camila Cabello have cemented his reputation as an impressive songwriter.
Ruminating on friendship, loneliness, and identity, his self-produced EP Garden Snake (2023) serves as the soundtrack to a coming-of-age epic. It captures John-Robert’s spirit at the intersection of small-town USA and the internet age. At Hit The City, he'll play in a beautifully intimate setting at De Rozenknop.
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.
Iskander Moon
Iskander Moon is the folk-pop project of singer-songwriter Iskander, who expresses his love through songs crafted behind ivory keys. Growing up next to the canal made him ponder the natural flow of life, which has influenced the songs he writes today, evoking a warm winter embrace. With the accompaniment of his warm tenor voice, he creates simple, sincere pop songs with catchy lyrics. Think Bon Iver, James Bay, or Tom Odell.
BLUAI
This 3-piece girl band from Antwerp started as Catherine Smet’s initimate bedroom project. With Caitlin Talbut (bass) and Mo Govaerts (drums), the project has evolved into a full-fledged indie band. BLUAI won Belgium’s three major music contests in just a few months time and made it to a billboard on Times Square as ambassadors for Spotify’s Equal campaign for more women in music. They are making their way through the Belgian music landscape while continuing to challenge each other to keep experimenting.