If there’s anything we learned from last year, it’s that the music scene is booming with new bands. Admittedly, the scene is more alive, and we anticipate 2024 to be no different. Will most of them fly under the radar? We hope not. To gear things up, we’re listing down 25 releases to anticipate this year:
Aerie
Indie-pop singer-songwriter Aerie, though having only one song to her name, has secured a spot on our list with her mesmerizing debut single, “honey-soaked.” This dream pop piece, infused with melancholia, resonates with songwriting reminiscent of Mitski and Phoebe Bridgers. Anticipate her debut EP coming later this year. Meanwhile, stream “honey-soaked” on Spotify:
A.Limin
A.Limin’s Sesudah Melakar Langit made waves in 2022 and continues to leave an impact. Fronted by Fathil Alimin, the folk-rock band is diligently working on a double project this year — both an EP and an album expected to be released soon. Revisit “Sesudah Melakar Langit” here:
Aus et al.
The alternative rock band Aus et al. dropped their single, “Hey Sudahlah!” in December, which could only mean bigger things are coming this year. Indeed, we were right. Their debut EP, featuring five tracks, is currently in the works.
Explore “Hey Sudahlah!”:
Faye Faire
Despite being relatively new, the folk-rock band Faye Faire hints at significant promise with their upcoming debut album, In My Mind slated for release on February 15th. Their sold-out launch party is scheduled for the following day at fono, Kampung Attap.
Stream “Siren” on Spotify:
Fatin Faizal
Discovering Fatin Faizal feels like a rare gem. Her presence goes unnoticed and yet her singles so far oozes songwriting that could exponentially be bigger. Her first EP will be released sometime this year, though she told us that it’s not exactly confirmed. Still, her products so far are worth checking out, making them the perfect companion to your sad days:
flowerlab.
flowerlab is one of the most hardworking bands to understand the power of TikTok as a platform to push their music to a bigger audience. They study the appeal of city pop, referencing Mariya Takeuchi as their biggest inspiration to showcase their shimmery city pop sound. Their debut album is expected to be released with six to eight tracks included, telling the story of its narrator named “Dr. Flower.”
Stream “Moonlight” here:
FUAD
Fuad’s Dispositions feels like something we’ve waited for forever in the scene. Their 2022 entrance is a grand, exciting, gushing pop with bites of Lisa Fuad’s honeyed vocals. The siblings-duo is expected to release their sophomore album this year, with sounds close to Camera Obscura, Fiona Apple, Kim Gordon, some heavy ballads and of course, their signature dreamy sounds.
For now, immerse yourself in “Kopi,” their second Malay song on Spotify:
Hawa
Following the disbandment of pastel lite, the distinctive and funky vocals of Eff Hakim have been sorely missed. Eff made a notable return in 2022 with her new band, “hawa,” gracing local gigs with their presence ever since. While anticipation builds for Hawa’s debut album, it shows that Eff has moved beyond the electronic pop that defined pastel lite’s memorable sound. Her new venture is predicted to be a captivating indie rock, both in sound and aesthetic. The wait for their upcoming album, slated for a mid-year release, promises to be well worth it.
Joyberry
Following the highly praised yet somewhat overlooked debut, SOUNDTRACK FROM THE FUTURE: TRIP TO LIGHT FANTASTIC, the Sungai Petani-based indie rock band Joyberry is gearing up for the release of their second album, anticipated to drop in June or July. In an update, the band has assured us that the album is entering its final phases, boasting a collection of 10 tracks, featuring the first single, “Are You Ready For The Time Of Your Life?”
junosuara
junosuara started as a solo project and has now evolved into a band, making a splash with hits like “LRT Gombak” and “No Reply.” With a steadily growing fanbase, they’re already back in the studio working on new singles set to release soon. Keep an eye out for their first album, scheduled to launch mid-year.
killamisha
Hyperpop artist killamisha recently went viral after a car crash incident. She stood in front of her partially crushed red Kia, wind tousling her hair, gazing directly into the camera. Instead of dwelling on the mishap, she turned the spotlight to promote her debut album. Titled UNDERGROUND PRINCESS, the highly anticipated release is set to drop on February 3rd.
Kelibat
The Sarawak noise-grunge outfit, Kelibat, unexpectedly made its presence known on our radar in early December. It didn’t take long for their music to captivate us, earning them a well-deserved spot on our Best of 2023 list. Anticipation is building for their debut five-track EP, slated for release this year, featuring tracks like “Dawnting” and “Belia(ng), Basi, Bersinar”
Lunadira
After a few single releases and prominent shows including a COLORS appearance in 2023, we’re finally getting *the* Lunadira album. Bidding goodbye to her bedroom pop days, her identity is beaming in the R&B, dreamy pop music of her recent singles. Her debut album i’ll be alright, right? is expected to drop in February, and 2024 is poised to be an even more significant year for Lunadira.
Lunar
Following the positive reception of their single “Pembunuh Malam” and decent success on TikTok, indie pop band Lunar, hailing from Taiping, is gearing up for the release of their debut album in November. More irresistibly catchy singles are set to drop soon, ones that may very well dominate your TikTok’s For You Page, especially if you’re always in search of more city pop sounds.
Mafidz
Mafidz has transcended their status from a promising band to one of the most prominent names in the music scene. The anticipation builds as they prepare to make their triumphant return with the much-awaited sophomore album, aptly titled TELEPORTASI.
Listen to their latest single “Lemas” here:
Mascot
Midwest emo band Mascot is poised to make a triumphant return with their sophomore album Nostalgia. Serving as the grand finale to the “Apa Saja Yang Mampu Ku Buat” trilogy, which commenced with “Penutup” in 2022 and continued with “Permulaan,” this album marks a significant chapter in Mascot’s musical journey. Notably, Nostalgia stands out as the first Mascot project to undergo external mixing and mastering, helmed by Hezza Ezzachary, or Zac, of Empty Page.
Oddweek
Hailing from Perak, the indie rock ensemble Oddweek is steadily carving its niche in the music scene. Infused with the glittering nostalgia of 90s indie rock, their debut EP, is set to be unveiled soon.
Pele L.
Rapper Pele L. has been quietly making waves, catching our attention with a string of singles and noteworthy collaborations in the burgeoning hip-hop scene. While details about the direction of his debut album remain elusive, we can confirm its eagerly anticipated release in late February.
Pleasantrees
Pleasantrees, a dream pop duo comprised of siblings, has drawn comparisons to esteemed acts like FUAD and judos. After the release of their 2020 single “Neon Eyes”, the duo has now confirmed the release of their EP early this year.
Roadiarc
The band has become one of the most talked-about acts of 2023 — their single, “City of Rome,” secured the 11th spot on our list of the best songs for 2023, while other releases maintain a captivating balance between playful tones, looming darkness and artful country rock. Strengthened by Radhi Osman’s painfully optimistic lyricism and distinctive vocals, the anticipation for a Roadiarc album is coming very soon.
Solaris
The unexpected yet memorable discovery of the noise-folk band Solaris left a lasting impression on us. Their latest single, “1+1=1 (I See All of You),” is a haunting opus that took us by surprise, considering the band’s youth and newness to the scene. They’ve shared with us that their debut EP is currently in the works and is set to be released soon.
Spooky Wet Dreams
Spooky Wet Dreams has been dropping hints on their social media about an upcoming project. While the complete details remain under wraps, they’ve assured us that their new project, whether it’s an EP or a full album, is on track for release this year. In the meantime, dive into their full-length album from 2022.
Servants
In 2023, Servants made a memorable comeback to the music scene, unveiling not only an explosive single but also their first foray into the Malay language. The outcome is an instant emo classic that has left us wanting more. The band has officially confirmed the release of a new album this year, and we can only anticipate that more Malay songs will be part of this highly awaited project.
Stream “Selamanya Bukan Milik Kita”
Shoplifters
Shoplifters, a four-piece indie rock band hailing from Selangor, comprises four friends who met in high school. Following the debut of their first EP, they took a substantial two-year hiatus before making a striking return with the single “ALERT!” Currently immersed in the process of writing and recording, the band is gearing up to drop their next EP, slated for a mid-year release.
the world ends with you.
The shoegaze band, the world ends with you, burst onto the scene with an explosive entrance, marked by their debut single “Lorelai” — possibly one of the best shoegaze songs in recent memory. Their latest single is now available on Bandcamp, and anticipation is building as they gear up to release their upcoming EP.
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