This year, our writers share their music highlights and lowlights of 2024. Lyka Futra weighs in with her top tracks, biggest letdowns, and more.

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Favourite Tracks of 2024: 

1. “GBK Cypher, Vol. 10” – 53 Universe (Ryb3na feat. God Bless Klique)
2. “Lunch Money” – Splintr
3. “Lemas” – Mafidz
4. “CARI AKU” – Eemrun
5. “Aku Dah Mati” – Hawa
6. “Ngomel” – SVASTA
7. “Dendang Kesumat” – RuoH
8. “Loving You Will Be The Death Of Me” – Tom Odell
9. “Rindu Boleh, Kembali Jangan” – Akkimwaru, Quai, LastKhalif
10. “Enough” – Jess Glynne

Favourite Albums of 2024:

1. Semoga Dipermudahkan – 53 Universe
2. SUPERNATURAL – Eemrun
3. SVASTA – SVASTA
4. Black Friday – Tom Odell
5. Full Splint – Splintr

Most Played Song of 2024:

I’m not surprised that this song became my most-played track this year. I love this type of mellow sound, infused with just the right amount of emotion. I could listen to it on repeat — in fact, I played it while writing this to see if I could still capture the same feelings I had when I first heard it. And I can! 

I relate to the realisation that you can’t force anyone to stay in your life, which leads you to stop caring. This song resonates in various contexts, whether in relationships or friendships. I think A2M understands that this sound is a part of him, and I look forward to his upcoming project in the future.

An Old Album I Discovered/Rediscovered This Year:

Recently, I felt mentally blocked, struggling to generate fresh ideas and keep writing. One night, my curiosity about Nate Ruess was sparked by his collaborations with P!nk on “Just Give Me a Reason” and with Janelle Monáe on “‘”We Are Young”. At the time, I found his voice captivating but didn’t give it much thought. So, I decided to listen to Grand Romantic, and I wish I had done it sooner!

I read some reviews, but many seem unable to accept Nate’s solo work, often highlighting perceived shortcomings, such as his inability to play instruments or the absence of his bandmates’ influence. However, I believe it’s impossible for him to shed the essence of what he created with those bands. His soul lingers throughout each track, and I admit that a few songs remind me of Fun, like “Nothing Without Love” and “Great Big Storm”. The album encompasses themes of honesty, pain, regret, and even happiness. My top three tracks from Grand Romantic are “AhHa”, “It Only Gets Much Worse” and “Harsh Light”.

Biggest Disappointment:

1. I love seeing newcomers in the rap music scene, but I wish young rappers would put more effort into creating songs that listeners can genuinely connect with. There’s no need for bombastic lyrics or top-quality music videos; instead, focus on developing the stories within your songs. They don’t have to be overly profound — just meaningful. Whether it’s your first or second release, I’m supportive of the learning process. However, it’s important not to carry the same habits into your next project. Take the time to work on your creative process. While you might feel satisfied with a catchy beat or a notable feature, I encourage you to ask yourself: is that all you want to achieve?

2. At Hausboom Music Festival 2024, I couldn’t help but feel disappointed by the scheduling issues. With the #lokallagiboom slogan, it felt odd to see newer local bands given sets of no more than 20 minutes. It doesn’t sit right with me when these emerging artists aren’t given the chance to attract the same crowd as the bigger acts. I watched The Rudean perform during their brief 20-minute set, and for a small band allowed to play at such a large festival, they truly deserved a larger audience.

Biggest Surprise:

1. 2024 is the year I finally saw a lineup of nine female rappers and singers collaborating on a track called “Team Tomodachi (Gadis Remix)”. Even though it’s a remix of a Yuki Chiba song, I believe this collaboration demonstrates that our female rappers are significant enough to work together on more projects. Perhaps 2025 will be the year we see even more female artists releasing larger projects.

2. I was surprised to learn that the first female rapper in Malaysia was Nana Nurgaya, as I had always thought it was Lady D from Naughtius Maximus. I hadn’t considered this until Yogi B shared his insights during his session at the Ipoh Music Symposium 2024, Empat Dekad Hip Hop: Menjejak Perjalanan Ritma Atas Puisi. I wish I could delve deeper into this history. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter who was first or second; what’s important is the need for better documentation of their journeys. How did they get into hip-hop? What inspired them to choose this genre? Their insights and experiences could be invaluable for the new generation.