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

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Favourite Tracks of 2024: 

1. “Alone” – The Cure
2. “Just A Week” – Futura
3. “Always Always” – Pleasantrees
4. “Aku Dah Mati” – Hawa
5. من النهر – Ethel Cain
6. “Sol” – Heavener
7. “Mindy” – Sun Kil Moon and Amoeba 
8. “Special Kind Of Sadness” – Dogtooth
9. “When The Stars Aren’t Looking” – LUST
10. “When I Go Deaf” – Have a Nice Life

Favourite Albums of 2024:

1. As Suns and Love Retreat – Heavener
2. Sun Kil Moon and Amoeba – Sun Kil Moon and Amoeba
3. TUGU – Lust
4. Belaya Polosa – Molchat Doma
5. stay – The World Ends With You

Most Played Song of 2024:

A song I randomly stumbled upon just when I needed it most — thank you, random Spotify suggestion. “When I needed you, you were never there, now I’m in need of a friend again” rings in my ears, making me think of people who were never truly present.

To me, a song is good if it can take me back to the hardest times in my life, so yeah, thanks for that, Dogtooth. The anger and frustration embedded in the sounds and lyrics made me put this song on repeat on nights when I felt a strong resentment toward certain people.

Dogtooth’s “Special Kind of Sadness” isn’t like any other sad song. Instead of making me wallow in sorrow, it evokes something much more complex that I can’t explain — maybe that’s why it’s called a special kind of sadness.

An Old Album I Discovered/Rediscovered This Year:

I’m always late to things. I remember discovering this album while listening to Stevens’ Carrie and Lowell on a slow night when nothing seemed to be happening. I decided I needed more of his music, so I scrolled through his catalogue and stopped randomly at Seven Swans. Now, this album has become a must-listen, especially during slow morning commutes when I’m not exactly feeling optimistic but just want to be in a calm state of mind for once.

Biggest Disappointment:

My biggest disappointment this year might sound strange, but it’s discovering new songs only to find they’re nowhere on the internet when I try to listen again! It makes me wonder if limited funding in the indie music scene is stopping some artists from getting their work on streaming platforms. How long will this issue keep getting overlooked? Who knows. For now, this earworm of mine will just have to stay uncured.

Biggest Surprise:

My biggest surprise has to be the wealth of good music created by people around me and local artists. It’s up to us—me and you—whether we choose to indulge in it. Why limit ourselves to the same songs and genres over and over again? I understand we all have our preferences, but I don’t think you have anything to lose by exploring the local scene.