Spanish ethereal beats and muscular metal from Kyiv – thirteen tips for Eurosonic Noorderslag

To be clear, Groningen is natural always a nice city. But in January the ‘city’ is bubbling and buzzing, thanks to the Eurosonic Noorderslag double festival. European talent can be found spread across numerous locations from Wednesday to Friday everywhere in Groningen, and on Saturday the Oosterpoort pop venue will be all about talent from our own country.

And then there is the Pop Prize, won last year by Goldband. Once started as a battle between Groningen and Frisian squatters, it has now become a nationally prestigious prize. Traditionally very difficult to predict, but we can’t resist… Singer Froukje for example, didn’t she have a very good 2023? But she may be in for an even better year with her just-released debut album (she is also playing at Noorderslag just before the awards ceremony, and that always reduces the chances). Eefje de Visser should have received it in 2020, perhaps that gap will be made up – but he did not have a very special year last year. Acda & de Munnik, who have returned? Or Joost, who can go to the Eurovision Song Contest? Maybe finally the Golden Earring? Well.

And hey, such a nice prize for the industry, but much more fun for visitors is the festival’s always strong line-up. We went through it and snagged some new, fresh and challenging acts.

Spain, popRalphie Choo

Just put a genre above that covers what Ral-phie Choo does. The producer from Madrid often takes a completely different direction during a song; ethereal beats, rattling reggaeton, then sultry R&B, and just like his fellow citizen C. Tangana, he likes to cut up traditional Spanish music.

France, electronicDo It Do It

Fun is different, this act that impressed at Left of the Dial in Rotterdam last year. Nze Nze from Brest seeks out the discomfort with eerie noise and a singer who screams lyrics in the language of the Fang from Central Africa. Ominous, but also irresistible.

Poland, electronicForests

They look like the two goons who were in your class in 1997 and tried to sniff out a different experiment every chemistry lesson to see what would happen. And that’s what it sounds like. The music of Lasy from Gdansk is built on gabber beats, with improvised soundscapes and live drums.

Netherlands, electronic/classicalFuse

A classic string quartet, but slightly different. Fuse has always played on many different stages, so it is not surprising that they have now also ended up at Eurosonic. And with music that ranges from classical to jazz and pop – but is always very Fuse.

Finland, psych rockPolymoon

The psychedelic rock of Polymoon from Tampere, Finland is timeless. Wide-pipe hippie rock with deeply vibrating guitars, but certainly not uniform. Polymoon likes to cut pieces of prog rock and shoegaze with their psychedelics, and that produces intoxicating music.

Spain, pop/folkJulia Columbus

Another Spanish music innovator? Please! Colom comes from Mallorca and searches for the sounds of her island in her music, with traditional singing and guitar, but also with electronic elements. A bit mysterious, and very beautiful.

Ukraine, heavyFiery

Ignea makes muscular, melodic metal with a bit of prog, some folk and some symphonic rock. But the band from Kyiv has a secret ingredient: singer Helle Bogdanova, who puts on a very good roaring voice and then sings beautifully clearly. The fact that the band occasionally has to announce on social media that they are simply still alive, in the middle of a destructive war, makes it extra special to see them live.

Switzerland, hip hopNathalie Froehlich

With snippets of techno, reggaeton, dubstep and other exciting genres, Nathalie Froehlich doesn’t bake sugar cookies. Her songs are volcanoes that can explode at any moment. Sometimes it takes a while and they bubble for a dangerously long time, sometimes they explode faster.

United Kingdom, experimental popScrub

Born in London, roots in Turkey and Sri Lanka, and you hear it all in Bodur’s music. She discovers herself in her music, the deeper layers of her being and shares them with us. Always adding something more to her sound and becoming slightly more intriguing.

The Netherlands, singer/songwriterMorpheus

Morpheus is the Greek god of dreams. Not such a crazy name for the Amsterdam singer Martijn Verhagen: his narrative songs are incredibly dreamy. Subdued in sound, but with intense depth of layering. Think Tamino, Thomas Azier and other dark-hearted weeping willows with golden voices.

Netherlands, soul/jazz, electronicROLROLROL

ROLLOLLOL = LOLLOLLOL. Producer Mitchel van Dinther (Jameszoo) and keyboardist Niels Broos are not known for their light-hearted songs, but with ROLROLROL they let go of all ambition to make purely challenging music. This project stands for wonderfully grooving, jazzy electronics. Of course, with enough barbs to keep it interesting.

Netherlands, popZoë Livay

Zoë Livay listened to André Hazes and Shakira at her mother’s home. A combination that you can hear in her latest singles, such as ‘Woman of the World’. Her clear, full voice is equally versatile. And then she also writes music for a theater performance, together with Glen Faria.

hip hop, Slovenia/CroatiaFreekind

The music of duo Freekind is as sultry as it is groovy. The Croatian rapper/pianist Sara Ester Gredelj and the Slovenian drummer Nina Korosak Sercic have a jazzy flow that invites you to dance, but which can also take you away.

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The ‘shy Limburgertjes’ of band Yīn Yīn are on their way to Japan, but first Eurosonic Noorderslag

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