The Bias Checklist is a Okay-pop weblog that additionally covers a good quantity of J-pop. However identical to most music followers, I take pleasure in tracks from all all over the world. So, I assumed I’d begin a month-to-month round-up of among the non-Okay-pop songs which have caught my ear. No scores — simply highlights!
February 2022 // March 2022 // April 2022 // Could 2022 // June 2022 // July 2022 // August 2022 // September 2022 // October 2022 // November 2022 // January 2023 // February 2023 // March 2023 // April 2023 // Could 2023 // June 2023 // July 2023 // August 2023 // September 2023 // October 2023 // November 2023 // January 2024 // February 2024 // March 2024 // April 2024 // Could 2024 // June 2024 // July 2024 // August 2024 // September 2024 // October 2024 // November 2024 // December 2024 // January 2025
Alice Chater – Mattress Of Lies
All of Alice Chater’s singles to date have been “nearly there” for me and that is no totally different, however I really like the groove.
Arttu Wiskari – Suuria tarinoita
Propulsive Finnish pop from a grasp of the style.
Ava Max – Misplaced Your Religion
Ava will get quite a lot of crap on-line about how “primary” her music is, and I suppose there’s some reality to that. Nonetheless, her songs are at all times catchy and enjoyable to sing together with and I fairly just like the extra rock-influenced edge to this one.
Bentley Robles & Zee Machine – Lock Me Up!
These two got here collectively for considered one of my favourite songs of 2024 and goal to repeat that glory with Lock Me Up. It’s one other victory lap for each of them. I simply love this high-energy synth sound.
DE’WAYNE – Freeway Theft
The proper mix of Prince and Lenny Kravitz with a new-gen edge. I really like the sound of this however I’m taking part in final 12 months’s bombastic Synthesizer much more. He’s such an thrilling new pop/rock star!
Grant Knoche – Autopilot
80’s funk meets early-2000’s Neptunes/Timbaland beats for a complete standout.
Gustaph – Actually Mine
Gustaph stays one of many world’s finest purveyors of genuine 90’s home.
John Lundvik – Voice Of The Silent
Tacky as all get-out, however I’m a sucker for these huge, anthemic pop tracks.
JVG – Rehellisesti
Finland’s main rap duo has slowly morphed into an unbelievable dance act. That is huge.
Käärijä & Hooja – San Francisco Boy
Nobody pulls off novelty higher than Käärijä. That is manner catchier than it must be.
Kaleen – Knocking On Heaven’s Door
She’s persevering with her rave from final 12 months with this easy, crystalline membership banger.
Klara Hammarström – On And On And On
Melodifestivalen 2025 has been underwhelming to date (I assume they’re saving the most effective for final), however that is my spotlight of the primary half. It’s the sort of huge dance monitor you’ll be able to solely get with Eurovision.
Kristy Spiteri – Heaven Despatched
Talking of Eurovision, I’m not a fan of the Kant music Malta ended up selecting however I actually love this zany, operatic runner-up.
Girl Gaga – Abracadabra
My favourite improvement of 2025 to date is most of the people’s rapturous acceptance of this sensible new Girl Gaga single (adopted carefully by Erika Vikman profitable UMK). The music is every part I’ve been lacking in mainstream pop and has me ridiculously excited for the upcoming album. We’re so again!
Ladybug – Scorching As Hell In Paradise
Operatic bombast on a larger-than-life pop banger. I stay for this drama.
Landy Wen – One Kiss (ft. icyball)
Taiwan’s diva unleashes an enormous disco bop with the assistance of wonderful synth-rock again icyball.
Le Manou – Fille à papa
On to Belgium now, with one other enormous membership hit. That electro beat is deadly.
LLL – Parasite
I really like a brand new woman group with a pounding rave sound!
Lovequest – Wrecking Crew (with Extremely Naté)
This new dance outfit groups with legendary membership queen Extremely Naté for a predictably nice home hit.
Madison Rose – Panavision
I featured this in an earlier round-up however needed to offer its cool self-directed music video some highlight too. Madison continues to kill it.
Maja Ivarsson – Kamikaze Life
I can’t imagine I’m listening to a Maja Ivarsson music in 2025 that sounds as if it might have been part of The Sounds’ debut album. It’s an enormous shot of nostalgia.
Michael Medrano – The Penthouse
I really like how elements of this echo the addictive bounce of J-Kwon’s immortal hip-hop basic Tipsy. The whole album is sleazy enjoyable with constantly excessive vitality.
Ollie Wride – Holy Drug
Ollie Wride’s second album is extremely robust, particularly when you love 80’s Spingsteen-esque synth-rock. That is considered one of my favourite b-sides, however I additionally wish to hyperlink the unbelievable Radio – a stellar single I by some means missed from final 12 months.
Olly Alexander – Heal You / I Know
Olly’s new album is tremendous strong. It’s very Erasure-esque at occasions (with a contact of Darren Hayes), which these two standout tracks characterize. Nice melodies and nostalgic manufacturing.
Punchbag – F**okay It
I’m intrigued by this new duo and their pummeling sound.
Sissal – Hallucination
We’ve received a ton of Loreen impressed Eurovision tracks this 12 months and I’m not complaining one bit after they’re this satisfying.
Tone Damli – Final Track
Only a nice, shimmering dance-pop monitor.
Tuure Boelius – Kertaakaan
His new EP is constantly nice, however I largely wish to put up this so I can name again to 2023’s beautiful Läpi, which is anchored by a two-note synth riff that’s fully foundational to my life. It jogs my memory of Til Tuesday’s 80’s hit What About Love, which for no matter purpose is related with extremely vivid sense reminiscence for me. Music is really the world’s best magic trick. How can two notes, organized in a selected meter, comprise a lot of an individual’s musical DNA?
The Weeknd – Open Hearts
His new album’s a boring slog, however this one music stands out as an enormous spotlight.
