Fun fact: the only person to ever have a number one hit in the US with a German song was not German, but Austrian. Falco, who unfortunately passed away in 1998, was an artistic trailblazer, had hits in several countries such as Spain, Japan, and France, and is considered a musical hero in his home country. Long before Falco, there was Mozart, a fellow legendary Austrian musician. And that one hypnotising song you hear on TikTok all the time, ‘Me and the Devil’? That’s also an Austrian song, created by Anja Plaschg alias Soap&Skin. Seems like the hills really are alive with The Sound of Music in this alpine country! Time to highlight some of the talent that is hidden between those hills. 

Undoubtedly one of the most gifted voices of the young music scene in Austria, TEYA made the nation proud when she represented the country together with SALENA at Eurovision in Liverpool last year. But their stint at the famous competition was only the beginning of her career, and since then, she has added some true gems to her discography, continuously proving just what a talented singer-songwriter she is. Funny, thought-provoking, and exciting are just a few adjectives that can be used to describe TEYA’s music – to sum it up, it’s anything but boring. Her newest release ‘To-Do List’ further fuelled the anticipation for her debut EP, which is expected to come out later this year.  

Lion Season are a Viennese indie rock band who impress with a unique sound and energetic live shows. While the explosive trio hails from Austria’s capital, their music is reminiscent of some of Britain’s best alternative rock bands. With a discography that is the perfect mixture of fast-paced bops and slow tunes seeping with melancholia such as ‘Hold On’ or ‘(Not) About You’, Lion Season provides the kind of music you listen to during late night drives through the city with the windows rolled down. They certainly don’t lack glamour and charisma either; in fact, the glam rock energy they exude goes right along with their Brit rock sound. 

NENDA stands out on this list, as she’s a rapper (as well as an actress and filmmaker), which are notoriously rare to find in the Alps. However, that’s not the only reason why she is such an outstanding artist. NENDA has made a name for herself with sharp takes and witty lyrics. Rapping in a smooth mixture of German, English, and Austrian dialect, she is truly one of a kind and often ahead of her time. She doesn’t shy away from discussing topics such as racism; the best example for this is her song ‘Mixed Feelings’ which has garnered an impressive 1.5 million streams on Spotify. NENDA no longer lives in Austria, but she certainly has left a mark on the music scene of her home country. 

PIA MARIA went to Eurovision the year before TEYA did, and much like TEYA, PIA MARIA has been working non-stop since and won the hearts of fans all over the country with her talent and her bubbly personality. PIA MARIA’s music is just as colourful as her ever-changing hair, as she ventures into a broad array of different genres. Lyrical gems such as ‘Should have seen the hell in your hello, now I’m searchin’ for the good in goodbye’ are part of what makes her music so special; add her powerful voice to the mix and you’ve got yourself a superstar in the making. In the year of hyper pop (which is to say, the year of ‘brat’), PIA MARIA fits right in and will hopefully receive the attention she deserves soon. 

Despite his tender age, Oskar Haag has reached quite a few remarkable milestones already – winning important Austrian music awards, going on his own headline tour, and supporting UK’s sweetheart Birdy on hers. Originally from Carinthia, Austria’s south, Oskar grew up in a creative home and follows his father’s footsteps as a singer-songwriter and actor. Last year he released his debut album Teenage Lullabies, which climbed the charts and received unanimous praise. With soft indie tones, poetic lyrics, and melancholic tunes, Oskar captures the trials and tribulations of young adulthood like none other. And who else can claim a song with a title like ‘Leaving For Monaco Or Wherever The Fuck We Want To Go’ as the opening track of their debut album?