Creating this list almost felt like having to choose between my favourite children, so I want to point out that this list is not ultimate and that it was incredibly hard to decide who to write about. However, in the end I chose five artists that I’m somehow always in the mood to listen to, no matter what.

I want to begin this list with the one band I’d name as my definite favourite and which I have undoubtedly seen the most – Giant Rooks. The first time that I saw and heard about them was in 2016 when they opened for VonWegenLisbeth (another great band, by the way). Back then, they had only just started their career as a group, but I was immediately impressed and didn’t want to miss them in my playlists from now on. Until this day, I’m still very much in love with their first ever EP The Times Are Bursting The Lines.

Since then, their musical style has changed and they made a name for themselves outside of Germany as well, which makes me incredibly happy for them, because they truly deserve to share their love for making music with the world. Their lyrics never fail to amaze me and while a lot of them are rather ambiguous, I feel myself relating to them. Giant Rooks are my absolute favourite band, and I can’t wait to see them many more times in the future.

Additionally, I value so much more about them than just their music. For their recent “How Have You Been” tour, I went on a trip around Europe and it’s been one of the best experiences ever. I’ve met lots of great people thanks to them and the memories I made at their concerts, before and after, or in relation to their music, are unforgettable and some of the most important memories I treasure. Also, they have some of the prettiest merch I’ve ever seen (my bank account hates this fact).

Kawala is a recent addition to my favourites, but I’m so glad I discovered them! I’ve only recently discovered them, when they opened for a couple shows for Giant Rooks (you see…there’s a pattern. I love opening acts) and they quickly became part of my “On Repeat” playlist. Their music is a blend of indie, folk and pop and the lyrics speak to a large group of people, even upon hearing them for the first time.  

Their energy on stage is so much fun and they managed to make the audience dance and jump every single night, despite the challenging task of being the opening act these nights, which I found very impressive. Not only this, but they also managed to personally connect with the audience with funny speeches in between songs and preparing a little paragraph in the respective countries’ native languages. I enjoyed their sets so much that I decided to buy a ticket to their own headline show in Utrecht- while still in the pit of one of the Giant Rooks concerts- and I honestly can’t wait! I definitely think that they deserve way more recognition outside of the UK and I hope they will get the opportunity to play lots of shows in the future, so more people can fall in love with their music.

One of the artists that stands out in songwriting for me is Lizzy McAlpine. I find myself relating to a lot of her lyrics and find a lot of comfort in her songs. She often sings about sensitive themes like love, self-discovery, growing up and the vulnerability that comes with it. The emotional connection to her listeners that she manages to create with her lyrics is a special one and I personally can’t name a lot of examples that could compare. A lot of her lyrics almost feel like an actual story and it is not hard to imagine oneself in the situations described in them. Lizzy’s music feels authentic and sincere, making it feel like a safe space and the promise that things will be okay, eventually. 

‘Pancakes for Dinner’ is one of the first songs I listened to when I first discovered her, and I immediately loved it. Her descriptions in the lyrics are creative and I can vividly imagine her songs coming to life in the form of a movie in my head while listening, which I would definitely like to watch. 

Sadly, I haven’t had the chance to see her live yet, but I really hope I will get the chance someday!

Another great artist that I don’t want to miss in my daily music is Amilli. I think her voice is unique in the German music industry and thus she definitely stands out. She puts a lot of soul in her songs and in them, she talks honestly about feelings and experiences a lot of young people might have (and even if one didn’t have certain experiences that she describes, it is easy to feel empathy and imagine them). The sound of her music is relaxed and is reminiscent of a lullaby, while still being able to deliver powerful messages about self-worth, love, feminism and growing up. I appreciate her honesty and maybe it is partly because we are the same age, but I find myself relating to a lot of her songs.

Her shows are also an amazing choice to experience live and they are some of my favourite shows to see, plus they’re also very affordable, the same goes for her merch by the way! Amilli’s shows feel like being in a safe space with your friends (even though the people around you are strangers), an opportunity to get lost in the music and just truly feel the lyrics, without having to worry about anything else in the moment.

Besides her great music, she’s also just a really nice and sweet person to talk with and it is obvious how much she appreciates her audience and enjoys making music. She has a lot of potential and I hope she can share her music more internationally with lots of more people in the next few years.

In the midst of lockdown, I was scrolling on TikTok and came across this one song again and again (you can probably guess it, it was ‘death bed (coffee for your head)’) which eventually led me to searching for the artist on Spotify to check out the rest of her music. I immediately fell in love with her soft and soothing voice and her overall aesthetic. The music video for ‘the way things go’ is one of my favourite music videos I know (done in one single take!! How cool is that), the cinematography for her music videos is worth pointing out in general and very creative and well done. As someone who loves watching music videos, this is a huge plus. Many of Bea’s songs are dreamy and romantic, while still tackling sadder themes, and it’s one of the things I appreciate a lot about her music – it just feels like life truly is. I feel like I can always listen to her songs, no matter what mood I’m in and they just fit. The instrumentals of her songs often give me a nostalgic feeling, which I can’t quite explain but love very much. Bea’s music sounds like it comes straight from a scene in an Indie movie- and I mean this in the absolute best way possible. It makes me want to learn guitar and play the songs myself or doodle little pictures about the lyrics.

So far, I haven’t had the chance to see her live yet, but I will take the first chance that I get for sure and I can just imagine the amazing energy at her shows, after listening to her live album that she released.