2024 has been a tremendous year for Singaporean artists and fans alike. From the encouraging rise of fresh new faces in the local scene to the welcome return of familiar veterans - we’ve been blessed by a wealth of quality music coming out of our little island. These were just some of the best homegrown songs that caught Hear65’s ears this calendar year.
Hidzir Junaini’s picks:
weish & Claude Glass - ‘Horizon’
Who could’ve predicted that an NDP song would end up on one of these year-end lists? Yet here are, celebrating the most sonically fascinating National Day Parade composition to have ever graced our mainstream airwaves. Multidisciplinary artist weish and producer Claude Glass (aka Isa Ong of Amateur Takes Control, sub:shaman and Pleasantry) were given “full creative freedom” to create a hopeful and stirring composition, resulting in a wonderfully unorthodox anthem that used weish’s primal vocals as the fulcrum in a fine balance between “noisy, dirty synths” and “sweet, organic textures”. Read more about it in this interview.
Emanon - ‘Origami Jazz’
The entirety of Emanon’s debut EP on local independent label Super Enjoy is a triumph. But if we had to pick just one track from Surface of Sound to champion, it has to be her exquisite lead single. True to its title, the saxophone and trumpet portions of this gem were delicately folded together from a variety of samples. “I was hunting for samples on Splice to learn how to record and mix saxophone better, and I suddenly thought it’d be fun to try to make jazz solos from all the samples. So the brass sections in this track are basically a tonne of different samples origami-ed together,” Emanon reveals in this interview.
iiara (feat. Zaymm) - ‘23’
Formerly known as singer-songwriter Chloe Ho, the talented young artist reinvented herself as a rapper named iiara on her sublime debut EP Wake Up Slow. “I realised that I’ve reached my peak with the singer-songwriter genre, and since I was already incorporating rap-like phrases in quite a few of my songs I just decided to switch to hip-hop,” she shares in this interview. The first track she released under this new moniker was an absolute beaut called ‘23’ (featuring local rapper Zaymm) that proved to be a revelatory showcase of her evocative flow and expressive lyricism. We can’t wait to see what she has in store for 2025!
Amateur Takes Control - ‘Doomscroller’
It’s been a minute since we’ve heard from Amateur Takes Control, which is why we were so stoked to learn that the post-rock veterans are back with a full-length studio album in tow! The band recently teased their forthcoming LP, A Pale Decrepit Dot, with a pair of visceral singles, which include an ominous epic called ‘Doomscroller’. The quintet has publicly stated that their new record is a lamentation on the violence and suffering we see in our world today, and this apocalyptic song certainly fits that grand theme. The perfect soundtrack as we check social media during the end times.
yeule - ‘Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl’
Taken off the outstanding soundtrack for one of the year’s best films I Saw The TV Glow (Jane Schoenbrun’s surreal, scary and surprising love letter to Buffy fandom) - yeule’s mesmerising cover of Broken Social Scene’s ‘Anthems For A Seventeen Year-Old Girl’ updates the seminal tune for a Gen Z audience. Co-produced by frequent collaborator Kin Leonn, they recontextualize the indie rock classic into a distorted electronic bedroom ballad that befits the Glitch Princess’ preternatural aura, while still retaining original’s emotional tenets.
Nash Farhan's picks:
Fickle - 'All My Life'
Fickle burst onto the scene earlier this year with a two-song demo, Demo 2024, inspired by the northeast emo genre. The release has quickly gained traction in the underground music community. Drawing clear influence from bands like Title Fight, Fickle weaves in hardcore elements that make their sound raw and electrifying. Their live shows promise pure chaos, packed with two-steps and stage dives. A perfect example is their track ‘All My Life,’ where blistering tempos give way to a slow, crushing breakdown before ramping up again for a high-energy finish.
Line Drive - 'Next To My Bed'
‘Next To My Bed,’ from Line Drive’s latest release NCL/Next To My Bed, is a perfect anthem of teen angst, romantic turmoil, and heartbreak—everything that makes a pop-punk song hit the sweet spot. The accompanying music video doubles down on the DIY ethos, embracing a no-budget, homemade vibe that captures the band just having a blast. It’s raw, authentic, and exactly what you’d expect from a classic pop-punk visual. With this release, Line Drive is not just embracing the genre’s essence—they’re driving Singapore’s pop-punk scene to thrive even more.
Shye - 'coffee or tea'
Shye describes 'coffee or tea' as "a perfect song to fall in love to," and it’s easy to see why. With its dreamy production and tender lyrics, the track exudes a warmth that feels like the perfect backdrop for quiet moments with someone special. “Writing this song makes me want to fall in love too,” the pop singer admits, hoping it resonates with listeners, whether they’ve found their person or not. For those who have, she envisions it as a soundtrack to life’s intimate moments—a song to slow dance to, brimming with charm and heartfelt emotion.
Carpet Golf - 'What You Carry'
Carpet Golf's new EP, In Between, Out of Phase, delivers eight standout tracks, with ‘What You Carry’ shining especially bright. The song embodies their signature sound, paired with the quirky, playful visuals fans have come to expect. “Every time we try to do something serious, we end up making a joke out of it,” shares Nat, the vocalist, explaining the music video’s lighthearted approach in our interview with them. “We really just wanted to make something that all of us would laugh at.” This unapologetic humor, combined with their distinct style, shows Carpet Golf has truly perfected their formula for standing out as a band.
Regina Song - 'the cutest pair'
Regina Song’s viral hit ‘the cutest pair’ has taken TikTok by storm, with users celebrating love by using the track to highlight their relationships. Inspired by unrequited feelings for a crush, the song blends heartfelt lyrics with a relatable narrative, making it a perfect anthem for young love. Its dreamy music video, shot at Gardens by the Bay, complements the track’s sincerity and nostalgic charm. With over 20 million TikTok views and a spot on Spotify’s Viral 50 - Global playlist, the song has captured hearts worldwide, cementing Regina as a rising star in modern pop. Read more about her viral hit sensation and her other songs here.
