Showcase festival Eurosonic was planned for the end of January in Groningen.
To make it easier, we asked the Belgian music scene for their ultimate ESNS recommendations. Let them convince you!
Eppo Janssen from Pukkelpop recommends: The Haunted Youth
"Mesmerizing psych pop reminiscent of MGMT, DIIV, Slowdive or The Cure. One of the best live shows I saw last year!"
Get to know more about The Haunted Youth here.
Felix Van de Loock from Cactusfestival recommends: Aili
"As one of our most exciting new live acts, Aili delivers colourful and wacky bangers with a DIY feel. Expect a pulsating fuse of dance floor and rock club in Belgiums finest tradition."
Get to know more about Aili here.
Irene Rossi from Couleur Café Festival recommends: Chibi Ichigo
"Chibi Ichigo is a young Brussels artist with Russian-Flemish roots who writes and sings catchy songs in all the languages she knows, what makes her even more interesting. Dancebeats with a hiphop vibe, melancholic melodies mixed with upfront grrrl power, charming persona; just try to catch her live!"
Get to know more about Chibi Ichigo here.
Matéo Vigne from Vice City Belgium recommends: ascendant vierge
"We've been asked to write a few lines about ascendant vierge, since we like the exercise and we enjoy the music of ascendant vierge, we summarized in two words what we think about ascendant vierge: ascendant vierge".
Get to know more about ascendant vierge here.
Detchenma Smeesters from TIPIK recommends: Charles
"Charles perfectly encapsulates Generation Z’s melancholia by using rock’n’roll aesthetics to create genuine contemporary pop music”.
Get to know more about Charles here.
Dirk De Ruyck from Listen Festival recommends: Susobrino
“Susobrino released a new EP on Dengue Dengue Dengue's Kebrada label in October 2021, confirming his talent and international breakthrough. His live performance is highly regarded by all of us. To watch out for!”
Get to know more about Susobrino here.
Herman Schueremans from Rock Werchter recommends: Meskerem Mees
"No wonder Meskerem has been nominated for the Music Moves Europe Award and has already been played at MaMA, Montreux Jazz and Reeperbahn. The most disarming singer-songwriter in years".
Get to know more about Meskerem Mees here.
Isy Baeyens from De Roma recommends: Mooneye
"Rightful winners of StuBru's New Lichting. Catchy indie-pop songs with a soul for fans of Car Seat Headrest and Neil Young. "
Get to know more about Mooneye here.
Jana Tricot from OLT/Rivierenhof recommends: K.ZIA
"Highly recommended vibrant music that blends up alternative r&b, soul, pop, trap and afrobeats! Watch out for her debut album in 2022."
Get to know more about K.ZIA here.
Olivier Vanhalst from Botanique recommends: Neptunian Maximalism
"Their recent live appearances at festivals such as Le Guess Who and Roadburn Redux have blown away all those who have had the chance to attend them. A die-hard live experience, a journey to the confines of the vastness of the universe and to the depths of ourselves”
Get to know more about Neptunian Maximalism here.
Mathieu Fonsny from Dour Festival/ Fifty Lab recommends: ECHT!
"Imagine a boxing match where Floyd Mayweather is wearing a soul short and Mike Tyson some electronic gloves. Mohamed Ali would be the referee rocking some jazz notes in the middle of the ring".
Get to know more about ECHT! here.
Kurt Overbergh from Ancienne Belgique recommends: Naima Joris
"Naima Joris has a mesmerizing voice that cuts deep through every (jazz) soul. Listen to her heartbreaking version of Thom Yorke’s ‘Bloom’ and you’ll be instantly hookedAnd pray to gOD: ‘Thank you lord for sending such a talented artist to planet Earth!’"
Get to know more about Naima Joris here.
Wim Leppens from Desert Fest recommends: Pothamus
"Spooky and tribalesque sludge and post-rock we like! Tune low, turn up, drift off."
Get to know more about Pothamus here.
Lefto Early Bird recommends: Dorian Dumont
"To see Dorian Dumont’s project is like watching two worlds colide, where classical meets electronic! It is also a message to people who still think in boxes, well guess what, it’s 2022 and there are no boxes anymore for this new generation of musicians who have no intention to stick to the regular program. Playing Aphex Twin is the right introduction to electronic music and if that’s Dorian’s choice I can only look forward to what will be his next project!”
Get to know more about Dorian Dumont here.
Jean-Yves Reomont from Les Ardentes recommends: Commander Spoon
"The Mithra Jazz team in Liège has been supporting the Belgian scene for many years and is delighted to see new bands like Commander Spoon breaking down barriers between genres. The Brussels band delicately blends a multitude of influences to deliver energetic music that lowers the barriers between jazz, hip-hop, rock and electronic music.
Get to know more about Dorian Dumont here.
Maarten Ruelens from Rock Herk recommends: Psychonaut
"Their signature sound is heavily influenced by 70’s bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, but also draws inspiration from more modern sources like Tool and Amenra. Check their album on Pelagic Records!"
Get to know more about Psychonaut here.
Gerrit Kerremans from VRT (public broadcasting) recommends: Sylvie Kreusch
"With her velvety vocals, exotic beats, and strong visual live performances, Sylvie Kreusch has been praised by magazines and newspapers such as American Vogue, The New York Times and Dazed & Confused. They have called her "a mistress of dramatic, atmospheric pop". Vibe: Serge Gainsbourg, Lana Del Rey, Grace Jones and film noir."
Get to know more about Sylvie Kreusch here.