‘Tis the merry month of December ?
and oh what a month to remember,
With every joyful day that passes,
More great music for the masses!Please allow us to introduce ourselves,
We’re the jolly Europavox elves, ?? ??
We don’t bring candy or make toys,
We prefer to give out rock, pop and noise.Every day we’ll bring you musical cheer,
Introducing you to the best of the year,
Gather your loved ones, your friends, your fam,
We’ll give you the gift of your new favorite jam.?So throw the Yule log on the fire,
Turn the volume up even higher,
Grab a mug of cocoa and press play,
? Together we’ll wait for Santa’s sleigh! ?
8318
DECEMBER 24TH
– selected as best band of the year by Thomas Macharias, our artistic coordinator from Greece.
DECEMBER 23RD
Being an avid R&B lover, it easily feels that this style gets lost into too many tropes and trends of the day. Tsar B feels likes one of the great discoveries given to us by 2018. The Belgian artist melds two worlds: the dark r&b that has been ever-present since The Weekend’s first release and Middle Eastern sounds — a combination that will strikes us as eerie as alluring. And that is totally the right tone to end this year on.
– selected as best band of the year by Amorim Abiassi Ferreira, our journalist from Portugal.
Tsar B
“ Delivering true „girl power,“ Tsar B explores the world ”
DECEMBER 22ND
I saw Ibeyi perform at Europavox Festival 2018 and was blown away by their incredible musical style. They are such a powerful duo, strong female characters with a killer energy and the ability to enchant an audience, and amazing live. Their ability to meld raw percussion with their music is what makes their stuff genre-defying, and that inability to be boxed in is perhaps what is the most wonderful thing about them. This amazing duo is so underrated for the great sound that they’re putting out. Don’t miss out — check their music out now!
– selected as best band of the year by Cheryl Ang, our journalist from Iceland.
Ibeyi
“ Twin sisters fuse African-Cuban sounds with digital technology ”
DECEMBER 21ST
Drawn together from the shattered remnants of an indie band and the wacky realm of internet message boards, scatty London act Superorganism are to music what “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is to the cinema. Utterly unpredictable, colourfully wild, meme-inspired and prone to throwing in wacky sound effects and musings on prawns and self-confidence, it’s a miracle this band forms a palatable whole. And yet they do, and it’s effortlessly, head-wreckingly wonderful. The result is pop music for the 21st century, crawling with character and buzzing with creativity.
– selected as best band of the year by James Hendicott, our journalist from Ireland.
Superorganism
“ A candy-coloured Millennial indie-pop super-group ”
DECEMBER 20TH
– selected as best band of the year by Ivana Jelaca, our artistic coordinator from Croatia.
DECEMBER 19TH
– selected as best band of the year by the band 5K HD, from Austria.
SXTN
“ This female, badass rap duo from Berlin are hitting a new voice for the German youth. ”
DECEMBER 18TH
Rosalía is probably the perfect cross between traditional music and a modern feel. She is like a vulcano, raw power, and, from her ashes, she creates diamonds. And the lava is impossible to control, like some emotions, and Rosalía has plenty of emotions in her voice and music. Can’t wait to see her live!
– selected as best band of the year by Gonçalo Castro, our journalist from Portugal.
DECEMBER 17TH
Breaking out of the standard 80s synth-pop mould, Portugal’s Best Youth managed to re-define the genre with this year’s release, Cherry Domino. Recorded at CRC Studios by Chairlift’s Patrick Wimberly, the album includes collaborations with electro heavy-hitters like Moullinex (also from Portugal).
Founded by Catarina Salinas and Ed Rocha Gonçalves, the duo spent seven years perfecting Cherry Domino. The end result is a nine-track LP that finishes with an eerie bang, “Disintegrate.” Speaking to the album’s theme of vanishing personal connections caused by a chaotic world, the song is a cliffhanger for what’s to come from Best Youth.
– selected as best band of the year by Jacob Mcpherson, our journalist from Belgium.
DECEMBER 16TH
I have always had a thing for performers that just don’t seem to care that much about the image they are sending to the world, that seem to produce music for themselves more than for others. This is what I felt while listening to Shitkid. I like the garage, raw beats, brazen and somewhat kitschy aesthetics of her art and fun performance.
– selected as best band of the year by Jelena, our journalist from Croatia
DECEMBER 15TH
– selected as best band of the year by Paul-Henri Wauters, our artistic Director From Belgium
DECEMBER 14TH
– selected as best band of the year by Lysistrata, one of the bands from our Coaching Export Program!
La Jungle
“ Powerful kraut, math rock at the edges and noise everywhere else. ”
DECEMBER 13TH
What characterizes great artists is that they can create magic no matter what style of music they take on. Norwegian singer/songwriter Susanne Sundfør – known for collaborations with M83, Röyksopp and Kleerup ¬– is one of those artists. Last year’s album Music For People In Trouble was a step back to her folk roots after 2015’s international breakthrough with electronic driven and epic Ten Love Songs. 2018 was the year when Susanne Sundfør magnetized audiences on stage across Europe with her outstanding voice. Unfortunately, the concert at Europavox was cancelled, but the more I can look forward to a new chance to hear this great artist.
– selected as best band of the year by Johan Lothsson, our journalist from Sweden
DECEMBER 12
Hailing from Dublin, Fontaines D.C. encapsulate the energy, the poetry and the great music tradition of their city. They’re huge fans of The Pogues and Girl Band, but they’re also part of the new generation of guitar bands, along with Shame and Idles. Their recent show in Paris was a thrilling moment full of rage, wit and charisma. Recently signed to Partisan Records, they’re going to release their first album next spring – the most anticipated album of 2019 if you ask me!
– selected as best band of the year by Noémie Lecoq, our journalist from France
Fontaines D.C
“ Stark, abrasive and ballsy guitar poetry with an Irish soul ”
DECEMBER 11TH
– selected as best band of the year by Pasco Pezzillo, our artistic Director From Italy
Meute
“ Techno classics reimagined in for a New Orleans, brass-band, street party ”
DECEMBER 10TH
– selected as best band of the year by Σtella, one of the bands from our Coaching Export Program!
The Blaze
“ The talented multimedia output of the French house-scene ”
DECEMBER 9TH
“There are not so many artists that can combines sultry electronic music with eclectic hip-hop vibes. Vienna-based WANDL mixes these elements in a unique sound with a lot of dreamy and romantic influences. His music is like the meeting of James Blake with a bunch of new-school artists like Yung Lean or Corbin. On his debut album titled It’s All Good Tho, WANDL sounds like a soundtrack of a never-ending last day of summer. He’s also a true master of the one-man show where he builds an absolutely hypnotizing atmosphere. You won’t take your eyes and ears off him.”
– selected as best band of the year by Hubert, our journalist from Poland.
Wandl
“ Key producer of Viennese cloud rap/post-swag, buzzing big in Europe with his golden voice and lit beats. ”
DECEMBER 8TH
– selected as best band of the year by Victor, our artistic director from Lithuania.
Boy Pablo
“ Laid-back guitar pop daydreams, as fun as a day off school with your friends ”
DECEMBER 7TH
“Though they can be easily compared to Mazzy Star’s shoegaze, this Estonian band takes a darker turn. They debuted this year with Slow Sundown, a wonderful showcase of their ability at mood and songcraft. Eliann Tulve’s voice gives the songs a narcotic languor, a moonlit tint that makes them sound like she’s constantly on the verge of drifting away. But there’s something appealing in this foggy atmosphere like a siren song: the echoing guitar layers wreathe the chilly arrangements, the core emphasis becomes a nexus point between 90s alt rock and dream pop, the vocals emerge like a devilishly angelic shadow; and they all come to life.”
– selected as best band of the year by Maro, our journalist from Greece.
DECEMBER 6TH
My work as a music critic forces me to be up to date with all the novelties. When Noémie Lecoq wrote about him for the Europavox website in April, I played “Fête de Trop” and immediately my heart stopped — I fell for Eddy De Pretto. Cure is an album full of sad hymns that make you dance. This urban crooner takes the chanson francaise to the 21st century. Seeing him live at Clermont-Ferrand with a crazed audience did nothing but increase my fascination with Eddy. His vinyl is not only the best of the year, but is also one of the most played in my home.
– selected as best band of the year by Marcos, our journalist from Spain.
DECEMBER 5TH
“During Eurosonic 2018, I was utterly surprised when I saw the main stage suddenly conquered by a young twenty-something Belgian singer–songwriter called Angele. Who is she? Someone from the festival crew told me that she had just a couple of singles in the market and an album on the way. Everything fell into place a few months later with the excellent debut album _Brol_ that charted 1st in Belgium and 3rd in France. Angele Van Laeken hits the charts with an impressive crossover of classic French chanson and contemporary electronics. It won’t take long for her to become a big star all over Europe.”
– selected as best band of the year by Ilko, our journalist from Croatia
DECEMBER 4TH
– selected as best band of the year by Hannes, our artistic director from Austria.
DECEMBER 3RD
“IDLES are one of the best bands of 2018 because they’re not just the band we need, they’re the band we deserve. Furious, raw, uncompromising and clever as fuck.”
– selected as best band of the year by Daniel Sheppard, from Slovenia
IDLES
“ IDLES come across like Henry Rollins, one that you want to take home to your mum, and discuss the values of public health care ”
DECEMBER 2ND
“Shame, five classmates playing together, is one of the best bands of 2018 because their first record, Songs Of Praise, is powerful and revitalizes (post-)punk music. They were a surprise, coming from a scene – Brighton, U.K. – currently very creative. Their punk-rock is electric, nervous and raw. Frontman Charlie Steen’s singing is often declamatory and the sound is direct, in search of authenticity. They are genuinely provocative and capable of shaking their listeners, dealing with sociopolitical arguments or with the insecurities that afflict each of us. They are young and brave. “No more questions“, to quote one of the songs in the tracklist, Concrete. Only praise for now.”
– selected as best band of the year by Elena Raugei, from Italy
shame
“ Debatable not relatable; the angry riposte of teenage angst. ”
DECEMBER 1ST
“Listening to him he’s a Voice, and a fantastic guy who knows how to compose great hits ! Live : He’s just so generous with the audience and is an incredible entertainer.”
– selected as best band of the year by François Audigier, from France
