Music World Cup
We're jumping on the World Cup frenzy to bring you some of the best new bands from all around the world, one from each country competing in the Soccer World Cup.
RUSSIA
Kedr Livanskiy The host country of this World Cup has quite an interesting scene, and a few of new bands like Pinkshinyultrablast, Olga Bell and Lolina are starting a good crossover with English speaking albums. Kedr Livanskiy is a young woman from Moscow that explores fairytales in ethereal synths.
FRANCE
Fishbach France enjoys one of the healthiest non-English speaking music scenes in the world, with bands like Daft Punk, Phoenix and Justice being at the top of the electro-indie game. Fiscbach is a fresh take on indie pop-rock with a really cool attitude.
ENGLAND
Superorganism Since the start of modern music, from The Beatles to The XX, England has been leading all the trends in pop music, so we can always hope for good music from their side of the world. Superorganism are the coolest indie new kids that bring good vibes to the party.
BELGIUM
Warhaus Frequently diminished by their more famous neighbours, Belgium has had a few massive hits here and there with band like Soulwax and Stromae. Warhaus is the solo project of Maarten Devoldere, who will seduce you with his moody alternative rock.
CROATIA
Tús Nua Like all the Balcanic countries, Croatia suffers the huge impact of Euro-pop, but unlike some of its neighbors, it also offers a wider spectrum in other genres. Tús Nua is an all-female shoegaze band with haunting and dense melodies.
SWEDEN
Wy This Scandinavian country has one of the biggest music industries in the world, and it is home to both sophisticated popstars like Robyn or alternative genius like Fever Ray. On the dreamy shoegaze side of the spectrum, Wy promises to reach as far as other Swedish acts.
BRAZIL
Giovani Cidreira Beyond the samba and bossa-nova, Brazil has a rich history of music that touches divers styles, like Sepultura's metal or Cansei de Ser Sexi's synthpop. Giovani Cidreira mixes Popular Brazilian Music with indie rock to give us intense retro songs.
URUGUAY
Las Cobras
Surrounded by the much bigger music industries of Argentina, Brasil and Chile, Uruguay scene has been mostly an after-thought in Latin American music, but here and there appear a few bands worth of checking out. Las Cobras is experimental and dangerous psychedelic rock ready to attack and bite when you less expect it.
SPAIN
Rosalía
It's safe to say that Spain has been producing the best rock music from al Hispanic countries with bands like El Columpio Asesino, Triángulo de Amor Bizarro or Mourn, but they ace other styles as well. Rosalía is breaking boundaries with her modern take in flamenco mixed with trap.
PORTUGAL
10,000 Russos
Forget any preconception you can have of Portuguese music, because right now it’s one of the hottest places for new adventurous music. 10,000 Russos is highly addictive psychedelic rock that paints experimental landscapes with dark tonalities.
MEXICO
Wet Baes
Slowly recovering from a bad music decade in the 00s, Mexico's new indie has been specially successful with acts involving synths like Neon Indian, Clubz and Exploded View. Wet Baes has all the right retro vibes to get us dancing in a nostalgic trip to the 80s.
ARGENTINA
Luca Bocci
When it seemed like Argentina was losing their status of regional music leader, a few bands like Juana Molina, Él Mató a un Policía Motorizado and Tei Shi are putting them back in their rightful place. Luca Bocci is the singer-songwriter that reminds us of the great times of South American classic rock.
JAPAN
Okada Takuro
When we think of Japanese modern music, we instantly think of J-Pop and anime tunes, but beyond that, they have a vast and super interesting scene that has given us important names like Cornelius and Mitski. With a sweet and dreamy indie-pop, Okada Takuro is ready to win our hearts and our playlists.
DENMARK
Masasolo
Nordic countries have nailed the way of exporting local musicians to international markets by having them recording in English rather than in their own languages, like Mew, Mø and The Raveonettes. Masasolo is starting to make waves with his fun psychedelic pop-rock.
COLOMBIA
Ela Minus
From all the Latin American countries, Colombia might be the most successful at exporting musicians like Kali Uchis and J Balvin to international markets. In the indie local scene, the shiny synths of Ela Minus are one of their biggest promises.
SWITZERLAND
Zeal & Ardor
With three different official languages and surrounded by much bigger scenes, Switzerland modern music scene has struggled to find their own national identity. Zeal & Ardor's hard rock is a full-blast of good riffs and intense energy.
IRAN
Sevdaliza
One of the most exciting music scenes in the Middle East, Iran is ready to surprise with how they mixed their traditional rhythms with punk or electronics. Sevdaliza creates dark and mysterious atmospheres with sophisticated minimal synthpop.
SAUDI ARABIA
Majedalesa
Most of the music of this country is heavily traditional, but once in a while you get a musician that defies cultural norms and conventions and create powerful music, like Majedalesa, a producer that mixes traditional Arab rhythms with pop, rap or electronics.
PERU
Rod Blur
Peru is fighting hard against the bad reputation of their music given by infamous Internet celebrities. Rod Blur is merciless with his aggressive psychedelic rock that need to be played in a loud soundsystem to feel its real power.
SOUTH KOREA
Se So Neon
Even if this country is mostly associated with K-Pop, they have quite a few interesting bands, even in unsuspected styles like metal or rap. Se So Neon is very lovable indie rock with edgy traces of psychedelia in their arrangements.
TUNISIA
Yallah Bye
The north of Africa has quite an interesting scene that mixes traditional Middle Eastern rhythms with avant-garde trends, and a few Tunisian artists, fronted by Emel Mathlouthi, have started making international waves. Here some traditional chaabi mixed with electronics, courtesy of Yallah Bye.
SERBIA
Šajzerbiterlemon
Beyond the crappy euro pop that still tops their charts, Serbia has quite an interesting alternative scene, and to prove it, Šajzerbiterlemon, from Belgrade, blast their angry garage punk with an anarchic attitude ready to break Eastern-Europe stereotypes.
NIGERIA
Tolaní
In Africa, Nigeria is one of the biggest markets for pop regional music, always with some touch of afrobeat. Indie and alternative don’t do as well, but bands like Ibibio Sound Machine are getting some success. Tolaní is their local answer to the 90s R&B revival that will bring cool vibes to the dancefloor.
SENEGAL
Marieme
From all the 32 countries involved in the World Cup, Senegal was the most difficult one to find something worthy of sharing. Tiny industry with not much innovation in it, most of it is a repetition of the mbalax music that Youssou N’Dour made popular in the 80s. After almost giving up, we came across with the soul music of Marieme.
AUSTRALIA
G Flip
The country that gave us Tame Impala and Courtney Barnett never disappoints with a good dose of good music. G Flip is the kind of power pop we wish was what mainstream is all about, her drums and her energy will gave you the punch of adrenaline that your day needs.
GERMANY
Yeah But No
They have a healthy and diversified music scene, but it is their electronic acts, like Moderat and DJ Koze, the ones that are world famous because of their top quality. In that same vein, Yeah But No offers complex and fascinating minimal techno for late hours of the night.
POLAND
Coals
The last few years has seen an arise of quite an interesting generation of alternative Polish bands, in different styles, but most of them sharing an interesting trait: dark atmospheres. As an example, here are the evocative and intimate minimal electronics of Coals.
ICELAND
Högni
Home to big alternative acts like Björk and Sigur Ròs, one immediately associates Iceland with their avant-garde experimentation. Högni (from GusGus) starts his solo project with vanguardist glacial sounds that are intriguing and hypnotic.
MOROCCO
Amine Dhobb
Even if Moroccan music scene isn't as exciting as some of their North Africa neighbors, if you start digging below the surface, you can find some jewels like the dream-pop synths of Amine Dhobb, that will take you to blissful heights in an hypnotic trip.
COSTA RICA
Hijos
For such a small country, Costa Rica has quite an eclectic and exciting music scene that has brought us Patterns’ synthpop and Las Robertas’ punk. Hijos develops dark texturized electronics that mess with our intimate sensorial perceptions.
EGYPT
Gohary
Alternative scene in Egypt keeps growing and getting more and more diverse, mixing traditional folk styles with contemporary trends. Gohary blends hip-hop, electropop and tribal rhythms to get this empowering and unapologetic combo.
PANAMA
Entre Nos
Heavily dominated by reggaetton, Panama music scene hasn’t developed very much, with just a few (and not particularly groundbreaking) bands giving a fight for alternative music. Entre Nos is funky, sexy and uncomplicated rock-pop.
