Here are my favorite songs of the month in synthpop, futurepop, darkwave, and adjacent genres. If you want to follow my music discovery this year, subscribe to my 2026 playlist on Spotify. New songs are added every Friday. Sort by “Date Added” to see new tracks appear at the top of the playlist.
10. EGO BLISS — “We Fall”
Last year, the Tijuana-based project Ego Bliss joined the Infacted Recordings roster and released a single called “Ascend” that offered a taste of their debut album. That album, Afterlife, is finally here, offering more of the high-energy futurepop I love. Mid-album cut “We Fall” pairs a sleek techno crunch with a sugary trance arpeggio that gives the song a firm electronic sheen. Its restrained vocals, especially the way it stretches out the final word of each line, convey the song’s longing, which makes “We Fall” feel quietly affecting.
9. VORN — “Static”
VORN is a new side project from Michael Roeder of A Spell Inside that previously released a few singles, including the on-the-nose nocturnal anthem “Under the Gothic Moon” and the club-friendly cut “Faithless.” Their debut album, Beyond the Sentinel, is full of fiery club bangers largely anchored by Michael’s distinctive vocals rising high out of the mix. Mid-album cut “Static” cranks up the intensity with a frenetic tempo, sputtering synths, and a jolting vocal melody on the chorus that makes this energetic track prime fodder for goth-industrial dance floors.
8. VOGON POETRY — “All Systems Red”
Swedish trio Vogon Poetry draw inspiration from the vast world of science fiction—their name, after all, comes from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Their latest single “All Systems Red” takes its cues from Martha Wells’ Murderbot universe, though the song works perfectly fine even if you don’t know the source material. Over rumbling electronics and compelling sci-fi samples, the song practically blasts off with enormous soaring melodies that gives the track a strong sense of adventure.
7. J:DEAD — “Keep Walking”
UK musician j:dead is in the midst of an ambitious year-long release cycle that finds him unveiling a new single each month. The versatile artist is known for his phenomenal voice, which moves fluidly from guttural shouts to melodic tenderness. His June release “Keep Walking” stays mainly in that softer range. Jay’s lyrics about moving on and leaving the past behind make the song feel intimate and vulnerable, while its steady rhythm keeps the momentum flowing.
6. BEYOND OBSESSION — “Leave Me”
“Leave Me” is the opening track off German duo Beyond Obsession’s excellent new album, In My Blood. It sets the tone right away with tons of echoey reverb and warm ’80s melodies. While this shimmery mid-tempo ballad isn’t as fast-paced as last year’s single “Deadline” or as opaque as deep album cut “Sugar Kills,” I find its wistful romanticism to be delightfully charming.
5. A THOUSAND MAD THINGS — “Hate It”
English project A Thousand Mad Things cement their status as one of the most promising new acts in modern synthpop with their Hate It EP. The title track isn’t as immediately endearing as previous singles “Truth You Seek” and “Empty Part of Me,” but nevertheless charms with a galloping beat that lends it more urgency. The song really comes to life on its chorus, which plays out like an ode to introspection: “I told you that I hate it / I told you that I didn’t want to go.” A powerful blast of “But you made me!” and vivid depictions of “demons at the door” add extra bite that amps up the song’s me-time message.
4. PART2 — “Only Silence”
Swedish trio PART2 delivers another strong showing with “Only Silence,” which takes a brighter route than January’s “My Pleasure and Pain,” a song that found the band at their darkest. The new track glows with a bright, sparkling synth riff, big stuttering pads, and a lovely low-register vocal delivery that sounds remarkably similar to their fellow Swedes in the mystery project Vintage Voltage. Warm backing vocals add another luminous touch that makes “Only Silence” feel elegant and quietly radiant.
3. CULTURE KULTÜR — “Same Old War”
Spanish futurepoppers Culture Kultür finally released their long-awaited new album, Atomic, which is among the year’s best LPs. We’ve already heard thrilling singles like “Atomic Radio” and “Incandescent,” but deep album cut “Same Old War” stands out for its stirring anti-war message at a time when my own country keeps waging unnecessary conflicts. The song threads together distinctive electronic arrangements, media samples from historic wars, even the explosive sounds of jets and helicopters. But its real power comes from its lovely human melodies, especially the delivery of “There are no winners, only broken stories.”
2. ASBEST INC. — “End of Transmission”
Swedish project Asbest Inc. is new to the scene, but their small, mighty catalog already includes a muscular cover of Depeche Mode’s “Nothing.” DM is a solid starting point for this project, though “End of Transmission” also taps into the bustling percussion and fiery beats of EBM. The song’s skittering electronics rush through the mix, while quietly disarming vocals hover over a rumbling bassline. The result is an elegant collision of electro-industrial soundscapes and futurepop melodies.
1. ARMOURS — “Body”
Swedish newcomers ARMOURS make a powerful first impression with “Body,” the title track off their debut EP. The song explodes with thrilling production that combines the bone-rattling percussion of body music with the melodic sentiment of modern synthpop. Its sparse lyrics work in the song’s favor, offering a bit of mystery that lands with this bomb-ass hook: “The way your body remains.” The tastemakers at I Die: You Die compare the act to Sleek Teeth, and I have to agree. ARMOURS is a muscular, mysterious new force with major staying power.
