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. A Thousand Mad Things – “Truth You Seek”
London duo A Thousand Mad Things have been on my radar since they debuted last year. “Truth You Seek” is warm, melodic synthpop that shows exactly why they’re worth watching. This charming track showcases the band’s sharp instinct for hooks with a chorus that sticks immediately: “Does that make me a coward? / Does that make me a freak? / Do I have to provide you the truth you seek?” Their take on modern new wave feels fresh and intriguing.
9. HellaMox – “Iron Will”
HellaMox, the collaboration between Hella Helin (e:lect) and Morten Kristensen (Disrupted Being), combines male and female vocals into something powerful and distinct. “Iron Will,” the first new song since their 2024 debut album, feels timeless, pairing old-school electro energy with a modern, immersive edge. I love the media samples that open the track. A thumping, forward-driving beat lays the foundation for immersive atmosphere where trancey swirls meet EBM force in a way that feels passionate and futuristic.
8. Beyond Border – “Last Dance”
I’m still digesting Beyond Border’s Aftermath album, the final chapter in their Welcome to the Future trilogy. But “Last Dance” immediately stands out for it’s powerful sound. Guest performer Xavier Morales of Ruined Conflict delivers commanding vocals. But the real force here is the explosive production from Michael Deiters and Rob Dust—thick, pounding beats that drive the track forward and squealing synth pads that surge across the mix with a hypnotic, radar-like pulse. It all builds into a massive wall of sound that hits with undeniable impact.
7. Dead Lights – “(The Edge of) Dusk”
Dead Lights continue their run of electrifying singles ahead of their upcoming album, Lash, due in May. “(The Edge of) Dusk” is my favorite so far for the way they turn down the electro grime and let the sinister tension simmer. Taut rhythms and other familiar Dead Lights elements remain, yet they unspool the vocals with menace and restraint. Layers of synths gallop over the beat, topped by a bubbling electronic refrain that practically drips from the speakers. This is Dead Lights at their most refined.
6. LAHO – “The Great Collapse”
Finnish dark electronic project LAHO is emerging as one of the most promising new acts of the year. I nearly included his debut single in last month’s countdown, but “The Great Collapse” makes the case even stronger—a tighter, more deliberate futurepop banger built on a relentless, hurtling beat and explosive electronics. There’s a raw intensity here that never lets up, channeling pure club energy with insane precision. LAHO understands exactly what makes this genre hit. If this is the trajectory, I can’t wait to hear what’s next.
5. Madeline Goldstein – “One Star One Body”
“One Star One Body” is a dark and transportive slice of dreampop from Madeline Goldstein’s upcoming album, Speaking to the Body. At over six minutes, it feels expansive and immersive, stretching her vocals with a kind of longing that borders on the mystical. The track drifts forward on ominous, Fever Ray–like percussion that creates a sense of unease, as synthesizers flicker and refract around her voice, pulling you deeper into the haze. It’s the kind of song you don’t just hear—you disappear into.
4. Rymdverket – “In Silence”
“In Silence” captures something unsettlingly familiar—the quiet, unfortunate acceptance of things that should shake us. The lyrics move effortlessly from intimate moments (a problematic uncle who makes an offhand joke) to the weight of global atrocities (a genocide we just seem to have accepted). Henric Byström’s understated production is spare but impactful, mostly letting Linda Ganters’ incredible voice do the heavy lifting, though martial drums gather force beneath her. It’s a song that doesn’t just comment on the world—it implicates the listener in it.
3. Depeche Mode – “Universal Soldier”
I don’t typically include cover songs in these countdowns, but I’m making an exception for Depeche Mode’s electrifying makeover of Buffy Sainte-Marie’s ’60s-era folk song. DM’s dark and menacing version bristles with rattling chains, chilling synth pads, and a heavy, deliberate beat, all anchored by Dave Gahan’s unmistakable voice. Their timing is striking, arriving just as the US and Israel invaded Iran, giving the song’s anti-war message fresh urgency. It’s one of the best things they’ve done in 20 years.
2. Mesh – “This World”
English synthpop heroes Mesh dropped this final single a few weeks before releasing their long-awaited new album The Truth Doesn’t Matter. It’s a stunner, one of the album’s finest moments. “This World,” a mid-tempo slow roller about finding peace in an unrelatable world, hits familiar Mesh beats but sidesteps their usual fists-in-the-air anthems for something richer and more reflective. There’s a cinematic quality here—the kind of majesty that could serve as a James Bond theme.
1. 20Hz – “Darkness Descends”
I wasn’t familiar with Swedish songwriter and sound designer 20Hz before this. What a discovery. “Darkness Descends” delivers gorgeous electronic sound patter elevated by one of my favorite voices in synthpop, Jonas Peterson of Video L’Eclipse. His vocals are as mesmerizing as ever, gliding through a dark, immersive atmosphere that feels elegant and haunting. A delicate piano refrain anchors the track, adding just the right touch of restraint. This is cold Nordic synthpop at its finest.
