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 2024 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. Current One – “Brokenhearted”
Sweden’s Current One often leans into confessional storytelling, but he defies those expectations on “Brokenhearted.” The title might hint at personal heartbreak, but Markus Enström turns his gaze outward—using lines like “We thought that science was the key to save the land, the sky, the sea”—to reflect on the devastation we’ve wrought to our environment. It’s a refreshing take from Current One that feels thoughtful and mature.
9. Italoconnection feat. Francesca Gastaldi – “Live Forever”
“Live Forever” comes from Italoconnection’s excellent new album, Midnight Confessions Vol. 2, the follow-up to their first Midnight Confessions collection. For an act so dedicated to the retro sounds of Italo disco, “Live Forever” feels remarkably modern—it would fit seamlessly on a playlist featuring modern pop icons like Tove Lo or Allie X. Francesca Gastaldi’s soaring vocals, layered over bright, blippy synth keys, elevate the track into anthemic territory.
8. Dead Cool – “Are We Living, Are We Dead”
Dead Cool amps up the tempo on their latest single, “Are We Living, Are We Dead.” The North Carolina duo combines swirling synths, rapid-fire drum programming, and Johnny Yeagher’s shadowy vocals, which he whips into a frenzy on the chorus. Like their previous single “Stranger Kind,” this is another goth anthem with a monster hook.
7. Die Sexual – “Darkest Hour”
Los Angeles-based duo Die Sexual unleash another seductive club banger with “Darkest Hour,” from their new Electric EP. Rosselinni’s stuttering, pulsating vocals and sultry, rhythmic chants deliver lines like “I want to feel electric.” It’s the kind of high-energy, sexy track you’d expect to hear pounding through the speakers of the darkest, most hedonistic dance floors.
6. Cold Connection – “Voices of the Night”
Swedish duo Cold Connection has been using “Voices of the Night” as the intro to their live shows this year. It’s finally available for everyone to experience. This track radiates dark, moody energy with mid-tempo synth riffs that feel like bubbles bursting over you. Daniel Billqvist’s shadowy vocal melodies remind me just slightly of Depeche Mode’s “Stripped,” yet the song’s rich reverb and haunting atmosphere are unmistakably Cold Connection.
5. Plastic Estate – “Anymore”
Plastic Estate’s “Anymore” is a romantic, atmospheric track that’s lighter and smoother than the club bangers I typically cover. Its easy-listening vibe should appeal to fans of bands like New Division and VHS Collection. I especially love the dreamy synthline that bubbles up from the music and the way the gorgeous vocals float above. “Anymore” is my favorite cut from their sophomore album, Code d’Amour.
4. Sleek Teeth – “Sanctuary”
Sleek Teeth turn down the tempo on “Sanctuary” to deliver a haunting, infectious synthpop sound that still retains the band’s sinister vibe. Its softer tempo and straightforward arrangement let the airy synth melodies and gauzy vocals resonate. The final track from their self-titled debut EP, “Sanctuary” showcases Sleek Teeth’s impressive range.
3. Normal Bias – “Holy”
On Kingdom Come’s standout track, Normal Bias turns down the “industrial body funk” for a moodier foray into Depeche Mode territory. Syncopated drums and Chris Campion’s lush synth riffs channel Violator, while Matt Weiner’s melodic vocals deliver the album’s sharpest hook: “Doesn’t seem too holy now.” It’s a pulsing, hypnotic track that captures Normal Bias at their most seductive.
2. Propter Hoc – “Imagineers in the Exclusion Zone”
Fresh off the release of Zodiac Carousel earlier this year, Scottish act Propter Hoc is already priming listeners for a new album slated for 2025. First single “Imagineers in the Exclusion Zone” absolutely bangs with a thumping beat that lays the foundation for hammering percussion and J. A. Harrington’s commanding vocals. A brilliant starburst effect around the halfway mark propels the track straight into the stratosphere.
1. The Brides of the Black Room – “One Flash of Light”
Swedish mystery collective The Brides of the Black Room return with a new song that marks the beginning of their second season, which will ultimately produce an album titled Commander. “One Flash of Light” radiates cinematic charm with lush, majestic arrangements and vocals that rise and fall with thorny intensity—it could easily serve as a James Bond theme. It’s unclear who’s behind this ambitious project, as they use handles like Ghostheart, Coyote, and Lynx in the credits. Original Priest singer Ginger Kahn contributed to season one, but the YouTube description suggests that season two will mostly feature Lea Alazam—I’m fairly certain that’s Alazam performing these sultry vocals.
