The Top 50 Songs Of 2024
Selecting only 50 songs that defined 2024 is a challenging task, but here we go.
There’s plenty of songs we could have included on this list but similarly to the albums of the year list we wanted to focus on smaller artists. We’ve picked some of our favourite new artists who we think are going to go on to big things in 2025. Don’t worry, we’ve still got a banger or two from bigger artists here and there.
In this list we’ve compiled our top picks, from the fiftieth best track to the absolute greatest song of the year (in our humble opinion). Whether you’re looking for new music to stream, patching up where your own list missed out, or on a totally different page from us, have a look over our top 50 picks for Songs of the Year 2024.
We hope you enjoy the list.
50) Getdown Services - Dog Dribble
“I was in Manchester in the rain, stood grinning at my phone looking fucking insane,” begin the Bristol art-disco duo. And so begins the stream-of-consciousness that details limp biscuits, sausage, brine, hot dogs, rennies, and the discombobulating digital experience of our dissociative generation. With ‘death on the telly’ and a groovy beat that is impossible not to shake your hips to, Getdown Services prove themselves to be the genius heralders of satirical pop yet again.
49) Confidence Man - I CAN’T LOSE YOU
After a breakthrough year that included a show-stopping performance at Glastonbury, the Brooklyn duo has dropped this electrifying club banger. Channeling the golden era of dance-pop, its sultry verses and soaring, anthemic choruses seamlessly come together, making it the ultimate soundtrack for a summer montage.
48) Mandrake Handshake - Charlie’s Comet
Mandrake Handshake’s new single, Charlie’s Comet, is a cosmic voyage through kaleidoscopic grooves, shimmering psych-pop textures, and touch of playful surrealism, the track feels like a voyage through both outer space and the inner mind. The single has lush instrumentation and shimmering vocals. Arpeggiated synths intertwine with otherworldly guitars, creating a dazzling single that leaves listeners starry-eyed and yearning for more.
47) Test Plan - Walking In A Vaccuum
“Established in 2022, north London’s test plan are looking for the sweet spot between dancing and moshing,” the opening of their Spotify information reads. Well. They’ve already found it. Walking in a Vacuum is the kind of song you’d overhear in a small venue, and picture it almost instinctively at a festival, bodies upon bodies twisting and careening to its weighty depth.
46) Borough Council - Strobe Lights
Borough Council, at this point in time, have three songs to their name. Mercurial and elusive, their sound is at once timeless and peculiarly theirs, simple as it’s drooping vocals and staccato guitars may be. Like something from a time capsule, the trio here paint a picture of strobe lights, with ‘the radio always on’. If every song was this textured, this purposefully gloomy, this tangy and sultry, I’d certainly never turn the radio off.
45) Geneva Jacuzzi - Art is Dangerous
Repeat after me: “ART IS DANGEOUS, MEANINGLESS, SERIOUS, HAND IT ON THE WALL.” Listen once and this mantra will be following you around for the rest of the day. Sexy, confident, bold. Geneva Jacuzzi is pushing boundaries, and not stopping there. Like Lady Gaga meets Christine and the Queens, bask in the power of this tune and tell me you’ve heard anything else like this. I’ll tell you you’re lying.
44) Pem - Awe
Beautifully brooding, and melancholic, burrowing under the soft folds of skin between touches, Pem is awe-inspiring in this vulnerable track. With a voice like that, and words that pull at the fragile edges of human life like they are still the clumsy echoes of a dream, Pem is her very own artist, reminding the listener of the likes of Faye Webster and Aurora.
43) Man/Woman/Chainsaw - The Boss
“Like a Bond song on acid” is how man/woman/chainsaw’s manager described this single. He may be biased, but one thing he isn’t is wrong. Cinematic strings, a wobbly bassline, and distorted guitars collide in a chorus that’s both raw and irresistibly bold. The London-based band has already made waves on the Still Listening stage, and it feels inevitable that even bigger platforms are on the horizon.
42) Hank - Angel Says
Even before this London band had a single track to their name, the underground scene was already buzzing with whispers of their potential. Now, with ‘Angel Says,’ the lead single from their stunning EP Twist Grip, they deliver on the hype. This sultry, self-assured track fuses alt-rock with shoegaze influences, oozing confidence at every turn. “Who shot the movie?” they chant over a swaggering bassline, as reverberating echoes build around them. Every layer of the song brims with intention—and it absolutely delivers.
41) Cooza - Blonde
‘Blonde’ is the first track from folk artist ‘Cooza’s new album ‘Getting Better At Knowing You’. Raised in a small coastal town in the UK on the likes of Joni Mitchell and Sufjan Stevens, this track proves Cooza doesn’t just add to the conversation, he’s creating his own. Gloriously sweet and deceptively simple, the storytelling in ‘Blonde’ explores grief in all its intricacies. On every Cooza song, you feel you are in the memory. “Are you lighter in death but darker alive?” Cooza sings in sorrowful goodbye. To be moved like this is a joy and a privilege.
40) Julia Finegan - day that god made us
The lyricism in this hauntingly beautiful track from Philadelphia-based artist Julia Finegan weaves an evocative tapestry of humanity’s origins and the intricate moments that define our shared existence—bicycles, teeth, old pairs of shoes. The American sociopolitical climate looms in the background, an unwelcome yet thoughtfully acknowledged guest. Julia's layered harmonies feel like an outstretched hand, yearning for connection and understanding. To put it simply: this song is incredible. Listen. Now.
39) Lost Lyra - Three Letters
A good voice can slap you in the face, no matter what genre or shape the song comes in. This is exactly what happens on the opening of ‘Three Letters’, a midwest-emo inspired twinkling track by London-via-Oxford three-piece. movement, as if it’s breathing. Beneath these rhythmic exhalations, intricate, woodsy melodies weave and dance, creating a soundscape that feels both warmly familiar and refreshingly new. Lost Lyra are undoubtedly a band to keep on your radar. The subtle breaks woven into the composition give the song a sense of organic.
38) ugly ozo - Remains
ugly ozo is a severely underrated artist. Hailing from the Isle of Wight, Jess Baker and younger sister Boo dish up what they like to call ‘doom-gaze’ on this track. It’s sultry, it’s dark, and it deserves the same limelight as other artists pushing the boundaries of third-wave feminism: “the truth is ugly and she’ll make you pay,” Jess sings, sickly-sweet. ugly ozo are only just getting started, and we’re strapped in for the ride.
37) KickBoy - Anxious Party People
KickBoy’s egg-punk EP is full of undiscovered gems, but none as relatable as ‘Anxious Party People’ a shaky, energetic exploration of inebriation and the overwhelming house party experience. The song never takes itself too seriously, with wobbly melodic lines and interspersed ‘yeehaws’, and that’s exactly why it works. Add a saxophone into the mix and some skate-punk influenced guitars, and the ground moves beneath your feet with renewed fever. This time, it feels great.
36) Ain’t - Teething
90s guitar music, post-punk and shoegaze culminate on this track to erupt like a “sonic scowl”, in the band’s own words. Ain’t are one of the most exciting bands in London at the moment, and this track is perfect evidence. Halfway through, everything strips back and distorted vocals murmur eerie promises before howl-like vocals bark at the moon. When the cathartic ending reaches it climax, any teething pains Ain’t had are eradicated.
35) Fcukers - Homie Don’t Shake
Slick with grime and energy, the electronic trio from New York are effortlessly cooler than everyone else on this track. Lyrics like ““Say you’ll DJ at my wake/ Blacked out show up late.” procede culturally significant samples (think “what are thoooooooose,”), all exploding into a climax before a swagging cowbell. It’s whiplash in a song. It’s the perfect club tune.
34) Funhaus - Scene Vulture
Known for tearing up the London scene with their no-holds-barred attitude and undeniable swagger, Funhaus bring a chaotic charm that’s equal parts polished and punk. Scene Vulture perfectly encapsulates their live energy: a riotous blend of snarling guitar hooks, thick, chewy rhythms, and a coolly indifferent vocal delivery that oozes effortless confidence. It’s a rowdy, razor-sharp track with just enough bite to leave an impression, balancing the raw edge of their earlier work with a newfound coherence thanks to their refreshed lineup.
33) ladylike - Horse’s Mouth
Yes, this song tracked pretty highly in Still Listening’s Top 15 Songs of the Summer, but it’s too good to miss off this list. Horse’s Mouth by indie folk-rockers ladylike is only their second single, but it hits you right where it counts. Wrapped in gooey layers of nostalgia, melancholy and forlorn self-preservation, the soundscape is varied and so effortless.
32) illuminati hotties - Sleeping In
Illuminati Hotties strikes gold with this fulfilling love song. Happy-go-lucky and reminiscent of some of the best alt-pop of the early 2000s, the Southern California quartet have broadened their previous scope to dance merrily along with ‘la la las’ and ‘oh yeahhh’. In what was unutterably a gloomy year, this song provides a reason to smile. We need those more than ever.
31) Naima Bock - Gentle
‘Gentle’ is a mesmerising album opener that constantly evolves, weaving an intricate acoustic guitar line into a melancholic strum as layers of flute, saxophone, and guitar build like a growing tide. The song’s dynamic shifts mirror its theme of navigating an unbalanced relationship, with poignant lyrics like, “Well, you want me to be gentle, fragile / You want me to stay young.” The Track is enriched by the haunting inclusion of a chorus of voices that adds depth and emotional resonance to this pensive, beautifully crafted track.
30) Ichiko Aoba - Luciférine
Ichiko Aoba’s new single, Luciférine, offers a radiant glimpse into her upcoming album, Luminescent Creatures. Seamlessly crafting transcendent experimental indie-folk with impressionistic Japanese music and nuanced electronic textures, the track showcases Ichiko’s unique ability to create music that are both intimate and expansive. Inspired by her encounters with the ocean’s majesty and fragility during her fieldwork in Japan’s Ryukyu Archipelago, Luciférine captures the gentle yet overwhelming pull of nature’s forces.
29) Squid - Crispy Skin
After releasing their feverishly good album O Monolith in 2023, Squid return at the end of 2024 with this confident dance-post-punk anthem. Ollie Judge’s vocals marry perfectly with their sound. Using some experimental, jangly synth that persists beneath the spritely body, Squid prove themselves fun, daring and, most importantly, a joy to listen to. At six minutes, it feels like it should be longer. Like an art piece, rather than a pop song gagging for catchy hooks, Squid always provide a refreshing take on alternative music.
28) Joanna Wang - Pigeons On Your Balcony
Joanna Wang has a way with storytelling that makes you feel as if you’re sat on your knees before her, in some school-like congregation. There’s a Tim Burton feel to this song; “I don’t think you’d want to taste my wrath / actually I’m a pacifist anyway,” she sings like Sally from The Nightmare Before Christmas, before the drums and electric guitar eradicate the ominous gloom so expertly built.
27) Nia Archives - Blind Devotion
The instantly gratifying Nia Archives sound has fingerprints all over this track. With a run-time of less than two minutes, Nia wastes no time in proving the ferociousness of her style. By melding jungle's fast-paced energy with soulful melodies and moody undertones, Nia Archives brings to the fore the emotional core of jungle.
26) Nourished By Time - Hell of a Ride
Sometimes, a song comes along with a spirit so uplifting you can’t help but smile, even when the December rain is turning to sleet in your face. Hell of a Ride is just this, the “goodbye, baby goodbye,” of it’s chorus tickling the cobwebbed corners of the psyche in just the right way that, for a moment, there’s hope in the air.
25) Yard Act - We Make Hits
Yard Act’sWe Make Hits, is a sharp and self-aware anthem that balances their signature wit with an irresistible swagger. Packed with punchy rhythms, sardonic lyricism, and a dose of cheeky bravado, the track pokes fun at the absurdities of the music industry while doubling down on the band’s undeniable knack for crafting bangers. With its infectious groove and tongue-in-cheek charm, We Make Hits sees Yard Act further cement their place as one of the most exciting voices in modern post-punk, delivering satire and style in equal measure.
24) Folk Bitch Trio - God’s A Different Sword
Folk Bitch Trio enchanting God’s A Different Sword. showcases their exquisite three-part harmonies and thoughtful, heartfelt songwriting, God’s A Different Sword delves into the bittersweet cycle of breaking patterns while indulging "just one more time" pairing exasperated, introspective lyrics with instrumentation that feels expansive and optimistic. Produced during a fleeting stop in Auckland while supporting Ben Howard, the track radiates the trio’s warmth and connection.
23) Lambrini Girls - Company Culture
It’s been a year chock-full of touring for punk duo Lambrini Girls, and with an album out in January, 2025 promises to be even bigger. The first single from ‘Who Let The Dogs Out’, ‘Company Culture’ furiously yet cohesively charges upwards through a cosmic opening to attack the all-too-familiar, thrashing beneath the ‘glass ceiling’ they detail. “Michael, I don’t want to suck you off in my lunch break!” front-woman and lyricist Phoebe yells between verses. It’s a battle cry that’s as unfiltered as it is unforgettable—setting the tone for an album destined to shake the foundations.
22) L'Impératrice - Love from the Other Side
The first, and standout, single from latest album ‘Pulsar’, the French nu-disco band deliver intergalactic delight on this warm, fuzzy track. Imbued with all the confidence of a band hitting the festival circuit and dancing within the totally unique walls of their own sound, the track leads us through the ticking predictability of time passing before dosing the listener in their Daft-Punk-esque feel-good groove.
21) Mdou Moctar - Imouhar
If ever proof were needed that music transcends language, Mdou Moctar’s Imouhar is a shining example. A celebration of Tamasheq, this standout track from an album brimming with brilliance seamlessly blends the lyrical musicality of its native tongue with the timeless chords of country rock. The result is a song that feels both rooted in tradition and universally resonant, its melodies lingering long after the album ends. Imouhar is a testament to the power of music to communicate across cultures and connect on a deeply emotional level.
20) cumgirl8 - Karma Police
Before ‘Karma Police’ was a cumgirl8 song, the title belonged to legends Radiohead and emo-rockers Pierce The Veil. Fitting, given this song is a rollercoaster ride through sprawling influences, with a urgency demanding the drums forward. Sultry chatter above the top of electronic influence, fragmenting often into different melodic branches, shows cumgirl8 at their most chaotic, and therefore at their best. On this track about UTIs, missing passports, the feminine receptive and weird dms on Instagram, we’re invited into cartwheeling “Mental masturbation,” indeed. And we’re all the better for it.
19) Cindy Lee - Wild One
In Cindy Lee’s two hour masterpiece of an album, it’s hard to pick out a single stand-out song. We’ve done the hard work for you, and out on top comes Wild One, a meander through spaghetti western heaven. Never faltering from it’s quiet centre, this track wears heart on sleeve, and then some.
18) samlrc - Sinner
An eight-minute epic, this expansive song begins with, yes, the atmsopheric bleat of sheep beneath dazzlingly poetic lyrics and a harmonious guitar section. “I’m a sinner,” samlrc goes onto sing, with the projected intimacy of being anything but. What fallows is echoing, beautiful and expertly produced. The folded corners of the world come into focus as if in a dream. Alt-rock bursts in and soars, much like Icarus, dangerously close to the sun. It glimmers into oblivion eventually, twinkling like light on soft water. samlrc is a master at instrumental storytelling.
17) Fievel Is Glauque - As Above So Below
Never before has a track been so busy, and yet feel so dreamy and sprightful. The duo lean into jazz-lounge influences with wicked tenacity on this track. The flutes sing announce themselves joyfully and Ma’s voice is as angelic as ever. You want a piano solo? You got it. You want echoing vocals? You got it. You want strings and brass to battle out for dominance? You got it. A truly abundant offering that delights with every listen.
16) Tyler, the Creator ft Doechii - Balloon
On the penultimate track from 2024 album CHROMOKOPIA, Tyler samples Akiko Yano and completely reinvents the wheel. On ‘Balloon’, he pleases old fans with smooth, layered production giving us major Flower Boy meets IGOR vibes, and delights new fans with his hysterical storytelling. Just when it couldn’t better, the fierce tones of rapper Doecchii delights with one of the best verses of the year. When everything culminates in her yell, “I air this bitch out like a queef!” you can’t help but throw your hands up in glee. We’ll give it to you, Tyler. This is ridiculously good.
15) Billie Eilish - Lunch
At 22, Billie Eilish is one of the most famous artists on the planet. #1 on Spotify, grammy-award winning, part-time actor. She’s also a legend for this song - the only song that could possibly make the name ‘Claire’ sound sexy. Upstaging herself from the addictive, sugary ‘bad guy’, ‘Lunch’ celebrates the heat of queer desire, perfectly delivered in Billie’s infamous, raspy voice.
14) Fontaines D.C. - Starburster
Starburster took everyone by surprise. The first single from Fontaines D. C.’s domineering, masterful new album ‘Romance’, this track set the tone for their complete identity shift, and dragged indie music along with it. Redefining what can be expected of ‘post-punk’, and what the Irish lads were capable of, this track is charged with sneering lyrics and drips with neon personality.
13) Adrianne Lenker - Sadness as a Gift
Adrianne Lenker’s Sadness As a Gift is a soul-stirring song that captures the raw vulnerability of heartbreak and the bittersweet beauty of relationships ending. This is a real tearjerker - so grab the tissues and prepare for a cathartic release. The song is a poignant reminder of her unmatched ability to turn pain into art, offering a heart-wrenching yet healing gift from one of the greatest songwriters of the 21st century. It’s a track that lingers long after it ends, leaving you both shattered and comforted.
12) JPEGMAFIA - vulgar display of power
JPEGMAFIA’s Vulgar Display of Power is a ferocious sonic assault that lives up to its name, delivering an unrelenting barrage of experimental beats, razor-sharp lyricism, and raw, unfiltered energy. True to Peggy’s boundary-pushing ethos, the song feels chaotic yet calculated, with glitchy production, industrial undertones, and moments of unexpected vulnerability woven throughout the aggression. Equal parts provocative and genius, Vulgar Display of Power is a true highlight from JPEGMAFIA’s I LAY DOWN MY LIFE FOR YOU.
11) Lime Garden - Pop Star
Can a song get more addictive than this? Brighton-based indie-pop four-piece detail frustration at acne, at working shitty jobs, at working-class reality, at “working til despair”. It’s too relatable. In the background, furiously good guitars and synth dance around the solid groove of the bass. With a song as good as this, it’s certainly not long before they become the pop-stars they’re so desperately manifesting here. Top 5 on Spotify wrapped, easy.
10) Clairo - Juna
Clairo’s Juna is a standout track on what might be her most cohesive, enchanting and charming (sorry) album yet. Building on the warm, '70s-inspired singer-songwriter style she explored on her sophomore effort, the song introduces a new layer of soulful sophistication and a refreshing sense of optimism. Blending elements of jazz, psychedelic folk, and soul, Clairo crafts a lush, emotive soundscape that highlights her talent for understated beauty and heartfelt storytelling.
9) Chappell Roan - Good Luck, Babe!
Where would this be without Chappell Roan, an artist whose 2023 album The Rise & Fall of a Midwest Princess has landed on numerous 2024 albums of the year lists (despite its release last year). On Good Luck, Babe!, Chappell Roan channels her inner Kate Bush, starting soft and building into an incredible climax. The lyrics delve into the personal experience of dating a closeted girl who refuses to acknowledge their relationship. It’s a stunning example of her ability to transform raw, emotional storytelling into a pop masterpiece, solidifying her place as one of the standout artists shaping the sound of 2024.
8) Kim Gordon - Bye Bye
Noisy, abrasive, undeniably captivating, and maybe even a little sexy, Kim Gordon's BYE BYE took everyone by surprise earlier this year with its Playboi Carti-adjacent energy. The single creates a surreal trap-infused dreamscape where Gordon coolly recites her holiday prep checklist alongside a litany of consumer products. Serving as a standout track on her dynamic solo album The Collective, BYE BYE is as engaging as it is unconventional. It's a playful, unpretentious banger that bridges the gap between Sonic Youth loyalists who cherish Gordon's experimental spirit and a younger audience drawn to her fresh, boundary-pushing sound.
7) Amyl and the Sniffers - U Should Not Be Doing That
U Should Not Be Doing That feels like a triumphant victory lap for Amyl and the Sniffers. Over the past five years, the band has evolved from tearing up dingy clubs to earning a reputation as one of the best live acts on the planet. This single showcases Amy Taylor’s empowering, soul-stirring lyricism, perfectly complemented by the band’s effortlessly tight musicianship. The track radiates a brilliant confidence that makes it undeniably magnetic.
6) PREGOBLIN - Everybody's Ill (At the Moment), Pt. 2
Step into Pregoblin mode with this electrifying, vibrant track. Everybody's Ill (At the Moment), Pt. 2 is a dazzling hidden gem of pop - a true banger. It’s the kind of song you’d expect to hear echoing through a Jim Henson gremlin cave: playful, with infectious, repetitive lyrics that allow each instrument to shine. The arrangement is nothing short of brilliant, featuring dynamic saxophones, electric guitars, and funky basslines, all elevated by Jessica Winter's stellar ad-libs. This track is a bold, genre-defying celebration of sound that demands your attention.
5) FKA Twigs - Eusexua
Eusexua feels like a triumphant rebirth, one that captures the expansive sonic landscape of FKA Twigs’s artistry. The track blends Björk-esque vocals, abrasive synths, and pulsating rhythms with ease, while the stunning visuals in the video only elevate the experience. It’s a brilliant song all around, with lyrics that exude vulnerability, perfectly balanced by a club-ready chorus that complements the emotional depth.
4) Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us
The greatest beef of all time? Without a doubt, one of the most talked-about conflicts in recent cultural discourse. Earlier this year, Kendrick Lamar and Drake went head-to-head, releasing track after track, but it was Not Like Us that truly delivered the knockout punch. This track, like several Lamar dropped earlier in the year, Euphoria and especially the haunting Meet the Grahams showcased his unmatched lyrical ability. Since then, Drake's response has been equally dramatic, suing Universal over allegedly rigging streams, followed by a defamation lawsuit, which feels downright petty. All hail King Kendrick.
3) Charli XCX - 360
What a remarkable year it’s been for Charli XCX. As long-time supporters, it’s thrilling to witness her reach such unprecedented heights of success. 360 serves as the perfect opener to the viral sensation brat, capturing the essence of this bold new era for Charli. With its playful nods to cultural icons and devilish imagery in the music video, it’s an absolute triumph. Charli’s unique ability to blend cutting-edge pop with memorable visuals ensures that this track and album will be a defining moment in her career. We have no doubt that this track will be a staple we’ll all be bumpin for years to come.
2) Geordie Greep - Holy, Holy
Holy, Holy sees Greep channelling his inner Fripp (the suit in the video is hardly a coincidence), delivering a song that’s simply extraordinary, packed with bizarre and brilliant moments. The fun backing vocals contrast with Greep’s narrative, unravelling a twisted tale of male obsession draped in toxic masculinity. The song captures the moment of a man, full of bravado as he approaches a sex worker at a bar. The Latin influences on this track offer a more accessible listening experience than some of black midi’s more intense and overwrought material, making it an oddly accessible and vibrant standout.
1) Magdalena Bay - Cry for Me
Choosing just one track from Magdalena Bay’s ambitious sophomore album Imaginal Disk is no easy feat, but if we had to highlight a song that encapsulates the album’s stunning breadth, it would be Cry for Me. This epic psych-pop masterpiece shimmers with infectious melodies that feel straight out of ABBA’s playbook. With soaring strings, monstrous synths, McCartney-esque basslines and a vocal hook so captivating you’ll find yourself singing along at the top of your lungs, it’s a dazzling blend of grandeur and catchiness. Pop perfection hardly does it justice.