In need to dust up your playlist? From lush spring vibes to darker soundscapes, these five recently released songs got it all. And what’s more: they’re all made in Belgium. Happy listening!

Balthazar: On a Roll

Seductive, gloomy, and groovy: “On a Roll” is Balthazar at their best. The Belgian band, led by Jinte Deprez and Maarten Devoldere, who share both writing and frontmen duties, just released “Sand”, their 5th full-length record. “On a Roll is about the repetitive lack of control you have on situations, your life, your own ways. Even for a moment when you think you can escape your own loop, you find yourself right back at the start again, finding out the changes didn’t change the outcome, or you”, says Deprez.

Okamy featuring Sunday Charmers: Front Door

For his new single “Front Door”, Gordon Delacroix aka Okamy, who just won Brussels-based Artist of the Year at the Octaves de la Musique, joined forces with rising Brussels indie pop band Sunday Charmers. The super catchy track features vibrant pop soundscapes with an R&B undertone, and skillfully blends Okamy’s urban pop with the melancholic rock of the four-piece. Not only the song but also the video are full of sunny spring vibes, switching between the ancient shadow play method and summery road-trip shots. We also spotted a pool dive by Belgian actress Sophie Maréchal (La Trêve). Okamy will be live on stage on June 20 at the Botanique where Sunday Charmers frontman Etienne Donnet will be making an appearance as well.

Jasper Erkens: Your Words (Not Mine)

Musically poppy and feel-good, the track “Your Words (not mine)” deals with timely themes such as echo chambers, loneliness and alienation. It’s part of “Limbo Terminal”, the self-produced third album of Belgian musician Jasper Erkens which was released in April. The Belgian studied music at the acclaimed The BRIT School in London, opened for Adele, was the youngest act to perform at Rock Werchter, and counts David Bowie and Damien Rice among his inspirations. 

The Haunted Youth: Teen Rebel

“Teen Rebel”, that’s four dreamy minutes of lush, melancholic, upbeat psych pop. The track by Hasselt-based five-piece The Haunted Youth around songwriter Joachim Liebens won Studio Brussel’s talent contest De Nieuwe Lichting earlier this year. On 18th May you’ll be able to discover the Belgian band, whose songs deal with despair, hope, and the feeling of being a misunderstood misfit, via livestream during the digital music festival Vuurdoop. For fans of MGMT or Slowdive.

Woolvs: This is Water

“This Is Water” is a single from the debut album “Evening Planet” by young Brussels outfit Woolvs, whose members gathered around frontman Willem Malfliet share a background in jazz and improvised music. The five-piece’s musical approach is characterized by a DIY mentality: all songs are recorded in one take with the whole band in their workspace at the VOLTA music center. By the way, “This Is Water”‘s lyrics are inspired by the writings of American author David Foster Wallace, and the accompanying poetic video, a combination of foaming waves and drawings, was shot by Julie Van Kerckhoven.

Cover photo taken from Front Door by Okamy feat. Sunday Charmers