Knowsum, aka Nelson Brandt, began his musical career early: at the tender age of ten, he was already fascinated by the immersive world of the PlayStation™ 1 game Music2000, which inspired the young Nelson to produce sample-based music, particularly hip-hop. Over time, his musical repertoire—and his equipment—expanded, and Knowsum evolved into a highly distinctive project: a lovingly crafted blend of dreamy psychedelic pop and laid-back jazz, featuring beautiful guitars, handclaps, vibraphone, gentle melodies, and the nostalgic vibe of classic surf music. And he maintains full control at all times: The entire production of the album Cherry Stone Pillow was done independently, with most of the instruments recorded by Nelson himself.
Curió Curió is an interdisciplinary and intercultural endeavor—a collaborative project between the Brazilian-Austrian singer and actress Luiza Monteiro and the German producer Dustin Braun. The foundation of their sound is Música Popular Brasileira (MBP), which emerged in the 1960s as a successor to traditional bossa nova. This blend of samba, bossa nova, jazz, and folklore continues to define what is, in the truest sense of the word, popular music in Brazil—music that is deeply rooted in traditional music and the cultural identity of the Brazilian audience. The traditional element is also present on the duo’s self-titled debut album, sometimes blended with classic disco sounds, sometimes with groovy pop—a delightful recipe for playful unpredictability. The lyrics, delivered in Portuguese—whether sung or spoken—explore themes of identity and cultural belonging, but the focus remains on danceability and joie de vivre.
Rapper Apsilon from Berlin-Moabit sings the lament of a generation for whom loneliness has long since become a reality, despite constant digital connectivity. Alienation, isolation, racism, and indifference are hallmarks of modern urban life in Berlin, whose raw romanticism is now nothing more than a faded memory on Glanz Null, his recently released second album. These are the central themes of the melancholic, contemplative, and melodic tracks. They brim with energy, at times veering toward high drama, and draw on a rich reservoir of musical experience: He began writing at the age of 14 already, but didn’t release his first track until ten years later, in 2021. Since then, however, he has been all the more active, and following the huge success of his debut album released in 2024 and a sold-out tour, he is now returning with this more electronic album, which also features impressive collaborations with illustrious artists such as piano maestro Chilly Gonzales and the incomparable Ikkimel.
One of the most distinctive voices on the German pop scene is Stuttgart-based singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Jasmin Stocker, also known as Mine. Her penchant for artful and creative exaggeration and for constant reinvention also shapes her sixth album, Killer. Less orchestral and opulent than her previous effort, she turned her attention this time toward the French producer scene. With ther typical minimalist arrangements and a penchant for analog synthesizer sounds, she has tastefully showcased her elegant pop tracks. The lead single Ohne Dich, which deals with a painful breakup and the process of moving past it, heralds another chapter in an extraordinary career that began late: It wasn’t until her mid-twenties that the musician, who was working as a music teacher at the time, decided to pursue a career as a pop singer. Yet even though her sometimes expansive arrangements, orchestral touches, and profound lyrics didn’t always fit into a media landscape dominated by 5-second social media clips, she has succeeded and is now considered one of Germany’s most successful pop singers.
Right from the start of her new album Denkmalschutz, one thing is clear: Cologne-based artist Vavunettha is aiming for the very top. But she shouldn’t be underestimated, because despite the pop sound so perfectly crafted by producer Christopher Gros, she represents a pop-cultural landscape in which multicultural influences aren’t foreign elements, but rather part of a new whole. So while her cleanly sung, at times subtly auto-tuned, or rapped lyrics may be about personal longings, the next party, or dreams of luxury and fame, the reality of life for people with immigrant backgrounds in Germany resonates between the lines. The musician, who has Tamil roots, is exceptionally skilled at translating her dual identity into music. Her reflections on belonging and home shape her sound more than her lyrics; she does not present herself as a complainer, but rather as a representative of a generation of female musicians who, with a keen eye and a creative spirit, are helping to shape a better world.
