The D.C. region has long been a hub of musical innovation, an area where diverse influences collide to create sounds that are as distinct as the District itself.
In 2024, this vibrant music scene continued to thrive, producing a wealth of compelling music across genres, including punk, jazz, pop and rap, among others. For this year鈥檚 roundup, 草莓传媒 spotlights 20 newly-released songs that captured the essence of the D.C.-area鈥檚 music scene in 2024.聽
Featuring standout tracks from artists such as Ekko Astral, whose experimental soundscapes defy categorization; Ari Voxx, whose 鈥�80s- and 鈥�90s-pop-influenced songs are as timeless as they are fresh; and, Oddisee, a visionary voice in the local rap scene, this collection showcases the remarkable range of artistry flourishing in the nation’s capital.聽
Explore the Spotify playlist below that collects all of the following songs in one place, and read onward for more information on the artists and bands. (Note: Some songs listed below are not available on Spotify, but are still linked in the corresponding sections.)
Cat Janice 鈥� 鈥淒ance You Outta My Head鈥�
The late alt-pop singer Cat Janice had her dream come true earlier this year when her single, 鈥淒ance You Outta My Head,鈥� went viral and was picked up by national publications, including USA Today, The Washington Post and People.
The single was her final gift to her 7-year-old son, Loren, where all of the proceeds from the song went to him. Janice died earlier this year following a two-year battle with an ultrarare sarcoma.
Ekko Astral 鈥� 鈥渉ead empty blues鈥�
On their debut full-length album, called 鈥減ink balloons,鈥� the D.C.-based pioneers of 鈥渕ascara moshpit鈥� music catapulted themselves into the limelight. Since its release in April 2024, Pitchfork listed the album as , while Stereogum named the band
It鈥檚 incredibly difficult to choose just one track from their album to highlight, but the first track, 鈥渉ead empty blues,鈥� is a worthwhile listen. It鈥檚 an intense first impression on the post-punk album, focused on .
Bed Maker 鈥� 鈥淒ouble Dutch鈥�
For Bed Maker, their newly-released album honors D.C.鈥檚 hardcore scene, featuring frantic drumming, moody guitar strumming and the fiery talk-shrieking of Amanda MacKaye.
With , the D.C.-based band has been around the block more than once, often playing at .
This year, Bed Maker recorded their at the famous , which has captured recordings from the likes of Bad Brains, The Slickee Boys and Teen Idles, among others.
The Crystal Casino Band 鈥� 鈥淧oint Dume鈥�
Since forming in 2015, The Crystal Casino Band emerged as a band worth keeping an eye on.
With a, the band鈥檚 latest album, 鈥�,鈥� released in November of this year with 12 dance-worthy, guitar-forward songs that are easygoing and celebrate D.C.鈥檚 DIY indie rock genre well.
Night Hawk 鈥� 鈥淲inter in New England鈥�
In their debut EP, 鈥�,鈥� the D.C.-based indie folk band, Night Hawk, shares the intimate stories of turbulent relationships with five songs that range from gentle piano ballads to rollicking anthems.
The song singled out in this list is separate from their EP, but similarly worth taking a listen. The name of the band was inspired by the painting, 鈥淣ighthawks,鈥� by mid-20th-century painter Edward Hopper.聽
Pinky Lemon 鈥� 鈥�1 MIL鈥�
Pinky Lemon鈥檚 new EP, 鈥�,鈥� is dreamy, genre-bending and 鈥� as described by the band 鈥� an example of 鈥渟hoegays,鈥� a term that draws on the “shoegaze” music genre that dates back to the 1980s and 1990s and is known for聽heavy guitar effects and soft vocals.
Composed of friends hailing from both D.C. and Philadelphia, Pinky Lemon is thriving in the local music scene, often playing at venues like Black Cat, The Pocket and Songbyrd.
Oddisee 鈥� 鈥淎nd Yet Still鈥�
Hailing from the DMV, rapper and record producer Oddisee never disappoints, and his EP, proves that to be true.
The EP showcases Oddisee鈥檚 love and influences from several genres and musical styles, as seen with the ’90s throwbacks in 鈥淟ive from the DMV鈥� to the 4/6 Moroccan-inspired rhythm and jazz fusion in 鈥淭hankful For.鈥�
Chosen for 草莓传媒鈥檚 playlist, though, is the song, 鈥淎nd Yet Still,鈥� a soulful, groovy track with a steady drum loop and continuous synth lead.
Oh He Dead 鈥� 鈥淚s It My Love鈥�
The D.C.-based indie soul band Oh He Dead returned with what is now their third album, 鈥�,鈥� with songs that range in topic from death to new love.
, frontwoman CJ Johnson said, 鈥淎ll the songs are about the beauty of the darkness that leads to more light.鈥�
Lifted 鈥� 鈥淥pen Door鈥�
For a mesmerizing, hypnotic music experience that will leave you woozy, but satisfied, don鈥檛 miss the new album, 鈥�,鈥� by Max D and Matt Papich, together known as Lifted.
Pitchfork in their positive review of the album said it is 鈥�,鈥� while Bandcamp Daily described it as similar to 鈥�.鈥�
Ari Voxx 鈥� 鈥淛ust a Shirt鈥�
D.C.鈥檚 dreamy pop princess Ari Voxx released a six-track EP this year called 鈥�.鈥� The indie-pop act is inspired by the moods and new-wave and pop artists of the ’80s and ’90s.
In this latest project, Ari Voxx retains her commanding, dreamy presence in the local music scene.
Janel and Anthony 鈥� 鈥淪urf the Dead鈥�
D.C. duo Janel Leppin and Anthony Pirog, who are both creative partners as well as life partners, collaborated on the double-LP opus, 鈥�,鈥� which was released in June 2024. The 19-track work is primarily instrumental with nine songs that are vocal and electronics-heavy.
For the song, 鈥淪urf the Dead,鈥� it showcases Leppin鈥檚 singing and an ethereal synth solo. While this list only can include one song from the album, each song stands well in juxtaposition with one another, so be sure to give it a listen in full. (Note: This song is not in the Spotify playlist.)
Flowerbomb and Pretty Bitter 鈥� 鈥淣ever Better鈥�
As one of the best emo dreampop acts to emerge from the District, Pretty Bitter is often seen playing at several local venues like Black Cat, Pie Shop and (in Jan. 10, 2025), among several others.
In their latest project, Pretty Bitter collaborated with D.C.-based indie alternative band Flowerbomb for the five-track EP, 鈥�.鈥� The first song, 鈥淣ever Better,鈥� is an exciting listen with personal lyrics and a style that blends the influences of both bands well.
Des Demonas 鈥� 鈥淭he Duke Ellington Bridge鈥�
When Des Demonas burst on the scene with their , the band established themselves as raucous, defiant voices.
The D.C.-based band released a new LP this year, called that is just as fiery and hard-punching as their earlier work.聽
Flowers for the Dead 鈥� 鈥淭eeth鈥�
On Instagram, the Flowers for the Dead described their newest album as being about 鈥�,鈥� and that 鈥渋t’s OK to know what you want and know what’s not for you.鈥�
With this in mind, the D.C.-based alternative rock band 鈥� composed of Jessie Szeg枚, Ella Buskirk and Ricky Martinez 鈥� have released 鈥�鈥� as a certain crowd pleaser that has caught the attention of and certainly more to come.
PICKAXE 鈥� 鈥淢ERCY KILLING鈥�
The Washington City Paper鈥檚 Brandon Wetherbee described the debut EP from D.C.-based band PICKAXE as 鈥�.鈥�
No surprise, but D.C.鈥檚 best alt-weekly is right. The four-track album, 鈥�,鈥� by the self-described 鈥渕anic pixie scream girl鈥� band is an underground hit in the making.聽
Cuni 鈥� 鈥淵DNMA鈥�
Cuni鈥檚 album, released in September as an aggressive and momentous debut for the local emo music band. Don’t miss this album if you’re a fan of loud and angry beats.
Bacchae 鈥� 鈥淣ext Time鈥�
D.C.-based band Bacchae (pronounced 鈥淏ock-eye鈥�) has been a mainstay in the local punk rock scene since their debut album, 鈥淒own the Drain,鈥� in 2017.
Their latest album that came out this year, is focused on 鈥渕ourning or regretting something that has been lost,鈥� whether that be a lover, a job or one鈥檚 sense of self.
Embrace the anxiety and enjoy.
SHAED 鈥� 鈥淓verybody Knows I’m High鈥�
The trio that makes up SHAED (pronounced 鈥渟hade鈥�) released the album that is chock full of indie pop bops.
The band is most known for their 2018 track, 聽which is number 11 on . But, this album proves the hits keep coming.聽
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis 鈥� 鈥淏oatly鈥�
The Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis have joined together at their highest level for . The song included in 草莓传媒鈥檚 playlist is an ultra-ambitious one, which morphs every few minutes, from a ballad into a post-rock anthem.聽
厂忙办测颈 鈥� 鈥淟AZARUS鈥�
The EP, by 厂忙办测颈 (pronounced “sah-key鈥�) may be brief 鈥� with only four songs featured, the first of which is a ruminating, haunting track that is difficult to pin down 鈥� but it is an all-too memorable album to finish off this playlist.聽
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