Music player UI showing the cover art for "Long Showers" by BRIGHT, “cloud 11” by thủy, and "Not In Love" by Deb Never.

JoySauce Radio: End 2024 with this year’s musical highlights

Some fantastic tunes were released this year; here are a few you might've missed

From left, cover art for "Long Showers" by BRIGHT, “cloud 11” by thủy, and "Not In Love" by Deb Never.

Words by Anjana Pawa

JoySauce Radio: Consider JoySauce Radio our own personal song recommendations—from the tunes and videos our writers love to DJ-produced mixes of dance floor bangers—all from Asian and Pacific Islander artists around the world.

As 2024 winds down, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of music that’s been released this year, and especially all that you may have missed. There are so many songs out there, and it’s nearly impossible to hear them all. From experimental beats to lyrical and soulful melodies, musicians from the Asian diaspora gave us a bit of everything this past year, broadening our horizons and keeping our ears perked up for more. To close out this long (and weird) year, here are some tracks from throughout 2024 that may have slipped from your radar. Put them on your holiday party playlist and jam out before the new year catches up to you, or use them for an introspective night in as you pen your resolutions for 2025.

“Lose My Focus” by Raveena

Raveena’s “Lose My Focus” is a track that completely captures the essence of how it feels when your mind wanders into the foggy depths of longing; suddenly, the world around you melts away and you forget what real life is like. This song, like many of the Indian American’s ethereal tracks, blend elements of South Asian music into an indie-pop song. Amidst her soft vocals, you can hear lush instrumentals similar to the ones you hear in South Asian classical music that are running through their Sa Re Ga Mas to accompany her timid voice. The visuals in the lyric video are just as stunning as the soundscape she’s created.

“Long Showers” by BRIGHT

Thai actor and model, and rising global star, BRIGHT, made his official solo musician debut with 88rising this year and the track is an absolute hit. “Long Showers” is a song that is the perfect balance between melancholy and uplifting vibes. It almost makes you feel like you’re floating, which is apt since the song is about embracing the quiet after a storm and finding clarity after a relationship. Imagine you’re taking a long, reflective shower and washing the day off; this song will perfectly accompany you.

“cloud 11” by thủy

If you haven’t heard of thủy yet, get ready to fall in love, especially with her soft voice. The track “cloud 11” describes a feeling that’s so good, you’re not just on cloud nine, you’ve made it up to cloud 11. “It tastes like heaven every single second with you,” she sings over a dance-pop back track. The 33-year-old Vietnamese American singer-songwriter is an expert at transporting you to another world with her voice and “cloud 11” is the kind of song that lets you drift into a playful state while reminiscing on fun times with someone you love.

“Not In Love” by Deb Never

Not many artists can seamlessly mix angst into a soft indie-pop song as well as Deb Never can. “Not In Love” is the kind of song that makes you feel the singer’s raw emotion, especially if you’ve been in a relationship where things just weren’t quite clicking. Though it sounds like it could be a love song, the track has a grungy, introspective energy that’s perfect for when you need to reflect on the messy, complicated side of love and relationships.

“APT” by Rosé and Bruno Mars

There’s no way this track went under anyone’s radar this year, but it’s still worth a spot on this list. When two heavyweight musicians like Bruno Mars and Rosé come together, you know you’re in for a treat. In “APT” the veteran BLACKPINK star mixes her fun, bouncy vocals with Bruno Mars’ signature irresistible R&B charm to create an incredibly memorable track. This song is playful, nostalgic, and is an ode to one of Korea’s most popular drinking games. You can gather your friends around and play too this New Year’s Eve—game start!

Published on December 31, 2024