Back in 2020, we were blown away by Japan, Man, the project led by Laeticia Acra, who was just 14 years old when she dropped her debut EP, The Bad Days. The collection of funky and mellow bops, accompanied by existential lyrics delving into the complexities of coming-of-age and her life in Beirut, Lebanon, definitely left a lasting impression on us. Earlier this year, Acra treated us to her new single, “Air Conditioner,” before returning with “Nowhere To Hide” a few days ago. Do these recent releases tease an upcoming EP or LP? Fingers crossed!

Reflecting on overwhelming emotions and overstimulation, “Nowhere to Hide” boasts an intoxicating funky bassline as well as a masterful blend of unexpected details and intricate arrangements ; a mesmerizing patchwork that is elevated by Japan, Man‘s distinctive groovy flair.

“In the midst of big and frightening emotions I think people, including myself, get tied up in the illusion that they are alone in the process of feeling these things, and that no one in the world could ever understand,” she explained. “Through the song, I also want to emphasize the panic of being unable to escape negative emotions and being trapped inside a feeling, routine, or bad habit. The thing I want people to take from the song is that feelings are big, and can feel like a tsunami of overstimulation, and all in all that is a human experience, and really, the human experience.”

Let’s not beat about the bush: 2020 was the worst year of my life and I think it might be the case for a lot of people around. As a music fan, not being able to attend any concerts, seeing some of my favourite venues and festivals endangered and reading that up and coming talents are struggling more than ever has been a big bummer. I’m not even mentioning all the emails starting with “hope you are well during these strange times”. Well, guess what? We aren’t!

Even if we have spent most of our time locked at home, streaming more music than ever, not sure the smallest DIY artists will see the difference when they’ll receive their royalty revenues. All of that to say that artists need you more than ever. As we always repeat it, streaming is good but it’s not enough. Buy your vinyls, cassettes and merch and so on on Bandcamp special days (so they get 100% of the amount) or via your local record store (yes, they’re also having a hard time), attend virtual shows or, even better, send direct tips to the artists.

Some good news, though: 2020 has been pretty amazing music-wise. While it’s not always easy to support everything or to keep up with all the weekly releases, our staff tried their best to introduce you to some promising up and coming talents and bring the best new music to your ears throughout the last 12 months. Today, we are presenting our favourite EPs and mixtapes of 2020, with some obvious picks and a few overlooked discoveries to keep an eye on in the future. Thank you for reading us. Hope you enjoy and discover some cool new stuff. You can also check our Best Albums and Best Tracks selection.

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40. Ferrari Garden – “Longest Slow Dance”

39. ascendant vierge – “Vierge”

38. quinzequinze – “Le Jeune”

37. Sedona – “Rearview Angel”

36. Gabriels – “Love and Hate in a Different Time”

35. Julia-Sophie – “y?”

34. Pearly – “prettydarksexymusic”

33. Sports Boyfriend – “Seek No Answer”

32. TDJ – “TDJ001”

31. Zsela – “Ache of Victory”

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30. Sofia Kourtesis – “Sarita Colonia”

29. Bumper – “pop songs 2020”

28. Planet 1999 – “Devotion”

27. Alaska Reid – “Big Bunny”

26. Tomberlin – “Projections”

25. DVC Refreshments – “Hits Only”

24. Isla Den – “Virtual Garden”

23. Alpen Glow – “Amertape 2020”

22. Lysandre – “Maison-Dieu”

21. Forever – “Close To The Flame”

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20. Nilüfer Yanya – “Feeling Lucky?”

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19. Shygirl – “Alias”

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18. 박혜진 Park Hye Jin – “How Can I”

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17. Molina – “Vanilla Shell”

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16. Murmur – “Behind Your Back”

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15. Jockstrap – “Wicked City”

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14. Magdalena Bay – “Mini Mix, Vol 2”

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13. Isola – “EP1”

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12. Penelope Trappes – “Eel Drip”

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11. Eris Drew – “Fluids of Emotion”

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10. Couch Prints – “Tell U”

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9. Blue Hawaii – “Under 1 House”

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8. Japan, Man – “The Bad Days”

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7. Christine and the Queens – “La Vita Nuova”

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6. Charli XCX – “How I’m Feeling Now”

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5. Zelma Stone – “Dreamland”

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4. Laura Groves – “A Private Road”

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3. Yaeji – “WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던”

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2. oklou – “galore”

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1. Bullion – “We Had A Good Time”

Here at HighClouds, we’ve been following Laeticia Acra AKA Japan, Man with a keen eye. Since her addictive first release “Stop Staring”, she’s burst onto the scene in an impressive way, and even more so considering she’s still only 16. With her latest release “The Bad Days”, the final single from her debut EP of the same name, we see Japan, Man reaffirm her position as not only one to watch, but also as one who has arrived.

Speaking of her inspiration for the track, she commented: “‘The Bad Days’ is about Bad Days arriving at your feet. Timely, in a moment in which the world is upside down, and Lebanon is getting swallowed up in a psychedelic stain.”

Her smart and perceptive commentary on the ongoing anti-government protests in Lebanon has been a feature of her music since the beginning of her career, so it’s unsurprising that her final single would also feature a political edge.

Release after release, Japan, Man has created recurring, idiosyncratic sonic motifs. In “The Bad Days” we hear them in full force. From the funky bassline, the sparsely integrated guitars and the chiming synths that sound almost like the backing track to a 70’s video game, Japan, Man has curated a sound of her own, woozy and dreamy.

“The Bad Days” is strangely the Japan, Man song that feels the most stripped back and bare, in a way that’s refreshing. The production of the track – by her uncle Julian Cassia – is seamless. The individual instrumental elements are slowly put together and then stripped back again one by one to give the choruses real gravitas and heft.

As is oftentimes the case with a Japan, Man chorus, it is insanely soothing. The scattered guitars interlaced with the pre-established, warped electronic keyboards and synths meld with Laeticia Acra’s effortlessly cool voice in the most pacifying way.

“The Bad Days” firmly establishes Japan, Man as one of the most talented rising stars of bedroom pop and only adds to the anticipation centred around her debut EP: a collection of songs that already sounds like a mini-best of.

Of this new track, Japan, Man explained: “‘Cautious’ is a call for emotional intelligence in our counterparts thematically speaking.” This intent is displayed in beautific fashion. Utilising simple and frank lyricism and combining it with her signature playful vibes, the track sweeps its way through the mundane.

The buzzing off-kilter warping effects call to mind a sort of alien sound. “Cautious” has an otherworldly element to it, whilst staying earthy in Japan, Man’s blunt delivery. What’s great about Japan, Man is her consistent and undeniable sound, a quality that is usually hard to find in such a young artist; Laeticia and her uncle Julian, who arranges and produces the music, know what works and use these elements with just the right amount of variation so as to not become stagnant. Her silky-smooth vocals and intricate use of the slacker and bedroom pop genres has become a real calling card.

“Cautious” possesses a heavy, funky bassline which is also a common feature of a Japan, Man song. This juxtaposition of the grounded, weighty bass next to the floating and tinkling sounds of guitars and synths makes for another dreamy and tasty listening experience.

Laeticia Acra aka Japan, Man may be young, but she’s already managed to impress the HighClouds staff in 2019, releasing two hypnotic singles, “The Law” and “Stop Staring.” With “Easy Target”, the third release from her upcoming EP and the first taster of her music in 2020, she further solidifies herself as one to keep a close eye on.

Her third offering retains the funk-tinged elements that doused her previous tracks. “Easy Target” is a hazy, swirling song, that on the surface seems fairly jovial. However, much like her previous single “The Law”, Japan, Man once again hides a more introspective and sombre subject matter behind this buoyant beat.

Acra said of the song: “‘Easy Target’ is a song I wrote about your own mind turning on you and making you feel targeted by almost everything. It’s about self-consciousness overtaking common sense and assurance.”

Produced by her uncle, Julian Cassia, the track possesses hints of Walter TV or Travis Bretzer in the warped and off-kilter guitars that inflect the chorus, as well as echoing Frank Ocean with the wobbling, near video game sounding effects that shoot through the early verses and continue throughout the background of the soundscape. These elements create a lush and rich listening experience. The layered effects lend “Easy Target” a density that works well for repeat listening. Upon each listen, new sounds are subtly revealed.

As displayed previously, Japan, Man knows how to make a catchy hook. With the repetition of the lyrics “I’m an easy target” sandwiched right in the middle of the track, Acra regains the listeners’ attention in a snappy and timely fashion.

Like every December, we close a year of music with our traditional lists. After the Best Albums and Best EPs and Mixtapes, we’re happy to unveil the songs that made 2019 according to our team. Are these the best releases of the year ? Maybe yes, maybe no. But for sure, they represent what we have loved over the 12 months.

2019 is also the end of a decade and, even if the blog did not exist 10 years ago, we will try to share our favourite tracks of this era during the first quarter of 2020.

Finally, I’d like to mention that HighClouds would not be the same without its team of dedicated writers. People don’t always realize it but running a blog and contributing, even only from time to time, requires a lot of energy on top of your full-time job. So thank you to each of you for this.

And now, here are the 100 tracks of 2019, as well as a huge Spotify playlist to go through our selection and discover some other amazing tracks that almost made the cut this year. Thank you for reading us and see you next decade!

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100. 0171 – “1000 Words”

99. Modern Feelings – “Culture”

98. STAINWASHER – “Joy For Me”

97. Alina Bea – “King of Nothing”

96. Lowly – “baglaens”

95. Yot Club – “no way !”

94. Helado Negro – “Running”

93. BEA1991 – “Did You Feel Me Slip Away?”

92. Deaton Chris Anthony, Clairo, Coco & Clair Clair – “RACECAR”

91. Sandy – “Signals”

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90. Common Holly – “You Dance”

89. Teen Body – “Validation”

88. SOPHIE, Doss – “Whole New World (Sophie and Doss remix)”

87. Emily Reo – “Ghosting”

86. Barrie – “Darjeeling”

85. Caroline Polachek – “Pang”

84. 박혜진 Park Hye Jin – “I DON’T CARE”

83. Kraków Loves Adana – “Follow The Voice”

82. Jessica Pratt – “Aeroplane”

81. Ariel – “Dream Team”

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80. Spellling – “Under The Sun”

79. MUNYA – “It’s All About You”

78. Von – “Dealer’s Gone”

77. Makthaverskan – “Demands”

76. SASSY 009 – “Maybe in the Summer”

75. Jessie Ware – “Adore You”

74. PAT – “Love Will Find a Way Home”

73. XUXA SANTAMARIA – “Rudos Del Mar”

72. Ascendant Vierge – “Influenceur”

71. Thom Yorke – “Dawn Chorus”

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70. Nilüfer Yanya – “Baby Blu”

69. Saeyers – “Cruise”

68. Quinn Christopher – “Erase Me”

67. The Dawdler – “Sylvie”

66. TR/ST – “Iris”

65. Jai Paul – “He”

64. Maria Somerville – “Brighter Days”

63. Morabeza Tobacco – “Orinoco”

62. Eartheater – “Fontanel”

61. Otha – “Tired and Sick”

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60. Eugenia Post Meridiem – “Anjos”

59. Vagabon – “Water Me Down”

58. Lala Lala, WHY? – “Siren 042”

57. Jackie Mendoza – “De Lejos”

56. Dorian Electra – “Flamboyant”

55. Crack Cloud – “The Next Fix”

54. Chromatics – “You’re No Good”

53. Hana Vu – “Order”

52. Magdalena Bay – “Only If You Want It”

51. Ebhoni – “TGM”

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50. Cherushii, Maria Minerva – “A Day Without You”

49. Maluca – “NYC Baby”

48. Tyler, The Creator – “EARFQUAKE”

47. JPEGMAFIA, Helena Deland – “Free The Frail”

46. Blue Hawaii – “Still I Miss U”

45. Oklou – “Forever”

44. Crumb – “Ghostride”

43. Ariana Grande – “NASA”

42. Weyes Blood – “Movies”

41. Pure Bathing Culture – “All Night”

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40. Beauty Queen – “The Only One”

39. Couch Prints – “Tell U”

38. 070 Shake – “Morrow”

37. JORDANN – “Café Speed”

36. Lizzo – “Juice”

35. 100 gecs – “Money Machine”

34. Hand Habits – “can’t calm down”

33. Jenny Hval – “Ashes to Ashes”

32. (Sandy) Alex G – “Gretel”

31. Arlo Parks – “Super Sad Generation”

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30. Grace Ives – “Anything”

29. Burial – “Claustro”

28. Sharon Van Etten – “Seventeen”

27. pronoun – “stay”

26. Requin Chagrin – “Sémaphore”

25. BEA1991 – “My Own Heaven”

24. Billie Eilish – “bad guy”

23. Sorry Girls – “One That You Want”

22. Japan, Man – “Stop Staring”

21. Drauve – “Haunted”

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20. Big Thief – “UFOF”

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19. MUNA – “Number One Fan”

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18. Claud – “Easy”

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17. Danny Brown – “Dirty Laundry”

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16. Angel Olsen – “Lark”

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15. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Want You In My Room”

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14. Caroline Polachek – “Door”

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13. Boy Harsher – “LA”

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12. Magdalena Bay – “Venice”

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11. Erika de Casier – “Do My thing”

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10. Men I Trust – “Numb”

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9. Charlotte Adigéry – “Paténipat”

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8. Σtella – “Samba”

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7. GEORGIA – “About Work The Dancefloor”

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6. Lana Del Rey – “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have”

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5. Aldous Harding – “The Barrel”

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4. Big Thief – “Not”

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3. Charli XCX, Christine and the Queens – “Gone”

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2. FKA twigs – “Cellophane”

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1. Clairo – “Bags”

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Following up on the amazing “Stop Staring”, which is already featured in our Best Tracks of 2019, Laeticia Acra, better known as Japan, Man, discusses growing up in her new funk-infused and mellow indie-pop single “The Law”. At the tender age of 15, this may seem like a fairly reductive concept upon which to base a song, but who better to give an insightful detailing of youth and ageing than a teenager?

With its sharp guitar scales balancing with the sporadic funky bassline and dreamy chiming keys, “The Law” presents the melancholic nature of the passing of time in such a way that feels authentic and representative. There’s a lilting sense to the song that is reflective of growing up, with highs and lows, moments of quiet followed by swathes of intense noise. Despite some introspective and existential lyrics such as “Precious days are on my mind/Like I won’t find good in the future”, “The Law” encapsulates childhood freedom and glee. There’s also a sense of ennui, in the way that Japan, Man presents herself, that’s fitting with the languorous swing of the arrangement.

Furthering this teenage boredom is Japan, Man’s breezy and nonchalant voice. It almost has a wry delivery, like an arched eyebrow; Laeticia Acra sings with an eye roll and the biting dryness that only teenagers seem to possess. The repetition of the phrase “Don’t tell me what to do” brims with teenage defiance and rebellious spirit.

As the song closes, we hear Japan, Man transpose her voice up a key, gorgeously crooning the final verse with a belting head voice. The effect is climactic, a shift away from the mellow mood set by the three minutes prior.

Appropriately named after the current events that are happening right now in Lebanon, the single is a responde to “the laws that keep us”. The track further solidifies Japan, Man as the maker of intelligent-sounding music and displays Laeticia Acra’s wisdom beyond her years in a way that’s both impressive and endearing. Listen to “The Law” and rediscover “Stop Staring” below.

Before your well-deserved holiday break, we come up with a playlist loaded with good music only. We are aware that it’s not always easy to keep up with all the daily releases and posts. Therefore our team made everything easier just for you. Enjoy our 50 favourite songs of 2019 so far and don’t forget to follow our Spotify playlist to check future additions.

1 GEORGIA – “About Work The Dancefloor”

2 BIG THIEF – “UFOF”

3 ARLO PARKS – “Super Sad Generation”

4 CRUMB – “Part III”

5 REQUIN CHAGRIN – “Sémaphore”

6 YOT CLUB – “No Way !”

7 CARLY RAE JEPSEN – “Julien”

8 070 SHAKE – “Morrow”

9 MEN I TRUST – “Numb”

10 TEEN BODY – “Validation”

11 HAND HABITS – Can’t Calm Down”

12 MARIA SOMERVILLE – “Brighter Days”

13 ERIKA DE CASIER – “Do My Thing”

14 SHARON VAN ETTEN – “Seventeen”

15 BEAUTY QUEEN – “The Only One”

16 MORABEZA TOBACCO – “Ally McBeal”

17 GRACE IVES – “Mirror”

18 BARRIE – “Darjeeling”

19 KEVIN ABSTRACT – “Georgia”

20 ALDOUS HARDING – “The Barrel”

21 EMILY REO – “Ghosting”

22 BOY HARSHER – “LA”

23 AUGUSTINE – “A Scent Of Lily”

24 PURE BATHING CULTURE – “All Night”

25 ΣTELLA – “Samba”

26 CELESTE – “Father’s Son”

27 CHARLOTTE ADIGERY – “High Lights”

28 LALA LALA, WHY? – “Siren 042”

29 PRONOUN – “Stay”

30 STAINWASHER – “Joy For Me”

31 LANA DEL REY – “hope is a dangerous thing for a woman like me to have…”

32 JACKIE MENDOZA – “Mucho Más”

33 BASEBALL GREGG, PECAS, WILLIAM CORDUROY – “The Movies”

34 BEA1991 – “My Own Heaven”

35 GRACIE GRAY – “Morphine”

36 ROSALÍA, J BALVIN – “Con Altura”

37 WEYES BLOOD – “Movies”

38 HATCHIE – “Without A Blush”

39 PECAS – “T-Shirt”

40 FKA TWIGS – “Cellophane”

41 OMAR APPOLO – “Ashamed”

42 MAKTHAVERSKAN – “Demands”

43 SANDY (ALEX G) – “Gretel”

44 CLAUD – “Easy”

45 JAI PAUL – “He”

46 JAPAN, MAN – “Stop Staring”

47 THE DAWDLER – “Sylvie”

48 ARIEL – “Dream Team”

49 EUGENIA POST MERIDIEM – “Blue Noon”

50 0171 – “1000 Words”