Sound Check

OndaRock's monthly playlists are a guide through the vastness of current musical output. A way to trace the evolution of rock, contemporary pop in its thousand facets, new electronic trends, the richness of singer-songwriter music, but also the most eclectic experimentation, the changeability of jazz, the vitality of the Italian scene and the darkest sounds of the underground dark scene.
Our editors have curated each playlist by drawing on the vast catalogue of new releases, creating engaging, easy-to-follow selections aimed at enthusiasts with the most varied tastes. As always, happy listening!

Rock and Beyond
September is, as always, a period packed with new releases. Among the most interesting of these days, we can listen to Big Thief, Idles, Jehnny Beth, Chalk, Water From Your Eyes, Militaire Gun, Just Mustard, bar italia, Sorry and Sprints… (Claudio Lancia)

Pop Muzik
With Charli xcx still a constant presence in digital pop culture, can Sabrina Carpenter dominate the rest of the year even without a new "Espresso"? (Daniel Moor)

Dark Corner
Let's start cooling things down with the dark chart topper, A Shrine To Failure, a darkwave act that has already made its mark. Among the latest goth-branded releases, you'll also find Lebanon Hanover alongside our own homegrown Ash Code (a welcome return for them after a period of hiatus). As always, the appendix is dedicated to more extreme sounds: standing out in the lineup is the visceral post-black metal of Der Weg Einer Freiheit, as well as a track previewing the upcoming work of Denmark's Afsky, one of the most beloved names among genre devotees. (Paolo Chemnitz)

Electronic
Plenty to dance to, but not only that… New EPs from The Dare and Sofia Kourtesis, a Jamie XX remix courtesy of Solomon, new albums from Kaytranada, Two Shell, and Soulwax, Rival Consoles, Nick Leòn and Facta, a track signed by Four Tet, the intriguing collaboration between Cure and Trentemoller, a remix for Sandwell District (OndaRock's Album of the Month in April), the return of Arca, followed by a rich run of excellent 2025 productions by women: Erika De Casier, Avalon Emerson, Bambii, Marie Davidson, Yaeji, Amelie Lens, Charlotte De Witte, Aya, FKA Twigs, Ela Minus, Rose Gray and Oklou. (Claudio Lancia)

Songwriter
Margo Price returns to a more country-leaning sound, Tweedy announces a sprawling epic, while Big Thief keep churning out masterful songs. A selection to savor the last moments of summer and look ahead to a promising autumn of releases. (Daniel Moor)

Other Sounds
While we wait for autumn's new releases, our selection revisits a batch of worthy summer output. On the domestic front, standouts include yet another intriguing work from Paolo Angeli and the collaborative effort from Federico Mosconi and Barbara De Dominicis. Alongside them are the ever-atmospheric Hammock and the mutant hyperfusion of the Jameszoo project. We highlight our picks of the month, the second four-handed effort from Sofie Birch & Antonina Nowacka and the politically charged work crafted by the trio Charbel Haber – Nicolás Jaar – Sary Moussa, currently the section's chart topper. We close with two previews: an excerpt from the upcoming work of Claire Rousay and Max Richter. (Peppe Trotta)

Italy
Brand new singles from Zen Circus and Andrea Laszlo De Simone lead the way, followed by Il Mago del Gelato, Ministri and Fast Animals And Slow Kids opening our selection dedicated to Italian releases from recent weeks. Enjoy the listen… (Claudio Lancia)

Jazz
A return from summer with numerous excursions abroad – and, surprisingly, even without leaving home. Italy's Pietra Tonale lead us to the borders between jazz, post-rock and avant/progressive approaches, while with Porto Raro it's the electronic, downtempo dimension that sets the coordinates for their (loosely) jazz-based exploration. Among the most anticipated, L'Antidote already point toward an open, contaminated Mediterranean sound, while the very recent releases from Kokoroko and Holden/Zimpel confirm the Midas touch that belongs only to the very best. (Marco Sgrignoli)