It’s been a hectic year for Surinamese-Dutch singer-songwriter néomí. She kicked things off back in February with the release of her debut single, ‘if i wasn’t made for love’ and followed it up with a sentimental music video. Songs like ‘eyes filled with sky’ and ‘i’ll be there’ followed, and continued to propel her folk-pop sound towards warmth and nostalgia. Her debut EP, before, came out in June and was met with critical acclaim. She describes one of the album's most important tracks, ‘redemption’, as “a thank you to my family. I have so much love for them. I am grateful for the culture my mother gave me, the wisdom my father passed on and the life lessons my sister taught me. This song is about the nostalgic feeling of being younger and feeling safe with my family.” The release of ‘red balloon’ in October marked an almost instant comeback for néomí, who is gearing up for a huge 2023. -Dan Peeke