Antidote 2022

During 2022, Antidote continued to celebrate artists that upend the norms and stretch the horizons of alternative music. It’s a spirit embodied by the dizzying ascent of Wet Leg. In February, the duo’s Rhian Teasdale told Apple Music, “The motto that we live by is ‘Feel the fear and do it anyway.’” Within two months, that boldness had translated into a self-titled debut album that explored doomscrolling, doing the weekly food shop when you’re high and the pitfalls of dating in the digital age (on “Wet Dream”, which you can check out here). Rendered in relentlessly catchy indie rock, post-punk and psych pop, those songs earned Teasdale and fellow singer/guitarist Hester Chambers a Mercury Prize nomination, five Grammy nods and the first UK No. 1 album for a band from the Isle of Wight. They also provided the foundation of one of Glastonbury 2022’s most memorable and enthusiastically received sets. From the droll lyrics of Wet Leg to the giddy disbelief the pair showed at being interviewed by star fan Elton John for his Rocket Hour show on Apple Music, everything they do is undertaken with an infectious sense of humour and the absurd. “It’s such a shame when you see bands but they’re habitually in their band—they’re not enjoying it,” says Teasdale. “I don’t want us to ever lose sight of having fun. Having silly songs obviously helps.” As this playlist recognises, Wet Leg weren’t the only ones exploring modern life with emotional honesty or a playful world view. Listen to easy life, beabadoobee, The 1975, Loyle Carner and many more of the innovators and subversives who pushed things forward in the alt space during 2022.