Virtually famous: Bülow

I don’t remember much about what I was doing the night before I left school, but I’m almost certain I wasn’t performing a packed concert at Brighton’s Great Escape festival for next big things. That’s what Germany-born, Netherlands-based Megan Bülow was up to last month.

She’s only 17, but like Lorde, Khalid and Billie Eilish before her, has found a way to portray teenage life in songs that sound wise and insightful.

She also makes fantastically catchy synthpop, as demonstrated on Not a Love Song, which first appeared online seven months ago and is now on 23 million Spotify plays, is a gold seller in Canada, and hasn’t even “impacted” in the US yet (that’s music industry speak for when a song is available but they haven’t bothered telling you about it yet).

Over here we have new songs to get excited about. Her second EP, Damaged Vol.2, is out today. It includes Sad And Bored, a powerful blast of electronic pop that features a guest verse from Californian rapper Duckwrth and sounds neither sad or bored.

I’m particularly taken by Fuck You And Jennifer, a touching tale of envy and being double-crossed that’s absolutely packed with swearing. Childish it may be, but this young voice has a long career ahead of her.