Pretty Bitter

Pretty Bitter is a five-piece synth pop band from Washington, D.C. who has become a mainstay of the city's DIY scene. The band released their debut album Hinges in 2022, followed by their sophomore album Pleaser in 2025 via Tiny Engines. They performed at D.C.'s 9:30 Club twice in 2022 and won two Wammie Awards for Best Pop Album and Best Pop Song. Pretty Bitter describes their sound as "queer emo dreampop-ish something or other," juxtaposing stories of heartbreak with dazzling pop-rock arrangements that infuse emo breakdowns with disco and synthpop elements.