26 Artists to Watch in 2026

Has there ever been a more difficult time for emerging artists?

Forget about the most obvious issue: the sheer quantity of music being released every 24 hours. Artists are under unprecedented pressure to produce non-stop social media content, AI slop is polluting the entire internet, algorithms are the end-all, be-all of who sees what, and the music media landscape is looking bleak. It’s tough out there.

All of that makes it even more impressive when an artist is able to rise above the noise. And by this point, we all know that it takes more than simply going viral on TikTok once. The artists we’re most excited to watch in 2026 are the ones who have a focused, forward-thinking vision and who have shown consistency over time, even if that’s just for a short time.

Some of them have been building over multiple projects, and some just got started last year, but every act on this list is deserving of your increasingly scarce attention in 2026. And they’re all much better than whatever AI artist some music-tech startup is building in a lab right now.

Read on to learn more about 26 artists who we're betting on in 2026 and beyond, in our words and through short Q&As with the artists.

Check out our Artists To Watch features from 2025 here, 2024 here, 2023 here, and 2022 here.

Loading Text...

Liim

Photo by Nolan Zangas

Loading Image...

Liim is outside.

If you live in New York City, you’ve probably seen him around or know somebody who has. The Harlem-raised, Brooklyn-based, LES regular is in constant motion. He’s packing rooms at pop-up shows, starring in Gucci and Supreme campaigns, wheatpasting city walls, and shooting music videos in the streets. He’s already becoming a fixture of his city, and he’s just 22 years old.

That energy comes across in his music, too. Liim is definitely building a sonic palette of his own, but if you try to summarize exactly what that entails, you’re crazy. There’s some hip-hop with a wavy touch, there are jazzy moments fitting for an artist born in Harlem, and there are pockets of soul mixed with a DIY indie pulse reminiscent of Steve Lacy or Dev Hynes. Through everything flows a free-spirited energy that makes it easy to understand why Tyler, The Creator is a fan.

On his 2025 project Liim Lasalle Loves You, you get a bit of it all, plus more. But most of all, you’re introduced to an artist with eclectic taste, magnetic charisma, and so much potential to grow. In which direction? Who knows, but that’s the fun part about following along with Liim.—Jacob Moore

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
My music is like your favorite coming of age movie, think City of God.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
I feel like one of the most impactful moments in my career so far was at my album preview show and everyone was singing my lyrics. I feel like it all really hit for me there. People knew my songs, and my heart was full.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m half-Moroccan.

Where did your artist name come from?
My name is Salim, for short ppl called me Liim. Boom, so we Liim. Then the Lasalle part is because I grew up on Lasalle St. in Harlem. Boom. “Liim Lasalle”

Loading Text...

Bassvictim

Loading Image...

Bassvictim sit at the intersection of experimental dance-pop and electroclash, a genre they’ve coined as “basspunk.” The duo is a collaboration between producer Ike Clateman and singer-songwriter Maria Manow, a project sparked less by planning than by timing. After first meeting in Berlin in 2022, the two reconnected months later outside a London party, where a conversation about music turned into a decision to start making it together. The next day, they had recorded their debut track, “Air On a G-String.”

Rooted in a shared frustration with the wider electronic landscape, the project has taken shape as a rejection of formula and polish. Often lumped in with the indie sleaze revival, the duo refutes this parallel as they are attempting to pave their own path, something unconventional and unconcerned with industry expectations. Their rambunctious, sporadic energy onstage creates a space where listeners are able to let go, among strobe lights and vibrating floors, and this environment arguably goes hand in hand with the sonic space they inhabit.

Unpredictable and difficult to pin down, Bassvictim resists easy categorization; that resistance is what makes the project so magnetic. Clateman and Manow are enticing, refusing to let the industry wringer slow their momentum.—Katie Clayton

Loading Text...

ear

Loading Image...

The impossible-to-Google band ear, behind one of 2025’s best debut projects, describe themselves like this: ear is indietronica by Jonah and Yaelle. They met at Bard on orientation day. Jonah is finishing up his film studies at Bard and Yaelle lives in London now, though originally from LA.

The duo released their first single “Nerves” towards the end of 2024, catching some Spotify playlist support and underground buzz for this restrained electronic pop song that packs a surprising punch to the gut midway through, in the form of a see-saw bassline.

In September of 2025, they released The Most Dear and the Future, and I’ve had it on repeat ever since, unable to escape the pull of its glitchy electronics paired with tender singing. It’s an intricately layered project that lasts only 16 minutes across 8 songs, but it packs in as much variety and moments of surprise and delight as albums 5 times its length.

“A lot of our music is about tension,” Yaelle told No Bells in response to a question about the importance of small moments in their music. “And I think tension doesn’t have a size because it’s this constantly outstretching thing.” Coming to the music making process with a conceptual mindset, but also relying on trust and intuition, the duo don’t second guess what each party brings to the table. Through their partnership they have created something truly singular, a beautiful little world where everything is perfectly balanced, as delicate but precise as a hummingbird’s wing.—Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

WHATMORE

Loading Image...

There’s not an idea on the planet WHATMORE wouldn’t consider incorporating into their music. The five-piece first met as students at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art. From there, Cisco Swank, Yoshi T., Jackson August, Sebastiano, and Elijah Judah bonded over a love of music. One listen to their 2025 self-titled debut LP and it’s clear they bonded over … well, all of it: jazz, lo-fi rock, R&B, pop, pain rap, drill, new wave, trap, funk. I could go on.

What makes the New York band so intoxicating is the way these distinct styles that shouldn’t work together melt into something cohesive, coherent, and logical when coaxed and teased by their mysterious, proprietary alchemy. WHATMORE opener “never let go” is a rap song on its face, but the melody comes from a gently strummed acoustic guitar—situating the song as much in the alt-rock space as the world of hip-hop. Cisco Swank spells out the band’s ambition, rapping: “I'm tryna see all my homies on billboards/ I'm tryna be in the news/ I know it's easy to talk about it/ Out on the street it can feel crowded.”

Ambition’s a helluva drug but it also fuels success. The key is in the recipe. This quintet’s got it figured out. As such, it’s easy to imagine the WHATMORE dudes front and center on a Times Square advertisement. Considering the scope of WHATMORE, the places it goes and the styles it flips, I’m a little surprised we’re still waiting on those WHATMORE news segments after all.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Elijah: We all come from different musical backgrounds—Cisco lives in the jazz world, Jackson in a more alternative indie space, Yoshi, Seb, and I in the hip-hop/R&B kinda lane. When we come together, it feels like a melding of all of our favorite genres into something fresh.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Jackson: We’ve been doing these DIY concerts in local mom-and-pop shops in NYC. The last one we did in a Chinese restaurant on Mott Street. The line around the block in the rain was insane. That was a cool moment packing out a restaurant we’ve all been going to since high school. We also announced we’re playing Coachella, which feels wild.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
Sebastiano: I definitely always had a love for music and it was always a huge part of my life, but you’re taught that going down the artist path is risky. Given that nobody in my family has ever gone down this path there was definitely a lot of doubt as to if I’d be able to pull it off.

Where did your artist name come from?
Jackson August: It's literally been our high school group chat since we were 14. When we started the group we were like should we change the name but we were like nah, we can’t. Its been this forever.

Loading Text...

Snuggle

Loading Image...

All of a sudden, Copenhagen is the place to be if you’re into moody, layered experimental pop. ML Buch, Smerz, Astrid Sonne, and Mija Milovic have all made it big out of the Danish capital in recent years, and now you can add Snuggle to the bunch.

The band has found an ever-growing audience thanks to the release of their 2025 LP Goodbyehouse, which found the duo of Vilhelm Tiburtz Strange and Andrea Thuesen Johansen diving deep into their bag of a genre they’ve created called “tapas rock.” The sound can mean a number of things, but on Goodbyehouse, the duo mostly cook up dusty instrumentals that incorporate shoegaze and indie rock, while Johansen’s floating, enchanting vocals move across the compositions like a cloud traversing the horizon.

When things get a little wacky Snuggle are at their best. “Driving me crazy” plays with a bassline that sounds like it was taken from a ‘90s mega-pop cut, while “Playthings” sounds like the saddest, most DIY interpretation of a Lana Del Rey hit. Most impressive about Snuggle is the atmosphere they’ve seemingly conjured out of thin air, one that sounds a bit familiar but is totally unique to their little pocket of Copenhagen rock.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Maybe it’s alternative rock, but we try to be adventurous in our choices. Riffs, melodies, songs, and lyrics are important. If the music can hold contradicting feelings, like humor and sadness at the same time, that’s a good thing. We call it tapas rock.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
We haven’t been doing the band for very long, so every new thing that happens feels impactful. But releasing our first record together is a moment I’ve been waiting for. And every time someone reaches out and shows love for the songs, it feels huge.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
I sure tried forcing myself down other paths. Different educations, other creative fields. The music industry worries me. I kept coming back though, turns out I can’t do without it. It’s a bittersweet romance.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
One of the things we really bonded over when we first met was that we’re both obsessed with James Bond. Another was that we played the exact same guitar; a Gibson SG from 1973.

Loading Text...

Jim Legxacy

Photo by Igoris Tarran

Loading Image...

Jim Legxacy’s status as an artist to watch and as a potential breakout star from the UK underground to the world is no secret. It’s not a new suggestion from us at Pigeons & Planes either.

If you’ve been paying very close attention and reading each year’s edition of this list (respect), you’ll remember Jim popped up as one of our 23 Artists to Watch in 2023. He was coming off the release of “candy reign (!)” and “dj” singles which were a precursor to the offbeat brilliance of the homeless n***a pop music mixtape, released in April, 2023. “Legxacy is gearing up for another year of elevation,” we said in early 2023. “Spotlighting the UK underground whilst staying true to himself, he is quickly becoming a dynamic artist to watch.”

What we couldn’t have predicted was Legxacy co-writing and co-producing "Sprinter" for Central Cee and Dave, which became the longest-running No. 1 rap song in the UK, holding the position for 10 weeks.

So, those words from last time we included him still ring true, but in 2025 Jim hit new heights on all fronts—the music, the visuals, the clarity of his message, the collaborations, and the reach. He released black british music (2025) via XL Recordings, presented as a mixtape but standing tall as a defining work from a new generation of British talent. He toured North America for the first time. He popped up on UK star Dave’s long-awaited album with a scene-stealing feature on “No Weapons.”

Yet again, Jim Legxacy enters a new year on a high. Yet again, we’re highlighting him as an artist to watch. The only question is how far he can take his vision of black british music in 2026.—Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

thredd

Photo by Millie Melvin

Loading Image...

If you find yourself getting amped for a Friday night on the town, ready to club, drink, flirt, only for the night to end in regret—tears, a fight, depression, rage, ambivalence—thredd is for you. Well, thredd is also for you if you like to party and have a good time, too. That’s just the sort of versatility they bring to the table.

The London-based trio of Imogen “Immy” Williams, Will Lister, and Max Winter sound like The xx for kids born after 2000, well aware of how fucked up the world is but powerless to change it. This is music for haunted people, with wraith-like vocals and steely synths that sound like they were pulled from dank old abandoned houses.

The group describes their music as “Cold-pop, music for people who are up for a party, down for a cry,” and on their 2025 LP It’s Lovely, Come On In, these warring feelings mix and mingle on each song. For existing in the contemporary alt-pop world, thredd are mightily unpredictable, moving from minimal dual-vocal lo-fi soul to songs that incorporate a bevy of UK dance subgenres. thredd do a number of things very, very well. Crying at the after-party hang has never felt so good.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Cold-pop. Music for people who are up for a party, down for a cry.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
The residency at Laylow was crucial to us writing the album. It was so focused around the live shows that it became a mantra for us moving forward with writing.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
Keeping our writing process close to our hearts, putting on fun shows and seeing where the wind takes us. We ask this question enough in our daily lives so it’s nice to not put that kind of pressure on thredd. It doesn’t mean we don’t have ambitions or goals but they’re just not dictating every move. The music has to come first.

Loading Text...

svn4vr

Photo by Tom Schwimmbeck

Loading Image...

svn4vr (pronounced seven-forever) is an artist emerging from the UK underground whose music is an unexpected collision of raw, lo-fi vocals stitched and layered over pretty guitar licks, with lyrics as personal as a journal entry.

So far, he has kept a layer of mystery between himself and his audience: a refreshing approach in an era of instant access and social media oversaturation. svn4vr’s own social presence consists of obscured faces, sketches, and found images that are often of ‘High School Musical’ star Corbin Bleu—a surprising motif that runs through much of his output.

He gave his first ever interview (read here) to P&P towards the end of a prolific 2025, filling in a few gaps about his unique sound, creative process, and the central importance of his faith to everything he does. “I started making stuff with airpods on my phone,” he told us. “I still make everything on my phone, but got a proper mic [in 2024]. I’m proper fascinated by imperfection. That’s where all the cool stuff is.”

Release by release, svn4vr is crafting a catalog that captures our present moment, as seen through the eyes of a young adult trying to forge a path, find their place, and keep their faith in a brutal world. After releasing three projects and multiple songs in 2025, svn4vr isn’t letting up. Herts on fire, a new project, is on the way. — Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
New gospel.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
The love on my mixtape Fleshdeath was so cool. I’m glad people still resonate with it.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
I wanted to hoop but I wasn’t tall enough.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
Still making music. In church somewhere. Maybe a choir leader on my Kirk Franklin or something, God knows. Hopefully still helping people in some way. Keeping Jesus at the center.

Loading Text...

mark william lewis

Photo by Steve Gullick

Loading Image...

South London singer-songwriter mark william lewis’ music explores the liminal spaces of connection and isolation through songs that inhabit real and imagined places with equal weight. He’s a harmonica player and an introspective lyricist, building tracks from coming-of-age reflections, social dynamics, and vivid, poetic imagery.

Since his 2022 debut EP Pleasure Is Everything and 2023’s Living, lewis has quietly cultivated a dedicated following. His 2025 self-titled album marks a creative shift. He released the project in September of that year as the first artist signed to A24 Music. Working with longtime collaborator and co-producer Jamie Neville, Lewis describes having, “a lot more fun with the production and the instrumentation and the textures” on his latest project. Lewis draws influence from The Durutti Column's guitar work, Arthur Russell’s production, Augustus Pablo’s melodica dub, and the lyricism of Elliott Smith and Leonard Cohen. His music holds an accidental cinematic quality that naturally aligns with A24's aesthetic.—Thomas Schreckinger

Loading Text...

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Moving house and making my EP Pleasure is Everything in late 2021 was an important moment in life and and important moment creatively. Also supporting MIKE on tour was great and I learned a lot.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
Yeah, I never really made plans for anything else and always found it difficult to concentrate on anything else.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m silly.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
I had thought about other monikers but it felt good to use my own name, like making a pact with myself that my life would be dedicated to making records of some description.

Loading Text...

Zukenee

Photo by @oslimbo

Loading Image...

Zukenee’s “BROMANCE” was a song I liked when I first heard it. It was good, catchy, but I threw it on a playlist and moved on. Within a few weeks, I started craving it. Then one fateful night, I heard it while I was out, possibly a little drunk, and I was hooked. So many hit songs are sneaky like that, and sometimes those are the best ones.

Right now, there is a boom of great young rappers breaking new ground, but the most exciting of them are usually interesting because they’re intentionally avoiding the formulas. Zukenee has added some new ingredients to the formula, but there’s definitely a formula, and it works for a reason.

At this moment, where you’ve got hip-hop fans splintered by niche subgenres or unhinged beat selections, there’s something exciting about the prospect of a new rapper who has more traditional hit-making potential. A good beat, an entertaining verse, a strong vocal presence, a memorable hook—sometimes that’s what you want.

Zukenee hasn’t cracked the Hot 100 yet, but you can see the steps. He’s already got a song with Yeat and BNYX, a medieval agenda to push, and a nice mix of underground attention and critical praise.

If you have to put money on a rapper breaking through in a major way this year, Zukenee would be a pretty safe bet. And it’s only right that he’s from Atlanta.—Jacob Moore

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I would describe my music as turnt, authentic, and relatable. I call my sound Medieval Trap. It’s like modern ATL trap but shit medieval as fuck, just slayed out. Everything is sounding timeless.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Really it’s just been coming to the realization of what I actually like, the sound I really want to put out into the world. Took years to really realize that, and that’s when I started to find this Slay Sound.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
Being an artist really wasn’t number one at first. I always knew I loved music, but I fake almost became a CRNA.

What's one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
People don’t know I’m really quiet. I talk, but I don’t talk.

Where did your artist name come from?
It came from an Instagram comment on my page in middle school.

Loading Text...

Sophia Stel

Photo by Angela Donna

Loading Image...

Vancouver artist and producer Sophia Stel wears her heart on her sleeve in her music, which is a post-genre mix of rock, electronic, pop, shoegaze, and more. Growing up in a religious family of ten in Victoria, B.C., Canada, it took a move to Vancouver to find herself in the city’s nightlife and creative community.

"I'll Take It," from the deluxe edition of the Object Permanence EP, had a moment on TikTok in 2025, but it’s the depth of emotion and the way Sophia captures authentic snapshots of the little moments that make up life that mean her music stands out.

2025 was a big year for Sophia Stel. She had her first headline tour, released an excellent sophomore EP How To Win At Solitaire, walked for Ann Demeulemeester's Paris Fashion Week SS26, and modelled for Palace. A feeling of looseness and the DIY attitude fostered by her community in Vancouver comes through in Sophia’s visuals and presentation, but there’s intention behind her moves too.

Sophia Stel just announced the deluxe edition of her How to Win At Solitaire EP, with new features and remixes, and is working on her debut album.—Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
I’d say releasing my first project, Object Permanence, because it was the first time I was able to let go of a body of work.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
I pretty much always wanted to make music, but I thought I’d always have to work other jobs to supplement it. I’ve been a barista, I worked at a gas station, I worked at a donut store, I was a personal assistant at an office, I was a gardener, a house painter, I worked at a T-shirt warehouse moving boxes, I was a bartender. I just loved music so much that I knew I’d always do it even if it wasn’t financially successful.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
Probably that I have ten siblings.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
That’s very hard for me to know. I imagine in ten years I’ll probably be living in this same apartment but I hope to have like a billion dollars.

Loading Text...

YHWH Nailgun

Photo by Steve Gullick

Loading Image...

Rarely has a band sounded more like its name than YHWH Nailgun, the experimental punk quartet out of Philadelphia. Their style lands somewhere between the grunt of a number of consonants pushed together, followed by the sound of a nailgun firing into some wood paneling.

Now based in New York, the band has exploded over the past year, with their debut 45 Pounds offering the answer to a question I didn’t know needed an answer but is now something I can’t live without: What would happen if Battles was fronted by Ian MacKaye and drummer John Stanier was obsessed with roto-toms?

Another question: What happens when a band makes music that simultaneously sounds like getting punched in the face and that first sip of cold water after an exhausting workout? There are plenty of other questions YHWH Nailgun can answer—though based on the responses they offered us—they might keep things rather close to the vest.

This is the sort of thing guys like me who have thigh tattoos listen to to bolster their bonafides. That’s not to say YHWH Nailgun are inauthentic. Quite the opposite, in fact. They’ve managed to turn hardcore punk into a technicolor fever dream, existing as an entity both entirely intimidating and unabashedly inclusive.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I would describe it as perfect.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
When our fathers met each other.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I’m expen$ive.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?

Answering this question with absolute precision.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
It's my given name.

Loading Text...

Gabriel Jacoby

Photo by Juan Nieto

Loading Image...

South Carolina singer, rapper, and producer Gabriel Jacoby’s got one of the most enticing voices in Southern music and he’s one helluva roller skater, too. Some people have got all the luck. Jacoby, who describes his sound as “Funky, Southern blues,” brings the vibes of that region to life with every song.

“hello,” the first track from his 2025 LP gutta child, is a swaggering horn stomp that lands somewhere between mid-era OutKast and Big KRIT, with some Cee-Lo thrown in for good measure. But this sound isn’t nostalgic or reliant on the past.

Jacoby infuses his music with an originality linked to his own experiences mixing sultry jams and politically-charged protest anthems into an easily digestible meal. Jacoby sums it up best on “dirty south baby,” a track that moves between a campfire jam accented by a harmonica, a lo-fi rap cut, a field recording incorporating frog ribbits, and an outer space odyssey bubbling with otherworldly synths. He croons: “Lemme tell you where I’m from/ Dirty south baby, getting paper since a youngster.” That’s all you really need to know.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Dropping my first project. It's always been a lifelong goal. After dropping the first single, I finally started to get some attention, which has kept building ever since. This led to me going on my first nationwide tour with Khamari. Seeing the fans of my music in real life, hearing them sing the words, and having conversations with them after the shows was very fulfilling for me.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
It might not be as much of a surprise now because of my video to "the one,” but I can roller skate very well.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
A year from now, dropping my full length album and touring with my band. 10 years, buying land, somewhere off grid where my family and I can have peace. And I might run for president.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
My name is just my name. I had a moniker at one point, but I'll leave that for people to find out for themselves.

Loading Text...

Deki Alem

Photo by Noah Agemo

Loading Image...

Firmly rooted in Stockholm’s underground scene, Deki Alem reminds us that Sweden’s musical output is far broader than the pop and pop-adjacent stars who emerge from that country with stunning regularity. As Deki Alem, twins Sammy and Johnny prioritize high-energy live experiences, guerilla marketing, and building community around their music.

The music itself is bold, visceral, and vital. Alongside longtime collaborators Richard Zastenker and Johannes Klahr, Deki Alem blend drum & bass, post-punk, trip-hop, and hip-hop, tackling issues both personal and universal in their lyrics. At some moments they move like descendants of The Prodigy and at others their songs live alongside Gorillaz’ experimental take on global pop, with chanted choruses that wrap tight around your mind and don’t let go.

After two EPs, Deki Alem released their debut album Forget In Mass in 2025 and followed it up with a tour across Europe which continues in 2026 through March. They also played Glastonbury for the first ime and just announced a support slot for two Swedish House Mafia shows this August in Gothenburg. Even better news: new music is on the way and set for release before summer.—Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Sammy Boakye Bennett: We make music that makes you feel like you should’ve paid for it.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
Johnny Boakye Bennett: That we’re Swedes? I don’t know, worth mentioning as people used to fumble that part.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Johnny: Touring and everything that comes with it. It’s a little bubble that’s so distinctive from everything else in this industry.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
Sammy: On stage doing frenetic hand signs to our sound engineer.

Where did your artist name come from?
Johnny: It means “Alem’s children” in Tigrinya, the language of Eritrea, our origin country. Growing up, the elders used to call us that, our mother’s children, so we went with that to honor her.

Loading Text...

Arima Ederra

Photo by Jesse Crankson & Jake-Isaac Elwin

Loading Image...

Based on the title of Arima Ederra’s forthcoming LP, A Rush To Nowhere, she’s in no hurry. Followers of her rise might be surprised, considering how quickly she’s become a household name in alt-pop circles. The Atlanta-born singer first started making noise in 2024 thanks to the Mereba-assisted single “Oh God,” but it was “Heard What You Said” from September that really made the vocalist one to watch.

The guitars exist in that crunchy, expressive post-Mk.gee/Dijon universe, while the drums and handclaps give the song a rhythmic edge. At the center of this music, though, is Ederra’s voice, which she controls like it's on a string. She moves from laid back and informal to powerful and inviting at the drop of a hat, moving the song in whatever direction she pleases.

There are plenty of effective singers out there, but Ederra’s one of those rare talents who pairs an objectively good voice with a delivery that carries a tangible energy, a one-of-a-kind style that stops you in your tracks.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I'd say my music sits between worlds. Soul, R&B, indie, experimental pop, and music from different parts of Africa. It's rooted in Black music but moves freely. Sometimes grandiose, sometimes small. Think sparse arrangements, vocals that feel close to you and human. Moody, reflective, tender, sometimes raw. The kind of music that works best late at night or on long walks when time slows down and nothing else requires your attention.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
Though my earliest memories involve singing and making art, being an artist wasn't the plan, at least not out loud. Coming from an immigrant household, there was this unspoken understanding about what a safe life looks like in America. I lost my dad when I first started college and that changed everything. Grief has a way of making what matters feel urgent so it pushed me to drop out and live the life I actually wanted to. Losing him reminded me that time isn't guaranteed and I didn't want to spend mine playing it safe, so I chose this.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
It's been my name for so long sometimes I forget it's not my given name. My childhood best friend actually named me. We were going down an internet deep dive and came across the Basque language. We thought it sounded so beautiful and loved that so few people spoke it. I asked her to describe me in two words and she said 'beautiful soul,' and it's been that ever since.

I always get sweet messages from Basque people asking if I'm from the country and saying they love the name. Sometimes I feel a little weird about it, like I'm borrowing from a culture that isn't mine, but it came from a place of genuine admiration. And in a weird way, it sort of sounds like it could be Amharic. ”Adera" means "trust" so it deepens the connection for me in a way.

Loading Text...

Lexa Gates

Photo by Austin Babbitt

Loading Image...

As a teenager in Queens, Lexa Gates taught herself how to make music on her mom’s laptop, and she still likes to do everything herself—a one-woman-band who can spit poetic rap verses right next to her own soulful hooks (while occasionally self-producing her beats). She even does her own stunts, locking herself in a box and walking on a giant wheel for 10 hours each in promotion of her past two projects.

As she levels up, though, Lexa is starting to let more people into her creative orbit, like legendary record producer Emile Haynie, who helped sculpt I Am into her best work yet. After years of uploading DIY songs to SoundCloud, she had already proven herself as a remarkably efficient songwriter, capable of describing complicated topics like the existential passing of time with deceptively simple one-liners. (“The time is up, your baby got a mustache.”) But as I Am standouts like “It Goes On” and “I Don’t Even Know” show, Lexa has added a noticeable level of polish and sophistication to her sound, without losing any of the raw, blunt honesty that’s so crucial to her work.

If you ask Lexa about the future, she’ll wisely insist that she’s focused on the present, but it doesn’t take a crystal ball to see she’s on course for a breakout year in 2026 if she remains on this trajectory.—Eric Skelton

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Profound, honest, sexy, powerful, psychedelic.

What’s the most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
SZA repost.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
I don’t know how to do anything else.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I have no dad.

Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Without this pimple.

In 10 years from now?
I’m focused on the present.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your own name did you ever consider any other monikers?
I looked up “richest people in the world” and tried to see what sounded good with Lexa.

Loading Text...

Oxis

Photo by Jay Bradley

Loading Image...

Oxis transforms her internal chaos into precise sound design. The LA-based artist creates electronic pop that is glitchy and electronic, yet deeply human. Named after the Latin term for tuna (a childhood nickname), Oxis has released eight albums in just over two years. Each track is titled after a different species of fish and accompanied by her own coded visuals which use motion-reactive software that she taught herself during months of self-imposed isolation.

Her music operates on contradictions: minimal production with maximalist vocal delivery, perfectionism and precision mixed with raw spontaneity, childlike wonder wrapped in adult pain. Songs like “Fry” and the fan-favorite “Long Sardine” combine driving basslines with stark confessions. Oxis says that she often records her tracks in a single-day session on her bedroom floor. She’s inspired by Skins-era British television, artists like Stromae and Mid-Air Thief, and her classical vocal training (which she once resented but now mines for tools).

Oxis spent last fall opening for Magdalena Bay across North America. This January, she released her latest project Oxis 8. She is proving that being a “tiny fish in the big sea” doesn't mean going unnoticed. Oxis doesn’t hide her messiest emotions, and with her relentless output and DIY commitment, she’ll continue swimming into deeper waters.—Thomas Schreckinger

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
Requiem for a Dream meets My Neighbor Totoro. It hurts in a good way.

What’s the elevator pitch?
Give the fish a voice. There are over 30,000 kinds of them in the world. Most of our world is water. Humans are insignificant in comparison, and the fish are living wild and dangerous lives every moment we breathe on land. Listen to them and then eat them on toast.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Going on my first tour with Magdalena Bay. The band and the crew was a master class in world building as well as touring decorum. And the fans were so lovely. I felt very heard, and I’m grateful for that. It felt like a dream.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I started working as a food photographer when I was 15.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
I’d like to be doing all of this music stuff forever. Just more and more and more. Maybe living in a fish tank. Shows under the sea.

Where did your artist name come from?
I was called Tuna most of my life. It was on my report card in school. People started calling me that when I was 10 years old. Auxis is a genus of ocean-dwelling ray-finned bony fish in the family Scombridae, and tribe Thunnini, also known as the tunas. There was really no other option.

Loading Text...

Feng

Photo by Alondra Buccio

Loading Image...

Out of all the artists exploding from London’s underground rap scene right now (and there are a lot of them, including a few on this list) Feng is easily the most optimistic, happy-go-lucky of the bunch. While his peers lurk in the shadows, you’re much more likely to find him partying by the beach, and his naturally relaxed, sunny disposition bleeds into every song he makes.

Inspired by 2010s hitmakers like Kid Cudi and M.I.A., the 19-year-old rapper-producer from Camden has a knack for melody that pierces through even his most lo-fi recordings, making him the most likely member of UK’s underground to fuck around and end up with a Song of the Summer someday. Still, there’s a hint of anxiety and chaos that sits at the core of his songs, creating a tension that makes his music a whole lot more interesting than anything you’ll hear from today’s glossy pop stars.

Feng has only been making music for a couple of years at this point, but after blowing up with underground hits like “XOXO” and “Princess” in 2025, he’s ready to take another big step forward with an incoming debut album, Weekend Rockstar, which he promises is “going to be the best album of 2026.”—Eric Skelton

Loading Text...

Natanya

Photo by Alex Radota

Loading Image...

North London singer Natanya makes R&B that subtly expands the genre’s borders. The songs are rooted in music theory, thanks to early days of classical piano study, and infused with a raw, soulful melodicism she picked up by studying legendary artists like Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse.

Her recent third EP completes her two-act Felipe’s Return project and has earned her cosigns from Doechii, SZA, and Tyler, The Creator, among others. Standout tracks from her discography like “Jezebel” and “On Ur Time” have brought her much attention, but study the deep cuts and you’ll notice a sturdiness that will last long after any viral spotlight dies down. With a 2025 tour alongside PinkPantheress under her belt, Natanya is earning new fans with each show, each song, each project.—Thomas Schreckinger

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
It’s immersive and unapologetically camp. I usually give people headphones so they can try it for themselves. I let it do the talking.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
January 1, 2026. That day was absolutely glorious. I was so happy to see everyone flock to the music and finally realize they needed it!
I was so grateful to my fans for pushing the music so tirelessly. They are so responsible for this. They are my treasure. I love that they ride so hard for me.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
Honestly the plan changed every day. I remember wanting to be a Diva (WWE) really bad when I was young. I had a short stint as a playground pastor, handing out Bibles to my friends at primary school. Then I slid into speed painting, with dreams of being an animator. I decided law was going to make everyone around me really happy, so I did an English Lit degree at UCL. I thought I might end up a politician. That all came together to make Feline’s Return.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
Natanya’s on my birth certificate. My mum chose it since I was a rainbow baby. She couldn’t have kids for five years until me. She liked “Anya,” but her bedside neighbor in the hospital lost their child with the same name right after the birth. She rushed to find something similar, yet different. She settled on this. It’s Hebrew for ‘God has given.’ I never considered anything different—it’s so me. At one point there were a few Natanyas releasing music online. A few people told me to dress it up and distinguish myself. After some consideration, I told them I had no option but to become the biggest one.

Loading Text...

Hudson Freeman

Photo by Michael Tyrone Delaney

Loading Image...

“If You Know Me” was the riff heard around the world this past year, a twangy earworm that thrust Hudson Freeman into virality. Shot against the familiar sprawl of a cornfield, the clip of Freeman captures the spirit of Americana with an intimacy that feels recognizable to anyone raised in rural America.

Born in Dallas to Evangelical missionaries and later relocating to Eswatini, Freeman began writing songs against the backdrop of Southern Africa before returning to the U.S. for college, where he found a formative musical community at Evangel University.

Now Brooklyn-based and already praised by the likes of John Mayer, Freeman’s music is folk for the modern era: deeply human, shaped by an online world rife with alienation and unrest. Drawing inspiration from Midwestern singer-songwriters like Sufjan Stevens and Bon Iver, his lyricism echoes the lineage of folk’s past while interrogating its present.

His 2025 album is a Folk Artist poses a question: what does it mean to write folk music today, and what does it mean to be a “folk artist” at all? For Freeman, folk isn’t defined by acoustic guitars or pastoral imagery, but by an obligation to reflect and interpret the realities of his time, as the stewards of the genre have done before.—Katie Clayton

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I would call it alt-folk or just indie rock, but a recent youtube commenter kind of cooked when they called me "Mumble and Sons.”

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Personally and creatively, I think everything changed when I discovered Adrianne Lenker/Buck Meek/Big Thief in college. Career-wise, the most impactful moment of my career is no doubt playing a certain riff a million times.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
I would give all this up to have a successful alt-comedy podcast.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
I would like to make the definitive indie folk record of the 2020s—like For Emma or Illinois for brainrotted long-COVID havers.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
Hudson Freeman is my given, legal, Christian name, but I have half a mind to go by my longtime screen name “TheHudDog.” When I was ten years old and creating my first YouTube account, my dad picked TheHudDog, and I've always felt like it was my only good nickname.

Loading Text...

SOFIA ISELLA

Photo by Jasper Graham

Loading Image...

20-year-old California artist SOFIA ISELLA is a self-defined “slut for words.” She writes like a poet wielding a scalpel, crafting feminist satire that stings. ISELLA’s songs are provocative, unsettling, and brutally honest. She’s a classically trained violinist since age three who now produces and plays multiple instruments, creating alternative pop that feels more like confrontation than comfort.

Her breakout track “Hot Gum” has racked up over 16 million Spotify streams. Tracks like "Everybody Supports Women" and “Us and Pigs” reveal her unique ability to strip societal hypocrisy down to its barest form through realist poetry and dynamic production. After opening for Taylor Swift at Wembley Stadium in 2024 and supporting Melanie Martinez across multiple continents, ISELLA launched her first world tour and released her EP I'm Camera as well as multiple singles in 2025.

She draws influence from Sylvia Plath and Margaret Atwood, as well as '90s alternative rock artists like Trent Reznor and Beck. Her live performances amplify this intensity as she gasps, screams, and moves frantically across stages. Her trademark? Climbing fixtures and going into crowds to interact with her fans, who await her arrival with open arms.—Thomas Schreckinger

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before? What’s the elevator pitch?
The elevator pitch would be uncomfortable as I don’t have a good relationship with elevators.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
Discovering dirt! What a discovery!

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
When I was three I had a whiplash-ing relationship with ballet, in love with the concept, not liking the amount of pliés. But as soon as I grew somewhat conscious, I knew what I wanted.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
In occasional moments of weakness I will take a shower. :( It’s not something I’m proud of. :(

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
I thought of death the other day and how we are all going to die and it’s unavoidable and there’s no getting around it so I hope I’m alive next year and the 10 years after that.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your given name did you ever consider any other monikers?
It’s my first name and my middle name. If I could go back I wouldn’t use my original name. To separate everything.

Loading Text...

doggone

Photo by Jamar Harding

Loading Image...

I’ve been listening to Doggone for the better part of a year. When I encountered songs like “William” and “Cells” in 2025, 2 Star and The Dream Police still had me in a chokehold. I was an easy mark for the “recommended if you like Mk.gee” TikTok crusade. The algorithm was merciless and I learned to skip over that stuff quickly, but doggone was different.

By the time doggone’s song “Unforgiven” dropped in November, it was obvious that this artist with only a handful of songs out was an extremely talented songwriter. There’s some distortion, gratuitous glitching, and echoes of the ‘80s that, when put together, is starting to feel like a new subgenre in indie music right now. But doggone also delivers big melodic swings, intricate production, and the sleek polish of yacht rock. All produced, performed, and written by doggone himself. More on how he got his start and some of his other influences here.

Without giving away too much, doggone’s whole rollout also showcases a creative force with a singular vision. It’s cool when an artist makes music and shares it without overthinking, but doggone is deliberate with it. Early lore includes a masked, possibly-not-entirely-human character named William, and a story unfolding with each release.

doggone says more music is coming in 2026, he’s prepping his live show, and apparently there’s a short film in the works. Get ready for more William.—Jacob Moore

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before? What’s the elevator pitch?
I usually say experimental pop. It’s abrasive and unpredictable, but pretty at the same time. And it has the grand ambition of pop music, but with an unconventional DIY approach.

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?

Finishing the song “William” was really important. I was feeling really lost at the time and the process of finishing that song was me actively finding direction again. Looking back it feels like one of those make or break moments in my life, I don’t know what I’d be doing right now if I never finished that song.

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
My childhood dream was to be a rockstar because my cousin played bass in a band, but I think it turned into an actual dream once I started making beats in middle school. I feel like for almost my whole conscious life I’ve just been living with this unexplainable faith and obsession that I’m meant to be an artist and trusting that it will all work out when it’s supposed to if I’m true to myself and work hard. I’m really glad I’ve been following that instinct and have been patient with my artistry because it really feels like what I’m doing right now and going forward is a product of all the struggling and searching, and all the little things I’ve been collecting along the way are starting to come together.

Where do you see yourself in a year from now? In 10 years from now?
There’s so much to look forward to, I’m not sure what the timeline will look like. I’m just manifesting this, but I’d love to produce a song for Addison Rae at some point, just throwing that out there.

10 years from now I’ll definitely still be making music and pushing myself. I’ve seen artists I look up to get too comfortable and become more of a brand than an artist and I don’t ever want that. I also want to earn opportunities in film, and own a theater that plays curated movies and has a midnight showing.

Where did your artist name come from?
The name doggone was partially a nod to the old country music I’d been listening to and inspired by. The word itself also means dang or damn, and I tend to write about flawed characters who are damned by their own free will. To me, doggone is like a study of life and its nuances. It’s about reckoning with your nature, accepting uncertainty, and searching for truth, love, understanding, and salvation. It’s the recognition of being lost and the optimism of reaching into the void to grab onto something, and the desire to explore life deeper.

Loading Text...

Dove Ellis

Photo by Xander Lewis

Loading Image...

Dove Ellis released his debut album just over a month ago, and those paying attention are now cashing in early. His voice has already drawn comparisons to the aching range of Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke, but it’s his writing that truly sets him apart. Little is known about the Irish singer-songwriter, despite a rapid ascent that saw him open for Geese last fall with only three songs to his name, and a debut produced by Steph Marzano (who has produced for Hayley Williams as well).

Ellis’ lyrics land like pinpricks of painterly details, sharply observed moments that illustrate a grander picture, punctuated with cold, precise clarity. On “Love Is,” he dismantles romance with unsettling tenderness, framing love not as salvation but as something smaller. “The sweeping hair that is protecting your sleep tonight,” “the snow pooling around your shoes.” His writing refuses easy comfort and literacy, crafting the narrative points in the details that invite thoughtful listening.

Comparisons to singer-songwriter greats in their early days, or his placement alongside one of the buzziest bands right now, shouldn’t be what sells you on Ellis. His talent and lyricism speak plainly enough; this past year is only the beginning.—Katie Clayton

Loading Text...

EsDeeKid

Loading Image...

Who would have thought a masked Scouse rapper’s blown out, in-your-face, 20-minute-long debut project would crack the Top 10 of the UK Charts and remain on those charts for 19 weeks? Not to mention land on the US charts and become the longest-charting UK rap album of all time on the Billboard 200. Rebel, released in June, did just that, an impressive feat to go with the hundreds of millions of streams and ever-growing online chatter.

The undisputed 2025 heavyweight champs of the UK rap underground were fakemink and EsDeeKid. Their rise is connected through their collab “LV Sandals,” also featuring Rico Ace, which was released in February and is still by far fakemink’s most streamed song on DSPs. But their approaches couldn’t be more different. Where fakemink has been unloading the clip with endless scattershot singles since 2023 and popping up with A-listers like Drake and Frank Ocean, EsDeeKid let 12 songs do the heavy lifting in 2025.

Of course, EsDee had his own A-lister moment with the ridiculous Timothée Chalamet rumors and subsequent viral Lil Timmy Tim verse on “4 Raws,” which just added fuel to the fire that was already burning bright. EsDeeKid, alongside producer Wraith9 and rappers Rico Ace and Fimiguerrero, bottled lightning on Rebel.

The rise has been meteoric and going into 2026 there are more questions than answers surrounding EsDeeKid. What will he do now that there's so much attention on his music? Can he sustain this unlikely momentum? What will the shows on his upcoming North America tour be like? Might he do an interview or even show his face? All will be revealed in due time and we will be along for the ride.—Alex Gardner

Loading Text...

Mei Semones

Photo by Alec Hirata

Loading Image...

Mei Semones is a musical globetrotter. She’s based in New York, and there’s a clear indie rock influence in her sound, but she’s also a prodigious guitar player who incorporates a hefty dose of bossanova and Brazilian jazz into her songs. She switches her vocals between English and Japanese, and describes her sound as, “jazz-influenced indie J-pop.” There’s a lot she throws at the wall, but remarkably, she organizes these styles into something mesmerizing and cohesive.

Animaru, which she released in May via Bayonet Records plays with these sounds and demonstrates a command of melody reminiscent of alt stars like Mitski, Why Bonnie, and Alex G. Despite it being Semones’ debut LP, it sounds remarkably assured, like it’s a sound she’s been working towards her entire career. This many ideas across songs and an album could fall apart in lesser hands, but Semones’ gift for composition proves itself to be second to none throughout Animaru. She does seemingly everything on this LP, so only one question remains: Where can she possibly go from here? We can’t wait to find out.—Will Schube

Loading Text...

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I usually describe it as jazz-influenced indie J-pop. It has lyrics in both Japanese and English and there’s some bossa, math rock, indie rock, grunge rock, etc. mixed in there, but to keep it short I say the first thing!

Was being an artist always the plan from a young age, or did you almost go down another path?
I always thought I was going to be a guitarist more than an artist, but after graduating my focus shifted more to being an artist and writing/recording music/touring as opposed to being a guitarist and gigging/doing sessions.

What’s one thing that people would be surprised to know about you?
People are sometimes surprised when I tell them I love horror movies!

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
A year from now I see myself releasing another project and touring around the world, playing bigger rooms than we did this year. 10 years from now I hope to be a much better guitarist and will hopefully be good enough to make a jazz trio album.

Where did your artist name come from? If it’s your own name did you ever consider any other monikers?
My artist name is just my actual name! I never really considered any other monikers.

Loading Text...

Truman Sinclair

Loading Image...

A new generation of songwriters are defining the alternative landscape, and Truman Sinclair—with his distinctly raw voice—is emerging as one to watch. For a moment, you (and me, in my box room in east London) are there, riding down a Californian highway, pulled into gun-slinging tales and tradition reworked. Sinclair has a way of capturing the world burning while also offering a quiet assessment of love, hope, and understanding. His music, where folk, Americana, and emo blend together, becomes a vessel for communication and connection.

When we last spoke, Sinclair was midway through a residency at a local LA venue, taking to the stage solo every week. Outside of those gigs by himself, he would perform with his other projects, like Fat Evil Children and high school band Frat Mouse. When he wasn’t busy juggling these entities, he was out on the road with artists like Hudson Freeman and Dylan Thom. Together, they became part of a rising community has been taking shape rooted in independence and a DIY ethos. For Sinclair, music isn’t a commodity; it’s something that should be abundant, easily accessible to all.

Last year he released his debut album, American Recordings, followed by the more recent EP Rivers of Sugar and Blood. The record was written, produced, and recorded entirely by Sinclair. At 23, his strength is in his storytelling, shedding irony to voice the emotions most of us struggle to articulate, all while mediating on tradition in a way that’s lived-in, challenging, and quietly hopeful.—Rani Boyer

Loading Text...

What’s the elevator pitch?
Willie Nelson x Bladee? Haha. I don’t know if I really have one.

How would you describe your music to someone who’s never heard it before?
I love songwriting and I love playing the guitar. I grew up on rock and folk and country. I love underground music and rap and local bands. And I truly love the community that music creates. I love Willie Nelson. And Lil Peep

Most significant or impactful moment in your career so far?
I am going on tour to open for Courtney Barnett! She is a true hero of mine. I love her work and am so inspired by it. It’ll be a dream to open for her.

Where do you see yourself a year from now? In 10 years from now?
In a year I want a cat and in ten years I want a dog. Haha but for real I feel like I have so much to say and do in the next year. I have so many songs and recordings and projects that I am so excited to put out. And in ten years i hope to be working with other musicians and helping tell stories and make music forever.

Loading Text...