Top 15 New Artists of 2025
There was a lot of variety of new artists from multiple genres who broke through in 2025. With a wave of unique creativity from artists like Geese, Die Spitz and Florence Road, the year saw guitar-based rock bands move into the forefront. Fun and flair was represented by emerging duo Haute & Freddy, and it goes without saying that sombr had a huge year with huge hits, sold-out shows and numerous accolades. There are so many great new artists that we loved and narrowed it down to the top 15- check ’em out!
Audrey Hobert
After years of writing for various television projects that included staff writing on a Nickelodeon sitcom, Audrey Hobert shifted focus toward songwriting. Hobert had a direct entry point by co-writing with her close friend Gracie Abrams on songs for The Secret of Us, including hits like “That’s So True” and “I Love You, I’m Sorry”. Dropping her debut album in 2025, ‘Who’s the Clown?’, Hobert struck a cord with music fans, especially those who knew her from Abrams’ work. The album garnered much critical acclaim and the majority of her debut performances during her fall tour were sold-out, setting her up for continued growth in 2026.
Luvcat
Luvcat made quite the impression to kick off 2025 and things grew from there. Her single, “Love and Money” had already given Luvcat a solid foundation in Europe last year and spread to the U.S. shortly thereafter. The stage name of Liverpool native Sophie Morgan Howarth, Luvcat toured throughout Europe and North America for most of the year to huge crowds who resonated with her brand of goth-glam. She released her debut album ‘Vicious Delicious’ on Halloween to much anticipation, which features tracks like “He’s My Man” and “Lipstick” that create a cinematic feel inspired by the traditional sounds of 1950s standards and cabaret. The future is bright for Luvcat, who’s carved out an addictive sound and personality.
Geese
2025 was the year that Geese finally broke through, after years together, with their third studio album ‘Getting Killed’. With pop-up shows that were packed with fans, Geese brought a unique sound to rock drawing from the likes of Ween, the Strokes, Radiohead, and Led Zeppelin that resonated with growing audiences. Although they had various songs go viral and used on social media like “Taxes” and “Long Island City Here I Come”, their live shows were filled with a mixture of younger and older music fans. There was also social media discourse filled with debates on whether they were deserving of the attention, but as it goes in entertainment and music, any press is good press and the band is poised to continue to grow.
2hollis
It was quite a year for 2hollis, who continued to grow as an artist with the release of his fourth studio album ‘star’ as well as passionate audiences across various scenes who helped sell out his live shows. The Chicago-born artist, Hollis Frazier-Herndon, now based in Los Angeles, started producing tracks as a teenager in 2018 under the name drippysoup before switching to 2hollis in 2020. His unique approach to music blends electropop, rage rap, EDM, and hyperpop elements that’s is the backdrop for vulnerable lyrics.
Ally Salort
22-year-old singer-songwriter Ally Salort has built a steady audience ever since she was a 14-year-old posting covers on YouTube. Now signed to Distrupter Records, which is a division of RCA Records, Salort released her debut EP, ‘Change of Plans’ that contains viral tracks “Pretty Face” and “Horror Movie”. Salort’s voice is smooth yet strong and her songwriting is direct with an honest self-awareness , with the EP focusing on the everyday relationship shifts—confusion, avoidance and closure. With her debut festival appearance at this year’s Austin City Limits, performances at select shows in New York, London and Los Angeles, Salort is also gaining a reputation for strong live shows that will only continue to grow.
Florence Road
With the release of their debut mixtape ‘Fall Back’, Florence Road have music fans excited for what’s to come from the Irish four-piece. Consisting of childhood friends Lily Aron on vocals and guitar, Emma Brandon on guitar, Ailbhe Barry on bass, and Hannah Kelly on drums, the music of Florence Road is characterized by a raw energy that’s been a welcome sign for rock music fans.
sombr
Twenty-year-old New York City native sombr had a phenomenal 2025 led by a string of monster hits from his debut album ‘I Barely Know Her’. With songs like “Back to Friends”, “12 to 12” and “Undressed”, sombr had to upgrade to larger capacity venues for his fall tour due to his immense popularity. Not bad for an artist who started experimenting with GarageBand as a teenager before building tracks in a makeshift setup funded by summer jobs. With all the momentum behind him, sombr is headed into 2026 as a Grammy-nominated artist and his first Coachella appearance slated for April with more to come.
Haute & Freddy
The alt-pop duo of Haute & Freddy have fans excited for their 80s synth sounds and theatrical element that characterize their music. Comprised of Michelle Buzz and Lance Shipp, the duo had been established songwriters with credits for major pop acts prior to teaming up. Attracting attention on TikTok with songs like “Scantily Clad” and “Shy Girl” Haute & Freddy have a growing fanbase who not only enjoy their music but the immersive live setups and themes of self-expression in the lyrics. Their appearances at various festivals in the fall like Portola Music Festival and Austin City Limits amongst others combined with their headlining tour had interactive crowds and showed the duo’s flare and showmanship that sets them up for a big step forward in the next year.
54 Ultra
54 Ultra released his debut EP, ‘First Works’ in May of this year to much anticipation, led by the strength of “I Won’t Go”. Supported by a growing fanbase, 54 Ultra, the solo project of Johnny Rodriguez, has become a must-see artist at next year’s Coachella. Initially starting out making music as a teenager producing beats for rap artists, Rodriguez shifted to writing and performing his own songs during the pandemic in 2020. Taking his influences that spanned from new wave artists like The Cure and The Smiths, Rodriguez merged Latin-influenced soul and classic R&B to create a hybrid of the genres for his own sound that’s enabled him to carve out his own lane that is sure to take his career to new heights.
Oklou
An “artist’s favorite artist”, Oklou, released her debut album ‘choke enough’ early in the year to much anticipation and critical acclaim. The stage name of French producer and vocalist Marylou Mayniel, took her career to a new level with the new music that blended classical influences with hyperpop elements and ambient textures. Adopting the Oklou moniker while moving to Paris, later connecting with London’s underground scene through collectives, Oklou’s brand of avant pop has resonated with fans and peers alike that include Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, FKA twigs, Ethel Cain and others.
Die Spitz
The four-piece rock band from Austin, Texas Die Spitz has been steadily growing their fanbase, heavily based on the reputation of their explosive live performances. Consisting of Ava Schrobilgen, Chloe Andrews, Ellie Livingston, and Kate Halter, Die Spitz released their debut album, ‘Something to Consume’ on Third Man Records this year. Die Spitz formed in 2022 just as society was recovering from the period of inactivity from the pandemic and their early works leaned heavily on their influences from artists like Black Sabbath, Pixies, Mudhoney, PJ Harvey, and Nirvana. As rock music continues to get most exposure, so does the spotlight on the talented group, whose sound has resonated with a growing and passionate audience.
Olivia Dean
Olivia Dean has been an emerging name to keep an eye on ever since she released her debut album ‘Messy’ in 2023. The album earned her nominations for both the Mercury Prize and BRIT awards while setting the course for a career upward trajectory. With the release of her latest LP, ‘The Art of Loving’ that came out this past fall, the 26-year-old British singer-songwriter from north-east London is ready to shine. Her 2026 North American tour is selling out arenas across the U.S. as the buzz around her continues to grow, especially with the chart success of songs like “Man I Need” and “So Easy (To Fall In Love)”. It’s all coming together for the British artist who taught herself guitar and piano and started writing songs at 16, and it’s all setting her up for a big 2026.
Sunday (1994)
Sunday (1994) continued to ascend in their career in 2025, selling out numerous shows across the U.S. and Europe during their respective tours. After breaking out in 2024 with the single “Tired Boy,” the a transatlantic dream-pop trio built an incredibly passionate fanbase with the works that followed, including their self-titled EP that garnered much critical acclaim. Comprised of vocalist Paige Turner, guitarist Lee Newell and drummer Puma, Sunday (1994) have channeled their unique style of cinematic melodies inspired by 90s influences like Mazzy Star and The Sundays with direct lyrics mixing melancholy with dry humor. It’s that style of music that has their OG and the casual fans clamoring for more.
fakemink
fakemink went viral with “Easter Pink” in 2025 and elevated his profile along with it. The 20-year-old London-based rapper and producer has been a burgeoning name within the UK’s underground rap scene, building a reputation of unique sounds blending percussion from his Punjabi Indian and Algerian heritage with hyperpop elements and rap. Born Vincenzo Camille, fakemink started producing beats at ten years old and 10 and began rapping around 2019 under the name 9090gate and had been steadily releasing songs that culminated in the release of his debut album ‘London’s Saviour’. With more fans on board, fakemink is poised for continued growth in the new year.
Rocket
Garnering much exposure and acclaim after opening for The Smashing Pumpkins during their recent tours, Rocket has been on an upward trajectory. The Los Angeles four-piece released their debut album, ‘R Is for Rocket’ this year and had both critics and fans all abuzz. Forming in 2021 during lockdown, Rocket started by writing songs together in a shed, taking their influences and love of 90s alternative from bands ranging from The Smashing Pumpkins, My Bloody Valentine and Sonic Youth to XTC and Supergrass. The band has known each other since high school and earlier and is comprised of vocalist and bassist Alithea Tuttle, guitarists Desi Scaglione and Baron Rinzler and drummer Cooper Ladomade, and it’s that tight bond that has enabled the band’s raw yet polished sound to resonate with audiences.
