As the new year begins, we’ve got our eyes and ears peeled on a handful of artists who we think will have an incredible year ahead. Whether brand new to the scene or years into the grind, these fresh faces will be sure to earn a place on not your just playlist, but in your heart as well. Read below for our curated staff picks across all genres from rock, indie, country, alternative, EDM, and beyond — and just maybe you’ll discover one of your new favorite artists.
DE’WAYNE
ON RADAR BY NIKKI PHILLIPS: DE’WAYNE has been doing his thing for quite some time now — respectively climbing in popularity with each year passed. The LA-based Houston native dips his toes into a multitude of genres, seamlessly blending sounds of the 70s, 80s and beyond with old school punk, modern pop punk and alternative rock feels. DE’WAYNE’s live performances are a page torn out of a music history book — with vivacious energy and free-spirited flow, he is the definition of a natural and soulful musician. He has collaborated on songs with Good Charlotte, grandson, POORSTACY, Chase Atlantic, iDKHOW and more. DE’WAYNE’s latest EP, I WANT YOU MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE DOES, is a quick and easily-addictive listen. Currently signed with Fearless Records, we are anticipating the next chapter that he has already teased for 2025.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Die Out Here,” “Good Mood,” & “Synthesizer”
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VANA
ON RADAR BY CONNOR HANNAN: Ever wondered what Bring Me The Horizon would sound like with a female singer with a voice as elegant and as powerful as Oli Sykes? Let me introduce you to Vana. Vana is a rising artist from New Zealand who’s been blowing up Twitch, Instagram and TikTok. With red hair as vibrant as her personality and passion for her music, Vana hits you with soft, feminine vocals that can change in a heartbeat to hard-hitting, powerful, grungy screams that matches her dark aesthetic. Having been listening to Vana for the past few months, I can only describe her music as “addicting” with complex and catchy lyrics that leaves you wanting more. Fresh off her latest EP Trial and Terror, Vana will hop on tour with Honey Revenge for a North American tour that will run from May through July, where she will have her chance to spread her music even further through the states.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Beg!” / “SERPENTINE” / “HARLEQUIN!”
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HOT MILK
ON RADAR BY MATT MARTINEZ: A quickly rising emo power pop band who made major waves in 2024, known as Hot Milk from Manchester England, plans to continue thriving in the new year. The first thing you may be asking is, why did the band choose a name like Hot Milk. And it was purely because it was an eye catching name, but it doesn’t really mean anything. Hot Milk’s unique sound comes from the dichotomy of dual singers Han Mee and Jim Shaw trading off lead vocal lines and layering their dynamic vocals into powerful choruses. Shaw also handles guitar duty for the band. They then have Tom Paton on bass and Harry Deller banging away on the drums. Hot Milk only put out one new single in 2024, “Where Does The Light Get In?” — though they put out their debut album A Call To The Void in 2023. Instead, spending 2024 putting effort into playing for the masses with two major opportunities. The first being the opening band on Blink 182’s monumental stadium tour across the United States. The second travelling on the emo friendly Sad Summer Fest tour. Hot Milk got themselves out in front of millions of people this last year. They have already announced their next tour in support of Magnolia Park during April and May. I know I am personally hoping for some new music, and that they come back a second time this year for a headlining show.
ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: A Call To The Void (2023)
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DASHA
ON RADAR BY RAVEN KENDALL: Dasha undoubtably gained viral sensation in 2023-2024 with her breakout song “Austin” which has over 700 million streams and won the “Female Country Song of the Year” at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards. Dasha is solidifying herself as a force to be reckoned with in the country music world and she has no plans on slowing down anytime soon. We were able to cover a show of hersback in October of last year — she had the entire El Rey Theatre sold out and dancing their boots off. In my personal opinion, she’s going to blow up even bigger this year!
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Austin” / “Bye Bye Bye” / “Didn’t I?”
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BRITTNEY SPENCER
ON RADAR BY JEN ROMAN: Brittney Spencer, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, is a country singer-songwriter who gained prominence in 2020 after a viral video of her covering The Highwomen’s “Crowded Table” garnered widespread attention. Having signed with Elektra Records back in 2022, Spencer expanded her reach with the release of My Stupid Life in 2024, which pushed the boundaries of traditional American country music. With collaborations and performances with industry icons like Willie Nelson, Bob Weir, and Beyoncé, Spencer has further showcased her versatility and commitment to bridging genres.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “BLACKBIIRD” & “cowboy take me away”
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BEN WOLF
ON RADAR BY NIKKI PHILLIPS: Spiral into a gentle dreamstate with Ben Wolf, a singer and songwriter who knows how to deliver an ambient listening experience from the moment we press play. With a background in recording and production, it’s evident the music emerging from Ben is well-rounded and hits in all the right places. An alternative artist with bits of 2000s alt sounds and modern touches, these chill and melodic vibes fit perfectly into your daily playlist. Ben’s debut releases remind me of nothing, nowhere’s Trauma Factory, which is an album I love, so immediately I had to invest myself into Ben and see what’s in store for 2025.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Pull My Strings” & “SCALES”
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MADDY O’NEAL
ON RADAR BY FRANNY KOVACS: Music Producer and DJ Maddy O’Neal has conquered the live electronic music scene in Denver, and has broadened her sights on the world. The self proclaimed soundscaper worked to hone in her niche “dirty funky bass music made pretty” since 2016 and has been carving the way for women in music ever since. Maddy’s versatility, sharp ear, and heartfelt performances resonate with live audiences, keeping them coming back for more. Self-taught, she blends diverse influences into melodic, bass-driven, jazzy hip-hop sets, radiating passion that appeals to the EDM community and beyond. Maddy has played some of the biggest festivals in the country, such as Coachella, Lollapalooza, Burning Man, Summer Camp, Electric Forest, Envision, and built up an extensive touring resume with renowned artists such as Pretty Lights, Big Gigantic, The Floozies, Cherub, SunSquabi, Manic Focus, Russ Liquid and more. Following the release of her third full length albumVital Signs, Maddy will continue her conquest on the EDM scene as she soon starts another tour across the United States that will extend through the spring. Watch out this summer on the festival circuits, as it’s likely we’ll see her spreading light and funk all summer long.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Zest Please” & “Make You Feel”
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KAMERON MARLOWE
ON RADAR BY RAVEN KENDALL: Kameron Marlowe is a fellow Kannapolis, North Carolina native who got his start on Season 15 of The Voice where he joined Blake Shelton’s team and later got eliminated in the Live Playoffs Top 24. Kameron did not let that elimination stop him, he ended up leaving his small hometown and moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue country music on a larger level. In 2019, Kameron released his single “Giving You Up”, which turned into a massive hit and now has over 104 million streams which I think it’s safe to say, he definitely made it to a larger level. Kameron has since released other hit songs like “Steady Heart”, “Strangers ft. Ella Langley”, “Girl on Fire”, and a lot more! I strongly think Kameron Marlowe is going to write even more chart-topping hits and rise to a level of fame he couldn’t imagine in 2025. This is an artist to definitely keep your eye on, making that small North Carolina town extremely proud!
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Never Really Know” / “Strangers” (feat. Ella Langley) / “Girl On Fire”
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SENSES
ON RADAR BY MATT MARTINEZ: A rising band I have been fortunate enough to see twice this last year, the self-proclaimed “Emo-friendly, punk-curious” band Senses. Senses is officially a two piece comprised of singer Madison Taylor and drummer Nick Sampson. When playing live, they round out their band with guitarist Jordan Keigher, and the three of them are an explosion of charismatic energy and catchy songs. On both tours that Senses came through Los Angeles on, they nearly stole the entire show as an opening band. By the end of each set Senses had all the uninitiated people in the crowd jumping, dancing, and most importantly already singing the songs back to the band. Along with putting their selves in front of new crowds night after night on multiple tours throughout the year, Senses have released multiple new sings over 2024 which include “better than this,” “no fun,” “maybe,” “good luck, babe,” “can’ you tell,” “every little thing,” “pull me under,” and their latest “me against me.” The fact that Senses have only been an opening band has been mind blowing, as I feel they have the ability to headline their own shows by now with their energy and songs. Fortunately for the musical world, Senses have announced their own North American headlining tour entitled the I’m Still Breathing Tour ’25. This will be taking place from March to April, and I highly recommend getting a ticket to this tour to experience one of the next big bands to hit the emo/punk scene.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Better Than This” & “Gonna Make Sure”
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WILLOW AVALON
ON RADAR BY MIKE AMODEI: As the closest thing to Dolly Parton since well… Dolly Parton, Willow Avalon should absolutely be on your radar this year in 2025. In my opinion, she is the perfect blend of classic country, pop, and a hint of southern blues. The small town Georgia raised country artist has quickly been climbing toward a million monthly listeners on spotify. At the end of 2023 she signed a deal with Atlantic Records, leading to the release of her Country Never Leaves EP which took off last year. She also has a new album Southern Belle Raisin’ Hell coming out this January. I have a feeling this will be the next big step in her career, exponentially raising her visibility. If all that wasn’t enough already, Avalon will be on her first headline tour starting at the end of January and playing across the US, UK, and Ireland. Hop on the bandwagon and get listening while you can still say “I knew her before…” Upcoming tour dates can be found here.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Homewrecker” & “Gettin’ Rich, Goin’ Broke”
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PETTI HENDRIX
ON RADAR BY NIKKI PHILLIPS: Hailing from Milwaukee, Petti Hendrix has cultivated a genre-melting sound that combines elements of rock, hip-hop and all in-between. With influences ranging from Michael Jackson to Lil Wayne to Bring Me The Horizon, Petti’s songs evoke emotions revolving around real-life struggles and triumphs. Boosting a positive mindset and daily encouragement with his laid-back sound, his debut album Choose Life compliments all corners of emotion. His single “Be Ok” was re-imagined as a remix featuring Waterparks and Good Charlotte and recently hit over 1 million streams on Spotify alone. He performed at Emo Nite last year along with a few solo shows — we can’t wait to see what’s in the books for 2025.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Be Ok (RMX)” & “Red Corvette”
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BÉTON ARMÉ
ON RADAR BY BRADLEY CORMAN: Based in Montreal, Québec, this may not be everyone’s cup of tea — but, if you like hardcore Punk/Oi these guys are the real deal. Béton Armé is a Montreal oi! band inspired by french punk/oi! bands from the 80’s. Béton Armé, a Canadian punk/Oi band from the bustling beautiful city of Montreal, has carved out a distinct identity in the hardcore punk scene. With their ferocious sound and unwavering commitment to the punk ethos, Béton Armé channels the defiant energy and raw power that define the genre. Their music is a bold testament to the unyielding spirit of rebellion at the heart of punk.
ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: Second Souffle (2023)
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SWIM SCHOOL
ON RADAR BY MARIO DE LUCIA: If you attended any of the major festivals through the UK and Europe last summer you must have come across these three Scots and their raw, loud and emotional set. Swim School released their EP Duality & Seeing It Now in 2024 and it looks like their debut full length album is dropping soon.
ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: Duality & Seeing It Now (EP, 2024)
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DIE SPITZ
ON RADAR BY BRADLEY CORMAN: Straight out of Austin, TX — a female alt-rock band formed in January 2022 by childhood friends Ava Schrobilgen, Chloe Andrews, Ellie Livingston, and Kate Halter. I got a chance to see these absolute rippers two times — Once at the 2024 Punk Rock Bowling and Music Festival on the Monster Stage and a second time on the last night of PRB weekend at Backstreet Bar and Billiards in Las Vegas, Nevada. They blew up the stage both nights.
ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: Teeth (Self Released)
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ELLA LANGLEY
ON RADAR BY RAVEN KENDALL: Ella Langley’s storytelling prowess and impassioned voice have positioned her as one of country music’s brightest stars. Known for her honest song-writing and relatable aura, Ella has a magnetic quality that fans are naturally drawn to. Her ability to weave humor and relatability into her songs is showcased perfectly in “You Look Like You Love Me” — a track that has gained massive chart-topping popularity, with over 100 million streams featuring the infamous Riley Green. This song not only highlights her strength as a storyteller but also her unique ability to connect with listeners on a personal level and truly showcases that classic country sound. Ella just released her newest album Still Hungover this past November and has really shown that she is a force to be reckoned with — and has no plans on slowing down anytime soon.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “Paint The Town Blue” / “Could’ve Been Her” / “Weren’t For The Wind”
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WESGHOST
ON RADAR BY NIKKI PHILLIPS: There’s more than meets the eye after hearing STL’s WesGhost for the first time. With classic indie sounds at the core and a dash of alternative, hip-hop and darkwave goth feels, WesGhost nails the next wave of alt-indie music. His debut album, DON’T WORRY, I’LL BE FINE (released in 2024), throws listeners into a delicate euphoria that could easily serve as the soundtrack for a lucid dream. Each track flows with an effortless wave of emo tranquility nestled between layers of genre-bending influences. His catchy sound has earned him a place on Columbia Records’ roster — I’m really looking forward to seeing WesGhost climb even higher this year.
SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: “TEETH” / “SPINE” / “IOU”
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THE MURDER CAPITAL
ON RADAR BY MARIO DE LUCIA: The post-punk quintet from Dublin, fresh from supporting Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds this fall, shall be releasing their third studio album Blindness on Feb 21st. Their second work Gigi’s Recovery (2023) was universally acclaimed as a masterpiece.
ALBUM RECOMMENDATION: Gigi’s Recovery (2023)
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Do you have a favorite artist we should know about?