They say listening to the same old songs is like eating pizza every day you love it, but eventually you start wondering if pineapples actually belong there. In music terms, that’s your sign to mix things up and give your playlist some fresh seasoning with the best new artists to listen to this year. Forget looping that one hit from 2018 (yes, I’m looking at you who still plays “Shallow” on repeat) it’s time to inject some new blood, some rising music stars who are out here making your future self’s Spotify Wrapped look like an art exhibition instead of a graveyard of old bangers.
This year, the scene is exploding with new artists across genres. From soul-bending indie ballads to trap beats with enough bass to rattle your neighbor’s cat, these musicians are redefining what it means to go viral and stay relevant. And the best part? Catching them now means you’ll be the annoying friend who says, “I knew them before they were big.” Honestly, isn’t that the entire point of being a music fan?
Emerging Musicians Worth Adding to Your Playlist
If playlists were like dating apps, you wouldn’t swipe right on the same five profiles forever, right? (Or maybe you would, but that’s a therapy session for another day.) The same rule applies to your music library. Emerging musicians worth adding to your playlist in 2025 aren’t just filler tracks between the classics they’re the reason your shuffle button suddenly feels like Russian roulette in the best way possible.
Take a scroll through the rising music stars on TikTok, YouTube, and underground SoundCloud threads, and you’ll notice something wild: they’re not just copying mainstream hits, they’re reinventing them. From bedroom pop artists who still record on laptops older than Instagram, to up-and-coming singers blending R&B with techno in ways that sound illegal but taste like heaven in your ears, these new voices bring a raw, unpolished energy you won’t find on overproduced radio playlists.
Trending New Artists to Follow in 2025
You know how every family has that one cousin who insists on singing at every barbecue? Well, imagine if that cousin was actually good and then imagine them going viral, landing a record deal, and suddenly becoming one of the trending new artists to follow in 2025. That’s literally the story of half the names climbing the charts right now.
The magic of this wave is how unpredictable it feels. One week, a kid in Brazil posts a freestyle rap in their bedroom; the next, they’re headlining a festival in Europe. A girl from Korea records a lo-fi ballad in her dorm, uploads it on TikTok, and two million plays later, she’s labeled the “voice of Gen Z heartbreak.” These aren’t polished, cookie-cutter performers they’re storytellers who carry their emotions like grenades, throwing them straight into your headphones. And trust me, they stick.
Up-and-Coming Singers Making Waves in Music
Remember when your teacher said group projects teach teamwork? Yeah, except most of us learned that teamwork actually meant carrying three lazy classmates on your back. Well, in the music world, up-and-coming singers making waves in music are the exact opposite they’re carrying themselves with pure hustle, grit, and originality, no dead weight involved.
These singers are out here grinding through tiny gigs, open mics, and live streams, building fanbases one follower at a time. And when they finally break through? It’s not luck, it’s sweat equity. They’re fearless about bending genres one moment giving you gospel-style notes that could resurrect your Wi-Fi signal, and the next dropping EDM tracks hotter than your laptop when 37 Chrome tabs are open. If you think today’s biggest names can’t be challenged, just wait these voices are coming for playlists, radio stations, and award shows sooner than you expect.
New Artists You Should Know by Name
Here are some rising music stars / emerging musicians / up-and-coming singers making serious noise. Add them to your playlist. Let’s meet them.
Sombr (Shane Michael Boose)
Why did Sombr bring two microphones to the studio? Just in case one decided to nap. Sombr is a force. Real name Shane Michael Boose, born 2005 in New York City. He makes indie rock / alt-pop with dance-rock flair. His tracks “Back to Friends” and “Undressed” went viral on TikTok. He broke into the Billboard Global 200 and the Hot 100. His debut album I Barely Know Her came out in 2025. What stands out: vulnerability + catchy choruses + enough angst to make you feel alive.
Modola (Temidola Awosika)
Modola doesn’t just drop singles. She drops mood swirls. Temidola Awosika, known as Modola, is a Nigerian singer-songwriter (born 2005), now based in Italy. She first caught big attention with her song “Talk”, which went viral and charted. She’s ranked high on emerging artist charts in Nigeria. Her style fuses Afropop and Afrobeats, with a feel that nods to nostalgia yet feels fresh. She’s one of the emerging musicians worth adding to your playlist because she brings emotion and rhythm in equal measure.
Nate Sib
Nate Sib’s music is like doing a double espresso shot but for your ears. He is an American hyperpop / pop artist, born 2004, based in LA. He released the EP For Us in 2025. Critics are already calling him essential emerging artist for 2025. His sound is glitchy, energetic, emotionally direct. He’s one of those up-and-coming singers making waves in music.
Lola Young
Lola Young’s songs are like walking into a room full of confetti unexpected, colourful, and you can’t help smiling. She is a rising British artist. Her single “Messy” pushed her forward. She’s been working for years. Now she’s breaking. She mixes pop with sometimes surprising edge. Audiences like her because she doesn’t try to fake perfection.
Saint Levant
Saint Levant doesn’t need a halo; his melodies already glow. He is another name from the 25 Artists To Watch in 2025 list by GRAMMY. His music pushes boundaries. He experiments. He’s in the emerging category for good reasons. He’s shaping soundscapes that feel modern but grounded.
Pretty Bitter (band)
Pretty Bitter may sound like a drink you regret ordering. But their music? You’ll never regret hitting play. Pretty Bitter is a five-piece indie synth-pop / alternative band from Washington D.C. They released Pleaser in mid-2025. Their style mixes synth pop, emo, shoegaze, dream pop, with raw lyricism. They’re an example of trending new artists who aren’t afraid to blur genre lines. Their emotional weight plus sonic atmosphere make them a must-listen.
Final Note
They say silence is golden. But your playlist doesn’t have to be. Fill it with rising music stars, emerging musicians, and up-and-coming singers making waves in 2025. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself when your Spotify Wrapped looks like a cultural flex instead of a stuck record.
And hey when the music stops, why not keep the thrill going? Spin the reels at Eternal Slots for a different kind of rhythm. While you’re at it, check out our blog Grammy Awards 2025: Top Music Moments and Unforgettable Winners for even more beats, stories, and surprises.
Now tell me in the comments: Who’s the one new artist you think everyone should add to their playlist this year?
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