One of the most distinct, freely playful but also stylish, catchy and quirky singles from this side of 2025. UK artist madanes brings indie charm and a conceptual twist of hilarity back to the modern scene, with the unforgettable single Your Dog.
Hip Hop
Though loyalty appears to be a fading attribute of contemporary society, BOOZ refuses to lower the bar. His music is rooted in the values that raised him, and as such, his blending of determination and principle continues to inspire and engage with listeners far and wide.
For modern hip hop fans, emo kids, indie pop and electro lovers – CATHEDRAL is a gem of an album to lose yourself within. While the scene feels overwhelmed with half-assed efforts and AI-generated stories and songs, Kross Irwin brings a level of personal realism, talent, effort, emotion, and originality, and this album celebrates those qualities over and over.
Heavy old school hip hop with a boldly distinct vocal, riff, and realism – Jhaos brings the calm and the chaos in unison, energizing and inspiring, with the unignorable anthem Keep it Moving III.
Following dreams and delivering the calm, contemplative vibes required to highlight a clear love for making music, J.Con brings together five smooth hip hop and RnB songs, for the aptly-titled EP Late Nights.
Heavy and hard-hitting hip hop elevated by an original take on an iconic Bible story – Messenger The Choosen brings big beats and crisp vocal character back to hip hop, with this conceptual deep-dive into the story of God’s chosen leader Moses.
Marc Nevermind encapsulates the art of escapism, letting the creative process take him into this new world, and providing the same other-worldly embrace for all who press play. The music is the driving force, creative connection the goal, and that’s a refreshing and invaluable quality – particularly in a world so seemingly infatuated with image and daily life updates. The mystique returns, and with it, the true talent.
Puerto Rico’s rising RnB voice JUIC3 captures a romantic edge and dynamic artistic charm this year, with the vocal fluidity and unique central concept of Love Away.
Following a string of collaborations and subtle shifts in genre, established producer and artist Big O returns to an immersive conceptual pathway this season, with the immensely atmospheric, soulful to funky new album When It’s Not Said, But Done.
Easily one of the most distinct tracks from Atryp to date, but in truth, this is a rapper and songwriter with a growing repertoire of frankly faultless and often genre-fusing originals, always resounding with a sense of personality, and unfiltered inner truth.
Fearlessly letting genuine emotions guide, with a clear talent for crafting songs that connect and compel you to tune in more closely – Jah-RaRa gets unabashedly honest and engaging, for the bold and beautifully heart-breaking In The Dark.
Grammy Award-winner Mojo Morgan cuts through the noise with substance and style this month – Jamaica Love is a bold and brilliant new album, loaded with quirky riffs, colourful grooves, and provocative, intentional sentiments.