Underrated and Overplayed
A Music State of the Union, or, the Artists To Watch for 2025
Firstly, thank you for all of the reception on last week’s post! This has been much more cathartic than I thought possible, and seeing the love for my first post was so surreal. I haven’t ever shared my writing like this before - the last time I did was a moody One Direction fanfiction I rewrote to show to my sophomore year of high school English teacher who asked me if everything was okay at home. It was not, for the record, I was severely depressed and my parents were a short 5 years away from divorce. So, this has been a much better experience in contrast.
Secondly, I was featured on a guest for this week’s Emily for President! Reconnecting with Emily has been so beautiful, and getting to share my (and other LA residents’) experiences with the devastating LA Fires was so special and important. Even though we finally got the rain we’ve needed this week, this is still far from over. With the nation’s attention span being that of a goldfish, Trump’s disastrous first few days, and January’s never-ending torment, it’s important that we realize we can care about more than one thing at once, and that this is going to take months if not years to rebuild for those that have lost their homes and businesses.
Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to spout off about what I think I tend to know the most about: music. It’s 2025, and with a new year comes new opportunities to capture my attention. Who’s going to have their Brat Year? Who’s the next Chappell Roan? Who’s got the Song Of The Summer? While I may not have all of the answers, my track record begs to differ. I am, unfortunately, one of those people who listened to [insert artist here] before they got famous. I always have been - as a chronically online teen who spent 95% of her free time on tumblr.com, you get all of this indie music thrown at you and you have to decide whether or not you’re going to consume it or ignore it all. I was an early adopter of Lady Gaga (5th grade Abi was not allowed to listen to “Love Game”, but she managed), and knew about Ke$ha and Katy Perry from my friend’s cool older sister (cool older sisters were the Spotify Discovery before there was one). I was inspired to write a newspaper column on album reviews in high school after watching Almost Famous (as every pretentious wannabe in the 2010s did), which claimed some titles such as “The Rise of Charli XCX”, “Hozier’s Growing Popularity” and “Weezer’s Big Comeback”. See my music tumblr for more, and yes, “recommends” is spelled incorrectly.
Since high school, I have been working in music. The two loves of my life have always been writing and music - I was convinced that I was going to be a book editor while in high school, and then had an existential crisis in college when I realized I hadn’t read a book for pleasure for 5 years, and realized it was under my nose the whole time: I wanted to work in music. I started my career doing an internship through school at my local radio station, where they hired me on for that summer. I worked there for 2.5 years during college breaks until my boss left, when I worked at a different radio station. 9 years, one cross-country move, and countless jobs later (including working with high-level artists like Kacey Musgraves, Adele, Ellie Goulding, Zedd, and more; working for SirusXM where I planned Kathy Lee Gifford’s going away party and Khalid’s Pandora welcome party; managing and working with independent artists, and doing every job under the sun including A&R where I’m literally scouting artists every day), here we are. What was originally a hobby to do on the side, I’ve turned into my career.
All that to say, I know what I’m fucking talking about. I have a playlist of artists that I know are going to blow up, aptly named Crystal Ball, where I keep my record of where I was right. But as a treat, I’m giving you my list for this year. I know, generous of me. It’s free game. But these are the artists I’ve been following lately that really have that it factor - ones that just give me a feeling I can’t shake. Much like Chappell Roan did in February 2024 (before I saw her breakout performance at Coachella weekend 1 that exploded her onto the scene), with Lola Young over a year ago when I heard “Conceited” in October of 2023 (pre-massive hit “Messy”), with The Dare when he released “Good Time” in spring 2023 (before the LCD Soundsystem comparisons began), and in summer 2023 with Kenya Grace when she teased “Strangers” on a TikTok (which now sits just under one billion streams on Spotify), I have the same feeling about these artists, songs, and all around what I’m listening to. Enjoy x
DellaXOZ
Hearing the first few notes of “UnHinged” is a religious experience. The way that the British singer-songwriter weaves math rock, midwest emo, and modern alternative pop-rock is masterful. It’s criminal that it has under 500k streams on Spotify, and I know I’m at least 100k of those. It’s been on repeat since it was released - her lyrics are as hilarious as they are depressing as she waxes poetic about the shitty men she goes on dates with from Hinge and dating in the modern era.
Bangers include: “BORING” and “AHHH!!!”, and she keeps getting better with each release. You can find me in the comments of her most recent posts begging for the release date for what she’s calling “The Cigarette Song” as she gears up for a year full of releases.
Spill Tab
I’ve been following Spill Tab for a while. Since 2022, the alt-rock singer-songwriter has been in my periphery with the song “Splinter” being on my top songs that year. She just put out two singles that are incredible, and new music is incoming. She just knows how to cut through the noise and her raw lyrics and unique melodies are the breath of fresh air you need in an oversaturated music market.
Bangers include: “Splinter”, “fetišh”, and “Borderline Insane” with Matilda Mann.
Jade
If you’re not familiar with the former Little Mix superstar, get acquainted, quickly. Hop on the train before it shoots out of the fucking station. JADE is already on the rise and she’s not stopping anytime soon. With her debut solo album incoming sometime this year, she’s poised to become the next It Girl in pop music. If the US doesn’t adopt that, I’m literally moving to the UK.
If you take one thing from this week’s post, please watch the “Angel of My Dreams” music video. Here, I’ll even link it for you. It made me laugh and cry and scream in less than 4 minutes. The song itself is a hit, but the music video is an exploration of her journey from XFactor to Girl Group Superstar to her fears of being replaceable and everything in between. It’s harrowing and inspirational and jaw dropping. It reminded just how much I can’t stand Simon Cowell and his smug arrogance. I’m not kidding when I say it’s a contender for Music Video of the Year.
Bangers include: Every song she’s ever put out (there are only 4). I’m partial to the aforementioned “Angel of My Dreams” but I also love the most recent “It Girl”. They’re all good, ok?
Lilyisthatyou
You probably know her from her 2021 TikTok hit “FMRN”, but she’s been on a journey since then. Getting a major label deal, leaving that major label deal, moving to LA, moving back to Toronto, having a breakdown, going through a breakup - she’s clearly been through a lot. But through that, she’s been putting out banger after banger in quick succession, leading up to the EP Painful Euphoria. Her point of view is real and raw, her voice is the perfect amount of raspy, and she’s honest as fuck. You’ll be shocked by the shit she sings about, between unwinding with a, ahem, toy, and her best friend sleeping with her boyfriend behind her back.
Bangers include: The girl knows how to write a catchy song. Anything off of Painful Euphoria, but also her iconic “FMRN”.
Holly Humberstone
Sadly, I’m just not usually a singer-songwriter girly!! Gracie Abrams never does it for me, I have personal beef with Taylor Swift (we’ll get into this at a later date, I truly get irate every time I recount this story. I understand this is a deeply controversial opinion), and I didn’t see the Sabrina Carpenter vision until she turned pure pop with this most recent album (perhaps blinded by my dislike for Ms. Swift?). However, the one exception here is Holly Humberstone. Her song “Antichrist” captured me and hasn’t let hold ever since I first heard it in June of 2023.
Bangers include: “Dive” and “Into Your Room ft. MUNA”. The girl can write a sad song that actually gets me in my feelings!!! That’s hard to do for a bitch that bottles it all up!!!
PIAO
In the summer of 2023, I got to go to a musician showcase through work called Under The Radar. It’s become one of my favorite places to find new artists - hosted by a few friends in the music/live entertainment industries in one of their parents’ backyard, it’s an acoustic showcase of 3/4 artists with a full alcohol bar, mad-to-order taco bar, and cozy atmosphere. Their alumni list is insane in and of itself, but at this particular show, the first artist up was PIAO. She talked about her love for hamsters, and sang songs about grief and longing. Admittedly, she was not the standout from this showcase, but I kept up with her until I saw her name on a New Music Friday playlist, and was blown away by the song. Acoustic sets don’t do her justice - her over-the-top (this is a compliment) electronic production is one-of-a-kind, and adds to the ambiance of her gorgeous voice.
Bangers include: “pagingbubu”, “tap my foot”, and “Anticipatory Grief” are standouts. She’s just getting started!!
LAUREL
Admittedly, I haven’t listened to LAUREL’s whole discography, but “45 Degrees (in the club)” is enough for me to be sold. As a recently awaken EDM girl, LAUREL’s blend of styles and bouncy, synth-y chorus is truly the best of both worlds. It’s actually fucking criminal that this song has 50k streams on Spotify. I’ll listen to the rest of her album and report back - perhaps a future Album of the Week?
Vienna Vienna
I had the pleasure of working with Vienna Vienna back when they were going by their own name in 2021/2022. J has always been wholly themselves, with deep cut hits such as “Blame it On Us” and “The Problem” (the latter of which is sadly no longer on Spotify). Their newest project is something I got the honor of hearing back then, but has evolved so magically now. J knew they wanted to give this project the love that it deserved - with sprawling backstories and surrealist music videos and walls of sound that made you sit back and take in everything you’re hearing, and the fact that it was coming from a fucking teenager.
Now in their 20s, J is working with Pete Wentz’ label in a joint venture with Pulse Records and crafting a glimmer rock image that fits them to a T. Vienna Vienna is currently touring with K. Flay, another alumni of my track record, and the performances are out of this world. If you get the chance, go see them!
Bangers include: “Fuck Me”/ “Love Me” (these are the same song, just dirty/clean versions), “One More Last Time”, and “Sex Drugs Whatever”. I’m more than excited for their upcoming single “God Save The Queens” - an, aptly, Queen-inspired rock ballad about being proudly queer. I, for one, couldn’t be more proud of the artist J has become.
Rebecca Black
Yes, you read that right. Rebecca Black’s comeback is imminent, and the girl has come a long way from her “Friday” days. The girl that we were all laughing over in the back of the bus in middle school is now making club bangers that rival everything else I’m listening to right now. She did a Boiler Room set a couple of months ago where she remixed “Friday” with Hannah Montana. I’m not kidding.
Bangers include: “Sugar Water Cyanide” - this has been on constant repeat. My hips are tired of this song as I can’t help but shake some ass whenever I hear it. “TRUST!” and “Crumbs” are also incredible. Just trust me and watch out, I think this is her fucking year.
Chitra
I’ve been following Chitra since 2021, when I was scouting for a previous job and reached out to her about joining the artist development program I was a part of. While she ultimately didn’t join and I ultimately left that job, I was in love with her haunting voice and fresh point of view. Since then, she’s gone more EDM (as have I), and produces all of her own tracks with stacks of layered vocals and esoteric woes. Her track “NUMB” just hit 1M streams (now it’s about to hit 2M) after going viral on Reels of all places, but the way that she produces and the lyrics she writes “melancholy cardiac arrest”, “lost in the clouds with my lipstick stuck on his teeth” is bound to hit the mainstream anytime soon.
Bangers include: This is another one where she only has 4. All of them are fucking fantastic. But lately, “Digital Daydream” has been on constant repeat, and the one I fell in love with her voice from: “Throwaway”.
Alameda
I will brag a little bit and say that I found her before she got signed to the illustrious TDE, which has powerhouse artists like SZA, Kendrick Lamar, and Doechii (who I’m just getting into, and I will probably regret leaving off this list, but I just haven’t listened to her/been obsessed with one particular song enough to add her here). But she’s just getting started - off the heels of her debut EP Fk It and viral song “Gonna Bleach My Eyebrows”, Alameda is infusing pop funk into the oftentimes monotonous alt-rock genre. Think Lauryn Hill meets Avril Lavigne. I couldn’t get “Don’t Call Me” out of my head for weeks, and now that she’s signed, I’m waiting with bated breath to see what she comes up with next.
Bangers include: all of her EP Fk It, but I mainly fell in love with the single “Don’t Call Me”.
Master Peace
Another one I found while scouting for a previous job, Master Peace is high octane high energy, all in. He’s one of those singers (a la CharliXCX) where you can hear the British and the smile through his lyrics, where he’s actually having a blast in the recording booth. “LOO SONG” was what originally captured my attention; my roommates at the time can attest that it was played on a loop for about 2 weeks straight. He just dropped his debut album, perhaps this will also be a future AOTW? I already know it’s going to have me jumping around my studio apartment with lyrics like “[BITCHES] THINK THEY’RE HOT!! BUT THEY’RE NOT!! THEY AIN’T BEEN IN VOGUE!!!”.
Bangers include: “LOS NARCOS”, “I Might Be A Fake-Arr”, and the iconic “LOO SONG”.
Maude Latour
What can’t I say about Maude Latour? A quarantine find for me, I discovered Maude when she was still in undergrad at NYU putting out songs like the Lorde-esque “Block Your Number”. Since then, she’s evolved to a queer electro-pop goddess and toured with the likes of Fletcher. Her debut album Sugar Water was a true storytelling masterpiece, and I can’t believe that it was her first. It sounds like if CharliXCX and Marina and the Diamonds had a musical baby (familiar froot and all that). As I’m sitting in my little neighborhood boba shop typing this, “Twin Flame” is on. I’m telling you, her mainstream crossover is imminent.
Bangers include: The anthemic “Lola”, all of Sugar Water, and “001”.
REHMA
Ever since I first saw her friend, influencer Ysabelle Wallace, post about being on set for the music video for her song “HYPNOTIC”, I was hooked. REHMA is the whole package - working with friends who have perfected her styling, creative direction, and sound. She produces her own tracks, works with her family and friends, is inspired by her culture, and is only going up from here. Get acquainted.
Bangers include: “DIVA”, “HYPNOTIC”, and “TRIP”.
Devon Again
Yes, another artist I found scouting. Sorry I’m good at what I do!!!!! I originally found her via the indie alt rock track “HEAD” - the way she layers her vocals scratches an itch I didn’t know I had. I’m surprised “Cherry Cola” hasn’t had its viral moment yet - a song about deeply loving your friends and the admiration for the platonic relationships in your life just as much as the romantic ones, a sentiment I resonate with so deeply. I think she’s just getting started, and we’ll be able to go back and realize she had hits all along.
Bangers include: “HEAD”, “Cherry Cola”, and “deep”.
Ayleen Valentine
Here’s an artist that multiple friends have worked with, but I found via a New Music Friday playlist. “ask nicely” is feminine rage personified. I have never felt the euphoria of my feelings being expressed via song like I have with this track - enough for me to give her a slot here despite never having ventured into the rest of her discography. Almost Courtney Love-like, she whines along with the guitar and crashes out in true crazy girl fashion. I love this song so deeply.
2hollis
A late addition to this list, I was reminded of just how EDM-focused my music taste has shifted in the last couple of months. 2hollis seemed to come out of nowhere, but his hyperpop vocals and never-ending synths. If you don’t like hyperpop or hardstyle, you will not like this at all, but for those of us who’ve had our brains rotted by isoknock, Sara Landry, 100 Gecs, Snow Strippers, and the late great SOPHIE will appreciate 2hollis’ take on the genre. He’s going to become the face of it real soon.
Bangers include: “gold”, “crush”, and “jeans”.
Honorable Mentions
aka, people who had a big 24 but will have a bigger 25:
Mk.gee
If you haven’t heard “Rockman”, listen now. Suddenly its 1972 and I’m sitting in a velvet room with The Police. After his incredible SNL performance and a groundbreaking debut album, Mk.gee’s cult following is bound to break through
Tate McCrae
She’s giving us dancer. She’s giving us 2000s. She’s giving us sultry. If the singles for her upcoming sophomore album are anything to go by, 2025 is the year of Tate. While she’s currently the #83 artist in the world according to Spotify, she’s just building momentum.
Chappell Roan
Coming off the heels of the world’s biggest rise to fame, it’s impossible to have not heard her name or her smash single “Good Luck, Babe!”. After an explosive SNL performance - where for the first time in SNL history, the crowd sang the words to the chorus of her song “Pink Pony Club” - where she debuted forthcoming single “The Giver”, it’s Chappell’s world, and we’re all just living in it. She’s also my bet for Best New Artist at the Grammys this Sunday. (Tune in next week for my rant about that).
Predictions
The Brat era isn’t over yet. I think she’s got one more trick up her sleeve for Bratchella.
LG7 is iconic. The singles so far have been insane, and I’ve heard it’s industrial pop inspired - breaking news, it’s going to be called MAYHEM. Well, yes. I’ve never wanted anything more, especially ahead of Gagachella
Lorde 4 comes this summer/fall. She blocks Jack Antonoff’s number for good (it’s rumored she’s working with Dev Hynes of Blood Orange, and for that we say thank the Lorde) and we get another album with a new sound that hits me at the exact time I needed it. It’s been a pleasure growing up with Lorde by my side, and she’s going to lull me into a painful revelation or two about my late 20s. I will be getting a wishbone tattoo for “
” next time I have a bad day.
K-Pop stars grow more mainstream. While we’re all aware of the bands like BTS and BLACKPINK, there’s a big trend of K-Pop stars breaking off for true solo careers. Lisa of BP put out some solid singles like “APT.” with Bruno Mars that went megaviral and broke through to me who has never once listened to a K-Pop song, and Jennie (also of BP?) is set to release her debut album Ruby featuring an insane lineup of features like Dominic Fike, Dua Lipa, and Childish fucking Gambino.
One Direction reunites to pay tribute to Liam Payne. Maybe this is wishful thinking, as they are the reason I am in the music industry, but I think Liam Payne’s tragic death is the catalyst they needed to put aside their differences and come together again. For their own sake, I hope it’s not a nationwide tour, but maybe a one-time performance with benefits going to mental health or drug rehabilitation resources in honor of their late band member. If they perform “If I Could Fly”, I will have a mental breakdown.
Artemas unfortunately gets on my top artists of 2025. The man can write a hook, what can I say? The TikTokification of music has been both good and bad for society, but I can confidently say that if you’re not strictly a lyrics person, Artemas has some really great songs. Yes, the schtick gets a little old after a while, but his album ystyna is actually filled with some catchy ass melodies, namely “slow dance”, “how could you love somebody like me”, “you’re simply wonderful”, and the 1.1billion streaming “i like the way you kiss me”. He’s a streaming giant for a reason.
AOTW
And as a bonus, I’m glad FKA Twigs is FINALLY getting her flowers. You can ask my sophomore year of college roommate how many times I played (and badly sung along to) “Two Weeks” from her 2014 album LP1 or “Figure 8” from her 2015 EP M3LL155X. Other bangers include: “tears in the club ft. The Weeknd”, “Cellophane” (which is probably what you know her from), and “papi bones ft. Shygirl”.
I’m going to start doing Albums Of The Week - in addition to whatever we’re talking about, I’m going to shout out/review/talk about an album I’ve been listening to/loving/revisiting/hating. This week’s is in honor of the woman of the hour, FKA Twigs. Her 2025 album EUSEXUA is packed full of raw yet dancey tracks that feel straight out of The Matrix, the embodiment of “y’all don’t wanna hear me you just wanna dance”. Currently on rotation are “Striptease” and “Perfect Stranger”, the latter of which was my favorite of the singles and has stuck with me in a way no other recent single really has.
And because I’m me, I put these all into a playlist for you to listen along. It’s the order I wrote it in, not the one it’s listed in, so you might want to skip around depending on the section you’re in. You’re welcome.
xoxo always, Abi