The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2026

What is the NME 100?

As the world’s defining voice in music and pop culture, NME has been dedicated to breaking what’s new and what’s next since 1952. The NME 100 is our essential list of emerging artists with the potential to shape the future of music.

Since its first edition in 2017, many artists we’ve spotlighted on the NME 100 have gone on to achieve incredible success on their own terms. From Billie Eilish to Arlo Parks and Fontaines D.C., NME is proud to have championed them at the start of their journeys.

Who is eligible for the NME 100?

Artists cannot have released their debut album by the date of publication, and artists can only be on the NME 100 once.

How is the NME 100 created?

NME creates a pool of hotly tipped emerging artists by tapping on our networks and collating nominations by staff, contributors and members of the music industry.

While narrowing down the list, editors assess artists’ creativity and potential, among other factors – and after much debate, the NME 100 is formed.

How can I check out music by artists on the NME 100?

Stream a playlist of key tracks by all artists on the NME 100 of 2026 on Spotify or on Apple Music.

Words by: Alex Rigotti, Andrew Trendell, Ben Jolley, Cyclone Wehner, David James Young, Erica Campbell, Georgia Evans, Hannah Mylrea, Huw Baines, Ivana E. Morales, Jared Richards, Joe Goggins, Jonathan Garrett, Karen Gwee, Kyann-Sian Williams, Lisa Wright, Mika Chen, Niall Smith, Nick Buckley, Rhian Daly, Rishi Shah, Seth Pereira, Surej Singh and Ziwei Puah.

2BYG

Bringing back the magic of old-school R&B boybands

From: Dallas, USA
For fans of: Blackstreet, Leon Thomas

2BYG (short for To Be Young and Gifted) might be one of the freshest boybands to come out stateside in years. The quartet have captured audiences across generations with their silky harmonies, classic R&B know-how and nostalgic soul, exuding energy that feels as much at home on the radio waves as it does on TikTok. Whether they’re crooning about the consequences of ‘Karma’ or the joy of finding your ‘Twin’, 2BYG make a strong case for the resurgence of R&B boy groups. ZWP

Key track: ‘Karma’

54 Ultra

The Latinx soul star fusing romantic R&B balladry and seductive bops with an indie sensibility

From: New Jersey, USA
For fans of: George Michael, Omar Apollo

The enigmatic performer born JohnAnthony Rodríguez looks like he emerged from a ’70s time warp with bouffant hair, jewellery and fashion – and Latin lounge pop that has the nostalgic aesthetics of disco, tropical yacht rock and synth-pop. Since 2023’s buzzy ‘Where Are You’, he’s self-released the ‘First Works’ EP and produced and opened for Kali Uchis. In April, he’ll bust out the mirrorball for his biggest festival slot yet – at Coachella. CW

Key track: ‘Heaven Knows’

ADÉLA

Nobody puts this it girl and her razor-sharp pop bangers in the corner

From: Bratislava, Slovakia
For fans of: Rebecca Black, Slayyyter

Not every aspiring pop princess is built to survive controversy and trolling – fewer still know how to bounce back like ADÉLA. While others might have retreated, she maneuvered post-reality show infamy into an electrifying pop project. Everything she touches pulses with ambition, with just enough polish cracking to reveal her hunger underneath. Love her or hate her, you just can’t take your eyes off this pink-haired auteur. MC

Key track: ‘SexOnTheBeat’

After

Time-travelling Gen Z duo deliver glittering 2000s mall-pop, well-studied and without irony

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Caroline Polachek, Imogen Heap

In a sea of lazy Y2K pop throwbacks, After (vocalist Justine Dorsey and producer Graham Epstein) tap into the era’s true essence: not just spacey synths, trip-hop breaks and sugary vocals, but the warmth and optimism of a new millennium. Escapist and airy, After’s music sounds like the score to the second-act complication of a 2000s rom-com – a reminder that it’ll all end up OK. JR

Key track: ‘Deep Diving’

Ain’t

Conjuring a scorched summer sky with grungey shoegaze

From: London, UK
For fans of: Smashing Pumpkins, Boygenius

Formed from a compliment about shoes spilling into an all-night conversation, Ain’t come with all the warmth and familiarity you’d expect. Think late sunsets, lost evenings, heady group hangs, and everyday life spun into a magical myth. If you’re lucky, your summer will sound like this. After killing it on the club circuit and with festival season in their sights, Ain’t are your next big band love affair. AT

Key track: ‘Pirouette’

Aleksiah

Sparkling, confessional synth-pop for the overthinkers of the world

From: Adelaide, Australia
For fans of: Carly Rae Jepsen, MUNA

Come for Aleksiah’s sparkling synths and fun hooks, stay for her deceptively sweet lyrics that hit too close to home. The up-and-comer made a splash in 2025 with her EP ‘Cry About It’, which retained the confessional pop-rock songwriting that defined her earlier release, but now packaged in bright “capital-P Pop”. With plenty of wit and disarming honesty, Aleksiah makes coming-of-age chaos sound euphoric – even if it still hurts deep down inside. ZWP

Key track: ‘The Hit’

Amira Elfeky

An enchanting voice in the nu-metal revival

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Bad Omens, Deftones

The combination of Amira Elfeky’s hypnotic vocals and her haze of grungey heaviness is utterly mesmerising. The Connecticut-born singer, who’s been teasing a debut album online, taps into ’90s nostalgia by way of atmospheric modern production – it’s no wonder she’s already been invited to tour with Bring Me The Horizon (twice) and feature on Architects’ latest album. RS

Key track: ‘Will You Love Me When I’m Dead’

ashnymph

Robust, rhythmic electronic rock – play it loud

From: London, UK
For fans of: MGMT, Battles

London-based band Ashnymph have called their sound “subconscioussion”. The coinage is accurate, if a bit of a mouthful; thankfully the thrills of their dancey, industrial alt-rock are a lot more direct. Juddering debut single ‘Saltspreader’ and hypnotic robot-rock odyssey ‘Mr Invisible’ hit hard enough through headphones, but really they demand to be heard live in a small, hazy club: stand right next to the speakers and wig out as the lasers strobe over you. KG

Key track: ‘Saltspreader’

Baby DONT Cry

Nonchalant K-pop earworms with a lightly rebellious edge

From: Seoul, South Korea
For fans of: BLACKPINK, i-dle

“If you love me or if you don’t love me / Couldn’t care less ‘bout your comments,” Baby DONT Cry sing on the spirited ‘F Girl’. That nonchalant attitude colours the three songs they’ve shared since debuting in 2025, which sound like an infectious mix of early BLACKPINK and hints of anthemic pop-punk. They come backed by two renowned names on the K-pop scene: they’re signed to ‘Gangnam Style’ hitmaker Psy’s P Nation label and i-dle’s Soyeon is their producer and creative director. Big things surely await. RD

Key track: ‘I Dont Care’

Bleech 9:3

Cacophonous, angst-fuelled ragers that meld grunge’s past and present

From: Dublin, Ireland
For fans of: Nirvana, Basement

Founded in Dublin and now based in London, Bleech 9:3 channel experiences of addiction and loss into thunderously loud alt-rock songs that crash and screech with feeling. Vocalist and guitarist Barry Quinlan’s knack for cutting emotional clarity sets them apart from the rest of the ’90s revivalist pack, with their latest single ‘Cannonball’ encapsulating a budding ability to find squalling catharsis in stop-start dynamics and grimy distortion. HB

Key track: ‘Jacky’

Blessing Jolie

Alternative anthemics packed with soul and strength

From: Katy, USA
For fans of: SZA, Olivia Rodrigo

Empowerment is the message of Blessing Jolie’s breakout single, ‘20teens’, in which the Texas native sets boundaries and stays true to them. The song’s anthemic mix of indie riffs, light pop-punk bounce and soulful energy is already a heady combination, but throw in the 23-year-old’s velvety vocals, and you’ve got a formidable force on your hands. It’s no wonder she’s already won fans in the likes of Tyler, The Creator and Kehlani – stay tuned for more when her debut album ‘20nothing’ arrives in March. RD

Key track: ‘20teens’

BunnaB

Atlanta rap with bold personality and late ’00s swagger

From: Atlanta, USA
For fans of: Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls

Last year, BunnaB laid claim to her own season of chaotic, youthful effervescence with ‘Bunna Summa’, a club-ready banger that brought back the swagger of ’00s Southern pop-rap. Thriving on punchline-forward bars, shout-along cadences and brazen wit, this bold new star makes rap that moves like a victory lap – all gloss and unapologetic bravado. KSW

Key track: ‘Bunna Summa’

Camille Yembe

An emerging voice in Francophone pop who wears her heart on her sleeve

From: Brussels, Belgium
For fans of: Rachel Chinouriri, Lolo Zouaï

The charismatic Camille Yembe is due to make 2026 her year. When the Belgian-Congolese artist – who’s been cosigned by the one and only Stromae – isn’t racking up writing credits on tracks by the likes of Aya Nakamura and Wizkid, she’s penning her own relatable, open-hearted alt-pop songs about self, struggle, romance and ambition. If you like what you hear, she’ll have a debut album ready for you in the spring. KG

Key track: ‘Coups de soleil’

Cannelle

Clubby, computerrific electro-pop with its head in the clouds

From: Marseille, France
For fans of: Frost Children, PinkPantheress

Raised in the French countryside and now based in the US, Cannelle and her colourful, club-ready creations feel like the result of a childhood spent trying to stave off boredom by feeding her imagination online: an escapist, entrancing and effortless clash of sounds, whispery and saccharine vocals floating over crunchy, digitised beats. She’s fresh from support slots on Ninajirachi’s US tour – expect more shows, and her debut project, later this year. RD

Key track: ‘Hypnotic’

Ceebo

The standout MC cutting through Britain’s noise with a silver tongue

From: London, England
For fans of: Jim Legxacy, MIKE

Ceebo raps like he’s sat opposite you in a confessional booth, dispensing glacial quotables with conviction. The south London spitter, who put out one of the UK’s best tapes of 2025 in ‘Blair Babies’, is thrillingly versatile, flipping effortlessly from turn-up bangers to entrancing introspection on one track to the next. Like many great Gen Z artists, Ceebo’s style draws equally from post-internet pastiche as well as the world around him. His sound is part diary, part manifesto and entirely masterful. NS

Key track: ‘The Gospel (As According to Tony Blair)’

Chrissi

Versatile, intimate indie-leaning soul

From: Essex, UK
For fans of: Hannah Jadagu, Nao

It’s hard to pin down where exactly Chrissi will land on any given song – will it be an introspective indie gem (‘Love Me In Chapters’), a lush soul groove (‘One In Five!’), or a pop-facing R&B number (‘Lipo’)? But wherever the Essex musician ends up, one thing is certain: she’ll lay bare her experiences of love, insecurity and personal growth, bringing them to life with her sincere, smoky vocals. ZWP

Key track: ‘Love Me In Chapters’

Chuwi

Infectious, emotive Caribbean pop fusion cosigned by Bad Bunny

From: Isabela, Puerto Rico
For fans of: Bad Bunny, Bomba Estéreo

To realise his masterpiece ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’, superstar Bad Bunny roped in young, hungry talent from Puerto Rico – among them Chuwi, who helped elevate the beachside seduction ‘Weltita’. The charismatic quartet have leapt off the ‘DtMF’ springboard to the likes of Austin City Limits, NPR’s Tiny Desk and the Latin Grammys – not to mention stadiums around the world opening for Bad Bunny. They’ve got a new single out, the salsa ditty ‘Plei’, and we hear they’ve got more planned for later in the year… KG

Key track: ‘Tikiri’

Ciel

The self-proclaimed Cyberpunk Yardie bringing Jamaican flavour to the UK underground

From: London, UK
For fans of: Fimiguerrero, Young Thug

Ciel’s sound is futuristic and feral: bashment snap, trap rush and electronic distortion colliding into something vividly his own – a gleeful musical painting with chaos as the base colour. His 2025 ‘SPiCE’ mixtape was one of the UK underground’s standout releases, stitching together swagger, bass and glitch into something undeniable and worldly. With his next project ‘Fear & Clothing’ set to drop this year, Ciel continues to prove there’s more than one direction for British rap in the 2020s. KSW

Key track: ‘FlyaThanMe?!?’

Cliffords

Baroque, anthemic indie-pop bursting with wit and character

From: Cork, Ireland
For fans of: Florence + The Machine, Wolf Alice

It’s rare that a band seems to arrive fully formed, but the fizzing confidence behind their early EPs suggested Cliffords are one of them. Vocalist Iona Lynch is a marvel, leaping between the florid pop of ‘My Favourite Monster’ and the stomping riffage of their recent single ‘Marsh’ without missing a melodic beat, her lyrics somehow both whimsical and grounded at once. As vibrant as the Cork scene they came up in. HB

Key track: ‘My Favourite Monster’

Clutter

Swedish punks taking up space with songs that are ferocious, fuzzy and fun

From: Stockholm, Sweden
For fans of: Lambrini Girls, Bikini Kill

Clutter’s sound lives up to their name – jumbled and tangled, disorder coursing through their fuzzy, loud punk squalls. It’s the kind of disarray, though, that’s intentional and considered – a playful vehicle for lyrical existentialism and political pondering. Since meeting and forming in high school, the band have become embedded in their local scene, scoring a deal with revered Swedish label PNKSLM, and started picking up attention further afield – last year they supported Madrid’s Hinds on tour, while their debut EP ‘Loves You’ earned them a slot at Pitchfork Festival London. RD

Key track: ‘Jesus’

Comet

Apocalyptic nu-grunge you feel in your gut

From: New York, USA
For fans of: Sonic Youth, Nine Inch Nails

Comet’s gothic lyricism and raw, sludgy guitars were already enough to intrigue anyone following the explosion of nu-grunge. But it’s her deep, guttural groan that gives her the edge – a singular voice that taps into some sinister spiritual force and reaches the pit of your stomach. Comet’s been slowly refining her sound since 2021, working with the likes of Frost Children for recent single ‘Screw’ – and this year promises plenty more. Brace for impact… AR

Key track: ‘Opium’

Cruush

Buzzy Manchester alt-rockers take their sound to the next level

From: Manchester, UK
For fans of: NewDad, Mary In The Junkyard

After a handful of early fuzzy releases, Manchester band Cruush have been on a journey of evolution and now find themselves at home in a “dirty collage” of their influences: shades of shoegaze, ’90s alt-rock, and dream-pop. It’s a progression that’s given the quartet a renewed sense of self – one that’s brighter, rawer and bolder – is evident in latest singles ‘Rupert Giles’ and ‘Great Dane’, where they sound more confident than ever. The time to join the Cruush party is now. ZWP

Key track: ‘Rupert Giles’

Déyyess

Emotional indie-pop gut punches that you’ll keep coming back for

From: Canterbury, UK
For fans of: Alessi Rose, Girl In Red

There’s an ethereal, entrancing quality to Déyyess’ stirring alt-pop yearning. The Canterbury-raised artist has a knack for bottling the ache of unrequited queer love in all its forms into “sparkly grunge” songs. The emotions within are bound to linger deep inside long after the music stops. ZWP

Key track: ‘Lights Off’

Dolder

Geordie twins with harmonies that’ll give you goosebumps

From: Newcastle, UK
For fans of: Gracie Abrams, HAIM

Siblings that sing together have a genetic affinity that just hits differently – don’t ask us, ask science. Dani and Zara Dolder are identical twins with a penchant for devastating lyrics that cut to the quick of the painful post-adolescent experience. If their all-too-relatable tales of self-examination and slow growth don’t get you in the feels, their stunning vocals will. LW

Key track: ‘The Motive’

Drifting Clouds

First Nations synth funk and seafoam saxophone from the top end of so-called Australia

From: Bunhungura / Gapuwiyak, Arnhem Land, Australia
For fans of: Harvey Sutherland, Hall & Oates

‘Bawuypawuy’, Yolngu musician Terry Guyula’s debut song as Drifting Clouds, sounds like how a brilliant ocean sunset feels: its ’80s-inspired saxophone is the breeze keeping you cool, its bubbling synths the tiny fish nibbling your toes in the shallows. Adapting a generations-old songline in his first language, Liyawulma’mirr-Djambarrpuyngu, Guyula has created a little slice of oceanic paradise that’s captivated local listeners and industry tastemakers – now it’s your turn. NB

Key track: ‘Bawuypawuy’

Effie

K-hyperpop rebellion at its brightest

From: Seoul, South Korea
For fans of: 2hollis, Ninajirachi

Korea’s hyperpop scene is slowly but surely bubbling up, and Effie is leading the way. After stumbling onto Drain Gang as a teenage high-school dropout armed with FL Studio, the 22-year-old singer and rapper decided to define a new Korean ‘sad girl’ movement with unapologetically high-octane production (assisted by close collaborators kimj and SEBii) and gritty, lo-fi visuals. A thrilling new direction for the Korean underground. AR

Key track: ‘Makgeolli Banger’

EJ Jones

Young R&B crooner with old-school chops and charm

From: Memphis, USA
For fans of: Leon Bridges, Sam Cooke

Timeless timbre, ’70s funk delivery and a soulful cadence reminiscent of far older than his 23 years, EJ Jones’ music is both modern and nostalgic. Built on easy melodies that support his powerful vocals, his sound is exemplified by the romantic ‘Gas Station Love’, which saw viral success last year. If Olivia Dean’s recent Best New Artist win at the Grammys says anything about the public’s appetite for retro-soul, we’re confident Jones will keep the masses well-fed. EC

Key track: ‘Gas Station Love’

Erin LeCount

Lush, cinematic alt-pop that packs an emotional punch

From: Chelmsford, UK
For fans of: Holly Humberstone, Lorde

Erin LeCount creates music for crying on the dancefloor, driven by soaring vocal lines, vulnerable and honest lyricism, and megawatt pop hooks. Early glimpses of her upcoming EP ‘Pareidolia’ (out this month) channel the same euphoria that cuts through Robyn’s music, fusing it with pulsating electronic production and ethereal layered vocals. The results? Stone-cold smashes. HM

Key track: ‘Machine Ghost’

Es.cher

Atmospheric electronic experiments with midwest emo guitars

From: London, UK
For fans of: Covet, Claire Rousay

In the hands of Es.cher, the raw catharsis and twinkly clarity of midwest emo turn into a foggier, more fragmentary sort of transcendence. The London-based producer and multi-instrumentalist has lent their deft guitar skills to artists as distinct as Halsey (‘The Great Impersonator’) and Skepta (‘48 Hours’). Their own music, though, is far more unplaceable and beguiling, with threads of breakcore, hyperpop, electronica and slowcore woven into its filigree. KG

Key track: ‘If,,’

Femtanyl

Ferocious breakcore-punk perfect for the modern moshpit

From: Toronto, Canada
For fans of: Machine Girl, Nine Inch Nails

When Noelle Mansbridge started Femtanyl in 2023, she quickly built up a fervent online fanbase with a slew of dizzying, high-energy tracks. Now officially a duo with Juno Callender, and enthusiastically co-signed by hyperpop connoisseur Danny Brown via features and a tour support slot, Femtanyl are readying a debut album. Out this Friday, ‘Man Bites Dog’ combines stomping industrial beats with the wild mania of breakcore for one absolutely visceral and singular take on rave-punk. AR

Key track: ‘Katamari’

Florence Road

Big-hearted indie pop built for lonely late nights and singing along at the top of your lungs

From: County Wicklow, Ireland
For fans of: Wet Leg, Hayley Williams

Florence Road fuse ’90s-esque indie rock, cinematic choruses and confessional storytelling. The Bray-born childhood friends honed their craft in a garden shed, rocketing from school concerts to sold-out gigs and a major label signing. Their debut mixtape ‘Fall Back’ mixed youthful melancholy, bouncy riffs and an Irish lilt, while follow-up single – and one of our best songs of 2025 – ‘Miss’ plumbed emotional new depths. With all of their output so far, Florence Road have proved their knack for anthemic pop that’s both intimate and epic. GE

Key track: ‘Heavy’

Gabriel Jacoby

The R&B troubadour extolling resilience and empowerment with Southern grit and fervour

From: Tampa, USA
For fans of: D’Angelo, André 3000

Pop needs another ambitious polymath like Prince, and Gabriel Jacoby could well step up to the plate. The South Carolina-born, Florida-raised artist, who’s struggled with inequality and incarceration, writes about growth, self-realisation and triumph while audaciously synthesising Southern hip-hop, groovy neo-funk and harmonica-laden country. Last year saw the release of his debut EP, ‘Gutta Child’, and the Shaboozey song ‘Chrome’, which he co-wrote. CW

Key track: ‘The One’

Girl Tones

Livewire sisters making gritty, earnest rock

From: Bowling Green, USA
For fans of: The White Stripes, Momma

Classically trained and raised in Kentucky on folk music, when Kenzie and Laila Crowe embarked on their own musical path they opted for guitar grit, dynamic drumming and intricate chords. With clean-yet-scuzzy production by Brad Shultz of Cage The Elephant, a penchant for lyrical honesty and buzzy live shows, Girl Tones are doing their part to keep garage rock alive and kicking. EC

Key track: ‘Again’

Hearts2Hearts

Sparkly powerhouse rookies of a storied girl-group lineage

From: Seoul, South Korea
For fans of: Girls’ Generation, IVE

Hearts2Hearts are the latest in a line of excellent girl groups under the K-pop agency SM Entertainment, proffering a sound that’s nostalgic yet fresh and propulsive. The octet’s songs hit fast and clean, shooting straight from their hearts to yours – just try to deny the hook of ‘Focus’ or the chorus of ‘Style’, which we named one of the best K-pop songs of 2025. It may still be rookie season for these girls, but the crown is already starting to fit. MC

Key track: ‘Style’

Heidi Curtis

Windswept, widescreen rock drama

From: Newcastle, UK
For fans of: Fleetwood Mac, Florence + the Machine

If you’ve seen Sam Fender live in the last couple of years, you may have witnessed Heidi Curtis warming the stage. The two Geordies share a hometown in North Shields (and the same management company) – and last November, Curtis made her recorded debut with first single, ‘Undone’, a robust rocker that mixes dramatic Florence Welchian lyricism with Stevie Nicks stylings. And if you imagine ‘The Chain’ soundtracking a stormy seafaring fantasy epic, you’ll have her latest track, ‘Siren’. KG

Key track: ‘Undone’

​​Horsepower

Surging, emotionally wrought indie rock with a soft centre

From: New York City, USA
For fans of: Snail Mail, Mitski

Keeping some emotions at bay is like attempting to hold back the tide, a dilemma that Horsepower’s Charlotte Weinman apparently knows well. The former playwright’s texturally adventurous songs use brittle clean chords, washes of fuzz and acrobatic vocal melodies to dynamically fuse heartbreak and self-analysis, channelling the universal feeling of being young and bummed out. When songs such as ‘Coins’ get going, it’s like you’re staring into the void with her arm draped around your shoulders. HB

Key track: ‘Coins’

ifeye

K-pop excellence from six of the most charismatic idols in the industry

From: Seoul, South Korea
For fans of: f(x), NMIXX

K-pop newcomers ifeye aren’t defined by a hackneyed concept or limited to a single sound. Instead, the charismatic six-member group enthrall audiences with their electrifying stage presence and visual excellence. If their first two singles – their dreamy debut ‘Nerdy’ and the zany, experimental follow-up ‘r u ok?’ (one of NME’s top K-pop songs of 2025) – are anything to go by, this girl group is on a one-way trip to the top. ZWP

Key track: ‘r u ok?’

Jahnah Camille

Contemplative, personal stories set to delicate but driving indie-rock

From: Birmingham, USA
For fans of: Beabadoobee, Soccer Mommy

Jahnah Camille’s swirling indie-rock prioritises vulnerability, whether she’s reminding herself to stay present on her 2024 EP ‘I Tried To Freeze Light, But Only Remember A Girl’ or bottling the fizzing feelings of young adulthood on follow-up ‘My Sunny Oath!’. Initially inspired by Paramore to start writing songs and raised by her Alabama hometown’s DIY punk and hardcore scene, her music now is a balance of delicacy and guitar-driven rush. It’s a mix that makes her a natural peer to the likes of Blondshell, Clairo and Soccer Mommy, all of whom she’s opened for in recent years. RD

Key track: ‘What Do You Do?’

Jai’Len Josey

Former Broadway performer who is redefining what modern R&B can be

From: Atlanta, USA
For fans of: Ari Lennox, Coco Jones

Some voices just know how to strike at the heart, and Jai’Len Josey’s instrument is as precise as they come. Having cut her teeth on Broadway as a teenager, the Atlanta-raised singer has the talent, drive and resilience to go to the next level – along with the pen to match. Across two projects, ‘Illustrations’ and ‘Southern Delicacy’, Josey has crafted a textured, soulful R&B world that’s made her one of the genre’s most compelling up-and-comers. ZWP

Key track: ‘Good Soup’

JayaHadADream

The former criminology teacher now killing mics

From: Cambridge, UK
For fans of: Little Simz, Kojey Radical

Ask JayaHadADream what her range is like and you won’t get an answer – you’ll get a grin, a lyrical uppercut, and a KO of verse-skirmishes across grime, UK garage, hip-hop and trap-tinged bangers. There’s a self-observant, self-assured gleam to her flow, honest, earnest storytelling meeting a fiery rebellious streak and a firm refusal to stick to the syllabus. The result is a top-class symphony of bars worthy of a neo-grime leader. NS

Key track: ‘Twiggy’

Jessy Blakemore

Sincere, soul-searching alt-R&B that hits where it hurts

From: Reading, UK
For fans of: Amy Winehouse, H.E.R.

There’s a deep, powerful introspection behind Jessy Blakemore’s raw and unfiltered songwriting. It’s certainly coloured by her university studies of philosophy, but it’s really the 25-year-old’s warm, stirring vocals that have made her stripped-back, confessional sound – a blend of indie, R&B and soul – such a phenomenon on social media and beyond. ZWP

Key track: ‘Shiloh Type Beat’

Jett Blyton

Bristling “recession pop” bursting with bravado, big feelings and sharp lyricism

From: Canberra, Australia
For fans of: Audrey Hobert, Charli xcx

Yes, this 19-year-old, queer Australian pop wunderkind shares some similarities to Troye Sivan, but he’s decidedly doing his own thing. Colliding electroclash with raw songwriting about messy moments, Jett Blyton soundtracks the club and the comedown. “I’ve got that big star energy”, Jett boasts on his EP – and as an independent artist whose single ‘Apeshit’ Audrey Hobert called “totally singular”, he’s just telling the truth. JR

Key track: ‘Apeshit’

June McDoom

A maverick gently recasting folk in the image of jazz and soul

From: New York, USA
For fans of: Big Thief, Joanna Newsom

The slow simmer of this South Florida-via-NYC songwriter’s rise to prominence feels of a piece with her sound, one that subtly reinvents the folk blueprint by imbuing it with jazz (she read music theory in the genre at university) and lyrical poetry centred on the Black American experience. 2023’s gorgeous ‘With Strings’ EP demonstrated a fearless commitment to reinventing the wheel; after her striking backing vocals featured on Big Thief’s ‘Double Infinity’ last year, June McDoom will no doubt break out in her own right in 2026. J Goggins

Key track: ‘Emerald River Dance’

Kidwild

Pensive, trap-soaked bangers with an anthemic vigour

From: London, UK
For fans of: Nemzzz, Pozer

In a world where rappers often lock away their emotions behind money spreads and Spielbergian music videos, Kidwild’s biggest strength is how he wears his heart on his sleeve. He fuses world-weary lyricism with ardent trap beats and knocking 808s, threading in soulful samples (think Sade’s ‘Is It a Crime’) that give his music a lived-in warmth. With a rousing fanbase already clamouring for more, his upcoming mixtape ‘Job’s Not Done’ is likely to spark a fiery blaze. NS

Key track: ‘Indecisive – Is It A Crime’

KiiiKiii

Bringing charming K-pop whimsy back, one carefree song at a time

From: Seoul, South Korea
For fans of: Oh My Girl, I.O.I

Youthful quirkiness has been KiiiKiii’s calling card since their debut last spring, and they’ve made it their mission to charm the world with their Gen Z-coded pop sprinkled with feel-good nostalgia. Whether congratulating themselves on their first steps on the irreverent ‘Debut Song’ or “dancing alone” on the ’80s synthpop-indebted single of the same name, this K-pop quintet are quickly proving they can be relied on for a dose of fun among life’s chaos. IEM

Key track: ‘Dancing Alone’

Kloyd

Electronic ebb and flow, from calm to transcendence and back again

From: Yorkshire, UK
For fans of: Four Tet, Rüfüs Du Sol / Bonobo

Ethereal electronica is the name of Kloyd’s game. Raised in Yorkshire and now based in London, Kate Lloyd is an Anjunadeep affiliate producing downtempo soundscapes that can sound bucolic and downright meditative – but also aren’t afraid to step to a trip-hop groove or a thumping beat. Just sink into her 2025 track ‘Nothing Could’ve Made Me’, which also showcases her love of tasteful, elliptical vocal sampling. KG

Key track: ‘Nothing Could’ve Made Me’

KuleeAngee

Sleek, slightly sleazy disco-electronica topped with cheeky Scottish charm

From: Glasgow/Edinburgh, Scotland
For fans of: Jungle, Antony Szmierek

Forming in the queue for London’s queer club of the moment, Dalston Superstore, this duo of Duncan Grant and Keshav Kanabar has kept a fun, free spirit at the forefront – and their Scottish accents. Whether dipping into squelchy acid house, disco falsettos or even Britpop, as with the Blur-inspired ‘Television’, KuleeAngee – a name taken from Kanabar’s distant relative, re-spelled and made trippy – are all about creating a groove. JR

Key track: ‘Animated Love’

Leah Cleaver

Life’s messy, intimate moments translated into vivid alt-pop

From: London, UK
For fans of: Little Simz, Joy Crookes

Listening to Leah Cleaver can be a bit like catching up with an eccentric old friend. Sometimes she surprises with a musical left-turn, or catches you off guard with lyrics that are a little too honest, but it all comes from a place of love and understanding. That messy intimacy shines bright on her 2025 EP ‘Pushing Up Flowers’, where she learns to sit with discomfort and trusts that vulnerability can lead to better things. ZWP

Key track: ‘Get You Home’

Ledbyher

Underground rap princess blending atmospheric, noir jerk and raw drill

From: London, UK
For fans of: Fakemink, PinkPantheress

Ledbyher’s knack for constructing cinematic, melancholy vignettes has certified her as a rising star direct from the UK underground. The Scottish-Indonesian rapper, who grew up around the world (including the Norfolk countryside), writes about her experiences with homelessness, addiction and her childhood. The new EP ‘The Elephant’, out this Friday, pulls no punches and promises to launch Ledbyher into the stratosphere. AR

Key track: ‘Daydreaming Made Me Blue’

Lola Consuelos

Self-aware pop anthems with plenty of personality

From: New York, USA
For fans of: Gracie Abrams, Lily Allen

The daughter of TV personalities Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos, Lola Consuelos sets down her feelings of paranoia, anxiety and love to saccharine pop with snark and rich harmonies – complete with delicate vibrato and a dynamic delivery that tiptoes into R&B territory. With one EP and a viral hit behind her, plus a stint in London to experiment with new producers, she’s teasing a debut that promises to show off her nuanced writing and genre-bending sound. EC

Key track: ‘Paranoia Silverlining’

Love Spells

Breathtaking nighttime indie, filled with hope and heartache

From: Houston, USA
For fans of: Cigarettes After Sex, Arlo Parks

Blending dreamy psychedelia with indie riffs, Love Spells creates atmospheric and intimate bedroom pop. The artist – real name Sir Taegen C’aion Harris – already has famous fans in the likes of Kevin Abstract (last year he appeared on Abstract’s collaborative record ‘Blush’), and it’s not hard to see why. Gorgeous melancholic instrumentals, lyrics steeped in both hope and heartache and hushed, enchanting vocals – it’s beautiful stuff. HM

Key track: ‘Wish I Didn’t Love You’

Lucky

Aussie indie upstart who’s hard to Google but easy to love

From: Melbourne, Australia
For fans of: Beabadoobee, Girl In Red

Lucky’s five singles thus far have all sported the kind of irresistible choruses best sung directly into hairbrushes, paired with bouncy, fuzzed-out guitars that will have you bound for the nearest moshpit. Late last year, Lucky – aka singer-songwriter Chelsea Knight – opened for alt-rock giants Garbage, and has just announced her debut EP ‘Biting Heels’ for release in April. DJY

Key track: ‘Never Know’

Lucky Iris

Crunchy club beats that taste like freedom

From: Leeds, UK
For fans of: The Deep, PinkPantheress

Maybe it’s the crunchiness of their synths, or perhaps its lead singer Maeve Florsheim’s coy speak-singing and lyrics, but whatever it is, electro-pop duo Lucky Iris have a special touch in their approach to club music. Their late-night world is free of pretension and smartphones, where revelers are one with the music and dancing is the only rule. It’s fun, it’s loose, and it’s club pop the way it should be. ZWP

Key track: ‘Play Me Like A Speaker’

Maddie Ashman

Pop maven who wants to bring microtonal music to the masses

From: Hampshire, UK
For fans of: Caroline Polachek, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Microtonal composer Maddie Ashman isn’t one to take music at face value. Instead, she interrogates the spaces between the notes on the universally accepted chromatic scale and uses them to create her own world of sound. Her approach brings a unique twist to modern pop, as the tracks on her recent ‘Her Side’ EP show – unsettling and subverting expectations while staying beautiful and, indeed, addictive. RD

Key track: ‘Seraphim’

Madra Salach

A fresh spin on Irish folk with punk energy and ethos at its core

From: Dublin, Ireland
For fans of: Lankum, The Pogues

It’s always exciting when an act breaks apart something traditional and rebuilds it in their own image. Six-piece Madra Salach do just that, deconstructing Irish folk music and putting it back together with new layers of experimental, expansive post-rock. It’s an M.O. that colours both the original material and traditional covers that make up their compelling debut EP ‘It’s A Hell Of An Age’, on which they spin gold from tales of modern mundanities and coming-of-age narratives. RD

Key track: ‘The Man Who Seeks Pleasure’

Max Baby

Stylish indie noir with European colours

From: Paris, France
For fans of: The Strokes, Tame Impala

Homer Simpson got his sexy alias Max Power from a hair-dryer, but this svelte wunderkind was born with his. Max Baby has the confidence to match: his is the kind of indie that The Strokes fans really wish Julian Casablancas made elsewhere, albeit with a modern shimmer, sharp French cool, and a gothy new wave shadow. It’s not all dark though, the Parisian using his synaesthesia to light up the night. AT

Key track: ‘Nothing Ever Changes’

Midrift

Ferociously tuneful alt-rock from teenagers talented beyond their years

From: San Francisco, USA
For fans of: Deftones, Whirr

While most of their high-school peers were stressing over college applications, Midrift were racking up millions of streams on ‘Twin Flames’, an unexpected viral smash from their 2022 debut EP. The suburban San Francisco trio have spent the years since building their blend of hard-charging ’90s alt rock and glistening shoegaze that lands with an assured, instinctive swagger. Catch them on their February headline tour of Europe and the UK – before everyone else does. J Garrett

Key track: ‘Unrequited’

Moliy

Ghanaian pop with a glossy, club-ready global edge

From: Accra, Ghana
For fans of: Tyla, Brazy

Moliy’s sound jets around the world, pulling from Jamaican dancehall, American melodic rap and West African pop for something infectious and high-energy that’s travelled far beyond her homeland of Ghana. She’s been bubbling up since her breakout feature on Amaarae’s ‘Sad Gurlz Luv Money’ in 2020, but after dropping her own chart-topping, remix-gathering juggernaut ‘Shake It To The Max (FLY)’ in 2024, Moliy has firmly stepped into the spotlight. Since she’s racked up collabs with Tyla and Rvssian – expect more cross-global dancefloor fillers from her soon. KSW

Key track: ‘Shake It To The Max (FLY)’

Mother Soki

An innovative, earthy twist on dreampop, punctuated with intriguing electronica

From: Minneapolis, USA
For fans of: Ethel Cain, Grouper

Hypnotic, transportive and slightly haunting, Annie Tammearu’s music as Mother Soki is a delightfully disorientating mix of hazy guitars and piercing, skittering beats. Sitting somewhere between ambient and dreampop, the songs reveal intricate, moving melodies over repeat listens. In December, she released debut EP ‘Fantasy’ with the label Mom + Pop, the indie tastemakers with a long legacy of refining an artist’s sound without losing any edge. JR

Key track: ‘Rivet Gun’

Ms* Gloom

Ethereal, dark and mysterious electro with a hidden sense of humour

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Crystal Castles, Salem

Glitchy, moody and intimate, this shadowy solo act pops her crystalline, oft-whispered vocals underneath glittering, celestial beats, prompting deeper listens. Sharing producer Silent$ky with Bladee and Yung Lean, Ms* Gloom’s ethos isn’t too far from Drain Gang – a kind of moody irreverence, happy to pair witch house with a Gossip Girl reference (‘Hi, Society’). JR

Key track: ‘Something To Hold Onto’

My First Time

Batshit dance-punk crew who know their way around pop structure

From: Bristol, UK
For fans of: LCD Soundsystem, Master Peace

Their band name leans into bright-eyed naivety, but My First Time’s guitar-meets-electroclash megamix screams of a band who have put hours into their craft. Crooning about thick milkshakes, golden chalices and performative reading, you can try to unravel Isaac Stroud-Allen’s squawk – but you’re better off cutting some shapes instead at their live shows, which are intentionally joyful reprieves from reality. As they told us last year: “We know how shit this is, but look at how this shit can breed something so positive.” RS

Key track: ‘Bodybag’

Nadia Kadek

British-Indonesian indie-folk artist creating refuge in her songs

From: Norfolk, UK
For fans of: Nell Mescal, Lizzy McAlpine

Nadia Kadek has always sought sanctuary in music, and now, her tender-hearted indie-folk offers a space for others to shelter and feel less alone. Unafraid to get vulnerable in her writing, the British-Indonesian musician’s songs cover everything from young love to navigating change, all with a considerate spirit. The 22-year-old was a runner-up in Glastonbury’s coveted Emerging Talent Competition in 2024, landing her a record deal with renowned indie label Transgressive, which released her debut EP last year. RD

Key track: ‘Green Car’

no na

Shape-shifting girl group that’s flying the Indonesian flag high

From: Bali, Lombok and Jakarta, Indonesia
For fans of: Danity Kane, KISS OF LIFE

First impressions are important, and girl group No Na made a huge splash with their throwback R&B debut ‘Shoot’ last May. But in the months since, the Indonesian quartet have proven that they don’t need to rely on nostalgia to shine. With a sonic palette that runs the gamut from ’80s synth funk (‘Superstitious’) to sleek K-pop-esque dance-pop (‘Work’) to vocal-driven piano ballads (‘Bleach’), No Na are stirring up a storm with their unpredictable versatility. ZWP

Key track: ‘Superstitious’

Omar+

A new-gen club star delivering ‘R&B for the ravers’

From: London, UK
For fans of: Disco Lines, Jazzy

For Omar+, music is all about the ambience. The triple threat – a producer, DJ and singer – is all about fusing ’90s house grooves and contemporary R&B samples and vocals to create a “constant feeling and a vibe” that keeps fuelling the function – a party that has grown to include collaborators like Luke Dean and Josh Baker. In a matter of years, he’s gone from creating in his bedroom to throwing DIY house parties across London and, recently, touring the US. Omar+’s breakthrough moment is now: won’t you join him on the dancefloor? BJ

Key track: ‘Back Of The Club’

Oscar Farrell

Magical producer harnessing bittersweet ambience

From: London, UK
For fans of: Bicep, Overmono

Since Oscar Farrell signed to dh2, the label Dirty Hit’s electronic imprint, he’s notched up collaborations with the likes of The 1975’s George Daniel and Sampha – but they shouldn’t overshadow his own sonic wizardry. His intimate house-driven tracks like ‘I Need U’ and ‘So Far South’ tug at the heartstrings, fit for both winter solitude and a bleary festival sunrise. RS

Key track: ‘So Far South’

Paira

Luminous electro-pop that needs no translation

From: São Paulo, Brazil
For fans of: Four Tet, Alex G

This Brazilian duo provides a welcome reminder that Portuguese is indeed one of the Romance languages. Clara Borges and André Pádua deliver warm, rapturous incantations on their latest EP, where glowing electro-pop textures blur into something intimate and spellbinding. Released last year, it’s an impressive leap from the skittering post-punk of their earlier work, and a tantalising glimpse of where they might be headed on their debut album, which we hear they’re currently recording. J Garrett

Key track: ‘Confissão’

Pollyfromthedirt

Fascinatingly odd alt-pop from the north of England

From: Darlington, UK
For fans of: Cameron Winter, Alex G

A lot of artists hold a mirror up to their surroundings, but in Pollyfromthedirt’s case it happens to be one stolen from the funhouse. The masked songwriter’s snapshots of kitchen-sink English life are served alongside warped vocals and surprising melodic twists: witness an ornate piano puncturing the gloopy weird-pop atmosphere of ‘Kalm’, a standout from last year’s brilliant ‘The Dirt Pt.1’ EP, or the gritty alt-country harmonica that cuts through on ‘When England Comes’. HB

Key track: ‘Kalm’

Proph

Capturing hearts and minds with soulful production and slick lyricism

From: London, UK
For fans of: J Cole, Wretch 32

This self-producing, old-world wordsmith from Thornton Heath knows his way around a soulful sample, pairing his flips with kitchen-sink realism and the occasional smooth R&B vibe. Whether suave, gritty or introspective, Proph acquits himself well in multiple modes. Last year, Wretch 32 and Avelino tapped him for a feature on the 10th-anniversary re-release of their seminal mixtape ‘Young Fire, Old Flame’, while Dave called him one of UK rap’s “next generation”. It’s clearly time to give Proph his props. SP

Key track: ‘Regardless’

PUNCHING BAG

Sludgy rap-rock that lands like a right hook

From: Pomona, USA
For fans of: Ho99o9, Kenny Mason

Punching Bag treat bass like something to wrestle into submission. Over hulking 808s, distorted guitars and drums that hit with full-force intent, the riotous duo put the smackdown on their songs to create their signature self-described “aggressive hopecore”. Over their 2024 ‘Gym Rat’ EP and last year’s debut mixtape ‘A Bout Time’, the Cali band deliver abrasive rap-punk that hits like a piledriver – brutal, precise and leaving a mark you feel long after it’s landed. KSW

Key track: ‘Guerrilla’

Reehaa

Lagos Afropop with a bright, youthful melodic lift

From: Lagos, Nigeria
For fans of: Ayra Starr, Tems

Reehaa brings a light touch to contemporary Afropop, pairing buoyant melodies with an easy rhythmic swing and a knack for hooks that settle in fast. Her songs keep things clean and unfussy, leaning into pop-facing Afrobeats with the kinetic shake of amapiano and, in places, the soaring temperament of soul for moments of understated joy. Her debut EP ‘Ajala’, which featured a guest spot from Shallipopi, demonstrated her preference for a softer, steadier lane of the genre – making music to loop and linger with. KSW

Key track: ‘Omo Iya’

Rozie Ramati

Dreamy alt-R&B that’s both grounded yet otherworldly

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Raveena, Caroline Polachek

Rozie Ramati often marries her mellifluous voice with dreamy production that evokes other, higher realms (she’s worked with the likes of Sega Bodega and Oklou collaborator Casey MQ). But as her lyrics and thoughtful digital presence show, her music is deeply entwined with her heritage and conversant with a wider artistic ecosystem of film, literature and more. Ramati writes in response to reality and all its crises and complexities: Her 2025 single ‘Blinking Aisles’, which falls between elegy and entreaty, is one shining example. KG

Key track: ‘Blinking Aisles’

Saam Sultan

Tumblr-era cloud rap reimagined through UK alt-trap haze

From: Brighton, UK
For fans of: Yung Lean, Bladee

The Florida-born, Brighton-raised artist channels the indulgent internet swagger of 2010s Tumblr culture into a woozy UK cloud-rap revival. Sultan’s music drifts through alt-trap beats and misted synths, pairing half-murmured delivery with the kind of excess and ego rap has always thrived on – though here it curdles into yearning rather than bravado. Sultan’s soft-focus sound is the sort that feels primed to grow sharper and even more addictive the longer it stays on rotation. KSW

Key track: ‘Locked In Love’

Saint Clair

Dramatic, emotionally intense indie-rock destined for big venues

From: London, UK
For fans of: Fontaines D.C., Radiohead

There is something almost theatrical about Saint Clair’s brooding take on indie-rock. But it’s not driven by empty grandstanding or glitz, rather a sense of emotional heft that underpins their smart melodies, knotty guitars and churning low end. The quartet’s ambition is obvious and backed up by a sound that’s only becoming more colossal over time – it’s very easy to imagine songs such as ‘Warm’ washing over huge crowds in the not too distant future. HB

Key track: ‘Warm’

Sasha Keable

Combining old-school soul with modern grit and undeniable star power

From: London, UK
For fans of: Adele, Lauryn Hill

Drawing from personal upheaval and emotional reckoning, there’s a disarming sincerity at the heart of Sasha Keable’s music. It’s what made her 2025 comeback EP ‘Act Right’ such a standout, marking a definitive arrival after a decade of honing her craft. With a blend of Motown-inspired soul and contemporary R&B, and lived-in lyrics that capture the complexities of sapphic love, it’s no surprise that Keable and her golden voice are finally getting the love they deserve. ZWP

Key track: ‘Why’

Sex Mask

Raucous party punks making red-level ragers

From: Melbourne, Australia
For fans of: Black Midi, Getdown Services

Even before you’ve heard a note, Sex Mask kick the proverbial door down with their provocative name and the presence of oft-shirtless frontman Wry Gray. Needless to say, this trio aren’t hiding behind anything. With a fiery blend of ultra-precise post-punk and devilish dance-punk, expect their upcoming debut album to turn as many heads as their unmissable live show. DJY

Key track: ‘How To Be Cool At Parties’

She’s Green

Ethereal, next-gen shoegaze with a voice that cuts clean through the haze

From: Minneapolis, USA
For fans of: Cocteau Twins, Slowdive

Shoegaze’s unwritten rule is never to lead with vocals, but it takes only seconds of hearing Zofia Smith’s otherworldly upper register to understand why She’s Green were destined to break it. Their shimmering, incandescent sound has already caught the ear of legends like Frank Black and Drop Nineteens and taken them as far as China. Up next: a hotly anticipated new EP recorded with Sonny Diperri [Diiv, These New Puritans], planned for spring release. J Garrett

Key track: ‘Graze’

She’s In Parties

Lush, maximalist dream-pop with a goth edge

From: Colchester, UK
For fans of: Beach House, Pale Waves

They might be named after a Bauhaus song but She’s In Parties’ gauzy take on goth-pop is more about blockbuster keys and vocalist Katie Dillon’s elastic hooks than it is eyeliner and a sense of impending doom. Last year’s ‘Are You Dreaming?’ EP made it feel like they’d reached a destination that was always around the next bend on their early singles, with its title track a gleaming, rafter-raising statement of intent. HB

Key track: ‘Are You Dreaming?’

Shelailai

Genre-hopping pop-rap with dreamy hooks and punchy flows

From: Vancouver, Canada
For fans of: Lizzo, Doja Cat

Blending woozy, sun-washed melodies with clipped, conversational flows, Shelailai works the possibilities of pop-rap to their fullest. Her songs slide between hip-hop, R&B, house and indie pop without committing fully to any one lane, often built around sticky refrains, rhythmic pivots and a light-but-deliberate vocal touch. ‘Goodtime’ scored a spot on the EA Sports FC ’25 game soundtrack last year – and we hear she’s got more energetic bops coming soon… KSW

Key track: ‘No Touchy’

SILVERWINGKILLER

Scorched-earth electronica meets furious punk rock

From: Manchester, UK
For fans of: Atari Teenage Riot, Crystal Castles

Clashing styles define the sound of this uncompromising and ambitious Manchester duo, who take incendiary electronica and imbue it with irrepressible punk rock energy. Last year’s debut EP, ‘Triad Funded’, met our present dystopian moment head-on, with an unflinching, multilingual treatise on modern culture and technology. Expect them to distill that sound further on their second EP, due later this year. J Goggins

Key track: ‘Hold Up (All Firearms In The United Kingdom)’

sim0ne

Happy hardcore, euphoric house and techno that always fills the dancefloor

From: Edinburgh, Scotland
For fans of: Kettama, horsegiirL

Do you like fun? Doesn’t matter: Sim0ne’s high-energy sets and tracks are irresistible even to the biggest party-pooper. Striking a balance between innovative and obnoxious, the producer/DJ’s blend of Eurodance, techno and sing-along hooks demands you dance. Just ask sweaty crowds at Boiler Room and DC10 Ibiza – or even Lana Del Rey, who ended up officially releasing Sim0ne’s turbo bootleg cut of ballad ‘Say Yes To Heaven’. JR

Key track: ‘Freaky’

Skye Newman

Unfiltered south London storytelling delivered with a soulful punch

From: London, UK
For fans of: Amy Winehouse, Lola Young

With a husky voice that carries the weight of someone twice her age, Skye Newman has quickly become a rising star of a new generation of UK soul. Whether she’s calling out men who abuse their power on ‘Lonely Girl’ or navigating the fallout of a messy relationship on ‘Hairdresser’, it’s clear that Newman’s fearless approach to songwriting is exactly what’s needed. ZWP

Key track: ‘Hairdresser’

Sleepazoid

Biting rock revivalists bringing the loud, then quiet, then loud again

From: Melbourne, Australia
For fans of: Mannequin Pussy, Wednesday

With a triple-guitar frontline and the perfect blend of sweet and sour in their eclectic arsenal, these Aussie alt-rockers have already impressed the likes of indie darling Faye Webster and dance-punks Fcukers with show-stealing support slots. They’ll soon tour Australia – and the UK – in support of their latest EP ‘New Age’, a perfect showcase of their smash-cut blend of driving post-punk and dream-pop bliss. There isn’t a dull moment across its runtime. DJY

Key track: ‘New Age’

South Arcade

Viral Gen Z rockers mastering 2000s throwback

From: Oxford, UK
For fans of: Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park

Nu-metal is trendy again, noughties nostalgia is rife, and here comes South Arcade’s time machine of glitchy pop-punk and alt-metal. With Harmony Cavelle’s manic vocals and a deep love of the “weird and wonderful” Y2K era at the forefront, these four workaholics command an army of online fans and have already conquered the main stage at Reading & Leeds. Up next: Download and TRNSMT. RS

Key track: ‘Stone Cold Summer’

STARGLOW

Unbridled energy meets pop maximalism in the form of this fresh-faced Japanese boyband

From: Tokyo, Japan
For fans of: SEVENTEEN, BE:FIRST

Created through the survival show The Last Piece, STARGLOW are harnessing the dreams that propelled them through the competition, perfecting melodic alchemy dotted with dynamic rap lines. The light, guitar-driven funk of their debut single, ‘Star Wish’ may initially read as romantic, but it’s above all a manifesto – one which declares that music is the five-piece’s compass and positions them as a group to keep a close eye on. IEM

Key track: ‘Moonchaser’

Tatyana Jane

The dynamo flying the flag for her own worldwide Afroclash movement

From: Paris, France
For fans of: MIA, Nia Archives

The French-Cameroonian producer/DJ has generated underground heat with her percussive sonic paradigm, mashing up electro, house, techno, rave, breakbeat, bass and glocalised styles like baile funk and makossa. Aside from playing back-to-back at Berghain with Skrillex (a collab with whom she’s still holding onto), the rising star from Douala has signed to Ed Banger Records, the French stable behind Justice, ahead of a much-anticipated EP. CW

Key track: ‘Good Morning’

Teyma

Paris’ new rap it-girl with pop-star potential

From: Paris, France
For fans of: PinkPantheress, Coco & Clair Clair

Teyma raps with playful sass over digitised dance-first production, creating sharp, feel-good anthems for the it-girls of the underground. Raised on the Barbie-coded fun of early Nicki Minaj, the theatrical flair of Freddie Mercury and the emotional pull of Sade, she emerged from Paris’ alt-rap scene last year with the sultry ‘Chichi’. The two singles she’s dropped since demonstrate how she’s slowly building a discography of baddie bops as light and sweet as candy floss. KSW

Key track: ‘Chichi’

The Itch

Dance-punk duo on a mission to bring back the indie disco

From: London, UK
For fans of: LCD Soundsystem, The Rapture

Got no money? The sanity black hole of social media bringing you down? The Itch understand, and they’ve got the solution: insatiable, indie-electronic bangers designed for dancing it out, cutting loose and forgetting your troubles. The exact troubles they’ve nestled in their smart, wary lyrical core, as it so happens. Clever bastards. LW

Key track: ‘Space In The Cab’

The Orchestra (For Now)

Dynamic art rock from the Windmill scene’s finest

From: London, UK
For fans of: Black Country, New Road, Arcade Fire

Since winning the Green Man Rising competition in 2024, things have only gone up for this septet. Over two EPs, the south London band’s penchant for soaring, theatrical maximalism has seen them venture into post-punk, folk, jazz, and plenty more – resulting in a spellbinding sound that they’ve called “London prog”. Last year, guitarist Bill Bickerstaff told us, “We want to be big. We want to be remembered.” They’re well on their way. AR

Key track: ‘Skins’

The Paradox

Green Day-approved band destined for pop-punk’s big leagues

From: Atlanta, USA
For fans of: Blink-182, Sum 41

Arguably the fastest-rising pop-punk band on the globe, The Paradox have worked with Travis Barker, supported Green Day and gained 1million Instagram followers within 19 months of their formation. Everything about 2025 debut EP ‘NSFW’ is bouncy, playful and sentimental, tapping into the golden age of their genre while dominating American alt airwaves – just last month, they topped the Billboard Alternative Airplay chart with ‘Get The Message’. RS

Key track: ‘Do Me Like That’

The Sophs

Restless, inventive alt-rock that you can’t help but be swept away by

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Black Lips, The Strokes

Getting a band off the ground takes some self-belief, and The Sophs have it in spades. The Angelenos landed their record deal with the acclaimed Rough Trade by cold-emailing their demos to its founders before they’d even played their first show. You can see why the label were charmed: their genre-hopping sound takes in fuzzed-up punk, flamenco fingerpicking, surf-pop riffs and more, sometimes all in one song. See for yourself when their debut album ‘Goldstar’ arrives in March. RD

Key track: ‘Goldstar’

Tkandz

Rising rap rookie making motivational anthems to lock in to

From: Essex, UK
For fans of: Central Cee, Nemzzz

Before he had one of 2025’s most viral UK rap tracks, Tkandz was a teen juggling music with school and performing at open mics. Last September he hit paydirt with ‘Now Or Never’, a soundtrack for anyone putting in the hard yards that days ago got a remix featuring Lil Baby. The song peaked at number 28 on the UK singles chart last year – which no doubt got Tkandz hungry for more. As he declared on his hit song: “I’m not even yet in my prime.” KG

Key track: ‘Now Or Never’

Tommy WÁ

Personal, political folk with purpose

From: Accra, Ghana
For fans of: Michael Kiwanuka, Bon Iver

Tommy WÁ isn’t the kind of guitar act you might expect from Dirty Hit, the label that gave us The 1975, Wolf Alice and Beabadoobee. The Nigeria-born artist’s open-hearted and future-facing folk is a breath of fresh air; inspired by Fela Kuti, Sunny Ade and Obongjayar, he’s here to stand up and stand out with songs deeply personal and illuminatingly political. Now in the wider world, WÁ will show you who he really is. AT

Key track: ‘Somewhere Only We Go’

Tooth

Buzzy underground quartet who make life-affirming rock to shout along to

From: London, UK
For fans of: Title Fight, Wunderhorse

Tooth’s debut single ‘The Age Of Innocence’ proves they have the cutting-edge songwriting pedigree to match the ruckus they’ve been causing in the band room – just check out the hectic music video for proof. Armed with arresting guitars, Tom Pollock’s invigorating vocals and a frenzy of momentum throughout, this band are set to captivate indieheads and emos alike. RS

Key track: ‘The Age Of Innocence’

TTSSFU

Feral alt-pop dreamer wielding fuzz, reverb and raw coming-of-age emotion

From: Wigan, UK
For fans of: Sorry, Sky Ferreira

As TTSSFU, Tasmin Stephens turns personal chaos into scuzzy, cathartic alt-pop. Her ‘Blown’ EP, penned from the trenches of writer’s block, captures heartbreak and furious honesty through jagged, unforgettable hooks. Centred on the raw energy of messy nights, bruised feelings and early-twenties chaos, her music hits as a rush of cathartic noise, where vulnerability snaps into something bold and defiant. GE

Key track: ‘Call U Back’

Twinboys

Identical twin brothers making fiery ‘desi dubstep’

From: Lucknow, India
For fans of: Nucleya, Skrillex

Bringing the Bollywood music of their childhood into the world of hard-edged dubstep, twins John and Paul Lakra sound like no other act on earth. Often spearheaded by the flute, sitar and tabla, their sound is the last thing you’d expect to descend into filthy, bass-heavy screeches at the flick of a switch. Expect Twinboys to push both poles to their extremes on the upcoming EP ‘Peace and Chaos’. RS

Key track: ‘Stormstep’

Unflirt

Dreamy, lo-fi indie that warms you like a ray of sunshine

From: London, UK
For fans of: Beabadoobee, Clairo

As Unflirt, west Londoner Christine Senorin creates tender, lo-fi tunes, matching them with intimate lyrics (from 2023’s ‘Differently’: “I can’t think what it even means to be loved by you”). In her songs, warm bedroom pop envelops rockier riffs and shoegaze textures, all coupled with dreamy hooks that you just know will sound even better when sung back by crowds of fans. HM

Key track: ‘Next To You’

Villanelle

Grunge that’s here for a good time – while carrying on the Gallagher lineage

From: London, UK
For fans of: Nirvana, Wunderhorse

Villanelle are doing things the old school way, both in terms of building a fanbase through sweaty, small gigs and in their commitment to a big night out: thudding hangovers inspired their first two singles, the searing, grungy ‘Measly Means’ and ‘Hinge’. The trio, who are fronted by Liam Gallagher’s son Gene, will continue to get their name out there – and expand their songwriting themes – with the ‘Measly Means’ EP in May. Get the painkillers ready. RD

Key track: ‘Measly Means’

Witch Post

Transatlantic indie rock rooted equally in the US heartland and Scottish countryside

From: Bathgate, Scotland and Montana, USA
For fans of: The Kills, The Replacements

Straddling an ocean and several time zones, America’s Alaska Reid and Scotland’s Dylan Fraser turn distance to their advantage. Freshly signed to Partisan (the label of Geese and Blondshell) with a new EP out in March, Witch Post specialise in widescreen guitar anthems that marry raw sincerity with a dry, sardonic edge. It’s music that sounds lived-in but never jaded – cool, cathartic, and quietly devastating. J Garrett

Key track: ‘Rust’

XCOMM

New kids on the block channelling the searing spirit of hardcore punk pioneers

From: Los Angeles, USA
For fans of: Suicidal Tendencies, Minor Threat

Venice Beach band XCOMM have already played a show opening for Foo Fighters and worked on their upcoming debut album with legendary nu-metal producer Ross Robinson. Despite their fondness for the recent modernisation of the genre – their drummer is Anthrax icon Scott Ian’s son Revel, who has called ‘Glow On’ by Turnstile his “gateway” to hardcore – the thrashy five-piece still keep the spirit and sound of ’80s hardcore and skate punk alive with ripping riffs and blistering passion. SS

Key track: ‘Reasons’

Yaelokre

Folk-pop troubadour in their own land of make-believe

From: The Philippines
For fans of: Melanie Martinez, Ratbag

Keath Ósk takes worldbuilding seriously. As Yaelokre, the Filipino-Icelandic songwriter, musician and illustrator makes folk-pop with a flair for the dramatic, fleshing out a fantastical, fictional story of four masked children in a world called Meadowlark. The lore runs deep, and that’s the point – Yaelokre’s intricate, absorbing universe welcomes fanart and cosplay, and listeners all over the world have obliged with fervour: their first world tour, which took them all over the US, UK and Europe last year, was sold out. KG

Key track: ‘Bird Cage Blue And Yellow’

The post The NME 100: essential emerging artists for 2026 appeared first on NME.