The Melomaniacs team shares: Artists to watch in 2025

2025 is promising to be an exciting year for discovering fresh and creative musical talent. Small artists are on the rise, solidifying their own sound and gaining listeners all across the world. The Melomaniacs team has opened up their eyes and ears to bring you some of the best, promising artists of this year. The ones that are sharing their stories in a raw, real way, and crafting their own sound, therefore being worth watching in 2025. Read along and hop on the bandwagon, before anyone else catches on!

Jennie

Jennie Kim, known simply as Jennie, is a South Korean singer, rapper, and a member of the global K-pop girl group BLACKPINK. Renowned for her powerful stage presence and versatile artistry, she debuted as a soloist with the hit single ‘Solo’. In 2023, Jennie launched her own label, Odd Atelier, and signed a solo deal with Columbia Records. Her music blends hip-hop, pop, and R&B influences, earning her critical acclaim. Following successful collaborations and her recent chart-topping track ‘Mantra’, Jennie’s highly anticipated debut solo album is set to release in 2025, marking a new chapter in her ever-evolving career.

Alessi Rose

Born in the East Midlands, yet currently residing in London, Alessi Rose is definitely the pop girl to watch in 2025. Only 21 years old, the singer-songwriter released her debut EP rumination as ritual in 2024, which includes a total of six amazing, definitely not-so-standard pop songs. In her music, the singer sings about themes such as finding yourself, heartbreak, but also finding love again after. “If people don’t want me to write songs about them they shouldn’t do bad things” the singer’s Instagram bio states, which is a short but spot-on summary of the art she creates. On top of her sharp and personal lyrics, Alessi has a beautiful and unique voice that is instantly recognizable. Perfect for fans of Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter, Alessi makes showstopping, genre-bending pop music that everyone can at least in some way relate to. Make sure to give her music a listen, especially the alt-pop single ‘CRUSH!’ and her latest release, ‘start all over’, a great anthem for the start of a new year. In April 2025, she will be embarking on a tour across the UK and mainland Europe in support of her EP for your validation

Heisskalt

A band that you should definitely have on your radar in 2025 is the German indie rock band Heisskalt. After a few years of silence, they are back to pick up exactly where they left off. Following a phenomenal tour in November 2024, their new album Vom Tun und Lassen came out on January 24th. The singles they dropped in advance of this have been the perfect mix between the style they are known and loved for and new sounds. In September, they are once again touring through Germany, so if you want to discover a new band with unique melodies and thought-through lyrics, give Heisskalt a listen!

Essence Martins

If tender, ethereal indie sounds are your lane, Essence Martins is the artist for you. Her introspective, deeply emotional lyrics are accompanied by gentle guitar melodies and soft beats. Essence’s discography includes her EP Deer In The Headlights, which spans from heartbreak tracks to the most touching song about her twin sister. Her most recent release ‘Garden of Eden’ is about her father falling ill, showing that she’s not afraid of venturing into painful subjects. Having already amassed more than 50.000 monthly listeners on Spotify, it’s safe to say that Essence Martins is bound to go far.

MARiMARi

Since hyperpop is finally having its moment again, let’s shine the spotlight on MARiMARi, a Japanese-British artist who fits in perfectly with the likes of Charli XCX, Chappell Roan and JADE. MARiMARi wraps witty lyrics in fast beats and adds extra flavour with her English accent and some Japanese lines here and there. Her most recent single ‘Kuromi Kiss’ has a darker vibe to it whereas her EP Little B*tch, Little Danger Zone, which she released last year, is just one big party. However, it then ends on a more emotional note with the tracks ‘Kirei’ and ‘Itaba-Cho’. MARiMARi’s discography so far shows her versatility, and it’s worth keeping an eye on her. 

Milune

Roll out the pink carpet for the pop princess of Switzerland: Milune. Her debut album Hearts Lust is set to come out at the beginning of March, and in the past few months, Milune has already given us a taste with the singles ‘blonde’, ‘Hearts Lust’ and, most recently, ‘bad in bed’. Last year, she released her EP rabbit holes which, both sonically and visually, followed an Alice in Wonderland aesthetic. For this new era, Milune has left Alice’s wonderland and instead created her own. Her stunning voice, intriguing songwriting and the vintage vibe that is inherent to many of her songs make for a combination bursting with star power. 

The Vices

You should not miss The Vices, a Dutch band that is on its way to redefining indie rock with its electrifying sound and raw energy. Known for their unique blend of post-punk, alt-rock and catchy melodies, their music and live shows are definitely worth exploring, sharing their musical confidence with people all over the world. Their upcoming album Before It Might Be Gone, which releases on the 7th of February, promises us an exciting listen. If the album is anything like their newly released song ‘How Does It Feel’, it is bound to gain the likes of many fans and new listeners. Having planned shows in The Netherlands, Germany and even across the ocean in the United States, this Dutch group is absolutely starting the year off right. 

If you need another reason to check out these artists, as well as other smaller artists, we’ve got you covered. Supporting small artists is not only about appreciating their art, but also about helping shape the future of music. These rising talents are endlessly working to create the sound of the future, stepping up as the next big artists and inspiring others. So keep an eye on the ones on the rise and consider supporting them by listening to their music and going to their live gigs. You never know – you might just discover your next favourite artist! The sound of music is continuously evolving, and small artists are leading the way. Don’t miss out!

Written by: Maud Hoebers, Mandy Huibregtsen, Melanie Falkensteiner, Janine Vivien Stein & Marloes Joosen

Edited by: Marieke Weeda