Stop what you're doing, do yourself a favour, and check out these artists before your friend gets there first.

As we step into 2025, there are so many innovative new artists worth checking out. From the jagged post-punk intensity of London’s Ain’t to the genre-blurring experiments of Morgan Noise, these artists represent the cutting edge - fearless, boundary-pushing, and unapologetically themselves. Whether it’s the dreamy shoegaze of Dublin’s Dream Boy, the chaotic charm of The Pill, or the glitched out abrasion of SILVERWINGKILLER, these 25 acts are already reshaping what’s possible in music. These bands are crafting delicate dreamscapes, explosive punk anthems, and eclectic pop experiments, destined to dominate your playlists and spark conversations this year. So without further ado, here’s 25 new artists we love that we think you’ll love too.

Ain’t

London five-piece Ain’t are the band everyone will be talking about in 2025. Following a scorching 2024, where they turned heads at showcases for So Young and Rough Trade, their debut single “Oar” cemented their reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting new acts. Now, with their brooding second single “Teething” (out via Fear Of Missing Out Records), the band have sharpened their edge, blending jagged ’90s guitar rock, post-punk intensity, and shoegaze haze into a sound that’s equal parts nostalgic and electrifyingly fresh. Produced by Oli Barton Wood (Porridge Radio, Shame), “Teething” showcases the band’s crushing hooks, creeping melodies, and the powerhouse vocal delivery of Hanna Baker Darch.

Beefcake

London-based duo Beefcake are redefining the boundaries of pop with their captivating fusion of the sweet and grotesque. Comprised of classically trained vocalist Dora and visual artist Nuch, BEEFCAKE’s world is one of striking contrasts, heartfelt melodies paired with visceral imagery, beauty entwined with chaos. Their debut single “Angel Food”, released via Marathon Artists, is a dazzling introduction, exploring obsession with manic intensity and jaw-dropping visuals. Drawing inspiration from Björk and Vocaloid, Beefcake’s sound is as adventurous as their aesthetic, weaving fantasy and raw emotion into a deeply immersive experience.

Bug Eyed

Reminiscent of The Backseat Lovers, Wallows and recent internet sensation Chloe Slater, London indie-pop band Bug-eyed are gaining a big following, and fast. Direct support for Sad Night Dynamite at the end of 2024, and future support for Lola Young, their half sappy half sexy sound is already moving big crowds. Still not convinced? Picture the Skins soundtrack, written in 2024. Romanticize city life with this promising, radio-friendly charm, and look out for “Bug-eyed” on the next tube concert poster you spot.

Charlemagne

Like witnessing the early days of black midi, this band is an electrifying force on stage, delivering a blistering intensity rarely seen in new bands. Their live performances are a masterclass in technical skill, with each member showcasing impressive precision and energy. At the center of it all is their enigmatic frontman, whose charismatic presence exudes a raw, almost otherworldly genius. With a sound that blends ferocity and finesse, this band is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting and innovative acts on the London scene. If you haven’t seen them yet, they absolutely deserve your attention.

Chewy She

Chewy She is a London-based electro-disco-punk band led by the eccentric Garance Louis, blending the spontaneity of punk with the groove and glamour of disco. Their music is a bold expression of freedom, sex positivity, spirituality, and feminism, speaking to those who embrace their desires and challenge the patriarchy. Known for their theatrical live shows, Chewy She captivates audiences with extravagant costumes, supreme musicianship, and a deeply immersive experience.

Delivery

Melbourne/Naarm’s Delivery are proving themselves as one of the most exciting bands to watch, with their sophomore album, Force Majeure, pushing their raw, dynamic rock sound into bold new territory. Known for their DIY ethos and electric live energy, the band embraces collaboration and experimentation, resulting in an album that’s heavier, prettier, and wilder than ever before. Tracks like the explosive opener “Digging The Hole” capture their chaotic charm, while their self-produced approach adds a personal, unfiltered edge. With their signing to Heavenly Recordings, a growing international following, and tours across the UK, EU, and beyond planned for 2025, Delivery are carving their own unique path and it’s one you’ll want to follow.

Dream Boy

Dream Boy is a Dublin-based shoegaze band blending haunting vocals, wistful harmonies, and reverb-soaked guitars to create dreamy, eerie soundscapes. Inspired by artists like Men I Trust, NewDad, Slowdive, and My Bloody Valentine, their unique mix of shoegaze and dream pop carries a dark, grungy undertone. With growing recognition from the likes of RTÉ 2FM and Nialler9, they continue to make waves with their latest single "Bleed" and performances across Ireland and the UK – as well as at our very own Bargain Bingo.

English Garden

Emerging from the idyllic landscapes of Bath, Somerset, and now rooted in London’s vibrant music scene, English Garden are blossoming into one of the most promising acts to watch. With their debut single, “Lo and Behold”, the band weaves a poignant tale of resilience and finding joy in life’s small moments, set against a backdrop of melancholic yet hopeful melodies. Combining heartfelt narratives with eclectic instrumentation - including the standout cornet lines of new recruit Laurie Cobb - they’ve crafted a sound both familiar and refreshingly unique.

Ex-Giant

Emerging from London basements and the depths of lockdown, Ex-Giant crafts a unique fusion of proggy pop, angular guitars, lush vocal harmonies, and literary influences. Anchored by husband-and-wife duo Joel and Tats, their sound is equal parts Frankenstein’s monster and finely tuned art, blending raw emotion with dynamic complexity. Tracks like “Feed Me” shift seamlessly from jagged rhythms to disco-funk crescendos, showcasing their penchant for genre-blurring experimentation. With a new EP on the horizon, exploring themes of self-reflection and human flaws, Ex-Giant is poised to bring their inventive, emotionally charged sound to a wider audience in 2025.

Friktion

Friktion, a Brighton-based indie-punk trio blending American, Swedish, and Texan roots, creates irresistibly catchy, high-energy tracks that demand movement. With their EP release and a tour spanning Brighton, London, Paris, and beyond, Friktion is bringing their bold, off-kilter sound to audiences ready to bounce, think, and feel. It’s fever-dream bossa nova.

Fuzz Lightyear

Fuzz Lightyear are self-described noise-rock-slash-grunge-via-garage-rock-peoplepunks. They’ve been together since the summer of 2019, but operate increasingly at the beating heart of Leeds alternative art scene, aglow with the unparalleled importance of DIY creativity and community. Always evidenced in their sound is powerhouse drumming that works to meld disparate influences into one rhythmic melting pot. It’s slick, and yet overtly gloopy.

jasmine.4.t

Manchester-based singer-songwriter jasmine.4.t is set to release her debut album, You Are The Morning, on January 17th via Saddest Factory Records, becoming the label’s first UK signee. A poignant celebration of queer friendship and t4t love, the record pairs fingerpicked guitar and raw, heartfelt lyrics with lush production from Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus. Jasmine’s music channels both the struggles of her transition and the joys of chosen family, featuring an all-trans band and contributions from the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. Anchored by the transformative power of queer connection, You Are The Morning radiates light, community, and self-discovery - marking jasmine.4.t as a vital voice in 2025 and beyond.

Mary

Mary is one of London’s best-kept secrets at the moment. They’re like seeing Big Thief before they were signed to XL. A captivating and effortlessly gorgeous sound that hushes a room to silence. You could hear a pin drop when they play they demand your attention so much. They currently don’t have any songs available on streaming services (or if they do they’re incredibly hard to find). We think these guys are definitely going places so do check them out if you’re lucky enough to be at one of their live shows.

Morgan Noise

Founded by the ever-inventive Morgan - who hails from the serene landscapes of Devon and now navigates the buzzing streets of London. Morgan’s journey began with voice memos, fragments of inspiration captured on the fly, transforming into layered melodies and eclectic sounds that merge experimental pop with jazz and electronic rock, crafting boundary-pushing tunes that never shy away from the weird and wonderful. Their single, "I Put Everything," showcases their knack for genre-blurring innovation. Morgan Noise’s sound continues to evolve as a true reflection of their artistic growth.

Oral Habit

Earlier in 2024, we had the pleasure of putting on Oral Habit, and it’s been nothing short of incredible watching how far they’ve come in such a short time. Now, they’ve fully crystallised into the band they were always meant to be, delivering performances so razor-sharp and electric that they evoke the raw energy of 60s garage and psych but with a fresh-faced edge. Their fuzzed-out, high-voltage sound is pure adrenaline, and lead vocalist Charlie Hales channels an unstoppable energy straight out of the John Dwyer playbook. Every show is a whirlwind of chaos and charm.

Pleasure Centre

Pleasure Centre is a 5 piece alt rock group from the North Yorkshire Coast, now based in Leeds, who gained attention after touring with latest Mercury Prize winners English Teacher earlier this year. They offer a mix of alternative guitar music with foundations in shoegaze and a touch of punk-rock sound from their early years together.

RIP Magic

RIP Magic, created by DJ and sound designer Marco Pini (also a member of ‘Sorry’, London’s well-known post-punk group) and visual artist Felix Bayley-Higgins, already have their own Guardian article, prophesising their metamorphosis into the next “genuinely exciting” indie project. If this isn’t proof enough, Tyler, the Creator has already asked to hear their demos, even though they haven’t got a single tune out yet. After a year of sold-out shows at Mascara Bar, 2025 is set to catapult their glitchy, strange, electronic indie-rock into new territories – and, most probably, on your discover weekly.

Ruby Doomsday

Ruby Doomsday are one of favourite new acts. The dynamic duo of Courtney and Joey bring their impeccable harmonies to life with a captivating aesthetic that feels both timeless and fresh. Their sound is a radiant blend of '60s sunshine pop, infused with a modern indie edge that feels like a warm embrace and a burst of nostalgia all at once. Beyond their undeniable musical talent, Courtney and Joey are two of the kindest, most genuine people you'll meet in the London music scene. If you haven’t already, it’s time to jump on the Ruby Doomsday bandwagon and show them the love and support they deserve!

Photograph by: Miyuki Wang

SILVERWINGKILLER

If chaos had a soundtrack, it would sound like SILVERWINGKILLER. Reminiscent of a more fragmented, unhinged Crystal Castles, this duo is carving out a sonic space that feels as jarring as it is captivating. Their abrasive, mosh-ready synths and piercing, wailing vocals make every track an electrifying experience. SILVERWINGKILLER's idiosyncratic sound is exactly the jolt 2025 needs - dark, unpredictable, and unapologetically nightmarish.

Photograph by: Miyuki Wang

Syl Fisher

Syl Fisher is an independent folk singer songwriter in West Philadelphia, USA. Their music has the beating heart of a post apocalyptic sci fi novel (think paradise lost) with the body and soul of a folk song. Their lyricism stems from a general bewilderment of the human experience - and a life well lived and well loved. Their songs tend to ask questions and leave room for many answers. Syl’s music is chaos harnessed and a free, authentic life so delicately evidenced.

The Pill

Quirky, chaotic, and unapologetically raw, The Pill are here to shake up 2025 with their unique brand of "jank punk." Hailing from the Isle of Wight, a hotspot for breakout talent like Wet Leg, this dynamic duo, Lottie and Lily, blend humor, satire, and punchy riffs into a sound that's as unpredictable as it is addictive. Their debut single, "Bale of Hay" tackles blonde stereotypes with tongue-in-cheek hilarity, perfectly embodying their ethos of not taking things too seriously. With fuzzed-out guitars, frantic drums, and lyrics inspired by everything from scaffolding mishaps to eyebrow woes, their music is a refreshing mix of energy and imperfection. Live, they bring an uncontainable spirit that guarantees laughs, wiggles, and a whole lot of fun.

ugly ozo

Ugly Ozo, a doom-gaze band from the Isle of Wight, channels themes of feminine rage, revenge, and supernatural horrors into a hauntingly captivating sound. Fronted by Jess Baker and her sister Boo, their music weaves tales of Area 51 conspiracies and dancing with the Devil, leaving listeners empowered, bewitched, and delightfully unsettled. Fans of The Breeders, Pretty Sick, and The Wytches will find Ugly Ozo’s ritualistic and evocative soundscapes the perfect soundtrack for a moonlit night.

West Side Cowboy

You may have heard about 2024 Mercury Prize winners, English Teacher. So, who had that all-important support spot on their recent tour? Westside Cowboy. A band who played their first gig only a year ago, in none other than a coffee shop. Hailing from Manchester, they have a single song out at the moment – and what a tune it is. For twanging guitars reminiscent of 1950s chaos rock, sly vocal harmonies and heartfelt imagery, check out, “I’ve Never Met Anyone I Could Really Love (Until I Met You)”.

Witch Post

Witch Post is the musical twinship between Alaska Reid and Dylan Fraser, two Gemini-like forces whose paths crossed by chance, or perhaps fate. Remarkably, they both hail from towns that share the same name, one in Montana, the other in Scotland, adding an intriguing layer to their already serendipitous meeting. Alaska’s music is deeply influenced by the dark atmospherics of West Coast indie, while Dylan's sound bends pop into surreal, reflective landscapes. Together, their music fuses these contrasting worlds into something far more feral and untamed: the primal energy of Scottish rock'n'roll colliding with the vast, expansive spirit of Montana’s open roads and rugged mountains. This collaboration captures the very essence of what makes band music so powerful - the combined magic of two distinct minds unlocking new creative possibilities. With a name rooted in the reclaiming of 17th-century English runes that once warded off witches, Witch Post is as much about mysticism and ritual as it is about music

wonderbug

Hailing from the heart of London, wonderbug is an indie band that thrives on raw emotion and the bonds that tie them together. Comprising Edie, Ben, Ollie, and Otto, the band's music showcases introspective lyrics with infectious melodies, exploring themes of love, longing, and the messiness of modern life. Their new single "What a Waste of Time" blends defiant fuzz with heartache, while their debut EP Scrap delves into vulnerability, romantic failures, and the complexities of friendship. With a deep connection to the London grassroots scene, wonderbug’s sound is a reflection of their journey - one shaped by personal dynamics, shared experiences, and a love for everything from 90s grunge to bedroom pop.