By
Ben Fenison

Dove Ellis

Dove’s songwriting is actually unreal, super poetic but it still lands as plainspoken when it needs to. He also got picked up to open for Geese on tour, which makes total sense once you hear how big the songs feel live in your head. I’ve seen people toss out Jeff Buckley comparisons and I get why, it’s that kind of voice-plus-writing combo.

Arima Ederra

Arima writes like she is letting you in on the thought mid-sentence, super intimate but still polished enough to feel timeless. “First Time” is the easiest entry point because it is soft on the surface, then it quietly wrecks you when you catch the lines. She is one of those artists where a small vocal inflection does half the storytelling.

Lucy Bedroque

Lucy Bedroque has that chaotic-pop spark where the song is funny, sharp, and kind of emotionally messy all at once. “How to Pretend” is a perfect intro because it is catchy immediately, but there is a bite to it that keeps it interesting. They feel like they are making exactly what they want, not what they are supposed to make.

Doggone

People link him to Mk.gee because the guitar tones and the pocket live in the same universe, and yeah I hear that too. But doggone brings a lot more forward motion, like he is not floating, he is pushing, and the hooks feel way more up front. “William” is the one that makes it obvious he is not just borrowing a vibe, he is building his own thing with it.

Dylan Thom

Dylan Thom does that thing where the track feels effortless, then you catch the lyrics and it is quietly brutal. “Vaseline” is sticky in the best way, understated but it hangs around for hours. He feels like someone who is going to keep winning people over one song at a time.

Tiffany Day

Tiffany Day’s pop instincts are insane, big hooks and clean writing, but with enough personality that it never feels like background music. She can be playful and self-aware without losing the emotional core, which is harder than it sounds. You look up and realize you saved a bunch of songs without even thinking about it.

James K

james K makes music that is all texture and atmosphere, but it still has melody you can actually hold onto. It feels hazy and specific at the same time, like a sound world you step into instead of just a song you play.

Slayr

slayr comes in loud, but it is not just energy, there is real melody and control behind it. “Holding” is a great entry point because it hits hard and still gets stuck in your head. He has that instant momentum where you play one track and immediately want to hear what else is there.

Berry Blue

berry blue has this bright, slightly dreamy pop lane, but it still feels personal like you can hear the person behind the song. The writing is simple in a good way, specific without overexplaining, and it makes the emotion land immediately.

Benny Bellson

Benny Bellson had a really great year last year with “clubrock” blowing up, and it feels like that was just the door cracking open. Once you dive deeper into his catalogue, you realize he is not a one-moment thing at all, he has range and actual staying power. The hooks hit fast, the production has personality, and it genuinely feels like he is an artist who is here to stay.

waterbaby

waterbaby does nostalgia in a way that feels warm but not cheesy, like pretty melodies with teeth behind them. “Memory Be a Blade” is a perfect entry point because it is polished, but still bruised in an honest way. She feels like she is about to graduate from “your favorite secret” to just widely loved.

Tommy Fleece

Tommy Fleece has this bright electronic-pop energy that feels playful, a little weird, and still weirdly sincere. He was featured on nano’s “Everybody’s Album,” which makes sense because he fits really naturally in that kind of creative universe. If he keeps leaning into the bold choices while keeping the hooks, people are going to latch on fast.

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