As 2024 comes to an end, we start to look towards 2025 and our hopes for the new year. Find the motivation to reach your goals with a soundtrack full of hidden gems you can say you knew before they were big.
10. As December Falls
In their 10th year as a band, As December Falls remains proudly record label-less. The pop-rock band from Nottingham, England, has seen a lot of growth in their careers as of late. They’ve opened for big names and have been on the lineup for multiple festivals, including Slam Dunk, Full Force, and Misery Loves Company. They are also headlining a few Australian shows in February and are supporting RØRY on her Restoration tour in March.
9. Davvn
In 2004, Bowling for Soup released “1985,” and last year, many internet users came to the realization that today’s equivalent would be 2002. In 2023, davvn (pronounced Dawn) released “2002,” their own version of the song with mentions of Britney Spears, LimeWire, Lizzie McGuire, and more. Davvn’s music catalog is all about the 2000s, from their alt-pop sound to their aesthetic, to their fashion, and even their merch—which includes MP3 players, mood rings, DVDs, and more.
8. Don’t Believe in Ghosts
With songs you may have heard on “Ink Master,” “The U.S. Open,” and the AppleTV+ show “WeCrashed,” as well as two full-length albums, Don’t Believe in Ghosts has your next favorite alt-pop soundtrack. Consisting of Steven Nathan (vocals), Dan DelVecchio (guitar), and Ken Yang (drums), the trio hails from New York City, which they made a nod to in their most recent single released in October, titled “Brooklyn Baby.” On the meaning of the band’s name, Nathan explains that it’s a piece of advice for listeners, saying, “Don’t give energy to the ghosts of your past.”
7. senses
The “emo-friendly, punk curious” duo senses, made up of Madison Taylor and Nick Sampson, were originally introduced to each other on Craigslist five years ago. The group aims “to create a space that’s very inclusive,” something that was especially important to them during the pandemic. They have gone on to break through the music scene with “sleepwalking,” a powerful two-minute song that currently has over four million streams on Spotify alone. And now, they’ve just announced their first headlining tour across the United States in 2025, supported by MVSSIE and Negative 25.
6. emlyn
Even though she released the completed three-part anthology of that’s how you make a villain in July, emlyn is just getting started. Emlyn dismisses fairy tale romances throughout her intricate dark-pop discography and reveals how things actually happen—including how people in stories become villains in the first place.
5. The Pretty Wild
Sisters Jyl and Jules, a.k.a. The Pretty Wild, originally started as a country/alternative duo in 2014. Since then, they’ve made a 180 and switched to metalcore and nu metal. Their new music has an intense sound and science fiction-video game feel to it. On the group’s social media account, Jyl has also shown off her incredible athleticism in clips of her doing some fight scene training with their songs playing in the background.
4. Natalia Taylar
Fresh off opening for Cassadee Pope on her Hereditary Tour this year, Tennessee singer-songwriter Natalia Taylar is easily recognized by her contagious smile and relevant, angsty pop-rock music. Some of Taylar’s hits include “Bad Guy,” “deathwish,” “Vertigo,” and “Queen of Hearts,” which was co-written by Taylar, tourmate Cassadee Pope, and Caleb Oczkowski, with Pope hopping on an official duet for the song a few weeks after it was released.
3. Rivals
The unapologetic, in-your-face music of Rivals (Kalie Wolfe and Josh Alves) makes for a major confidence boost. An underrated duo in the dark pop-rock space, Wolfe and Alves are a force to be reckoned with that puts the hard work in instead of just coasting. Rivals’ third album is currently in progress, and they’ve just finished touring with Point North, Nevertel, and Elijah after their own headlining tour in June.
2. The Foxies
Known collectively as The Foxies, Julia Bullock, Jake Ohlbaum, and Rob Bodley are a glitter punk band with an endless amount of charisma. They co-produced their debut album, Who Are You Now, Who Were You Then?, in 2022 and opened up for Billy Idol on not one, but two of his tours. When announcing their first run with Idol, the band noted, “We always said in interviews, if Billy Idol and Blondie had a musical baby, it would be The Foxies.” They also opened for Cassadee Pope alongside Natalia Taylar on the Hereditary Tour.
1. LØLØ
While LØLØ is already making a big name for herself in the pop-punk scene, many people outside of the community may not have encountered her music quite yet. Releasing her debut album, falling for robots and wishing i was one this past June, the Canadian singer is honest about the messes of crushes, situationships, relationships, and everything in between. Since beginning her career in 2018, LØLØ has collaborated with Maggie Lindemann, girlfriends, Letdown., and metalcore veterans The Devil Wears Prada.