Top 10 Rising Artists to Watch in 2025: Check Them Now

In a music world spinning faster than ever, where virality can make a stranger famous overnight and genre lines blur each week, it takes more than just a catchy hook to stand out. This Top 10 artists truly worth watching right now aren’t just going with the flow. They’re bending it to their own will. From emotionally charged alt-pop to genre-melting EDM, these ten rising voices are the ones to watch in 2025. Whether they’re redefining regional scenes or quietly building global followings, one thing connects them: authenticity that cuts through the noise. Listen closely. These names won’t stay small for long.

1. Tobiahs

Tobiahs is an Australian pop and EDM artist from Melbourne who’s quietly become one of the most compelling names in the modern dance-pop space. Known for blending introspective lyrics with emotive, electronic production, he broke through with the 2019 single “Late Night,” later certified gold, and solidified his presence with 2024’s “Lifetime,” which climbed into the Top 20 of both the Australian Artist Singles and Independent Charts. In early 2025, his single “Angel of Mine” reached number 1 on the Australian Independent Singles Chart and entered the Top 100 overall. His music hits that rare balance between lyrical vulnerability and club-ready production, fusing emotional storytelling with the kind of drops that catch you off guard.

2. Kris Kolls

Something is charming about Kris Kolls, even before she opens her mouth. A Russian-born pop singer stepping confidently into the international spotlight with her upcoming single “You Know,” set for release soon. A child performer turned magnetic vocalist with seven singles already out, including current  “Little Game,” Kris Kolls channels years of classical training into lush, emotionally resonant pop. Her new song is an intimate, synth-washed love letter that doesn’t ask for attention; it earns it with subtle seduction and vocal finesse. With more singles planned and a sound that’s already resonating far beyond her roots, Kris Kolls is approaching a breakout moment that feels both inevitable and overdue.

3. Precious Pepala

Precious Pepala is a 19-year-old alt-pop singer-songwriter from Sheffield, UK, whose music brings raw honesty to the frontlines of pop. Raised in a religious household with Zambian roots, she channels themes of mental health, queerness, grief, and personal growth into genre-blending tracks that cut deep. Her May 2025 Dark Days EP includes standout single “First Love,” a haunting ballad of family loss and hidden grief, alongside earlier viral releases like “Pls Cheat On Me” and “Eve.” With a growing fanbase who see her not just as a voice but as a mirror, Precious Pepala is helping redefine what vulnerability sounds like in modern music.

4. HRISTELIN

HRISTELIN is a Bulgarian-born, internationally seasoned guitarist, composer, and singer who’s entering a bold new chapter after two decades in music. Known for blending cinematic rock with Balkan influences and ambient storytelling, his tracks “Dubai Star,” “One Life,” and “Life” serve as a reintroduction to an acclaimed artist unafraid to evolve. Each track reflects a different phase of his journey, combining high emotional stakes with virtuosic musicianship. With new songs in development and a deep well of experience, HRISTELIN is ready to reach global audiences with a sound that resonates across borders and generations.

5. g0nny

g0nny is a South Korean indie-pop and R&B artist whose featherlight vocals and soulful storytelling have earned her a growing global following. With her breakout track “You Might” surpassing 2.5 million streams and a catalog that includes the intimate Ours EP and her most recent project “Last Scene”, g0nny’s music feels like a private conversation between artist and listener. Her ability to float between soft ballads and groove-driven R&B makes her one of the most distinctive voices in the Korean indie scene. Signed to Inplanet and already celebrated by fans of understated, emotionally honest pop, g0nny is building a musical world defined by sincerity and calm intensity.

6. Lipstick Killer

If you’re looking for polished pop perfection, keep scrolling. Lipstick Killer is here to set your emotional house on fire. A rising hip-hop provocateur whose music doesn’t whisper, it screams. Her upcoming single “Delaware Ave,” is a raw, punk-tinged confessional that kicks off her upcoming project Cigarettes & Heartbreak Vol. 1, due this December. Fusing the aggression of trapmetal with the urgency of emotional rap, Lipstick Killer creates music that’s as ferocious as it is deeply personal. Unfiltered vocals, serrated lyrics, and gritty production make her one of the most volatile and exciting new voices in the underground. “Delaware Ave” is not just a song; it’s a warning shot.

7. Minh

Minh is a Houston-based artist crafting a unique blend of lo-fi, alt-R&B, pop, and hip-hop, and his momentum is only accelerating. His latest single, “Gossip,” released in August 2025, explores the pain and clarity of a fractured friendship, wrapped in a beat that balances funk with melancholy. It follows the July release of his third EP, amends, a project that sees Minh leaning fully into introspective storytelling and soulful production. With over 100,000 monthly listeners and a sound that feels both fresh and emotionally resonant, Minh is carving out a space for subtlety and depth in a genre often dominated by surface gloss.

8. Tyra

Tyra is a Swiss dark pop artist whose music comes directly from survival. After experiencing both her father’s paralysis and a personal cancer diagnosis within a few months, she abandoned her former life to pursue music full-time, and the result is striking. Her debut “Thank You For Leaving” introduced her emotional intensity, while her recent single “Light Me Up” proves she’s not interested in staying in the shadows. Blending moody production with pop-forward melodies and anchored in lyrical honesty, Tyra crafts songs about grief, resilience, and the need to be seen. Influenced by Billie Eilish and Dua Lipa but unmistakably her own force, Tyra’s music pulses with both urgency and empathy.

9. Vicoka

Vicoka is a Nigerian Afropop and hip-hop artist from Port Harcourt whose music hits with both rhythm and reflection. Known for his breakthrough single “Port Harcourt,” which turned personal hardship into a hometown anthem, he’s now building on that story with 2025’s “Spirit” — an energetic, uplifting track that fuses Afrobeat grooves with motivational lyricism. With over 460,000 listeners and a growing reputation for honesty in storytelling, Vicoka is building a body of work that speaks to resilience and ambition in a language that resonates across continents.

10. Katie Runnels

Katie Runnels is a genre-defying singer-songwriter whose latest single, “Imperfect Beauty” is both a personal rebirth and the center of a broader creative movement. Formerly known for her folk-rock debut Reality Cloud, Karie Runnels has transitioned into ambient pop, pairing shimmering production with themes of self-worth and transformation. “Imperfect Beauty” is a mission statement, tied to a growing empowerment brand that includes mental health advocacy and body positivity resources. With a background as an educator and activist, Katie Runnels is creating music that sounds beautiful and feels necessary.