Rising Artists to Watch in 2025
These artists are about to own 2025 — start listening now.
Meg Smith
A self-proclaimed real-life Hannah Montana, Meg Smith is a nanny by day and burgeoning pop star by night.
Her highly-popular track "jesus christ in a mini skirt" is about creating a perfect version of yourself to still be rejected by someone, Smith told Hollywood Rebound earlier this year.
The single is part of Smith's latest project, the EP The Gospel According to Meg Smith.
Recently, you could see Smith — complete with a halo and wings — open for MisterWives and ZOLITA.
Song to listen to: "jesus christ in a mini skirt"
Nick Rich
With a sound that blends the soul of Adele and depth of Amy Winehouse, Nick Rich is a singer rooted in his songwriting.
His new single, "In Case You Missed Me," is another diary entry put to music — a testament to the artistic truth that defines Rich's work. He's slowly been releasing singles over the years.
"If I don't have a purpose in [the music], then you won't hear from me," Rich said earlier this year.
Song to listen to: "Hot Mess"
Maxwell Luke
Maxwell Luke heard himself on the radio for the first time in the early days of December when his new song "CHURCHES & DIVE BARS" played on the radio show "Life with John Mayer." You'll hear more of him on air and streaming in 2025.
Luke has been releasing singles throughout the year, but perhaps none have been as emotionally paralyzing as "CHURCHES & DIVE BARS." Its slower tempo carries the weight of nostalgia, and paints a painfully cinematic picture of love and anguish.
"A hallmark of my creative process is trying to fit very intentional lyrics in the context of whatever their production might be," Luke told Hollywood Rebound in January.
Song to listen to: "CHURCHES & DIVE BARS"
Maude Latour
Shortly after dropping her debut album, Sugar Water, Maude Latour hit the road to open for Fletcher's "In Search of the Antidote" tour.
If history has taught us anything, it's that acts that open for Fletcher go on to music domination. (See: Chappell Roan.) But you don't need to believe in superstition to know that Latour is heading for pop royalty.
Sugar Water effortlessly pulls listeners into its carefully curated world and shows Latour's gift for storytelling through the lens of a nostalgic 2000s aesthetic.
"Cursed Romantics" especially feels dipped in the electro-pop fantasy of Marina's 2012 hit, "Primadonna."
Now, it's time for Latour to hit the road again — this time for her own tour. The "Sugar Water" tour starts March 5 in San Francisco.
Song to listen to: "Cursed Romantics"