Every year brings a new wave of artists, but only a few arrive with a sound that feels fully formed, carrying a vision that skips hesitation in favour of confident intent. The names ahead belong to that rare group. They are the world-builders and the genre synthesists, vocalists drawn to raw truth, and the songwriters charting the contours of a modern coming-of-age.
Marie-Ann Hedonia
Marie-Ann Hedonia is a composer who treats genre as a wide, open frontier. Her sound moves with intention, tracing a line from Baltimore’s techno pulse through the expansive stillness of dark ambient and the refined structures of modern jazz. That fluidity extends to her collaborations, from shaping the industrial landscapes of the Void Stasis project to contributing what critics described as a “shadowy presence” on trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s album “Woven.”
With Solar Eclipse now out and Lunar Eclipse set to arrive next, 2026 marks a pivotal year for Hedonia. The forthcoming EP deepens her exploration of the subconscious, while Total Eclipse, a full-length project bringing both releases together, expands that vision across physical and digital formats. Beyond the recordings, she plans to carry this chapter into live settings, with shows scheduled across the country and a summer 2026 tour on the horizon, alongside new music still to come. @marieannhedonia
D’Arcy
D’Arcy is a true-blue powerhouse singer, songwriter, and composer. From goth-tinged rock to darkened pop and moody synth/techno, every shade of the spectrum falls under her command. That authority carries into her live presence, where she delivers a potent, spellbinding energy, having sold out venues like Los Angeles’s Fonda Theatre, and in the club, where she fuels dance floors as a sought-after DJ.
Praised for her debut album, “Scary Good,” and recognised on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list, she enters 2026 with growing momentum. Alongside a new full-length record currently taking shape, she is expanding her presence beyond the booth and the stage, playing more shows while building Til Death, her artist management company, and continuing to bring new artists into its roster. @thedarcyshow
Tash Blake
Tash Blake is a NYC-based dance-pop artist and performer whose music fuses bold vocals with dynamic electronic textures. Her visuals and choreography create a striking, immersive world where raw emotion meets high-energy performance.
Following two EPs and sold-out shows across NYC, LA, and Paris, 2026 marks a pivotal year for Blake. Her upcoming third EP explores new sonic territories, supported by The Pop Dungeon, a high-fashion visual universe that brings her music and movement together. With each release, she continues to expand her audience and redefine the possibilities of contemporary pop. @iamtashblake
R E L
R E L builds entire worlds under the banner of her self-coined genre, EVOCAPOP. It is a space where cyberpunk aesthetics, cinematic sweep, and introspective pop songwriting converge, an approach that has resonated with a global audience and accumulated millions of streams. Beyond her own releases, she also cultivates a creative community as the host of the Songwriters’ Salon at Soho House.
Building on her role as a connector and creative catalyst, R E L moves into 2026 with a broad body of work unfolding in parallel. New releases expand the universe she has been shaping in recent years, from a concept-driven EP to a forthcoming full-length album, alongside a collaborative project developed in close dialogue with Rhye. Beyond her own catalogue, she continues to explore composition across mediums while maintaining an active live presence, including quarterly showcases where she performs and spotlights emerging artists. @musicbyrel
Sciarra
Sciarra’s music rests on a foundation of cinematic scale, shaped by a decade of composing for film trailers. That background informs her alt-pop, infusing it with dramatic tension and atmospheric depth.
After a house fire destroyed her studio and forced an unexpected pause, 2026 marks her creative return. As she rebuilds from the ground up, she is preparing to release previously held-back music, unveil accompanying clothing designs, and finally bring her immersive sound to the stages, with a European run in sight. @sciarramusic
Naomi Jane
Naomi Jane builds her career with the focus of an architect and the steady rhythm of a metronome. Her creative universe expands through a disciplined release schedule, one track every six weeks, forming a tightly connected narrative that has reached millions of video views. Her new single, “IDWK” (I Don’t Wanna Know), serves as a deliberate pivot, linking her pop foundation to a 2026 shaped by alt-indie and folk textures.
The year unfolds with measured precision, from the country-pop kiss-off “Pumpkin Eater” to the collaborative road-trip anthem “Passenger Princess,” all leading toward her debut album. With a strong track record of viral releases and a devoted audience already in place, Naomi Jane is opening a carefully constructed new chapter. @naomijane_official
LIANZI
LIANZI approaches songwriting as a holistic art form. Her melancholic art-pop draws from traditional Chinese music, fashion design, and poetry, weaving these elements into a singular aesthetic of intimate mythmaking. As a self-produced artist, she sculpts emotionally rich, diary-inflected songs that feel both personal and otherworldly.
Her 2026 EP, “I Want What They Have,” explores themes of longing in greater depth, further establishing her as a storyteller who captures emotion with unfiltered intensity. @lianzimusic
Kiara Skyler
Kiara Skyler writes with the relatable, earnest vision of a modern coming-of-age story. At twenty, she balances college life with crafting narratives of heartbreak, love, and self-discovery, channelling the candid spirit of artists like Holly Humberstone. Her upcoming single, “in ur jeans,” promises a dose of raw, anti-Valentine sentiment. As she expands her work to include writing for others, Skyler embodies the genuine, emerging voice of a new generation of songwriters. @kiaskyler
Labit
As Labit, Stephen Ordoñez creates music that feels like a shared, open memory. His songwriting draws on personal experience and cultural heritage, shaping spaces that are deeply specific yet widely resonant. A versatile writer for other artists, he carries that sensitivity into his own melodic, heartfelt work.
With plans to tour in support of Galdive and release new EPs, including potential international festival appearances, Labit enters 2026 ready to translate personal reflection into collective connection. @labitlabit
KALEN
KALEN works within the compelling power of a stripped-back voice. Her album “Velvet Night” stands as a clear expression of that philosophy, pairing six new songs with six acoustic reimaginings of earlier material. Released via the UK’s Hi 4 Head Records, the album highlights KALEN’s dynamic vocal character, shifting effortlessly from vulnerability to vibrant intensity.
Accompanied by a lyric art zine of her own making, the project becomes a tactile statement within an increasingly digital landscape. With a wider digital release forthcoming and new material from her project Death By Piano ahead, KALEN continues to build a path defined by focus and substance. @kalenkraze
