In a music ecosystem saturated with automated recommendations, inflated numbers, and recycled formulas, building a playlist can also be an act of resistance. This selection looks ahead to 2026 with a clear intention: listening beyond the algorithm. These rising artists are shifting the dynamics with originality and style, earning them a spot on your radar.
Flyana Boss
Flyana Boss, the duo formed by Bobbi and Folayan, has become one of the most refreshing voices in recent hip-hop. With razor-sharp bars, impeccable comedic timing, and undeniable chemistry, they’ve built a universe packed with attitude, humor, and intelligence. Their hit “You Wish” exploded across social media, putting them in front of millions of listeners, while singles like “C*NT,” “TRY ME,” and “Icicle” sealed their rise.
Looking toward 2026, Flyana Boss is gearing up for a year of full expansion. New music will arrive consistently, alongside ambitious visuals, character-driven narratives, and stylized content that strengthens their creative identity. Add to that a strong presence on Twitch, recurring sketches, collaborations with other creators, and in-person experiences designed for their community.
Jade LeMac
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist born in Vancouver, Jade LeMac centers vulnerability, identity, and emotions that many prefer to hide as the foundation of her music. Her single “Constellations” became an unexpected phenomenon, earning Gold certification in the United States and Platinum in Canada, while also appearing in productions on Netflix and Tubi. With EPs like “Constellations,” “Confessions,” and the recent “It’s Always At Night,” Jade has built an honest narrative that connects on an intimate level.
In 2026, Jade will continue bringing her music to the stage. Her schedule includes tours throughout spring, summer, and fall, primarily as a supporting act for high-profile artists, along with festival appearances. As her work continues to grow in depth and reach, queer representation and sonic exploration remain central to everything she creates.
Lauren Ruth Ward
A multidisciplinary artist born in Baltimore and the leader of a rock band that refuses comfort, Lauren Ruth Ward explores the human condition and societal systems through her lyrics and stage presence. Her album “MEDiCiNE” offers an introspective journey that moves from inner confrontation to the embodiment of truth, creating art with purpose that extends beyond music itself.
During the early months of 2026, Ward will bring this work to its rawest form with intimate shows across the United States, Mexico, Europe, and the United Kingdom. The live experience will be the focal point of this phase, reinforcing the visceral and reflective nature of her project.
Tash Blake
Tash Blake has been shaping an alternative pop sound that blends vocal power, emotional sensitivity, and an increasingly defined aesthetic. Her music is vulnerable and stripped back, with songs that function as both confession and declaration of identity. In a landscape where image often outweighs substance, Blake manages to balance both with ease.
In 2026, Blake enters a phase of creative expansion marked by greater ambition and conceptual clarity. With the release of her third EP, she pushes her sound further into electronic territory while building out a visual world that she calls “The Pop Dungeon,” and it treats movement, fashion, and storytelling as integral parts of the music itself.
Naomi Jane
Rooted in personal experiences that effortlessly connect with her audience, Naomi Jane stands out for her direct, emotionally driven songwriting. Her sound moves between indie and alternative pop, marked by melancholic sensitivity and a clear understanding of the music business. She maintains this active presence through music releases every six weeks, most recently continuing with her latest single, “IDWK (I Don’t Wanna Know).”
For 2026, Naomi is planning new music and a phase of increased visibility, focused on solidifying her artistic identity and expanding her reach across media and live settings. Her growth aims to be quiet but consistent, guided by the clarity of someone who understands this is a long-distance career built with the discipline of a high-performance athlete.
Lara Snow
Lara Snow creates noir pop for sleepless hearts. Her music blends dream pop, sadcore, electronic elements, and melancholic indie into immersive sonic landscapes. From the early previews of her debut album, “Someone Else’s Man” and “Poetry Kids,” it was clear that atmosphere and restrained emotion are her greatest strengths. Her songs quickly gained streams and international press, the result of a talent that can’t be ignored for long.
A series of singles released throughout the year, including “Bravery Like Poetry,” “In Rainbows,” and collaborations with Kadosh, Sun Tailor, and more, will lead up to the release of her debut album between August and September. 2026 will also open space for standout collaborations and potential live dates.
A!MS
British-Cypriot artist, producer, and cultural architect A!MS has built his career around dissolving borders, both sonic and cultural. Rooted in hip hop and UK garage, his work pulls equally from pirate radio grit and Mediterranean heritage, shaping a sound that reflects a genuinely global perspective. With Peak Season, A!MS formally introduces “Global Street,” a genre he defines as music for outsiders and modern creators, merging street-level energy with international influences and high-caliber collaborations.
Looking ahead to 2026, A!MS’ focus extends beyond recorded music. Plans include the release of visuals for “Wait What,” the album’s most-streamed track, alongside “Peak Season (Deluxe)” featuring new material. Live experiences will remain central, with The Wave Fest 2026 expanding his already established event series in Cyprus, reinforcing his role as a connector between scenes, audiences, and creative disciplines. As Global Street continues to evolve, 2026 marks a year of consolidation and scale for an artist intent on redefining how global music culture is built and shared.
Labit
Stephen Ordoñez, better known as Labit, is a Filipino-American multi-instrumentalist based in Los Angeles. His music is rooted in emotional honesty and personal stories tied to his heritage that resonate universally. Alongside his solo career, he has worked as a songwriter for other artists and audiovisual projects, leaving his mark across pop, rock, and R&B.
For Labit, the year ahead is packed. He’ll be supporting Galdive on tour, will release new collaborative singles, and unveil material from upcoming EPs and his third studio album. International festival appearances across Southeast Asia are also on the horizon.
glass egg
glass egg is the dream pop project of Emilia Glaser, born and raised in the misty landscape of Snoqualmie Valley near Seattle. Her music blends lo-fi, organic sensitivity with ethereal textures and a finely tuned sense of melancholy. Her album “visions & ecstasies” draws inspiration from modernist essays and explores the creative process, love, and fleeting consciousness. Throughout 2026, glass egg will take this work on her first East Coast tour and begin releasing new singles that will define the direction of her next artistic chapter.
LIANZI
LIANZI is a San Francisco–based artist, producer, and songwriter crafting melancholic art-pop through a multidisciplinary lens. Raised in a home shaped by traditional Chinese music, her work weaves together sound, image, and personal myth. Before fully committing to music, she built a career in fashion design and poetry, elements that now permeate her sonic and visual aesthetic.
In 2026, she will release her new EP, “I Want What They Have,” exploring desire, nostalgia, and the gray areas of human experience. With early recognition in songwriting competitions and a clearly defined artistic identity, LIANZI is emerging as a sensitive storyteller within contemporary art-pop.
