If you were too embarrassed to post your Spotify Wrapped on Instagram this year, here are some additions for your 2026 playlists. From rising R&B powerhouses to under-the-radar indie duos, there are sure to be some fresh names on the radio and the charts this upcoming year. Don’t miss out on the chance to brag to your friends that you knew that band before their big break. Here are some artists to get you started.
Ravyn Lenae
Ravyn Lenae has had quite the year. The R&B singer-songwriter from Chicago released what was arguably the song of the summer, “Love Me Not.” This playful and wistful ode to missing a loved one peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, with Billboard subsequently naming her their R&B Rookie of the Year for 2025. She was a featured performer at this year’s popular iHeartRadio Jingle Ball concert and opened for both Reneé Rapp and superstar Sabrina Carpenter. She even recently appeared on a panel with Mariah Carey and Kelly Rowland on the Impact & Legacy of R&B. With these recent achievements and the success of her 2024 album “Bird’s Eye,” Lenae might be on her way to becoming a household name.
Geese
This New York-based rock band released its 2025 album “Getting Killed,” to much critical acclaim. It was named Album of the Year by The New Yorker in addition to positive reviews in both the Pitchfork and Rolling Stone. The band, consisting of Cameron Winter, Emily Green, Dominic DiGesu and Max Bassin delivers a Gen Z take on vintage, NYC cool and a fresh, experimental voice in art rock. Lead vocalist Winter also released his solo debut album, “Heavy Metal,” which was met with praise. With the growing excitement around this group, it will be interesting to see what creative direction they take next.
Royel Otis
Hailing from Sydney, Australia, this pop duo came out with their second album, “hickey,” in August of 2025. Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic bonded over their love of indie rock and were named one of the 25 “Artists to Watch” by the Grammy Awards in 2024. Shortly after, they released two covers (“Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and “Linger” by the Cranberries) that achieved viral success on social media and led to a record deal, television debut and a sold-out tour. The band has forward momentum going into 2026, having just obtained their first Billboard No. 1 with “Moody” and performed with Lewis Capaldi at RAC Arena.
Smerz
Two musicians from Norway are attracting attention in the U.S. Smerz is an electronic music duo made up of Catharina Stoltenberg and Henriette Motzfeldt. Their band name comes from the German word for heartache. Smerz has recently received attention for their critically acclaimed 2025 album, “Big City Life,” but the group has been active for a while, with their first single released in 2016. Since then, they have performed at major global venues and collaborated with Björk. The duo continues to gain recognition for their ability to push musical boundaries and blend genres.
Chelsea Jordan
If you couldn’t get enough of Olivia Dean this year, you may want to stake your claim on Chelsea Jordan. Jordan shares Dean’s jazzy, soulful flair while demonstrating a clear knack for songwriting. This young Los Angeles-based artist may be a hidden gem for now, but her newest single, “level out,” points to her talent at crafting a catchy melody while maintaining vulnerability in her lyricism. She will soon be going on tour for the first time as an opener for Australian singer-songwriter Ruel and is likely to release more music in 2026.
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Featured Image Courtesy of Mark Sommerfeld/Partisan Records
