The world is evolving faster than ever, with new voices rising from every corner of the globe. After last year’s pop star predictions skyrocketed in fame, Beyond The Pines is back to forecast the next wave of music juggernauts.
From hyper-pop provocateurs 2hollis and The Dare to genre-defying talents like Ivan Cornejo and Ravyn Lenae, 2025 promises an exhilarating mix of artists who challenge genres, break conventions, and define culture. Already carving out respectable niches within the cultural zeitgeist, these artists are not just making music—they’re making bold statements and building deep, lasting connections with fans.
Whether it’s the electric charisma of Little Mix’s JADE, the infectious dynamic of K-pop girl group KATSEYE, the experimental energy of drill rapper Ceechynaa, or the R&B-influenced rap of Lexa Gates, the future of music is already here.
However, this list isn’t just about the next big thing—it’s about the moment. Artists like Nettspend and his TikTok-certified rage rap, and heartache queens Rachel Chinouriri and Mimi Webb, are reshaping how we listen, feel, and connect with music—all while accompanying everyone’s favorite artists on tour. Their unforgettable stage presence and ever-growing fan bases will make them not just part of the conversation—they’ll be leading it by year’s end.
Ahead is your industry preview of the rising music talent everyone’s talking about in 2025.
KATSEYE
When Daniela, Laura, Manon, Megan, Sophia, and Yoonchae auditioned to be HYBE’s first US-based girl group—perfectly captured in Netflix’s docu-series Popstar Academy—the six girls unknowingly spotlighted the K-pop industry’s thirst for unbeatable stage charisma.
Enter KATSEYE: a group that shattered international boundaries with their magnetic personalities and irresistible yet TikTok-friendly choreography coating their saccharine breakout singles “Touch” and “Debut.”
Nettspend
At just 17, Nettspend has emerged as a defining figure within the hyper-online, avant-garde rap scene, provoking equal parts love and hate with his polarizing persona.
In a rare interview with i-D, the publication dubbed the Virginian teen sensation as “the unholy lovechild of Bladee, Playboi Carti, and Justin Bieber,” known for his zillions of animalistic ad-libs, crunchy autotune, and a fashion sense that Lil Uzi Vert would approve.
His debut album, BAD ASS FCKING KID*, is not just a TikTok-generation rage rap manifesto but a timestamp of his youth—a glitchy cultural pulse of his in-between stage of teenagehood and stardom.
JADE
Hailing from the English multi-platinum-selling girl group Little Mix, Jade Thirlwall carved out a solo pop path unlike any of her peers—one rooted in underground house-dance beats and soaked in LGBT+ acclaim.
While her come-up has been a slow burn, her previous singles—like the earworm “Angel of My Dreams,” the David LaChapelle-directed, disco-inspired “Fantasy,” and the fiery anthem “IT Girl”—have sparked viral firestorms, with every major outlet from NYLON to Vogue singing her praises.
The Dare
Charli XCX might be the queen of indie sleaze, but The Dare—with his bratty Men in Black aesthetic—is her unofficial partner-in-crime and ultimate PARTYGIRL sidekick at every late-night club cameo.
Picture LMFAO’s cheeky brother, but cooler, edgier, and even more unapologetically electronic, with a cigarette hanging from his lips.
Oh, and he’s not just about the party—The Dare co-produced Charli XCX and Billie Eilish’s hot electroclash collaboration, “Guess,” which is now vying for the “Best Pop Duo” category win at the 2025 Grammy Awards.
Ravyn Lenae
When SZA names your sophomore album one of her favorite lessons of 2024, it’s clear your decade-long glow-up has reached its pinnacle.
On 2024’s Bird’s Eye, Ravyn Lenae doesn’t just take R&B for what it is; she prophesies its greatness. The Chicago-born songstress weaves past lessons from KAYTRANADA and Steve Lacy into a psychedelic-tinged, genre-bending masterpiece, especially on tracks “One Wish” featuring Childish Gambino and the aching “Love Me Not.”
A bold evolution, Bird’s Eye cements Lenae as a new-gen R&B visionary, paving the way for a breakout year of well-earned industry attention.
KISS OF LIFE
“‘KISS OF LIFE’ refers to the mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration method,” the four-member girl group once explained. “Like the name, we plan on revitalizing and bringing fresh life to the K-pop scene.”
Fueled by anthems like the electropop gem “Midas Touch” and the Afrobeat-inspired “Sticky”—both effortlessly surpassing 100 million Spotify streams—KoF’s members Julie, Natty, Belle, and Haneul are ready to take their mature girl crush concept beyond borders and onto the international stage.
Eddie Benjamin
“Eddie is the future… he’s going to crush the world,” Justin Bieber once proclaimed about the Australian artist whose sun-soaked pop anthems have already captured the attention of LA’s elite, including the “Sorry” singer, Sia, The Kid LAROI, and even Alessia Cara, with whom he collaborated on 2022’s “Only You.”
He further cemented his rising star status with an unforgettable stint on Shawn Mendes’ tour, capped by a captivating duet of “Nobody Knows” at the 2024 VMAs. Now, Eddie is gearing up to release his highly anticipated debut album, with its lead single out this January.
Mimi Webb
Fresh off her opening slot on The Jonas Brothers’ European tour, even more eyes are on the British singer-songwriter Mimi Webb and her viral confessional pop songs.
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Starting the decade strong with 2021’s Seven Shades of Heartbreak EP and its breakout track “Good Without,” she continues her brokenheartedness on her debut album, Amelia, released in 2023.
Previously named a rising talent by Billboard and Cosmopolitan, Webb is working her praise with her 2024 single, the bubbly self-love anthem “Eyes Wide Open,” which she’ll take on the road this year while opening for Benson Boone on his international headlining tour.
Rachel Chinouriri
Gaining widespread attention as Sabrina Carpenter’s opening act on the 2025 Short n’ Sweet European tour, London-born singer-songwriter Rachel Chinouriri is taking her lush vocals and diary-like lyricism onto her first arena stage.
But it was a fangirl message from Midsommar actress Florence Pugh that sparked Chinouriri’s breakout moment, leading to their on-screen friendship in the now-iconic “Never Need Me” music video.
Her sparkling debut album, A Devastating Turn of Events, reflects her vibrant yet disciplined upbringing as the daughter of Zimbabwean immigrants, blending raw emotion with electronic-infused alternative production to craft an angsty, relatable soundtrack for the tumultuous road of early twenties.
Ceechynaa
Born Chelsea Odosamamwen Ode, independent English drill rapper Ceechynaa made a very late but impactful entry into the music scene when her XXX-rated track “Peggy” went viral on TikTok in December 2024, debuting at No. 79 on the UK Singles Chart.
The unapologetic anthem’s unfiltered promiscuity attracted celebrity fans like Ellie Goulding and Cardi B. Ceechynaa’s fearless, micro bikini-clad self-expression has already earned her a British Vogue interview and widespread industry acclaim, as Billboard declared that “few go as far as Ceechynaa” in regard to “proudly waving the sexual liberation flag.”
2hollis
Many 2hollis stans have hailed the elusive 20-year-old as the new Playboi Carti, a Chicago-born sonic mastermind seamlessly blending rap, pop, and electronic influences.
His latest single, the deliciously bass-heavy and pyrotechnic “gold,” underlines what he does best as a boundary-pushing innovator. Following a turbulent 39-date tour with “rage rapper” Ken Carson, 2hollis eventually surpassed the booing crowd to prove his mosh pit-ready sound is in high demand, seen with his sold-out headlining shows across North America.
Lexa Gates
Ten hours before the release day of her major-label debut, Elite Vessel, the Queens rapper locked herself in a fishbowl box in the middle of Union Square with no source of entertainment, staring off bored and offering a few spare headphones for people to listen to her music.
The stunt garnered nearly 100 million TikTok views and caught the attention of SZA. Gates tells Rolling Stone, “[The album] is just me conforming to the industry and being this character of value in my field.”
Under the influence of Mac Miller and Amy Winehouse, the cat-eyed Gates wields a vibey nonchalance—a result of years of wild-child behavior that her devoted 400,000 monthly Spotify listeners equally supported in her pre-Capitol Records days as they do now.
Ivan Cornejo
With over 2 billion streams to date, Ivan Cornejo continues his Latin music reign by becoming the second most-consumed música mexicana artist in the U.S.
His dreamy fusion of sierreño roots and alt-rock, à la Arctic Monkeys, resonates deeply with Gen Z, biracial listeners. His third album, MIRANDA, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Latin Albums and captures his soulful, folk-influenced corridos rooted in his Mexican heritage.
Coupled with Cornejo’s record-breaking performance at the Houston Rodeo and sold-out arena tour, he’s undoubtedly the next leading voice in Latin music.
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