In an increasingly disparate music industry where ‘breaking’ new acts is tougher than ever and a little-known artist called Chappell Roan can be crowned the BBC’s hot tip for the year ahead, it can be hard to hang your hat on the Next Big Thing. So rather than worry about who’s going to reach the upper echelons of pop this year, for The Future Five – our annual tips list – we’ve selected five artists releasing music that makes us feel something. All are yet to release a debut album and the list spans from indie to country to big-beats party anthems. Whatever you’re into, we hope you find something you love.
Get to know this year’s Future Five.
1Chloe Qisha
Who? Chloe Qisha
Where? Malaysia
Why? Chloe Qisha has emerged, as a fully-fledged pop star who is just as influenced by the main pop girlies of the moment (think Olivia, Sabrina, Chappell) as she is by the Bee Gees and ABBA records in her parents’ record collection. Read an interview with Chloe Qisha.
Listen to: ‘I Lied, I’m Sorry’
2Jasmine.4.t
Who? Jasmine Cruikshank
Where? Manchester
Why? You’d be forgiven for thinking Jasmine.4.t was from California not Manchester. Her tender, heartwrenching indie will slot perfectly into the playlists of fans of Adrianne Lenker, Elliot Smith and boygenius, who coincidentally, produced her debut record, out next week. She’s the first UK signing to Phoebe Bridgers’ Saddest Factory Records and writes raw and honest songs about the resilience of trans people and finding solace in community. Big things ahead. Read an interview with Jasmine.4.t
Listen to: ‘You Are The Morning’
3Fcukers
Who? Shannon Wise, Jackson Walker-Lewis, Ben Scharf
Where? New York City
Why? Smashing together ‘90s club music and a timelessly New York sense of insouciant cool, Fcukers – aka vocalist Shanny Wise and producers/ instrumentalists Ben Scharf and Jackson Walker Lewis – make party music for the new generation of indie sleaze 2.0. They’ve already collaborated with LCD Soundsystem and reworked Beck; you can imagine Charli XCX giving dead-eyed banger ‘Bon Bon’ a large thumbs up. On last year’s debut EP ‘BAGGY$$’, meanwhile, they dip a toe into trip-hop, dub and more. Whichever corner of the club they’re focussing on their attention, however, the result is uniformly fcuking great. Lisa Wright
Listen to: ‘Bon Bon’
4Tanner Adell
Who? Tanner Addell
Where? Nashville via California
Why? Being matey with Beyoncé is normally a pretty good sign of impending stardom, but aside from being featured as one of the guest singers on Cowboy Carter’s ‘Blackbiird’, Tanner Adell has been quietly putting in the solo work. Blending country, pop and R&B, her 2023 debut Buckle Bunny reinvented the negative image of the cowboy groupie as a figure of female empowerment, whilst recent ballad ‘Religion’ sees her recalibrating her sense of spirituality after leaving the Mormon faith. With such a distinct POV, expect her to ruffle feathers in 2025 as she subverts expectations of the ‘typical’ rodeo queen. Jenessa Williams
Listen to: ‘Religion’
5Mary In The Junkyard
Who? Clari Freeman-Taylor, lead vocals and guitar. Saya Barbaglia, bass and viola. David Addison, drums.
Where? London
Why? TikTok trends come and go, but there’s something about Mary In The Junkyard which feels built to last. Born out of the chrysalis of indie-pop group Second Thoughts (and a brush with mainstream virality that neither guitarist/vocalist Clari Freeman-Taylor nor drummer David Addison actively enjoyed), their new guise is significantly more arty and agile. With bassist and viola player Saya Barbaglia completing the trio, the overall vibe is one of mystical goth-rock whimsy, likely to make them the breakout stars of UK festival season. Jenessa Williams
Listen to: ‘Tuesday’
Such a great list! Too recommendations!