Artists to Watch for Summer 2025

The official start of summer is right around the corner, and it's never too early to start curating your perfect summer playlists featuring both classic tracks and 2025's hottest new releases.

There are certain songs that perfectly evoke all of the freedom, lightheartedness and endless potential of summer, and we love when just one very special song makes us fall in love with an artist's entire discography. Curious about who currently has us hooked? Here are some truly iconic rising artists to watch that you'll want to add to every new playlist you make this season.

Goldie Boutilier

There truly is no heartbreak like the kind you experience from a summer breakup, and Goldie Boutilier's newest song "I Can't" captures this beautifully. She's known for her unique sound, combining a retro noir vibe with modern sensibilities, and "I Can't" emerges as a haunting and evocative pop track about a love turned cold and yearning for revenge, but still missing them too badly to exact it. One listen, and you're going to want to take a deep dive into every other stunning song she's released.

"My music can be at times for the unresolved hearts—still searching, still aching," Goldie shared. "What if this is the best I'll ever have? What if everything is my fault? But, you know who will never move on from you? Yourself, and that is the person you'll always need to take care of."

(Photo credit: Greg Swales)

 

boombby

Even if you don't know the name Bekuh Boom (or her musical alter ego of boombby  (pronounced "boom-baby"), we bet you've heard her work. She got her start at the age of 19, working in South Korea to pen megabits for BLACKPINK, as well as Lisa's viral solo tracks "Lalisa" and "Money," and in 2025, she's ready to show the world what she's got as an artist in her  own right.

Her latest single, "DUHMB," is a silky-smooth reflection on the kind of love that leaves you senseless, backed by an effortless tropical beat. It feels like a sonic vacation, complete with a music video designed to transport listeners to paradise.

(Image courtesy of Boombby)

 

Kaylee Bell

You  may think of country music as a purely American endeavor, but New Zealand artist (and CMA Global Country Artist Award winner) Kaylee Bell is proof that the country spirit can live anywhere. That's especially evident with the release of her latest single, "Red Dirt Romeo" a gritty yet sweet country-pop retelling of the Romeo and Juliet tale, with a rodeo twist. The song bursts with yearning for the kind of all-encompassing romance you read about in classic literature, with a sound that makes us ache for epic summer romances of our own.

"'Red Dirt Romeo' was written in Nashville with my friends Riley Bria and Trey Gust," Kaylee shared in a press release. "We are all quite possibly the biggest Keith Urban fans and wanted to write a song with the same energy and feeling we get when we listen to his early records. The song was fun to write as we tried to weave the story of Romeo and Juliet into a country life setting of falling in love with a cowboy on the run."

(Red Dirt Romeo via Kaylee Bell Music)

 

LACES

Feeling burnt out and ready for something greater? Queer alt-pop music exec Jessica Vaughn, also known as the artist LACES, has you covered with her I Quit for Summer EP, and its title track is about to become your summer anthem. The song is a sunny and upbeat fantasy, weaving a tale of dramatically quitting a life-draining 9-to-5 job and seeking true happiness instead. Even if you're not in a position to do so yourself, you can still soak in the dream of embracing rest, relaxation and joy with every listen. Also keep an eye out for her eagerly anticipate WORK EP, releasing on June 27.

"Is this job a dead end? Am I just being rewarded with more work? The only thing I know is, I'm choosing joy—if I can ever find the time to quit," Jessica said in a press release. "Until then, I have this song and a healthy amount
of wine."

(Photo credit: Sterling Taylor)

 

Also read about: Every Artist You Might Have Missed at Wango Tango 2025

 

AJII

Since his time on American Idol, genre-bending artist AJII has continued to showcase his range and versatility, and his latest release "Cherry," featuring Australian artist Jordan Anthony, has to be our favorite song yet. With its dark yet laidback sound and sultry lyricism, the pop track has a coolness that contrasts the summer heat as the two sing about being unable to resist a woman's charms, finding the kind of love that makes all of their dreams come true.

"When I first heard the song with Jordy on, I knew it was going to be a banger," AJII explained in a press release. With playful wordplay and a catchy vibe, 'Cherry' is a journey through love, lust and everything in between."

"I'm so ready for everyone to hear 'Cherry,'" Jordan added. "It's so different than anything I've ever done and it feels like the start of an insane new chapter for my music. Getting to make a song with AJII has been one of the best experiences I've had, I'll never forget hearing his verse for the first time and absolutely freaking out in the studio."

(Image courtesy of AJII and Jordan Anthony)

 

Zarenae

SoCal R&B-pop artist Zarenae is making 2025 her year with the release of six stellar singles, starting with the summer bop, "CRAZY." With its glistening and vibrant instrumentation combining elements of pop, R&B and even disco, this nostalgic throwback captures the intoxicating feeling of falling in madly in love. It's upbeat and irresistibly danceable, perfectly setting the tone for those summer nights where anything can happen. This one is sure to heat things up on every dance floor.

(Photo credit: Knight Visions)

 

Taylor-Rae

Canadian country artist Taylor-Rae is a two-time British Columbia Country Music Association Award winner, and she never misses the mark with her soulful and evocative releases. Her newest single, "Bittersweet," is yet another summer breakup track that feels like an instant classic, with powerful vocals and a country twang that makes the all-too-relatable message even more heartfelt.

"Bittersweet" delves into the emotional turmoil of remembering the good times after a breakup, capturing the essence of memories that are as painful as they are precious." Taylor-Rae revealed in a press release. "This song is an ode to the memories that led to the breakup and the wish that the 'It's not you, it's me' was more of a clean cut instead of leaving it bittersweet."

(Bittersweet via Highway 97 Entertainment)

 

Ryal

Singer-keyboardist Jacque Ryal and multi-instrumentalist and producer Aaron Nevezie make up the synth-pop duo Ryal, but their latest single, "Bend a Little" moves away from their typical disco-infused sound to create something completely new. It's their most straightforward pop track to date, despite the rich backing of a three-piece string quartet, creating a story about mending a broken love and throwing aside ego in order to hold on to what's right. The song is gorgeously empowering, and something a lot of us might need to hear this summer. If you're in New York City, don't miss their performances at Umbra in Brooklyn on July 12 and CultureLab LIC in Queens on Aug. 16.

(Image courtesy of Ryal)

 

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Naomi Jane

Pop singer-songwriter Naomi Jane has set out to put her stamp all over summer 2025, starting with her most recent release,  "Lightning." The soaring and theatrical dance-pop single crafts a passionate narrative about a powerful romance that goes up in smoke in the face of betrayal, with a hook that's been stuck in our heads for weeks. And while Naomi's debut album, Dissonance, won't be out until February of 2026, with the release of future singles "Mr. Incognito" on June 20, "In the Moment" on July 25 and "I Cry" on Sep. 12, she's giving her fans what they want.

"The moment I heard 'Lightning,' I felt it in my bones," Naomi shared in a press release. "It was a fire I couldn't ignore. This song is electric—intense, exhilarating and completely consuming. I love that it was written by three fearless women in this industry that I admire beyond words. My queen, producer Kayla Diamond, brought this song to me, and from the first second, I knew—I had to make it mine."

(Image courtesy of Naomi Jane)

 

Jay Putty

For many, the summer can be a season of reflection, introspection and healing, and Jay Putty's new  Mountains and Valleys EP makes the perfect soundtrack for this kind of journey. The seven-track project is a raw and honest exploration of the way grief rears its head at the most unexpected moments and the idea that love and loss are two sides of the same coin. Alternating between majestic and cinematic instrumental tracks and folk-rock odes, it spins a compelling and emotional narrative propelled by Jay's own discoveries on growth through grieving.

"Grief is just love persisting," Jay said in a press release. "It walks with us. It sits in our routines. And sometimes, it blindsides us in the middle of brushing our teeth or driving to work."

(Image courtesy of Jay Putty)

 

Molly Moore

Anticipating a more angst-riddled summer? Look no further than Molly Moore's edgy new pop-rock album Miserably Sublime to provide the backdrop to the highs and lows of growing up. Across eight anthemic tracks, Molly speaks from the heart as she unpacks her trauma, highlighting the importance of processing and making room for  your most difficult emotions in order to truly experience the joys life can bring.

"I made this album as an ode to the alternative rock and pop punk music that really shaped who I've become as a songwriter and artist from a young age," Molly explained in a press release. "The album is called Miserably Sublime, which is about realizing that your capacity for happiness expands as you increase your capacity to hold space for your sadness. I ran away from my grief surrounding my father's death for a long time, and it made me physically and mentally unwell. As I started to learn how to allow those emotions to process, I started to understand more about myself and how I want to show up in the world. This body of work is a candid insight into what that journey has looked like for me."

(Photo credit: Kalos X)

 

Spotify is the perfect place to start building out your summer 2025 playlists. Click HERE to learn more.