Set to Thrive in ’25 - My Forthcoming Infactuations

There’s something about a new year that makes you crave freshness. Although that said, I chose to launch myself into 2025 with my head hanging over a dear friend’s toilet and enough hangiety to last until 2035. Now I’ve re-established what day of the week I’m living, I’m ready to get fresh for ’25. On the 6th of January.

Upon completing Jo Whiley’s 2009 autobiography My World in Motion last night, I feel entirely inspired to actively and organically discover new music this year. With social media playing such a pivotal role in the progression of the music industry these days, it’s become far too easy to wait for music to discover you. Or rather, for a nepo baby to blow their trust fund on meta-marketing and mystically find me. What a world we live in.

That succinctly leads me to the first band that I’m excited to acquaint myself with this year. Fat Dog. Renowned for their raucous shows, even before their debut release, the latest emergent of South London prefers traditional publicity methods to social media. If that doesn’t scream freshness, I don’t know what does. Oh, no, I do. Fat Dog’s sound. The best comprehensible description that I can muster is electronic post-punk. The band’s roots, consisting of one man and his computer in lockdown, remain intensely potent, which I adore. Jack Love has since adapted his electronic tracks for the band, and the result is phenomenal. With equally eclectic visuals, the intrinsic individuality of this band excites me to my core. Check out their video for Running, from their debut album released with Domino Recordings in September of last year. They’re also hitting the road in February, gracing all corners of the UK with their presence.

Fat Dog (The Independent)

Next up, I have Lola Young, who admittedly should have made it onto my radar sooner. There is undoubtedly a great stinking stigma attached to artists that find their audience on TikTok, the whiff of which put me off Miss Young despite her intensely individual style and sound. Watching her 2022 performance of FAKE at Ina’s Nacht febrezed the futile stench of TikTok star for me. Her stone-cold stare, enveloped by her spider-leg lashes, only increases the angst and intensity of her music. Unapologetically authentic, her latest single, Messy penned to her parents about their unrealistic and suffocating expectations, again struck me for its freshness. A song that’s not about unrequited love, lust, or longing? Sign me up. Lola sets off on her world tour in just two days, kicking off down under before returning to the UK at the end of February.

Lola Young (NME)

Continuing the I’m-embarrassingly-late-to-the-party theme, I bring you Doechii. I have been fond of her for a while since she collaborated with SZA on Persuasive. Undeniable hip swinger. Branded the ‘hardest out’ there by Kendrick Lamar, Doechii’s tantalising trio that took to the stage for Colbert’s Late Show hooked me in. Their coordination, not only in music but also in hair, was astonishing. Then I discovered her video for Denial is a River. Turning her life into a sitcom, demonstrating her progression as an artist, performer, and individual since the dawn of her career in such a way felt so authentic and fresh, which I feel is extremely difficult to conjure in this day and age. With such an incredible flow and tastefully crude style, I would have to agree with Mr Lamar on this one. Rap should watch out for Doechii. I can’t wait to see how her sitcom ends.

Doechii (Variety)

I can’t discuss ground-breaking music-accompanying media without mentioning Kneecap, the frighteningly articulate Irish rap trio. Following the success of their semi-autobiographical film last year, which I implore you all to watch immediately, the rap group has been served to the public on a platter. A platter made up of Academy Award nominations, independent film awards and endless film festival success. All we need now is a new release to bulk out the serving board to help listeners truly devour their Irish-language English-indie-rap hybrid sound. Supporting my latest love, Fontaines DC, this year, following their single Better Way to Live with post-punk’s hottest frontman, Grian Chatten, I’m ready to watch their success snowball in 2025, after their world tour early this year. I’m holding out for the sequel. Kneecap 2? The Other Kneecap? I’ll be there to catch them at Finsbury Park this summer. Unarguably, fresh.

Kneecap (The Guardian)

Last but by no means least, my latest discovery, Ugly (UK). The London-based six-piece was formed way back in 2016, but their debut entire album was released in April 2024. Before that, an archive of the band’s work was released in 2019, which was followed by a handful of singles. Often likened to Black Country, New Road, Ugly supported them on their 2023 tour, although to pigeonhole them as a bit like BCNR would be to clip, if not hack off entirely, their wings. Allegedly attempting to create an atmosphere of ‘cultish euphoria’, a myriad of opposing influences can be found in each bar of their music. Although, on paper, scuzzy jazz-ish punk-try music sounds overwhelming and, to be quite honest, rather hideous, the group’s sound is astonishingly elating and down-right moreish. The first track from their album Twice Around the Sun, The Wheel, is what roped me in. Where will this go? How many vocal layers? What LANGUAGE is this?! I had to lock in for the duration to even begin to get any answers. I was mesmerised. I think I still am unlike the ear rape that I was bracing myself for upon reading their genre description. Krule-ish vocals with a rhythm and tonality akin to Cosmo Pyke, their sound is entirely outlandish and cripplingly unique. Perfectly Ugly. And fresh. They are set to play Wide Awake Festival later this year. I hope to see more of this collective in 2025.

Ugly (NME)

I’d like to honourably mention a few other artists that I have recently discovered that I admire. Dirty Blonde who pride themselves on being your dad’s new favourite band. An up-and-coming Manc duo who, to put it simply, are Royal Blood if they had boobies. Brògeal, an alternative folk Scottish five-piece that are putting some oomph back into band-origin music. The flouncing of traditional roots within new releases is becoming increasingly popular, and it’s nice to see British cultural diversity within music. Artists have been required to reshape their sound to fit into commercial moulds for far too long, a concept this heavy, hearty folk music subverts. Whilst I’m brushing over the theme of folk, it would be rude to neglect to mention Timothée. I haven’t anticipated a film release like this since Monsters’ University, and if that soundtrack is anything to go by, I wouldn’t be surprised if A Complete Unknown sparks the resurgence of the acoustic guitar. There’s hope for 2025 yet.