Your Next Favorite Song Is On This Summer Playlist
This summer, we're turning up the volume with a fresh selection of rising artists from around the globe, each with a unique story, a bold sound, and something real to say. This handpicked list brings together voices that move, heal, and inspire. Whether you're chasing sunsets, reflecting under the stars, or dancing until the heat breaks, these are the artists you need on your summer playlist. Hit play and let the season begin.
Jiwon
From New York, Jiwon is making his way with an honest and emotional indie-pop style. His song “Crush” feels like a late-night conversation between two people who like each other but aren’t sure how they feel. With intimate lyrics and smooth production, he captures the mix of desire, confusion, and connection.
This summer, he returns with “Wish Me Well,” a track about moving forward without losing your feelings. A bright and heartfelt song, made for those trying to let go of the past while chasing something bigger.
Naomi Greene
Naomi Greene works magic with her electric harp and a voice that feels both raw and otherworldly. In “Wounded Hero,” her debut EP, Naomi sings in English and French, moving effortlessly between alternative indie, experimental textures, and moments of sunlit French pop. Songs like “Mon Amie Prodigieuse,” “Courageuse,” and “Serpents in the Sand” feel like confessions whispered. “Wounded Hero” is for hearing and feeling. With a minimalist style and raw honesty, she makes it clear she’s here to show everything: no filters, no pretending.
Pinc Louds
From New York City subways to the most offbeat stages, Pinc Louds are shaking up indie-pop with a sound that’s theatrical, punk, and full of magic. Led by Puerto Rican artist Claudi (they/them), the band is back with the wild and electric single “Sequins (Do the Twenty Two!),” a wild and electric single produced by Gordon Raphael (The Strokes), and the first taste of their upcoming album “You Can’t Eat the Moon and Be a Werewolf Too,” out August 15 via Needlejuice Records.
The track is a psychedelic burst of freedom about starting over, letting go, and running full speed into something new. “It’s about the magic of a new beginning and trying to find joy,” says Claudi.
Peech
Peech began making music in 2018, drawing inspiration from artists like Mac Miller, Kid Cudi, Bon Iver, and The Lumineers. After signing with Tha Lights Global in 2022, he gained early momentum performing at Rolling Loud and SXSW. From the start, he’s shaped a sound that’s introspective and melodic, emotional without ever feeling forced.
After playing Rolling Loud and SXSW and earning over 2 million streams with his “These Times Don’t Feel Right” EP, 2024 marked a turning point. With the release of “Snowfall,” followed by “Mid December” and the viral TikTok hit “Tell Me,” Peech found his lane and an audience ready to follow.
Now with over 500K monthly listeners and a fresh deal with TAMLA Records (Capitol CMG), Peech returns with “Be Together,” following his journey through heartbreak, healing, and everything in between. If you’re into songs that sound like a scar and a warm hug at the same time, Peech is your soundtrack this summer.
Kimmortal
Kimmortal turns pain and identity into songs that celebrate the queer, the bold, and the beautifully weird. On their new EP “sunniest of days,” out now via Odd Doll Records on digital and limited-edition vinyl, art becomes a safe space in the middle of chaos. The lead single, “I Just Wanna Know,” blends jazzy hip-hop, soulful harmonies, and honest lyrics that hit straight to the heart. The track’s intimate video, directed by Steve Roste, brings Kimmortal’s vulnerability into full view.
This summer, they’ll hit stages in cities like San Francisco, Winnipeg, and New York, spreading messages of self-love, ancestral memory, and art without borders. “sunniest of days” is for anyone who needs a hug.
Queen Anne
With a dark, ethereal, and sarcastic blend, Queen Anne arrives with their debut single “Real Enough,” a song about those days when everything seems to go wrong (like when you order a sandwich without cheese... and it comes with cheese anyway). Behind the band is producer Sandy Chila, alongside actress and singer Katie Silverman.
“Real Enough” blends ‘80s sounds, pop punk, and a post-modern sensibility that moves effortlessly from humor to emotional release. “I wanted to write a song that felt like being on both sides at once,” says Katie. That complexity comes through loud and clear, especially in the track’s surreal video.
Zarema
Los Angeles-based artist Zarema, whose roots trace back to Crimea, delivers a haunting and heartfelt gothic ballad with “I Hold You Child,” a song inspired by the real-life stories of mothers and children uprooted by war. Released on Mother’s Day, the song is an intimate tribute to resilience, love, and memory. The black-and-white music video, directed by Marc Klasfeld (See You Again), features real refugee families.
THISISOSSA
THISISOSSA is making music that heals, challenges, and transforms. After years of writing behind the scenes, the Nigerian-born artist is stepping into his voice with a sound that blends soul, afrobeats, hip-hop, alt rock, gospel, and even country-inspired melodies. No two tracks sound the same, but each one is packed with truth.
His debut solo project, “Working From Home,” was born during the pandemic, capturing the quiet chaos of personal growth in isolation. What began as a creative experiment became a turning point. Now, he's preparing “WFH2,” a continuation made to uplift anyone feeling stuck or voiceless.
Acyan
Acyan makes music for wandering through ruins and finding meaning in the echo. Hailing from Colorado, this rising producer is pushing trap EDM into post-industrial territory with “GHOST TOWN,” a cinematic concept EP inspired by real-life abandoned towns across America.
Each track is a sonic snapshot of decay and forgotten beauty, gritty 80s, and crumbling textures. The lead single “RAVEN” is just the beginning of a journey through burned-out coal mines, Cold War relics, and ghostly rail towns. Acyan filmed visuals on location and built the entire release as a multisensory experience. “Ghost Town” is memory, ruin, and reclamation.
Frankie Muriel
After more than three decades on stage, Frankie Muriel is turning it up. On “I’m Still Standing,” the lead single and title track from his upcoming debut solo album, the legendary frontman of KINGOFTHEHILL and Dr. Zhivegas delivers a fiery anthem of soul, gospel, and grit. With horn-soaked production and a powerful vocal performance, this is a comeback that doesn’t look back; it charges forward.
“I’m Still Standing” is for anyone who refuses to fade away, for those who believe their best is still ahead. It’s glam nostalgia with a heartbeat in the now, making it the perfect summer anthem for when you need a reminder of who you are and why you’re still here.
His upcoming album dives into love, loss, and resilience with ten deeply personal tracks, from heartfelt odes to his daughter and mother to a tender reinterpretation of Terence Trent D’Arby’s, “Let Her Down Easy.”
Ajii
Ajii’s latest release, “CHERRY,” in collaboration with Jordan Anthony, is a burst of summer energy and sensuality, a perfect track to dance, flirt, and feel. Add to that singles like “Rich Man” and “GAHDAYUM,” and you get an artist whose talent knows no bounds. This summer, his music is here to help you reconnect with your desire to live, feel, and love, because every song he releases is pure emotional fire.
Evenson
Rising neo-soul artist Evenson is gearing up for a new wave of music this summer. With fresh releases planned for July, he’s entering a deeper, more refined creative era, one rooted in raw emotion, stripped-back songwriting, and an evolving sense of identity.
His latest single, “You,” released earlier this year, marked the start of this new chapter. Written in a flash of inspiration at the end of a songwriting camp, the track blends sensual neo-soul and intimate vulnerability. It serves as a bridge between his previous work and what’s to come: emotionally charged music shaped by lived experience, heritage, and a desire to break the mold of hypermasculinity in R&B.