Every year, music shifts in ways we don’t always see coming. A new voice cracks something open, a left-field single becomes the soundtrack to your commute, and suddenly you’re updating your playlists because a new generation of exciting artists has arrived.
This year is going to be big for emerging artists, with a diverse lineup promising a hit for pretty much every musical taste. We’re talking everything from country storytellers and inventive alt-pop artists to jazz vocalists who’ve won over Gen Z, and songwriters who really connect with fans through raw emotion. Get ready, these new voices are about to blow up.
Here’s the Popdust exclusive list of artists you need to keep your eye on:
Meghan Patrick
“Golden Child,” the killer track that’s the main focus of Meghan Patrick’s upcoming deluxe album of the same name, Golden Child (The Final Chapter) — dropping on January 9 — seriously feels like a career high point.
Patrick has always had a voice that sounds like she’s been through it all, and this new single totally backs up that reputation. The song has already climbed into the top 25 on US Country Radio and reached the top 10 on Canadian Country Radio, cementing what fans and industry insiders have long known.
With over 115 million streams, a Juno Award win for Wild As Me, and recognition as one of CMT’s Next Women to Watch 2025, her momentum is impossible to ignore.
The deluxe chapter is more than a re-release; it’s a reveal. Originally released in October 2024, Golden Child features 18 tracks co-written by Meghan, alongside a refreshing cover of No Doubt’s “Just A Girl,” and paired with a docu-series that gives fans a front-row seat to the writing, touring, and personal evolution behind the album.
A 19-time CMA Ontario winner, back-to-back CCMA Female Artist of the Year, and a 2023 CCMA nominee for Songwriter of the Year, Patrick’s rise has been steady and earned. If “Golden Child” is the tone-setter, 2026 is shaping up to be her most impactful year yet.
Mae Stephens
Mae Stephens is really good at turning her feelings into super catchy pop songs you won’t be able to get out of your head. Her songwriting is sharp, self-aware, and emotionally intuitive, whether she’s unpacking a relationship that never quite told the truth or calling time on dynamics that quietly drain you.
Her instinct for turning real-life frustration into cathartic pop helped propel her breakout single “If We Ever Broke Up” to No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart in 2023. It’s the kind of success that feels earned, not accidental, rooted in songs that sound like they were written straight from the group chat.
Her latest single “Done With U”, co-written with BRIT-nominated hitmakers Billen Ted, pushes that energy even further. Bold, playful, and unapologetic, the track channels swaggering confidence into a lean alt-pop anthem built on punchy beats, heavy bass, and an instantly addictive synth hook.
At just 22, Stephens writes with the clarity of someone who has lived fast and learned early, transforming personal setbacks into songs that feel empowering rather than bitter. As she heads into 2026, her ability to turn specific experiences into universal pop moments is only getting sharper, and her rise shows no signs of slowing.
bodie
bodie’s debut album NO SKIPS lives up to its name, a genre-bending project that launched him from rising alt-pop oddball to full-blown breakout. With the deluxe edition arriving January 30, he’s doubling down on the momentum, adding new layers to a record already packed with emotional storytelling and bold experimentation.
His rise isn’t a fluke, it’s the natural result of a year spent touring nonstop — headlining his Murder My Ego Tour, sharing stages with Elevation Rhythm and Seph Schlueter, and proving night after night that he’s a magnetic live performer.
His impact on the charts tells the same story. “whisper and the wind” hit Top 10 on both Billboard Airplay and Mediabase Audience and racked up more than 35 million streams, plus Dove Award nominations and a KLOVE nod for Breakout Single. The song even won the grand prize at the International Songwriting Competition, judged by legends from Tom Waits to Nancy Wilson. Add in recent singles “GOOD OLD DAYS” and “SAY SO” — complete with a Jackass-era-inspired video — and bodie is entering 2026 with serious momentum. New music and a full touring year are on deck, and he’s primed for a breakout.
Moody Joody
Moody Joody have perfected the kind of shimmer-pop that is polished, playful, and emotionally grounded all at once. Their newest single, “OOPS!” is pure serotonin, a funk-laced anthem for blurry nights, questionable decisions, and the part of the morning where you laugh instead of cry. Co-written with Grammy-nominated hitmaker Scott Harris, it marks a bold new direction for the Nashville trio, setting the tone for their upcoming 2026 album.
The group’s rise has been fast and deserved. Their debut EP Dream Girl earned praise from Rolling Stone and spots on major playlists across all platforms, plus standout performances at SXSW and Austin City Limits, and tours with Smallpools, Misterwives, and ARIZONA. Their live show is pure charm, their videos feel like mini-movies, and their sound sits somewhere between dream-pop sparkle and festival-ready energy. “OOPS!” is the beginning of a new era, and 2026 looks wide open for them.
Katelyn Tarver
Katelyn Tarver has always been a quiet storyteller, the kind who writes songs that feel like overheard diary entries. Her latest single, “The Price,” co-written with Sasha Alex Sloan, distills heartbreak into an achingly precise moment.
It’s intimate and clear-eyed, quietly devastating without ever losing its melodic pull. As Tarver puts it, the song lives in the lonely nights and the slow, unglamorous work of piecing yourself back together after loving someone so deeply that the loss reshapes your world.
After a summer touring North America and now Europe with Big Time Rush on their IN REAL LIFE WORLDWIDE tour, Tarver enters 2026 with a career-defining third album on the horizon. Slated for a spring release, the record chronicles the emotional reconstruction following the end of her decade-long marriage, turning heartbreak into hard-won clarity. Written alongside a trusted circle of collaborators and recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Mikey Reaves and longtime creative partner Chad Copelin.
Beyond music, Tarver is also set to appear in a highly anticipated Netflix comedy series starring Will Ferrell and Molly Shannon, rounding out a year that feels expansive, vulnerable, and pivotal all at once.
Molly Grace
Molly Grace brings a sharp, funny, and honest “group chat” pop writing style to her new single, “Bow Wow.” The cheeky anthem turns a bad experience into a humorous, logical response. Built on nostalgic early-2000s production and pointed lyricism, the track is a bold, unapologetic moment that captures the spirit of choosing laughter over regret. “Bow Wow” is a clever, playful pop song that demands immediate obsession.
The song marks the beginning of a new era for Grace and the first taste of music since her debut album Blush dropped in September. Coming off a whirlwind year that included a 40-date headline tour, a sold-out London show, and a main-stage performance at All Things Go DC, she enters 2026 with momentum and confidence in equal measure. If “Bow Wow” is any indication, the next chapter of her career is set to be louder, sharper, and impossible to ignore — signaling that Molly Grace is ready to reach far beyond her core fanbase.
Ella Red
Ella Red is the kind of artist who builds entire worlds inside her songs. Her debut album IT’S NOT REAL leans into dream-logic storytelling, pairing crisp, intimate vocals with production that feels like a midnight drive, a half-remembered film, or a confession whispered under neon lights.
That emotional clarity has resonated fast: she’s now pulling in millions of monthly streams, with breakout track “I Like You Best” surpassing 12 million streams on Spotify and racking up over 30 million views across social platforms. Her sound has landed on major playlists across Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and YouTube Music, placing her firmly in the alt-pop conversation.
Recent collaborations, including Cloudy June’s “I Like You Best (Cloud 9 Version),” have expanded her reach internationally, while her live presence continues to grow through support slots with LØLØ and ELLISE, plus an upcoming tour with Cloudy June and headlining showcases of her own. With a rapidly growing fanbase and a sound that feels immersive rather than trend-chasing, 2026 is shaping up to be the year Ella Red moves from rising name to essential listen.
Laura Anglade
Laura Anglade is making jazz feel new again, which is no small feat. Drawing inspiration from legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, the New York–based vocalist brings warmth, precision, and narrative depth to the Great American Songbook, reviving classic standards with a voice that feels both timeless and unmistakably modern.
Her third album, Get Out of Town, marks a significant artistic and career moment, earning JUNO recognition and the Prix Opus for Jazz Concert of the Year in 2023. Since the album campaign began, her streaming presence has surged dramatically, with monthly listeners jumping over 1000% and total worldwide streams now surpassing 4.7 million. Focus track “Manhattan” has become her top-performing song to date, officially joining Pandora’s Million Streams Club during release week.
That momentum extends well beyond streaming numbers. Anglade’s recent releases have landed on key editorial playlists across Spotify’s jazz playlists, while CBC Radio continues to spotlight her work on Saturday Night Jazz, accompanied by widespread critical acclaim.
With Get Out of Town continuing to resonate and an international touring schedule ahead, Laura Anglade is emerging as one of jazz’s most compelling modern voices heading into 2026.
LMNT 115
LMNT 115 operates in the world of electronic music where atmosphere is everything. But they push it further, crafting lush, cinematic, transportive soundscapes.
Formed as a producer duo built around custom-designed animated personas, the project leans into mystery rather than identity, letting the music and world-building speak first. Comprised of Z, the charismatic songwriter, and Fab, the quiet architect behind the production, LMNT 115 draws inspiration from anime and manga, cyberpunk cityscapes, and themes of resilience.
Their debut project, Paradise, balances pulsing electronic energy with moments of lyrical intimacy, sitting comfortably between festival-ready euphoria and late-night headphone listening.
Their music is often compared to artists like Marshmello, MEDUZA, Calvin Harris, and Loud Luxury. For their visuals, think of an immersive storytelling vibe, kind of like Gorillaz.
As their universe continues to expand across dance, alt-pop, and electro-soul spaces, 2026 is shaping up to be the year their world fully comes into focus.
