With a dire economy and a news agenda where hatred tended to be the only thing trending, last year was draining for so many Brits. Thankfully, the UK music scene remains capable of providing escapism, so we’ve compiled a list of our favourite rising musicians for 2025 who all have the future in the palms of their hands and might just end up soundtracking the year ahead. From raw raps that elevate single mums to stadium-sized soul ballads about healing broken hearts, each of these promising artists is someone well worth getting familiar with.
“Playing in small pubs taught me so much about human connection,” says the Luton-raised singer-songwriter Myles Smith, 26. “Drunk interruptions, dodgy sound systems… it all forced me to adapt and keep going! Those early gigs taught me how to hold a room, no matter the size.”
Myles wears jacket and trousers by STONE ISLAND
Having recently won the Brits Rising Star Award (previously won by Sam Smith and Adele, no less), Smith has progressed from strumming acoustic guitars inside Bedfordshire boozers to belting out folksy power-pop ballads in theatres and then vast stadiums, supporting Ed Sheeran. He knows how to howl out a galvanising hook or two, delivering lyrics like someone who treats the studio more like a dimly lit confessional booth than a place of business. This style is particularly evident on his biggest song, Stargazing, which has more than 600 million streams on Spotify.
On My Home, from his latest EP, A Minute…, the singer’s buttery vocals embody all of his recently purged emotion. The diary-like song’s lyrics focus on finding shelter from the storm and Smith hopes his art can serve as a similar kind of safe space for fans. “The world can be overwhelming and I know how much it means to find something – whether it’s music, a person, or a moment – that helps you breathe a little easier,” Smith says, noting that 2025 is the year he wants to keep touring and establish a global fanbase. “I think music has this incredible way of holding space for all the messy emotions we carry! So, yeah, if my songs can be that for someone, even just for three minutes, then that’s the biggest win.”
Taken from 10 Men Issue 61 – MUSIC, TALENT, CREATIVE – on newsstands now. Order your copy here.
THE NEW NOISE
Creative Editor PAUL TONER
Text THOMAS HOBBS
Portrait ANNA STOKLAND
Fashion assistant GEORGIA EDWARDS
Production ZAC APOSTOLOU and SONYA MAZURYK
