2025 in Music.

Here we go again…

Every year feels like it goes quicker. It's very easy to get caught up in what divides us but one thing remains, the power of art to unify and fulfil. Here's my random as ever picks for 2025.

Apple Music playlist · Spotify playlist

Loving You – Jorja Smith ft. Maverick Sabre

Jorja seems to make it into my year end lists with some regularity and this year is no different - she's done it twice, more later. Mav is a long time quietly doing high quality writing and production and a frequent collaborator with Jorja. This is just a beautifully simple song about the frustrations and challenges of relationships. So simple indeed that the live version for BBC is pretty much the recorded single.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

DtMF – Bad Bunny

When music is great it doesn't matter if you understand the words and Bad Bunny has been doing this for a while.

The video is from his legendary homecoming residency in Puerto Rico and his Super Bowl halftime show in February 2026 was a cracker.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

Date Nite – KhakiKid, Saint Demarcus

My favourite new Irish artist of the last couple of years. Well written and witty every time. Worth a trawl through his other stuff too.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

Nice To Each Other – Olivia Dean

Half way between straight singer songwriter and a bit R'n'B is Olivia Dean, it just all sounds quite warm and lovely.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

The Big Goodbye – AJR

If you’re on TikTok you almost certainly know this one, but don't sleep on the really cool video too. Really a song about confusion and imposter syndrome by some brilliant music nerds.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

By Your Side – XEER

No great explanation to this one and not even a proper video, just proof that people are still making good dance music - sounds awesome in the car.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

Crush – AJ Tracey ft. Jorja Smith

If west London has a sound it's probably AJ Tracey. The boy from Ladbroke Grove came back this year with this one, featuring a second appearance in the list from Jorja Smith.

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Drama – Rex Orange County

This guy's been around a while and just randomly pops up with a tune now and then, high quality electro-pop.

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Enough – Little Simz ft. Yukimi

If you don't know Simz yet catch up, there's about 7 albums full of brilliance, her O2 gig in October was one of the live highlights of a busy gig year.

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Talk of the Town – Fred again.., Sammy Virji, Reggie

Never did I think I'd see the day where a Dundalk shout was the cornerstone of a global banger, but here we are, as part of Fred's USB tour the Dublin stop included making this track with Reggie.

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Card Declined – INDI, Badger

I'm old enough to remember this the first time around. Let's be honest this song has zero artistic credibility but sure never mind, banger.

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La Perla – ROSALÍA, Yahritza Y Su Esencia

Yep, a second song in Spanish, I promise beyond ordering two beers my grasp of the language is nowhere. The album LUX is absolutely batshit crazy but brilliant, Berghain is the big track but I actually prefer this one.

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Chapter 16 – Dave, Kano

Dave came in late this year with a truly amazing album, if the UK have a "Kendrick" it's definitely this guy. Such thought and big topics in every track. Here he catches up with one of the goats, Kano, and I really hope this is a clue that Kano is coming back in 2026.

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Show Me Love – WizTheMc, bees & honey

One of those songs you just couldn’t escape in London in 2025.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify

DON'T TOUCH THE CDJ – KhakiKid, Aki Oke

The latest banger from KhakiKid, with big Example vibes on this one.

Listen: Apple Music · Spotify