2025 in Music
Big gigs, new artists and some fantastic returns.
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 fulfill. Here’s my random as ever picks for 2025.
(YouTube link on each track or check out the full Apple & Spotify playlists above)
Loving You - Jorja Smith & 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 here is pretty much the recorded single.
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. But just for you I’ll give you the translation of the chorus.
I should've taken more pictures when I had you
I should've given you more kisses and hugs whenever I could
Ayy, I hope my people never move away
And if I get drunk today, I hope they help me out
This video is from his legendary homecoming residency in Puerto Rico and I can’t wait to see what he does at the halftime show for Superbowl 2026
Date Nite - KhakiKid.
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.
“Your to be ex-boyfriend is scared of any kid over 6 in a tracksuit, that’s a little more than slightly embarrasing”
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.
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.
The big goodbye - AJR.
By you side - XEER
No great explaination to this one and not even a proper video, just proof that people are still making good dance music - sounds awesome in the car.
Crush - AJ Tracey (ft Jorja Smith)
If west London has a sound it’s probably AJ Tracey. The boy from Labrooke Grove came back this year with this one, featuring a second appearance in the list from Jorja Smith.
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. (Strangely all youtube videos of this song have been removed, if I find it again I’ll put it back up but for now you can listen on the playlist links up top)
Enough - Little Simz.
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.
Talk of the town - Fred again.
Never did I think I’d see the day where a fella shouting “A91 - Dundalk Living” 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.
Card declined - Badger (ft INDI).
I’m old enough to remember this the first time around. Let’s be honest this song has zero artistic credibility but sure nevermind, banger.
La Perla - Rosalia
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.
Chapter 16 - Dave ft Kano
Dave came in late this year with a truly amazing album, if the UK have a “Kendrick” it’s definetly 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.