New Year, New Me, New Music. 2026, what will you bring? Hopefully some good music. 2025 had a lot of amazing hits. Between the pop girlies hot-potato-ing the top charts, indie rock having its moment (duhhhh), and some R&B drops that took the world by storm, 2025 was the year of experiments and excellence. I’m happy to be turning this new leaf into 2025 and leaving all of the pain of the past, well, in the past. So here’s to new music and a new year! Let’s take a quick glance back into 2025 to highlight some of my favorite releases, without dwelling on the past. Let’s leave the dread and heartbreak in 2025.
Either you were sitting in silence all of 2025, or you heard Sabrina Carpenter hold the world of music in the palm of her hand. She dropped her album Man’s Best Friend, which definitely turned heads and sparked skepticism. Just based on the album cover itself, Carpenter was trying to grab everyone’s attention. I could get into all the reasons the album cover is genius and feminist in its own way, but I will refrain. One of the best tracks on this album is the first song, “Man Child.” What a tune! Full of painfully relatable lyrics, country-ish musicality, and catchy hooks, this song is an absolute banger. If you’re in the dating pool right now, I think this song might hit home (especially at Stevens)!
I have always been a wannabe indie darling for as long as I can remember. The 2016 trend is happening right now, and let me tell you, 12-year-old me was prematurely listening to The 1975, blasting Radiohead, and playing Glass Animals on repeat. I think this desire to be a cool Tumblr girl has manifested itself in my adult music taste. I recently picked up on the new Finn Wolfhard album, Happy Birthday. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Finn is also a very famous actor who starred in Netflix’s Stranger Things. The 23-year-old dropped an indie rock album in 2025 that is everything we wannabe Tumblr-turned-Pinterest girls need. I think everyone should listen to the single “Objection!” off of this album. Just fun, indie rock vibes partnered with deeper meaning lyrics. I’d also like to use this platform to say how much of a Finn Wolfhard fan I’ve been. Again, since I was 12 years old and watched Stranger Things for the first time, I instantly fell in love. I am a fangirl at heart.
Finally, I have to say 2025 truly held space for R&B music. With Bruno Mars introducing the new year with his new album, I think 2026 will beget some more great songs. Dijon is an artist I think had a really big moment in 2025. He’s a unique artist who explores R&B’s place in folk, pop, and experimental music. A popular song of his is the 2021 single “The Dress.” In 2025, he dropped the album, Baby, which really brought the bangers. Dijon is one of those artists whom everyone has heard of, a cool couple of people love his songs, but everyone knows he’s amazing.
Well, that’s it from me folks. I wonder if you guys listened to these songs in 2025? I hope 2026 brings good vibes, all the love, and amazing new music! Say goodbye to 2025 and hello to the new year!
