ONES TO WATCH 2026.
A few artists who should, if there’s justice, reach more ears in 2026
Florence Road
Florence Road may have spent their teenage years honing their sound in lead singer Lily Aron’s garden shed in Wicklow, Ireland, but they’ve already crafted a sound that feels stadium-ready. With The Cranberries, Wolf Alice, and Phoebe Bridgers as clear reference points rather than templates, the quartet, Aron on vocals, Emma Brandon on guitar, Ailbhe Barry on bass, and Hannah Kelly on drums, have been building serious momentum throughout 2025. Razor-sharp songwriting and an unerring ear for melody suggest a band edging towards something bigger in 2026, with a run of cracking releases already behind them. “Miss” is possibly the standout track, and there’s clearly much more to come. If they aren’t huge in the next few years, I’ll change my name to Ian McNobbser and start posting conspiracy theories online.
Gifthorse
North London-based outfit GIFTHORSE, led by songwriting duo Naomi Mann (lead vocals) and Charlie Butler (guitar, backing vocals), craft what they describe as “frazzled English pop” – songs that capture the romance and inevitable letdowns of being twenty-something in the big city. Mann’s Harriet Wheeler–esque vocals ring out against Butler’s chiming, fuzzed-up guitar lines, producing a sound that feels immediate yet wistful. They have released two singles so far, Please Love Me and 13 Going on 30, both of which demonstrate their knack for creating evocative, anthemic Britpop with a thoroughly modern twist.
Sofia Isella
Sofia Isella is a Los Angeles-born singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends indie, alt-pop, and introspective lyricism with a mesmerising stage presence. Starting with the violin at age three and songwriting by eight, she has spent her teenage years crafting a sound that’s both intimate and cinematic. At just 20, she’s already producing music with the kind of depth and intelligence that some artists can’t muster over an entire career. Her work leans into avant-pop, incorporating industrial textures that pair whispered tension with dramatic, frayed edges. There’s a palpable menace in her music, yet she punctures the darkness with sharp, acerbic wit, creating soundscapes that are both challenging and strangely uplifting.
Y
London collective Y, a band so ungoogleable you’ll either remember them forever or give up entirely, cut their teeth at The Windmill and have supported the likes of Fat Dog, KEG, and Warmduscher. Their sound is restless and sharp, blending psychedelic grooves, jagged post-punk energy, and a dark, mischievous edge that’s entirely their own. Sold-out shows, festival appearances from The Great Escape to Manchester Psych Festival, and a string of standout tracks hint at the force they’re becoming, a band as exhilarating to watch as they are impossible to search online.
Arthur Black
Raised off-grid, Arthur Black, a Scottish alt-folk singer-songwriter, learned every part of music by ear, growing up without internet access and largely isolated from the wider musical world. Following a family tragedy, she turned to songwriting and guitar for solace, later honing her craft at Access Creative College, where she formed her band. With festival appearances at Reading & Leeds, Latitude, and Beyond The Music under her belt, Arthur’s self-styled “Gothic Psychedelic Folk” is tinged with late ’90s and early ’00s alternative vibes. Over the last few years, she has amassed a dedicated fan base, and 2026 could well be the year her star ascends to new heights.
Still Blank
They may have already released a stunning debut album, but it feels like there is much more to come from this duo, who seemed to arrive out of nowhere last year. The album came with little fanfare and may have slipped under some people’s radar, but there is a confident, compelling energy running throughout the record. Still Blank are Jordy a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Hawaii, and Ben a guitarist from Manchester. The duo stumbled into collaboration after a chance meeting in Liverpool and quickly found a shared voice. Their music blends jagged guitars, ambient textures, and intimate, poetic lyrics, drawing on everything from Hawaiian tradition to Manchester’s experimental edge. They craft songs that feel both unhurried and alive, moving from hazy, psychedelic reflections on love to sharply observed meditations on identity
Opal Mag
Opal Mag is a Brighton-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist whose music blends dream-fuzz rock with confessional lyricism and atmospheric, shoegaze-inspired guitar textures. After emerging from a long-term music project, she began writing without feeling artistically constrained, exploring themes of freedom, new beginnings, and the bittersweet nature of endings. Her sound draws on a wide range of influences, from Mazzy Star, The Sundays, and Wolf Alice to Hole, Sharon Van Etten, and Julia Jacklin, balancing nostalgic haze with emotional heft to craft songs that feel both timeless and deeply personal.
Sandhouse
Sandhouse are a South London duo blending folk, grunge, dream pop, and electronic rhythms into a sound that refuses to be pinned down by genre. Caspar Holloway and Anna Sutherland met at university in 2018, quickly discovering a shared creative vision that combined Caspar’s background in DJ’ing and hip-hop with Anna’s guitar-driven, folk, and rock sensibilities. Their contrasting influences collide in music where overdriven guitars meet shimmering textures and sharp beats, creating tracks that feel both experimental and emotionally immediate. Interview here