The music industry moves at a relentless pace, often confusing constant output with lasting impact. Amidst that noise, the artists who truly stand out are those who build worlds with intention, crafting sound, image, and community as part of a broader creative vision. They resist easy categorization, favoring depth over speed and authenticity over trend.
The artists on this list embody that shift. They are redefining how music connects with identity, storytelling, and emotion. As 2026 approaches, these voices are not simply emerging; they are arriving with clarity, ambition, and a sense of purpose that signals where contemporary music is headed next.
JAZZIE YOUNG
After a breakout 2025 marked by the release of her debut album, Everything Changes, Jazzie Young enters 2026 with growing momentum and a clearly defined voice in modern alt-pop. The album positioned her as an emotionally precise songwriter, earning critical recognition and connecting deeply with listeners navigating love, change, and personal growth.
In 2026, Jazzie’s focus shifts toward expansion. She will continue promoting Everything Changes through press runs in New York and Los Angeles while actively writing new material that builds on the emotional and sonic foundation of her debut. The year ahead positions her not as a newcomer, but as an artist refining her next chapter with intention.
TASH BLAKE
Tash Blake closes 2025 having firmly established herself as a high-impact pop performer whose work thrives at the intersection of sound, movement, and visual world-building. With sold-out shows across major cities and a growing fan community, her live presence has become a defining part of her identity.
2026 marks a bold creative escalation. Blake will release her third EP, pushing her sound further into electronic territory while expanding the visual universe she calls The Pop Dungeon. The rollout centers choreography, fashion, and narrative as equal elements, positioning her next era as a fully immersive pop statement rather than a traditional release cycle.
DOMINIQUE FILS-AIMÉ
Dominique Fils-Aimé enters 2026 continuing a carefully constructed artistic journey rooted in spirituality, freedom, and musical lineage. Following the release of the first chapter of her trilogy, she remains one of the most intentional voices in contemporary jazz and soul.
The release of a new album on February 20, 2026, ushers in the second chapter of her ongoing trilogy, further exploring the essence of creativity, freedom, and emotional honesty. Rather than a reinvention, 2026 positions itself as a year of deepening and resonance, with Dominique Fils-Aimé bringing this new work to life on stage through a world tour that spans Europe—including stops at La Maroquinerie in Paris and Le Botanique in Brussels—as well as a premiere at the Montreal International Jazz Festival and additional performances across the United States.
MISHA
By the end of 2025, Misha had already solidified his reputation as a globally respected producer-artist, bridging beat culture, alternative R&B, and experimental soul through a steady stream of collaborations, sync placements, and international recognition.
In 2026, his output becomes both focused and expansive. The year begins with the release of Aura Gold, a collaborative EP with BeMyFiasco arriving in February, followed by a European mini-tour spanning Finland, the Netherlands, and the UK. Later in the year, Misha will release his next solo album in the fall, supported by a European tour that further positions him as a live act with global reach. Alongside his releases and touring, 2026 also includes a major sync placement on Mercy, a Chris Pratt film set for release in January, underscoring his continued presence across music, film, and international stages.
MT JONES
MT Jones enters 2026 at a defining point in his career. After years of building momentum as a live performer, the release of his debut album, Joy, in March marks his transition into a full-length artistic statement. Rooted in sincerity and emotional clarity, his songwriting favors direct connection over excess, positioning him within a lineage of classic, song-driven storytelling.
Touring will be central to his year. Throughout 2026, Jones will take his music across the U.S., UK, and Europe, including a confirmed performance at Baby’s All Right in New York City and a run of European support dates with St. Paul and The Broken Bones in February. A summer appearance at FloydFest in Virginia further anchors his growing presence on the festival circuit. Together, the album release and extensive touring schedule position 2026 as the year MT Jones expands his audience through consistency, connection, and a steadily growing live reputation.
SARAH HOLLINS
2026 finds Sarah Hollins refining a voice shaped by narrative discipline and emotional precision. Her work draws from a background in creative writing and information science, giving her songwriting a sense of structure, clarity, and intention. After a steady rise marked by performances at venues like The Troubadour, The Whiskey A Go Go, Hotel Café, and Rockwood Music Hall, Hollins has positioned herself as an artist equally comfortable on stage and on the page.
In 2026, her creative output expands across multiple formats. Alongside the release of new singles and an EP produced by Erik Kertes, Hollins will publish her debut poetry book and begin sharing a series of reinterpretative covers that apply a queer and feminist lens to traditionally male-written songs. She will also continue developing her memoir, making the year a convergence point for music, literature, and personal authorship.
SHEYNA GEE
Sheyna Gee’s rise through 2025 has been defined by powerful live performances and increasing visibility across major country platforms and festivals. Her work bridges grit and vulnerability, reshaping expectations within the genre.
2026 represents scale. With a fully self-written and produced EP planned for early in the year, extensive international touring, and over 150 shows booked, Gee moves into a phase defined by reach and endurance. Headlining festivals and touring multiple countries positions her as one of country music’s most active and ambitious rising voices.
HAYDEN COFFMAN
Hayden Coffman enters 2026 positioned for his most expansive year to date. His upcoming EP, set for release in the spring, builds on his signature mix of modern country hooks, emotionally driven songwriting, and arena-ready energy, reinforcing his reputation as a compelling crossover between radio appeal and live impact.
The new project serves as the foundation for his nationwide Take The Lonely headline tour, taking Coffman coast to coast in front of a rapidly growing audience. Alongside his own tour, he will also step into select support slots with major-level artists, placing his music in front of new listeners at a pivotal moment in his growth. With new music and strategic touring converging, 2026 positions Coffman as an artist moving decisively into his next career tier.
DYLAN FARRELL
Dylan Farrell’s work in 2026 centers on intimacy and reflection. The Nashville-based songwriter is set to release his most personal project to date, a stripped-down acoustic record developed during a solitary winter retreat in rural New Brunswick, Canada. The album distills his blues-inflected Americana to its essentials, privileging clarity and emotional restraint over ornamentation.
The album, set for release early in the year, opens a new phase in Farrell’s work. Across 2026, his focus turns toward live performance, with shows planned throughout North America that extend the reach of his songwriting. As the year progresses, he will also begin developing material for his first full-length studio album, framing this period as a transition between inward-looking work and longer-term artistic development.
QUEEN ANNE
Queen Anne sharpens its identity as an indie-pop duo driven by mood, narrative, and emotional tension. Led by songwriter and vocalist Katie Silverman alongside producer Sandy Chila, the project blends dark, ethereal textures with a postmodern edge, drawing from ’80s pop-punk influences while reframing everyday frustration as immersive storytelling.
In 2026, the focus shifts toward momentum and visibility. The duo will release new music while expanding their live presence, beginning the year with a Los Angeles performance at The Viper Room on January 23. With a growing catalog and a clear aesthetic vision, Queen Anne positions the year ahead as a period of consolidation.
