8 Artists to Watch in 2025
🎨Boundary-pushers and genre-defiers set to redefine music
As we step into 2025, the music world is overflowing with artists who are not only making waves but reshaping the very contours of their genres. From Colombia’s vibrant neotropical scene to global pop dominion, these are the voices and sounds poised to leave a lasting imprint.
Rather than a list, this is our current map of talent, innovation, and fearless creativity that is fueling the music industry’s next chapter.
Bclip
Bclip has been carving out his place in the vanguard of Colombia’s neotropical soundscape for at least a decade now. Firstly it was his project Boom Full Meke, established alongside fellow Barranquilla-born innovator Monosóniko Champetúo. Rooted in the picotero traditions of the Caribbean coast, this early project signaled his potential to push boundaries within the electronic and champeta scenes. Influenced by the wildly eclectic selection of Colombian soundsystems, Bclip’s sound fuses salsa, reggaetón, and coastal folklore with harder, unexpected genres like IDM and black metal—an ethos he dubs LA GRA$A.
In 2024, his electrifying sets at flashy events like Ballantine’s Boiler Room in Bogotá, marked a career highlight. However it was his recent CLOUD SOUNDS session that got us buzzing. Here, Bclip taps into his roots and amplifies them through a futuristic lens, proving once again that he’s not just a product of the picó scene, but a wild force propelling it into uncharted territories.
Billie Eilish
With a staggering seven Grammy nominations this year—including Album, Song, and Record of the Year—it feels like Billie Eilish is on the verge of her most monumental chapter yet. While she’s already one of the most decorated and influential artists of the 21st century, performances like her recent Tiny Desk Concert reminded us about the emotional depth and raw talent that have made her a generational icon.
Eilish’s career has been a masterclass in reinvention and authenticity. From her record-shattering debut WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO?, to the deeply introspective Happier Than Ever, and now her third studio album, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, she continues to evolve without losing the soul of her sound. Co-produced with her brother FINNEAS, HIT ME HARD AND SOFT pairs cinematic intimacy with sonic boldness, further consolidating her status as a boundary-pushing artist.
Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso
We can say a lot about Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso, and not all of it is praise. Their aesthetics? Let’s just say they’re not our cup of tea. Their antics, like the now-infamous Lollapalooza set where they lounged half-naked in a jacuzzi listening to their own record instead of performing, strike us as unnecessarily provocative and, frankly, dismissive of their audience. Especially considering that this was a festival setting which should be about showcasing live creativity to a musically avid and highly energetic public, rather than indulging in vanity or theatrical happenings.
That said, it’s impossible to ignore the sheer talent that these guys are bringing to the table. Ca7riel’s virtuosity and Paco’s performative chops are among the most impressive to emerge from Latin America in recent memory, and their musical experiments bring an energy and innovation that the regional scene has been needing. BAÑO MARÍA, their debut album as a duo, showcases their knack for genre fusion, from rave-inflected pop to drum-and-bass-laced R&B, and even delicate ballads.
Despite their divisive stunts, Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso are undeniably a force to be reckoned with. With booked slots at big festivals like Coachella and Estéreo Picnic, their rise seems unstoppable. Whether you love them or can’t stand their theatrics, there’s no denying their role in shaking up the Latin music landscape.
CLUBZ
Besides leading an entire generation of synthwave enthusiasts across Mexico and beyond, the duet of Coco Santos and Orlando Fernández remains one of the most consistent and polished acts in modern music. So much so that during this year’s Latin Grammys, someone on Instagram posted a story where their songs were being played on the speakers during the ceremony, even though the band wasn’t there and has never received a Grammy nomination. What really stands out is that ever since their formation in 2013, they’ve released a particularly sustained stream of catchy 80s-inspired pop tunes, as well as collaborating with some of Latin America’s freshest music creators, the likes of Ela Minus, Buscabulla, Little Jesus, and many more.
During 2024 the band kept steady with the releases (including a recent deluxe edition of their massive hit “Palmeras”), in what seems to be the preview of a highly dynamic year , when they’re set to release a longer duration format, plus a couple of large scale festival slots already announced.
On a final note, special shoutouts to the synth-saxophone player who was wearing an Estéreo Picnic t-shirt during their show at this year’s Tecate Pal’ Norte festival, as well as Girl Ultra, who performed on the song “Super Visión”, recently mentioned in the post for the podcast episode we did with her.
Duplat
One of Bogotá, Colombia’s most talented musicians and composers, Duplat has been reshaping the notion of what it means to be an independent artist in today’s music scene. Once firmly rooted in the underground, his evolution reveals a deliberate prioritization of musical excellence and refinement, placing artistry above any fleeting perception of "edgy" or "cool".
With his latest project, Mosaico Pirata, Duplat dives into the personal and universal, channeling his upbringing and his father’s habit of burning CD compilations under the same name. The album serves as a self-reflective tapestry, exploring themes of melancholy, heartbreak, confusion, disappointment and sensuality. It’s a bold and intimate effort, blending pop and rock en español with the emotional depth that has become his hallmark. As he continues pushing the boundaries of independent artistry, securing spots at massive venues and supporting commercial heavyweights like Manuel Medrano, it’s clear he’s forging a path that’s as audacious as it is inspiring.
Ezra Collective
For Ezra Collective, 2025 is shaping up to be a year as transformative and groundbreaking as their music. Fresh off the release of their latest record, Dance, No One’s Watching, the London-based quintet is riding a wave of critical and cultural momentum. The album, a joyous ode to the universal language of rhythm and movement, captures the connective energy of dance floors across the world.
The band’s recognition for the last couple years has been monumental, including being the first jazz act to ever win Britain’s prestigious Mercury Prize in 2023. The accolade not only celebrated their vibrant blend of jazz, afrobeat, and hip-hop but also their ability to breathe life into a genre often referred to as niche.
Adding to their growing list of achievements, their track “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing” w/ Yazmin Lacey, has been featured on the latest FIFA soundtrack (now rebranded as EA Sports FC Football), bringing their infectious grooves to millions of players worldwide. It’s a fitting inclusion, given the song’s kinetic energy and joyful spirit—perfectly aligning with the global reach of football culture.
With their sights set on further global tours and possibly more groundbreaking collaborations, Ezra Collective remains a beacon of what jazz can be in this century: inclusive, innovative, and undeniably danceable.
Juliana
Few artists manage to bridge the worlds of music and acting with the grace and depth of Juliana, the Bogotá-born sensation whose artistry continues to soar to new heights. In 2024, she solidified her status as a luminary in pop by taking home her second Latin Grammy—this time for Best Vocal Pop Album, an accolade that follows her 2021 win for Best New Artist. Her journey from a promising debut to a multi-award-winning artist is nothing short of remarkable.
Her stunning COLORS SHOW in 2023 was a visual and auditory masterpiece, a moment that spotlighted her gift for storytelling through music. Also her latest and acclaimed album, La Pista, represents a new chapter: a celebration of movement as a form of healing, with standout tracks like "Manhattan", "San Fernando" and "La Colombiana" capturing her ever-evolving sound.
Another milestone in Juliana’s career was her live performance at Festival Cordillera earlier this year, which was a standout in a lineup filled with heavyweights, as noted in our September coverage of the event.
With three stellar albums under her belt, succesful castings and sync placements on Netflix, and an unwavering ability to connect, Juliana is crafting the soundtrack of a generation, one heartfelt lyric and captivating melody at a time.
Lalo Cortés
Bogotá’s vibrant music scene has a new leading voice in Lalo Cortés, a singer-songwriter whose journey from hip-hop collaborator to neo-soul sensation has captivated audiences and critics alike. Since stepping into the spotlight in 2020 with her debut single “Cicatriz”, Lalo has carved out a unique space for herself, blending soulful melodies with introspective lyrics that resonate deeply with listeners.
Her first EP, Paso a Paso, not only introduced her distinctive sound but also earned her the top spot on Colombia’s public radio charts. By 2023, her full-length debut album, Re-Encuentro, was hailed as one of the year’s best by Rolling Stone Colombia, Revista Shock, El Colombiano, and Vogue México. Tracks like “No Se Ve” and “Re-Encuentro” demonstrate Lalo’s ability to fuse jazz-inflected vocals with the emotional depth of neo-soul, establishing her as a rising star in Latin American music.
Her live performances are no less impressive. Having graced the stages of major festivals like Estéreo Picnic and Cordillera, Lalo’s reputation as a commanding performer continues to grow. In January 2025, she’s set to dazzle audiences at Bogotá’s beloved Festival Centro, a perfect stage to showcase her evocative sound in the city where her career began.
With a debut international tour on the horizon, Lalo Cortés is poised to make waves far beyond Colombia. For fans of music that stirs both the heart and soul, she is an artist you won’t want to miss.
Whether it’s through experimentation, songwriting skills or raw performative talent, each one of the artists referenced here is bringing something unique to the table. Either by pushing boundaries, telling deeply personal stories or just creating music that moves us, they’re proof of how exciting the future of music can be. With the year 2025 just a few days ahead, these are the creators we consider relevant to watch, listen to and celebrate, as they’re shaping the essence of what’s coming next.
Stay tuned for the last one of our list week features, with 40 bonus tracks that marked 2024 here at Mapas Sonoros.
Until then, keep the rhythm alive!
Thanks for reading this post all the way through. Feel free to reply to this email or comment below with your Artists to Watch in 2025, and let’s keep the conversation going!