2025 Releases You Might Have Missed - But Definitely Shouldn’t Have

“how did they know” by Kilu is just one of his many great songs he has released this year. I discovered this song right when it came out and it was the inspiration behind writing this article and creating this playlist. In my opinion, it’s a song you just have to hear. From Kilus' breathy, intimate voice to amazing vocals in general, instrumental arrangements, and emotional lyrics, this song just scratches an itch in my brain.

Ella Walton has a voice that’s captivating from the start. With her song “Nonsense”, she delivers with a hauntingly delicate voice, adding a dream-like feel to it. Everything, from production to vocals, just feels perfectly tailored to her and her voice. This makes absolutely sense, as she wrote and produced the song all by herself. “Nonsense” quickly became one of my favorite songs of the year and it truly is a shame not many more have heard of it.

Annie Omalley wrote “when yew fall like that” from a "fearful-avoidant attachment head", as she claimed on her Instagram. My favorite lyrics from this song are definitely “It’s easy to miss what I know didn’t last”. I also love the double meaning of “when yew fall like that” as it implies a kind of surrender with falling emotionally, but also the risk of falling badly and hurting yourself. Annie has such a warm, soft tone to her voice, but manages to deliver vulnerable lyrics in such a raw way. It’s an amazing song and definitely a song you have to add to your playlist.

I have no idea what was in the air this summer, as all previously named songs have been released in either June or July this year. Joining them is “Idol” by Indy, released this August. By now, you might have realized I somehow got a theme going on. Indy has a delicate, whispery feeling to her voice while simultaneously delivering her emotions in a subtle, dreamy way. It’s a love song to her sister Lorde, another amazing singer, I’m sure most of you have heard of. It’s about her coming to terms with a private relationship with trust, love, but also an emotional tug-of-war of sharing someone you’re close to with the world. It's another song I can’t stop listening to – and you won’t either!

Have I cried while listening to this song? Maybe? Am I ashamed of it? No, because “see me cry” by Orlando and Them & I is so raw and intimate that it hits you right where it hurts. The composition and musical arrangements are so beautifully done, his breathy voice just effortlessly transporting this honest, introspective feeling, adding to this 'out of the world' feeling where you simply forget where you are for a second while listening to it.

Sadie Jean has come on my radar this year with a couple of her songs. One of my favorites is “Somebody’s Everything”, released on her latest album, Early Twenties Torture. Her voice is just so clear, effortless and simply beautiful. With her soft vocals, slowly building musical arrangements and a heartfelt bridge, this song captures the feeling of not knowing who you are after once feeling completely loved and seen. It just is incredibly relatable, whatever age you might be.

“Mr Cold Embrace” by NewDad has done something to me and I can’t put it into words. This song for me just makes sense. It scratches something in my brain too, with these soft guitars at the beginning and Julie's breathy, emotive voice delivering a certain melancholy which I just love. Honestly, this song is only one of many favorites from their new album Altar, which came out this September. As an honorable mention, you should definitely check out “Everything I wanted” as well!

Maybe I am a little too much on my phone sometimes, but songs like “when it ends” by Ben Ellis make me remember why it’s worth it to scroll on social media sometimes (I’m not saying it’s good to be chronically online, except when you’re reading an article by THE UNSEEN Mag, of course). I came upon this song by accident, and I can’t stop listening to it. “Can’t stay lovers, I don’t wanna lose a friend, When it’s over, How do I see you again” is stuck in my head and don’t get me wrong, I don’t want it to be over.  

With her self-titled album AVEC, AVEC's song “What’s on Your Mind” was a song I listened to and just couldn’t forget about. AVEC has such a distinctive way of creating a song, which sounds authentic, emotional, and earnest, and paired with her soft but emotive voice, is captivating me and most definitely you as well. The Austrian singer delivered such an amazing self-titled album, which you should check out as a whole!

Sydney Rose. Where do I start? Picking a song was incredibly hard, as I loved every single one of her releases – obviously not just this year. I decided on “Before & After You” as she wrote this, inspired by The Last of Us – Season 2 (prepare your tissues for this one). It’s a song about grief, love and change. It honestly feels like a letter to those who have to work through the anger and sadness after someone important leaves, no matter the cause.

Coming to one of the last songs on this playlist, I just had to include something from LEAP’s debut album, Entropy. It was incredibly hard to choose, but “Messages” has made the cut because it feels so deeply personal. It’s written in memory of LEAP vocalist Jack Balfour Scott’s dad, who passed away by suicide. This track feels bittersweet, with an uplifting sound but raw, honest and deeply emotional lyrics such as: “Saving up all of our little memories, I'm lighting them up to build a legacy, If only you could see it all, see it all, Stay forever beautiful, beautiful”. His dad was the one who convinced Jack to take another chance and leap of faith with their project LEAP, and it worked out incredibly well for them.

“Emmylou” was a song that surprised me from the first time Murdo Mitchell began to sing. His voice is just so special, with this raw, husky tone to it. He effortlessly delivers any kind of note, and with the stripped-down approach, it feels like such a genuine song, which I have grown to really like since its release in April this year. (And confession, I wear my socks to bed too. Sue me, it’s cozy in winter)

My friends know this playlist wouldn’t be complete without a Matilda Mann song. Ever since discovering her last year and her debut album release in February, she has been one of my favorite artists ever and someone you must not miss. “Meet Cute” is one of my favorites by her and makes the perfect last song for this playlist. It’s about the rush of meeting someone for the first time, meeting someone cute at the train station, a party, or wherever. Simply about the possibilities of what could happen. Paired with her soft, rather intimate voice, “Meet Cute” is such a fun, playful song to listen to.