Spotify Wrapped is on the streets now, but rather than everyone saying what a cold algorithm told them their favourite songs were this year, I’d like to hear what actual people actually think.

So what are your favourite musical discoveries this year? Whether those were brand new songs from 2025, older songs that you only heard for the first time this year, or even songs you re-discovered after years of not hearing them.

Here’s some of mine, in the format of a goofy award show:

Favourite New Song From This Year
Lead Up by Goose - Maybe technically cheating because the band has apparently been playing this song live since at least 2023, but the studio version is from this year.

Favourite New Song Actually From This Year
the thoughts that keep me up at night by Marhly - This one makes me feel old, mostly because the artist is that much younger than me. But there’s something about the anxious lyrics that felt very 2025.

Favourite New Song That Really Made Me Feel Old
Year of the Optimist by Beach Bunny - Speaking of artists that are way, way younger than me, we have this song. I’m not sure about the warbly vocals in some places, but it’s upbeat and optimistic (like its says on the tin).

Favourite New Song That Made Me Feel Young
Well, Whatever it Was by Joyce Manor - This song feels like it could have come out when I was in high school, but rather than make me feel my age, it put a spring in my step. I didn’t actually listen to much music back then, so maybe I’ve misestimated my musical eras, but I can’t really shake the feeling.

Favourite New Song by a Band That I Saw Live
No Angels in this Town by Our Lady Peace - Granted, I only went to one concert this year, but still counts, right? I’m not a huge OLP fan, mostly knowing their songs by osmosis, but hearing this song for the first time made me buy a ticket. It was kind of a rebound concert as I had to miss seeing my favourite band on their farewell tour, but I still enjoyed myself, even if they didn’t play this particular song.

Favourite Rediscovered Song
Tornado of Souls by Megadeth - I used to listen to Rust In Peace quite a bit when I was younger, but I kind forgot about it (and most other metal) for the better part of a decade until a new Megadeth song hit my recommendations. That caused me to go back and listen, and reawaken by appreciation for this song.

Favourite Song Discovered Through Weird Coincidence
It’s Not Because of You by Witchcraft - This one randomly came up in my wife’s playlist. Neither of us had heard of the band before, but I figure it had something to do with the Ghost songs that we both like.

Favourite New Cover
Folsom Prison Blues by Sawyer Hill - A heavier take on a Johnny Cash song, my first thought when I heard this was, “Boy, they don’t make them like this any more.” Sawyer Hill has an interesting voice, baritone like Cash but more gravelly. Speaking of which…

Favourite New Song That I Liked Purely for a Single Element
Need Me Now by Sawyer Hill - Do I actually like this song? Is this actually a good song? I don’t know, but Mr. Hill has a really interesting voice, so I’m willing to forgive some lyrics that feel a bit too cute. I do understand if his voice drives people away, though; what I’ve gathered is that some people really cannot stand it.

Favourite New Song With the Hardest Hitting Lyric
Troubadour Moon by The Wildhearts - “It’s a bitch when you find out you’re just an ordinary man.” Oof.

Favourite New Song That Really Has Me Hoping the Artist Isn’t Problematic
Sweet Southern Sound by Samantha Fish - I kid (mostly), but it is southern rock. I haven’t found anything problematic about Ms. Fish, thankfully, but I also haven’t dug too far.

Favourite New Song Discovered Through Lemmyvision
Band LIke That by fanclubwallet - I submitted a bunch of songs for my country’s entry in Lemmyvision. None of them got many votes, but I did discover this one submitted by someone else.

Honourable Mentions
Beatrice by the Toxhards
Ma Cherie by Palaye Royale and Kellin Quinn
Karaoke by Queen of Jeans
In My Pocket by Cafuné

  • [鳳凰院 凶真 Hououin Kyouma]|[alt: 黃家駒 Wong Ka Kui]@sh.itjust.works
    3·
    2 days ago

    Someone posted a music video of a popular Chinese Music Video called “Stranger in the North” and then I scrolled through that channel and found out about this gem:

    玻璃心 (“Fragile”, but its literally translated as “Glass Heart”): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Rp7UPbhErE

    It’s a Mandarin song that got banned in China lol, the two singers involved in the Music Video also got banned from China…

    I’m a native Mandarin speaker and even then I’m not sure I understand the song 100%, but since its banned in my birth country, I feel so privilaged to be able hear this song outside of the wall lol.

    It’s apparantly making fun of the wumaos and ultranationalists on the internet.

  • LeapSecond@lemmy.zip
    6·
    2 days ago

    Favorite albums that came out this year
    Malicia - Mägo de Oz - Favorite song: El último rezo. There is a website about this album somewhere with a story formed by the songs but each song stands fine by itself too.
    Puertas - El Cuarteto de Nos - Favorite song: En el cuarto de Nico. Some interesting lyrics here.

    Favorite rediscovered song
    The Last Stand - Sabaton - This feels pretty random cause I don’t even remember where I came across it, just started listening to it at some point this year. Perfect for waking you up when you’re feeling down.

  • nett_hier@feddit.orgEnglish
    2·
    1 day ago

    I have been listening to Twenty One Pilot’s new album Breach a lot (Tally is such a banger, well all the songs are imo) And I discovered NMZS (rip 🖤) for myself this year and honestly I don’t know how/if I would have gotten through some of the rough patches without it…

    Also want to mention Worlds (Porter Robinson) and Greatest Hits Vol. 1 (Area 21) ohhh and I rediscovered Random Access Memories (Daft Punk)

  • ieatpwns@lemmy.world
    6·
    2 days ago

    Rosalia had some bangers on her new album lux. It’s different from her previous album. The new one sounds very Spanish opera with a modern twist

  • ℕ𝕖𝕞𝕠@slrpnk.net
    2·
    2 days ago

    In reverse chronological order:

    PS. I’ll try to come back around and replace these with non-spotify links as I’m able.

  • Broadfern@lemmy.worldEnglish
    5·
    2 days ago

    My two top favorites discovered out of 2025 definitely gotta be Insanely Illegal Cage Fight by Dal Av and Caffeine by Mattstagraham . I actually got to see Mattstagraham in concert this year and they don’t disappoint! Lovely set of people.

    I discovered so much new (to me) music this year that it’s hard to cover it all, though. Spotify said I listened to somewhere around 600 new artists this year, lol. Hoping to keep up the streak and keep discovering.

    Edit: turns out Cage Fight is from 2023 or so, edited to correct.

  • Tujio@lemmy.world
    3·
    2 days ago

    If anybody else is reminiscing for the Epiphat years, Dropkick Murphys new album is basically Blackout 2.0.

    After Al Barr quit they were a little bit rudderless and teamed up with Woody Guthrie’s granddaughter. They released two folk albums in the last couple years, which weren’t quite my style. If you like folk punk, it’s worth a listen.

    Then they released For The People. Very much so an attempt to go back to the sound that made them famous, and they did a pretty good job of it. There are a couple duds, but at the very least Who Will Stand With Us, Longshot and Vultures Circle High are solid. They even got Al to some back and do guest vocals on that last one!

  • emmanuel_car@fedia.io
    2·
    2 days ago

    Kasablanca released side B of Higher Resolution, side A anleady had a few bangers, more in here too. Better Today Better Tomorrow is one of my favourites.

    Rigoberta Bandini’s Jesucrista Superstar was also great, KAIMAN, Pamela Anderson, and Busco un centro de gravedad permanente are my faves.