Five Songs From Up-And-Coming Artists You Must Listen to in 2026

The music industry has always thrived on its ability to reinvent itself, but the past few years have accelerated how quickly new voices can find their audience. Streaming platforms, social discovery, and a renewed appetite for authenticity have created space for emerging artists who don’t sound like anyone else, or feel the need to. For listeners, that means an endless supply of potential new favorites waiting just beyond the algorithm.

As 2026 takes shape, a handful of songs stand out not because they chase trends, but because they linger. These are the tracks that feel personal, slightly off-center, and quietly addictive, the kind that slip into your playlists and stay there. Consider this your early guide to your next bout of LSS.

1. “Lately, Crazy.” — Dave Anderson

“Lately, Crazy.” is the kind of song that feels overheard rather than performed. Released in June 2023 as part of Dave Anderson’s album These Lies That Divide Us, the track leans into an organic, unpolished sound that makes its emotional weight feel immediate and unfiltered. Featuring guest vocals from Chloe Sayers, the song unfolds with a fragile intimacy that rewards repeat listens.

Anderson’s approach is refreshingly uncalculated. Recorded without rehearsal during a visit to the U.S., the song was inspired by what he has described as a “musical ghost” he couldn’t shake. That spontaneity comes through in every breath and pause, positioning Anderson as a songwriter who trusts instinct over perfection, a quality that feels increasingly rare.

2. “Atlantis” — Run Blind

“Atlan­tis,” from Run Blind’s 2025 release Slow March, is a slow-burning track that resists immediacy. Instead of grabbing attention outright, it gradually pulls the listener in with restrained production and a sense of quiet momentum. It’s a song that feels built for late-night listening, where subtle details matter most.

Run Blind operates more like a musical project than a traditional band, and that ambiguity works in its favor. There’s a cinematic quality to “Atlantis” that suggests a broader artistic vision, one that values atmosphere as much as melody. If Slow March is any indication, Run Blind is laying the groundwork for something that unfolds over time rather than all at once.

3. “What A Girl Wants” — Mckayla Twiggs

Mckayla Twiggs brings a sharp, contemporary edge to “What A Girl Wants,” a track that balances confidence with vulnerability. The song plays with expectation, both lyrically and sonically, subverting familiar pop frameworks while still delivering something undeniably catchy.

Twiggs’ strength lies in her perspective. Rather than leaning into caricature or cliché, she uses the song to explore agency and self-definition, making it resonate beyond its runtime. It’s the kind of track that signals an artist who understands her voice and isn’t afraid to use it.

4. “Dilate” — Cameron Stewart Grant

“Dilate” is expansive in both sound and feeling. Cameron Stewart Grant crafts a track that feels immersive, pulling listeners into a sonic space that’s equal parts introspective and forward-looking. The production leaves room to breathe, allowing emotion to drive the experience rather than overwhelm it.

Grant’s work suggests an artist interested in tension, between stillness and movement, clarity and ambiguity. “Dilate” doesn’t rush to resolve itself, and that patience becomes its defining feature. It’s a compelling introduction to a musician clearly thinking beyond the single.

5. “Head Over Heels” — Eileen Alister

With “Head Over Heels,” Eileen Alister captures the emotional freefall of infatuation without slipping into melodrama. The song feels light on its feet, yet emotionally grounded, pairing melodic warmth with lyrics that feel lived-in rather than imagined.

Alister’s appeal lies in her ability to make intimacy feel universal. “Head Over Heels” doesn’t try to reinvent romance; it simply tells the truth of it. As new listeners discover her work, this track is likely to become an entry point and a favorite.

The Sound of What’s Next

What connects these five songs isn’t genre or geography, but intent. Each artist is carving out space on their own terms, favoring emotional honesty and creative patience over instant virality. These tracks feel less like trend-chasing releases and more like markers of where music is headed, toward deeper storytelling, atmosphere, and individuality. If 2026 is about discovering artists before they break through, this is where that journey begins.