Meet PEOPLE’s Talented Emerging Artists for Your Fall Playlist

Abbie Callahan

Abbie Callahan is welcoming new listeners to her world of “kaleidoscope country.” 

When the singer-songwriter from Iowa City, Iowa, went to her first concert at age 14 and saw Dolly Parton perform live for the first time, her life was changed. 

“Immediately, I knew what I wanted to be when I grew up. Seeing Dolly write songs for a living inspired me to start writing myself. It became an avenue for me to figure out how to describe how I see the world,” Callahan, now 23, tells PEOPLE. 

In July, Callahan released her debut EP, Grossly Aware, and it marked an era of “leaving behind everything I’d known to pursue a dream.” 

“It revealed how deeply relationships can shape us, and it demanded moments of difficult self-reflection, facing patterns and choosing growth. Every song holds a piece of my heart. To me, this record is about the journey of self-discovery,” she says, adding that she hopes it could be “a companion on your path.” 

Following its release, Callahan already began writing new music, including a song she’s teased on social media called “Drag Queen.” Callahan wrote “Drag Queen” in response to backlash she got about her song “Marry Jane” — and how she won’t let “negative comments or factors determine how I should feel about myself.” 

Similarly, Callahan is passionate about making country music inclusive: “I want people of all sexualities, genders, races, religions, beliefs… to feel like they have country(ish) music they can listen to by an artist who loves them, accepts and celebrates them,” she says. 

Listen to Grossly Aware here.

Karri

Karri is R&B’s next big one. 

The 22-year-old musician from San Francisco sang Frank Ocean’s “Thinking Bout You” for his fourth grade talent show and “everyone went crazy.” Now, he’s received co-signs from Drake and Lil Baby.

“I didn’t think much about it until I got to high school and stopped playing basketball and needed to find something else to do,” he recalls to PEOPLE. “My friend introduced me to Logic and making beats and putting music on SoundCloud and that’s when I started falling in love with making music. It’s a blessing to call this occupation my life because it’s really a dream.”

Following the release of his two singles “fmyx” and “dirty diana” earlier this month, Karri is working on another EP called Late Night Slider Music 2. 

“I’m really excited about this body of work, we put a lot of time and effort and late nights in the studio into this project,” he says, adding that there’s “great features” on there including Kehlani and Hunxho.

Though a vast majority of his music is inspired by his own life events, Karri loves to listen to stories from the people around him and turn them into songs.

“I’m younger so when other people tell me about their situations and what they’ve been through as a human, I like to write and go off that because someone that’s 30 has had more life experience than I have,” he says. 

Outside of music, Karri loves repping Bay Area sports. “I love everything Bay Area sports: Giants, Niners, Warriors… you can ask anybody,” he says. “It’s always on TV – no matter if I’m in the studio or at home, it’s always playing.” 

Listen to his latest singles here.

MEOVV

K-Pop fan or not, MEOVV will be your latest obsession.

The girl group, which consists of SOOIN, GAWON, ANNA, NARIN, and ELLA, released their debut single “Meow” in September 2024. Since then, they released an EP titled MY EYES OPEN VVIDE.

Each member had their unique introductions to music — but two things remain constant: their love for it never wavered and they were willing to work for it. 

“I got an unexpected chance to audition through casting, and that completely changed my perspective. I fell in love with the training process, which opened the door to my dream of becoming an artist,” GAWON, 20, says. 

“From the outside, it might not be obvious, but I’m someone who really works hard and puts in a lot of effort,” ANNA, 19, says, as ELLA, 16, adds that she’s “always loved musicals.” 

Up next, the band is preparing for new releases and working on lots of choreography, NARIN, 18, says, adding that they’re always working to show who “MEOVV is as a team.” 

When they’re creating, the band draws from personal life events, movies and books, and the monotony of everyday life. Ultimately, the goal is to create an experience that lingers — and SOOIN, 21, hopes that listeners “discover the many different sides” of the group. 

Listen to their EP MY EYES OPEN VVIDE here.

Sun Room

Sun Room marches to the beat of their own drum. 

Hailing from San Diego, Calif., Sun Room — which consists of Luke Asgian, Max Pinamonti, Ashton Minnich and Thomas Rhodes — formed in 2021 and quickly went from house parties to sold-out venues across the world. 

“We played so many parties in front yards that would quickly get shut down by the cops,” Asgian, 25, tells PEOPLE. “I guess some people in the industry heard about the ruckus we were making in San Diego because we were suddenly getting offers to go on these big tours across the country.” 

He continues, “I didn’t even know how to run a proper soundcheck at that point. We took every opportunity we possibly could and have basically been on the road ever since.”

Since then, two of the band’s songs were featured on the hit Netflix series Outer Banks and they’ve supported Louis Tomlinson and Inhaler on tour. They also released their latest EP, Ritual of Chaos, in July. 

“Ritual of Chaos is the best example of our sound. It’s a rock record through and through,” he says.

Up next, the band — who finds inspiration through “falling in love, strangers, a good book or poem, a hectic tour, a beer with friends at 2 a.m., good art, old friends and new friends” — will embark on a North American headlining tour called The Jackknife Tour on Sept. 26. 

“I wish people could see the way we tour. I think people have this idea in their head that going on tour is all glamorous and posh or something,” he says. “Definitely not ours, and it’s much more fun that way. I remember this one time we slept on a sidewalk in Vienna because we couldn’t figure out how to get into our hotel. It feels like we’re earning our stripes and we sure get a lot of good stories out of it.”

Listen to Ritual of Chaos here.

Hannah Bahng

Hannah Bahng is just getting started — and her music is bangin’. 

The singer-songwriter from Sydney, Australia, developed a love for music as a young girl when her mom encouraged her to take piano, ballet and visual arts. 

“My mum was a huge influence. She constantly played music around the house and in the car, introducing me to her favorite bands like Air Supply, Bee Gees, ABBA, Queen, etc.,” Bahng, 21, says. “The idea of pursuing music professionally came to me really naturally.”

Bahng — who released her debut project in 2024 — got her start on YouTube by posting vlogs and song covers. Now, she’s gearing up for the release of her newest project, The Misunderstood EP, on Sept. 12 and will embark on a headlining tour in October.

“Most of my inspiration comes from within. Any hurt or emotion I can dive into, I try to be as vulnerable as I can with my songwriting,” she says. “I also tend to draw [inspiration] from Greek mythology, TV shows that mean a lot to me and flowers. I love using symbolism and allegories of all kinds in my music.”

She’s also the creative mind behind all of her work, including writing and producing her music, directing and producing her music videos and drawing and designing her merch. 

“I’m so grateful that being an independent artist has allowed me to maintain creative control of all aspects of my artistry, every step of the way,” she says. “My hope is that my Blues (her fanbase) can always feel that genuine love authenticity from me and my work.”

Listen to Bahng’s latest single “Orchid / Flame” here.

Eliza McLamb

Eliza McLamb makes “dad music for girls” — and it doesn’t get any better than that. 

The singer from Carrboro, North Carolina, has been writing music since she was a young girl. During the pandemic, things took a turn when she started posting it online. 

“From there, I gained a following and started playing shows. I loved the shows and being in the studio so much that I knew I had to keep working at it,” McLamb, 24, tells PEOPLE. 

Currently gearing up to release her sophomore album, Good Story, McLamb spent two years working on “the idea of a narrative.” 

“The point of it, how a story can be a castle and a cage, when you need one to hold on to and when it best serves you to let it go,” she says of the album, which is out Oct. 24. 

Otherwise, when she’s writing, McLamb — who’s going on tour next spring — finds inspiration by going to local shows, “studying signs and symbols, riding the subway, being around people I like, being around people I don’t like and jumping in cold water.” 

Listen to her latest release “Every Year” here.

Marlon Hoffstadt

Summer’s almost over but dance music certainly isn’t. Dive into “complete joy” and listen to Marlon Hoffstadt. 

The 31-year-old DJ from Berlin was 15 years old when he attended his first rave and “spent most of my teenage years in nightlife.” 

“I played my first DJ gig at Suicide Circus at the age of 17,” Hoffstadt, who also goes by Daddy Trance, says. “I guess you can say that growing up in Berlin played a huge role in pursuing this career.”

Earlier this month, Hoffstadt remixed Empire of the Sun’s “Walking on a Dream” — and he’s got so much more in store. 

“I’ve got around 30 tracks I’m eager to share. Some solo, some with incredible artists like Peter Xan. You can already hear a lot of them in my Daddycation shows, where the collaborators also join me on stage,” he says, referencing his 2024 album.

He adds, “It’s 110% DJ Daddy Trance. We just had a crazy night in London where I played a set full of unreleased music, and the energy was through the roof.”

For Hoffstadt, staying creative means experimenting with all sounds — that’s how he created “the magic of Daddy Trance.” 

“I’ll jump in a session with a rapper one day, an indie band the next, then trade tracks back and forth with FISHER. I like throwing sounds together that shouldn’t work and then making them work,” he says. “There’s no guilty pleasure, just pleasure.” 

Listen to “Losing Control” here.

Dogpark

Dogpark is perfect for your coming-of-age soundtrack. 

The five-piece band, which consists of which consists of members Eamon Moore (lead vocals), Christian Conte (drums), Declan Harris (lead guitar), and Billy Apostolou (guitar), met while attending the University of Richmond and started the band to play at fraternity parties. 

“After playing at almost every fraternity at the University of Richmond, we started expanding to other schools in Virginia and North Carolina, like the University of Virginia, Hampton Sydney College, and Elon,” the band, tells PEOPLE.

Adding, “In January of 2023, our second TikTok that we ever posted went viral. Then the fourth one we posted went viral again the next week. That’s when we realized that the band could grow beyond the college party scene.” 

Since then, the band released their debut EP, Breaking in Brooklyn, played their first festival (Governors Ball) and sold out their first-ever headlining tour. In March of this year, they followed with their second EP, Until the Tunnel Vision Melts, and are now gearing up for new releases. 

“We’re finishing up a new batch of songs and getting them ready for release,” the band says. “The project is called Corporate Pudding, and the first song is called ‘September,’ which will be released on Sept. 12. We’re also preparing for our second national tour, The Corporate Pudding Tour, which starts at the end of August all the way through December.”

Their new project is inspired by their “frustrations with the music industry and the corporate world” — and living in New York City inspires their “gritty and heavy texture” in their songs. 

“Individually, each band member brings a unique musical background to our music that shines through,” they say. “We take pride in being a bit unpredictable with our sound and try to make every project a little different from the last.”

Listen to Until the Tunnel Vision Melts here.

Noah Rinker

Noah Rinker’s music feels like morning coffee in the mountains, making him the perfect addition to your fall playlist.

The “No Friend of Mine” singer from Shaver Lake, Calif., was gifted a toy piano by his parents when he was just 4 years old. Before he knew it, he learned piano and guitar by ear and started posting songs online from his backyard. 

“I always wanted to tell real stories from my life that would hopefully impact people through my music, and when a video of my song ‘Save My Soul’ went viral, I was encouraged to make even more music and really make it a lifelong endeavor,” Rinker, 23, tells PEOPLE. “I couldn’t be happier about what has been happening.” 

Now, Rinker is working on his third EP — and it includes his most “truthful and personal” songs to date. 

“I’ve always wanted to make a project that would come out in the fall, it’s my favorite season and it has this sort of romantic and nostalgic feeling to it,” he says. 

Music aside, Rinker is a small town boy at heart and loves “snowboarding, wake surfing, hiking and all things outdoors.” 

“If I’m not in the studio you will find me on the top of a mountain somewhere. I grew up working for my family’s propane company as a service tech and it was some of the best times of my life,” he says. 

That same appreciation for the outdoors bleeds into his music: “Often I’ll take my old square body Ford down a backroad and park in the middle of the woods and drop the tailgate and write a song. Something about the wind blowing through the pines makes me the happiest. It’s where my head is silent from the noise of the outside world. Sometimes deer and other critters will come join me too.” 

Listen to his latest release “Matches and Gasoline” here.

Beauty School Dropout

Beauty School Dropout has that early 2000s movie-like feeling — and they know how to put on a show (just watch any one of their music videos, trust). 

The four-piece band, which consists of Cole Hutzler, who previously appeared on Harry Styles’ “Watermelon Sugar” music video, Bardo Novotny, who’s Dasha’s Brother, Beepus Burdett and Colton (SeaDawg) Flurry. 

“An angel came down and said ‘Yo… ya’ll can either start a band or become accountants and being in a band sounded way more fun,” the band tells PEOPLE exclusively. 

On Sept. 5, the band — who is signed to Mark Hoppus’ label Verswire and collaborated with him on “Almost Famous” — will release their latest album, Where Did All the Butterflies Go? They’re also working on “putting on the best live show you have ever seen.” 

“We find inspiration in real life experiences. Crazy stories that sound too weird to be true are always amazing lyrics,” they say.

The band adds, “We also want people to know that even though we look very skinny and frail, we can actually do a lot of pushups.”

Listen to Where Did All the Butterflies Go? here.

Kacy Hill

Kacy Hill’s music sounds — and feels — like an ethereal daydream. 

The 31-year-old singer from Phoenix, Arizona, grew up playing piano, saxophone and singing in a choir. When she was 18, she moved to Los Angeles, started writing music and hasn’t looked back since. 

“I didn’t intend to pursue it professionally, but it snowballed into a career back in 2014,” she tells PEOPLE. “I didn’t really see music as a job when I was growing up, so it didn’t feel like an option until I was actually doing it.” 

Now, Hill finds inspiration through “nature, little pockets of joy in each day” and “the mundane” when she’s writing. This year, she even became a certified California Native Plant Landscaper. 

“My thirties have so far been focused on learning and nurturing the things that bring me joy,” Hill says. “I didn’t go to college and I’ve spent nearly my whole adult life focusing solely on music, and I didn’t want to get deep into my life without feeling like I didn’t turn over every rock I possibly could have.”

On Aug. 27, Hill — who recently had a song featured on the Apple TV+ show The Buccaneers — released her latest project, a folksy-Americana EP titled But Anyways, No Worries!. 

“I’m very excited about it finally existing in the world,” Hill says. 

Listen to her new EP here.

mehro

mehro’s music is changing the game.

The 25-year-old singer’s journey to music began with a life-altering experience watching the 2005 film Walk the Line. 

“I actually thought I was going to be a basketball player, but I tore my ACL and it took me out for an entire season,” mehro says. “While recuperating I watched the movie Walk the Line and it changed my life. The scene where Joaquin [Phoenix] sang ‘Folsom Prison Blues’ was the moment I knew I wanted to become a musician. I picked up a guitar that night and I never looked back .” 

Now, every single song mehro writes is “a piece of my soul.” Though that kind of vulnerability is scary, “I lean into that fear and realize that I have no choice.” 

When he’s writing, rather than searching for inspiration, he lets inspiration find him. 

“When it does I express it as quickly as possible — hopefully without judgment. That being said, it’s amazing how a sunset or simply just people watching can move me to create,” he says. 

His debut album, Weirdthrob, is set for release on Sept. 9 — and he’s gearing up for a world tour. 

Listen to his latest single, “Sepia Tones,” here.

Penelope Road

Penelope Road‘s music is somewhere in between yacht rock and indie pop — and it bops.

The five-piece band from Atlanta, Georgia — which consists of Antony Smith, Koan Roy-Meighoo, Max Moore, Charles Eastman and James Kopp — each started playing music as kids.

“We’re all passionate about making music and playing shows, and when the five of us got together, it felt like we knew we should pursue a career as a band,” the band tells PEOPLE. 

They band recently finished an EP and they tease it sounds “the best of anything we’ve put out yet.” When they’re writing, the each draw inspiration from their individual experiences and life approaches.

Otherwise, when they’re on the road, the band experiences something called “Penelope Road Luck.” 

“Somehow wherever we go, we bring crazy weather events of agony and despair with us. We literally drove through a lightning storm in the middle of the desert this summer tour,” they say. 

Adding, “The Penelope Road Luck also extends to car accidents, blown tires and knees (on new tire No. 3 and dislocated knee No. 3 now), and all sorts of mayhem. But at the end of the day, we always end up where we need to be and have great stories to tell.”

Listen to The Diamond Street Sessions here.

Hunter Metts

Through his music, Hunter Metts is creating a unique sense of connection. 

When the 26-year-old singer was growing up, he remembers asking his grandmother, who played piano, and his father, who played guitar, to show him basic chords and write his own music. 

“For a long time, I never saw it as something that I could do professionally. After high school I went straight into a coding trade school but would produce and write music after work every day,” Metts, who’s from Nashville, tells PEOPLE.

Adding, “It slowly took up more and more time and really consumed my life. I ended up quitting my day job and moved back in with my parents to make music. I gave myself no other option but to create until I could get on my feet and out of their place with my art.” 

On Sept. 5, Metts announced his forthcoming EP titled A Crater Wide — which is set for release on Oct. 10 — and it’s his most honest music to date. (On Sept. 5, he also released a new single called “Center of the Universe,” which is “a metaphor for what love can feel like.”)

Through his music, Metts aims to demonstrate life experiences through his lens — and believes that though we all share experiences, everyone feels and processes them differently. 

“The soundtrack to my life was and has been folk music from the early 2010s. I fell in love with that music and the way it can take you to different places,” he says. “I hope my sound is adjacent to that and serves the same purpose for anyone listening.”

Listen to his latest single “Blue Ridge Run” here. 

Whitney Whitney

Whitney Whitney’s music feels like dancing in the rain. 

The singer-songwriter, 24, grew up across Connecticut and Manhattan and wrote her first song at 13 years old. The following year, she started releasing music under a different name.

“All it took was writing my first song to know that I wanted to pursue music professionally and it stuck,” she says. 

Most recently, Whitney Whitney has been working on her debut album, which she’s split into four EPs — and they each represent her different musical interests and abilities. 

“I’ve always wanted my music to be multifaceted and always wanted listeners to not know what’s coming next,” she says. “Though the four worlds can be described differently, they do all have a coherent sound of cinematic pop. I just released the first EP titled 1.1, and I’m super excited to share the rest with the world!!”

Whitney Whitney finds inspiration from the world around her and she’s constantly writing things down in her journal and notes app. 

“Whether it’s little phrases, random thoughts, something overheard on the street, even the most ordinary, mundane moments. Sometimes it’s a line from an Instagram comment or just a feeling I can’t shake,” she says. 

Outside of music, she loves her cat Tuna, she plays the drums, she loves poker, she’s dyslexic, she only listens to classical music and “dad rock,” she loves anime, she studied at LaGuardia High School, she dropped out of Belmont in Nashville after a year of studying philosophy and songwriting and she’s always on the hunt for four leaf clovers. 

Listen to her latest EP 1:1 here.

Healy

Healy has turned his pain into purpose.

Healy, 31, dove into music after his parents got a divorce — and it’s led him to writing sessions for stars like SZA.

“I basically locked myself in my room that summer and just learned guitar and wrote songs. I put one of my songs on Spotify a few years later and it just naturally took off,” Healy, who’s from Memphis, Tenn., tells PEOPLE. “Until then music was just a fun hobby, but that’s probably when I decided to take it more seriously.” 

The singer-songwriter released his debut album in 2017 during his second year of medical school and the lead single, “Reckless,” has been RIAA certified gold. Now, Healy is working on his fourth album. 

“I’m still kinda throwing paint at the wall to see what sticks, but things are sounding a lot less polished and rawer, which feels refreshing. As humans we’re all a little irrational, so it only feels [right] to let the music reflect that,” he says. 

In addition to his musical endeavors, Healy is a licensed physical therapist and works with patients with neurological diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. 

Reflecting on his sound, Healy — who cut his teeth by listening to Laurel Canyon-era songwriters — says it “feels like if Crosby, Stills & Nash made a made a collab album with Earth, Wind and Fire.” In other words, “transcendental R&B.” 

Listen to his latest album, Force of Nature, here.

Alemeda

Alemeda forging her own path — and nobody is standing in her way.

When Alemeda was a teenager, she felt out of place after she moved from Ethiopia to Arizona — and she turned to music as her lifeline. Around 2016, she started doing covers and posting them on social media.

“I remember doing some Alessia Cara and Adele covers and they started getting traction in my East African online community. In 2019, right when I thought I was ready to quit, I was approached by TDE ( Top Dawg Entertainment),” Alemeda, 25, recalls. 

Being raised in a Muslim household, however, Alemeda wasn’t allowed to listen to music. Now, her music showcases her dedication to herself. 

“My diary is where I spew most of my thoughts about whatever I’m going through in my real life,” she says. “That’s typically where I get the most material for the lyrics in my songs.”

Alemeda — who’s been releasing music since 2021 — is currently working on her next EP, But What the Hell Do I Know?, which is set for release on Oct. 24. 

“It’s a project that’s mostly inspired by my own personal growth,” she says. “I think it’s a more mature sound and perspective in comparison to my last project, and I really leaned into just having fun and exploring and trying to expanding my sound on it.”

Outside of music, Alemeda is “a cat mom before anything.” “If there’s one thing I want to be remembered for, it’s that,” she says.

Listen to her latest single “1-800-F**ck-You” here.

PRYVT

PRYVT will be your latest indie-rock obsession. 

This Canadian duo, which consists of JT and Sam, first met while attending an audio school in Vancouver. They released their first album &Scene — where each song felt like an episode of a TV show — in 2024. 

“We’re currently wrapping up our second album BACK TO REALITY. We started making this album right after our first tour last summer. We made these new songs to be more live oriented and were inspired to do so after being on three tours last year,” JT, 25, says. 

They each had their own introduction to music, with JT playing piano since age 3 and guitar since age 7. Meanwhile, Sam, 26, grew up singing and playing instruments in church — but it was participating in his high school talent show that made him realize he wanted to do it for a living. 

Now, the duo writes about their “everyday life” — and they draw inspiration from movies, too (their favorite is Cars). 

“PRYVT’s sound is nostalgic and has a sense of yearning to it,” JT says, as Sam adds, “I’d say it’s very cinematic yet very intimate.” 

Listen to their latest song, “PALETTE,” here.

Adrian Lyles

Adrian Lyles is just getting started.

Lyles, 20, who’s from Dallas, Texas, started playing piano at age 3. By age 11, he discovered artist like Twenty One Pilots, Jon Bellion, Frank Ocean and Brockhampton and it “completely changed the way I saw music.” 

“I discovered how powerfully their records resonated with me, a complete stranger, and decided that music was what I had to do with my life,” Lyles, who starred on the hit Disney Channel show High School Musical: The Musical: The Series tells PEOPLE. 

Now, Lyles is working on his series of EPs called Horizons, with his latest, Dusk, out Sept. 5. 

“Most of these songs are records that I’ve been working on for the past couple of years, and they’re finally coming out. It’s my first raw introduction to the world,” he says. 

But there’s no rhyme or reason to it. Lyles makes what he likes — and sometimes that means making a “dirty rock indie song,” while other days it mean making “a downtempo piano ballad.” Either way, he’s an “open book.” 

“Songwriting really bloomed for me back in Dallas when my homie and I would go out and skate. We would just rap and freestyle melody stuff,” he says. “We’d write hooks and melodies about every dumb thing we’ve ever done or any girl that existed in our lives at the time. Now here I am doing the same thing, but I get to share it with the world.”

Lyles adds of his sound, “My music taste is so all over the place that I think it’s rubbed off on my sound. My music always feels raw, human, like me, and I want people always guessing, ‘What’s the next song gonna sound like?'”

Listen to Horizons: Dusk here.

Kevian Kraemer

“Attention!” Kevian Kraemer is the artist you won’t want to miss. 

The 19-year-old from Asbury Park, New Jersey, grew up playing instruments and was playing local shows by the time he was in high school. 

“I think the switch flipped for me my sophomore year, when I started to see the community that the music was creating,” he says. “It’s genuinely so cool to me to say that this is still just the beginning, and I can’t wait to see what’s in the near future.”

When he’s writing, Kraemer finds inspiration through “exciting moments, my own personal struggles, books that I’m reading or shows that I’m watching.” 

In May, the rising star released an EP titled Jersey or Mars and he’s now working on his “next batch of songs.” In the fall, he’ll also support Smallpools on the road. 

“It’s not only — in my opinion — the best body of work that I’ve made so far, but creating and exploring this new sound with all my friends has been one of the most enjoyable and exciting experiences I’ve had thus far in my career,” he says of his new music. 

If you ask Kraemer, his music is The Strokes meets Last Dinosaurs meets Remi Wolf meets Sarah Kinsley. In addition to his love for music, Kraemer’s “favorite place” is the beach. 

“One of my big passions is fresh-squeezed orange juice and finding the best one on earth. I desperately want a pet pig one day, and my favorite group outside of my genre is TV Girl!” he adds. 

Listen to his latest single, “Tan Lines,” here.

Haute and Freddy

Haute & Freddy are the alt-pop duo you didn’t know you needed. 

Haute (whose real name is Michelle Buzz) and Freddy (whose real name is Lance Shipp) was born out of “play, chaos and finally telling our own story.” 

“We went broke writing songs for other people. Then we thought, why not go broke doing something that actually feels like us,” the duo, who both emerged in the L.A. songwriting scene, tells PEOPLE. . 

Haute got her start playing piano at five years old and recalls falling in love with Cats and Chicago on VHS. In college, she taught herself how to produce — but by the time she dove into the songwriting scene in L.A., she struggled to find someone doing something “experimental and exciting.” Then, she met Freddy. 

Meanwhile, Freddy’s love for music started with Motown playing in his household growing up. He eventually learned piano, then guitar and then drums. When he was 14, he started producing after his dad took him to Guitar Center and bought him Pro Tools. 

Before they were Haute & Freddy, Freddy co-wrote and produced songs for artists like Rauw Alejandro, Britney Spears, and Calvin Harris, among others, as part of a composer collective. Meanwhile, Haute co-wrote hits for Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Bebe Rexha.

As for their sound, the duo is combining their love for theater, carnival-pop and historical costumes to create music that they consider “somewhere between a feral club and a fabulous opera.” 

Listen to their latest single “Shy Girl” here.

Aiyana-Lee

Aiyana-Lee is bringing cinematic soulful pop to the states. 

The London-born singer-songwriter, 24, grew up in a musical household as her mom was a singer-songwriter herself.

“Music always played throughout our home and I was continuously inspired,” she says.

Earlier this year, Lee made her acting debut in Spike Lee’s latest film HIGHEST TO LOWEST and she sang on two songs for the soundtrack, including the title track. She also went on tour with Lil Wayne. 

“‘Highest to Lowest’ is a soulful, triumphant journey,” she said in a press release after the song’s release. “One rooted in vulnerability and hope. It’s a song and story close to my heart that proves even in the darkest moments, light always finds its way through.”

Now, Aiyana-Lee’s working on her next project and she’s “incredibly excited to share all the things I’ve been making and the world I’m creating.” 

When she’s writing, she finds inspiration in the “highs” and “lows” she experiences — as well as the quiet moments and the boredom. 

Listen to her latest song “Highest 2 Lowest” here.

Lexa Gates

There’s no more gatekeeping… check out Lexa Gates! Her music is “sexy, psychedelic and honest.”

The 24-year-old singer from Queens, New York, had a keyboard in her home growing up that she was always drawn to, marking the beginning of her musical journey.

“Since I was little, I found music to be a fun game to play, it genuinely brought me joy,” she tells PEOPLE. “I always used writing as an outlet to express the things I was too scared to say in person. I’d put it into song.” 

She dropped out of school at age 15 and began recording at home. She released her debut album in 2020 called Order of Events and followed with 2022’s Universe Wrapped in Flesh.

Following the release of her 2024 album Elite Vessel — which was an exploration of self-discovery, resilience and ambition — Gates is working on her next album: I Am. 

When she’s creating, she finds inspiration “walking around on the concrete, seeing trees, things, and people.” 

Gates also loves “listening to conversations and tones of an argument, laughter, [and] birds. Everything is inspiring.”

Listen to “Past It” here.

Bailey Spinn

Bailey Spinn is creating community. 

The 23-year-old singer from Fairfax, Virginia, got her start in music by posting covers on YouTube and then expanding her musical abilities by taking vocal and guitar lessons. 

“As a kid, I loved musical theater and taught myself to sing at a young age. Throughout my teens, I developed a love for rock music, which inspired me to make my own,” she says. “One of my longtime dreams was to become a musician, so when I was given the opportunity to do it professionally, it was thrilling!”

Now, her main goal when releasing music is to help fans feel seen by singing about her experiences (like breakups and insecurities).

“Music has helped me a lot during some dark times, and I want to be a light to anyone needing support too. I love creating art, but I also love knowing people all over the world can relate to what I’ve been through,” Spinn, who’s releasing her newest song “FOGO (Fear of Going Out)” on Sept. 26, says. 

Spinn is channeling that energy on her forthcoming studio album, which dives “deeper into personal struggles I’ve had.”

“My goal on this new project was to open up even more to my audience and take back some power by expressing how I feel,” she says. “This album may shock some people as it’ll be longer, and leans into a powerful feminine heavy rock energy. I’ve already been working on it behind the scenes for a few months now, and I’m so excited to start releasing singles off the album!”

Listen to her debut album Loser here.

JVNA

JVNA will hypnotize you with her ethereal soundscapes. 

JVNA (born Jana Ma) grew up playing piano, violin and cello — and she was enrolled in music production lessons by the time she was 10. Now, she’s blending pop and dance music to create her own lane. 

“I’ve been exploring different sounds lately, and writing music with a more open mindset [by] crossing between pop and EDM,” JVNA, 28, tells PEOPLE. 

Adding, “I feel like the music I’m making with this new era channels an energy that makes listeners feel like a provocative goddess.” 

JVNA, who’s from Arcadia, Calif., released her latest single, “Aphrodite,” in August. These days, she draws inspiration from “feminine divine myths.” At its core, her music is a “diary entry of my life.” 

Outside of her music — which she considers “energetic, emotional, provocative and cinematic — JVNA is a cat-lover!

Listen to “Aphrodite” here.

Maggie Lindemann

Maggie Lindemann’s music is to “die for.” 

The 27-year-old singer from Dallas, Texas, always loved to sing when nobody was around. Then, she started posting videos on an app called Keek and a video of hers was later discovered on YouTube. 

She released her debut single “Pretty Girl” in 2016 and is now gearing up to release her second full-length album, I feel everything. This album — which will drop on Oct. 17 — is “alternative and pop-leaning.”

“That’s been a main focus,” she says, adding that she’s also working on “the rollout process and getting ready for a tour. I’m starting back up in the studio again though next month so I’m excited to get back to making more music.” 

Though her music is inspired by her life and feelings, Lindemann — who also started a clothing brand called SWIXXZ —  finds comfort in her privacy. 

“I used to love the idea of people knowing the real me but now I find a lot of peace in people knowing very little about me. I’m just a character!!” 

Listen to her latest single “Spine” here.