Entertainment

The Bruin Ranks Up and Coming Musical Artists

Hadley James, Staff Writer • May 21, 2025

A new generation of musical artists has started making waves in the music industry, with multiple charting songs and new albums. The Bruin decided to rank some of these new artists spanning across all different genres, all the way from K-pop to indie.

1. Jenna Raine

Jenna Raine released her first song in 2018, “Us,” but when she blew up on TikTok, fans became obsessed with her song “see you later,” which was released in 2022. She recently came out with her song “21” off her album “Only Started Growing.”

“I love the song ‘see you later,’” said Charley Griffin, a senior at Wadsworth High School. “I discovered her through TikTok and have loved her voice and writing since.”

Raine’s songwriting ability and voice rank her at number one for The Bruin’s ranking. Her style is very consistent and never disappoints.

**Maddox Baxton sent The Bruin posters to promote his music. Baxton is known for his writing on many songs, like “Tough” By Lana Del Rey and Quavo, and also his own music, like “Girl in Green.”** *Photo by Hadley James.*

2. Maddox Baxton

Maddox Baxton started releasing music in 2022, but his first song to make the charts was his 2024 single “Tears in the River,” which ended up in the top 20 songs on Spotify. He is also known for his songwriting skills. He was one of the co-writers on Lana Del Rey and Quavo’s song “Tough,” released in 2024. Baxton’s most recent song, “Girl in Green,” was released a month ago on his extended play “First Dance.”

“I really like his writing on the song ‘Tough.” I think the lyrics are really interesting and beautiful,” said Riley Hunt, a senior at Wadsworth High School.

Baxton’s lyrics are what make him stand out among the other artists on this list. His diversity in his lyrics is not always common, but it makes him stand out compared to other artists.

3. Almost Monday

**Almost Monday is a group based out of San Diego, California. They recently sent The Bruin posters to promote their new album, “Dive.”** *Photo by* *Hadley James.*

Almost Monday is a group based out of San Diego, California. It is a group of three friends who make indie and alternative music. Their most recent album, “DIVE,” was released in 2024, consisting of 11 songs. Some of their most popular songs are “Sunburn,” which has 37 million streams, and “Sun Keeps on Shining,” with 25 million streams. This group is perfect for anyone who enjoys more indie-style music. The production on every song is incredible and sets them apart from most bands.

4. Adrian Lyles

Adrian Lyles is both a singer and an actor. He is most known for his role in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” as a character named Jet, where he was also featured on the soundtrack. Lyles released his first song and music video in September 2024, “Formalize Me,” and has continued to release music since. His most recent release is his song “Concrete Boy,” released on April 18, 2025. Lyles’s voice is what makes him stand out amongst these artists. His musical theatre background separates his voice from all the other artists on this list.

**Freya Skye and Jenna Raine both sent The Bruin bookmarks and posters to help promote their music. Both of these female artists have millions of streams on Spotify.** *Photo by Hadley James.*

5. Freya Skye

Freya Skye is an English singer and songwriter who will be featured in the upcoming Disney movie, “Zombies 4: Dawn of the Vampires.” She has been releasing music since she was 12, with her first release being “I Love the Way” in 2021. Since then, she has released 8 singles, her most recent being “Who I Thought I Knew” in April 2025. Skye’s music is a good mix of both lyrics and production. Any fans of Sabrina Carpenter or Ariana Grande would enjoy her music.

6. Jisoo

**Jisoo sent copies of a calendar to promote her new album to The Bruin. Her most recent release was “Amortage” in 2025.** *Photo by Hadley James.*

Known for being in “BLACKPINK,” which she was a part of until the end of 2023, Jisoo has begun to release her own music. She has also starred in many South Korean films and television shows. Her most recent release, “Amortage,” was released in February 2025 and consists of four tracks, with “Earthquake” being the lead single. Jisoo has done a good job of creating her own music and separating herself from “BLACKPINK” while still being an active member of the group. Jisoo does a good job creating fun, pop music.

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About the Contributor

Hadley James, Opinion Editor

Hadley James is the opinion editor on The Bruin. She was a staff writer her sohpmore year and was then promoted to opinion editor her junior year. Hadley joined this class to learn something new and expand her abilities in graphic design and writing. Hadley loves working on opinion and entertainemnt stories, but also enjoys creating layouts. The Bruin has helped Hadley make multiple connections throughout the community and the high school. The relationships she has formed with her peers in this class will last a lifeitme and has found people who will continue to encoruage her own personal growth.