Artistry can begin from and out of nowhere — a bedroom, a church choir, even a TikTok posted on a whim. Expression and creativity are worth investing time in; to tell a story, to give a voice to truths unheard. These four upcoming artists are proof, and you’ll want to keep them on your radar. Whether you’re looking to find new artists or explore genres, EnVi has got you covered.
Radkey: Your Next Favorite Rock Band
Radkey is a punk rock trio made up of brothers Dee, Isaiah, and Solomon Radke from St. Joseph, Missouri. Having grown up homeschooled, they eventually took their sound out of their home and into studios and live performances, with their dad, Matt Radke, managing the group along the way.
The band debuted when they were still teenagers in 2011 with Irrationally Yours, a self-released EP that includes five tracks. Their debut full-length album, titled Dark Black Makeup, didn’t come until 2015 and was later re-released in 2016 under the name Delicious Rock Noise, which featured two bonus tracks.
The brothers grew up listening to bands like Foo Fighters, The Ramones, and Weezer; influences that helped shape the sound that landed them on stages alongside influential rock acts such as L7, The Offspring, and Descendants. It was between 2020 and 2021 when Radkey had opened shows for L7 that bassist Jennifer Finch introduced them to Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters — a connection that would prove to be a turning point for the band. Grohl decided to include Radkey in his 2021 documentary What Drives Us, which follows Radkey and Starcrawler on the road. This relationship drove the band to open several shows for Foo Fighters themselves. Isaiah said, “Getting the endorsement from a band like [the Foo Fighters] that you grew up with was really sweet, and we just feel really awesome about it, and it was an amazing time.”
In a genre that began in the hands of Black artists only to become white-dominated, Radkey are graciously adding their own voices and perspectives into the world of rock. When asked about some obstacles they’ve faced as people of color, Isaiah said, “It’s almost as if it’s forgotten that black people invented rock and were in the genre from the beginning. It’s a really confusing situation to be in where everyone thinks you’re a novelty. We’re just living our lives.” With their raw, fast, and energetic sound, Radkey are showing why it matters to take space and represent culture.
Their recent singles include “Strays,” “Victory,” and “Falling Out Of Grace,” with the Victory EP being their newest project to check out!
Hannah Jadagu: Texan Bedroom Popstar
Raised in Mesquite, Texas, by immigrant parents from Zimbabwe, Hannah Jadagu’s discography is full of stories that center around coming of age, mental health, and love. At just 16, she learned to play guitar and felt a connection with the instrument. She began writing and recording her earliest music from her bedroom, releasing it on SoundCloud under Sub Pop Records. Before her debut EP, she had only released two singles, “Unending” and “Pollen.”
Her 2021 debut EP, What Is Going On?, was produced entirely by herself on an iPhone 7 using GarageBand, an iRig, a microphone, and her guitar. With determination and creativity, the five-song collection proved that talent cannot be ignored. The EP was featured on NPR Music and praised by outlets such as The New York Times, catching the attention of music lovers beyond Texas.
Shortly after, her debut album, Aperture, was released in 2023, which explored themes of religion, faith, relationships, and being a Black woman in indie music. The title itself was inspired by photography — the opening of a camera lens that controls how much light passes through when taking a photo. This evolved into a metaphor about her early twenties, reflecting the idea of choosing which experiences to hold onto and which parts of her past and present shape her character. It highlighted her growth: “Aperture is an introduction to my world when I was 19 and now 20, and navigating that transition into young adulthood.” Hannah sings candidly about maturity and adulthood in the album, topics that are relatable for many of her fans.
Her second album, Describe, was released in 2025, and it explores solitude and connection. Hannah defines one of her musical goals as helping people connect with her stories: “I want kids who grew up like me to see that you can make music, even if all that’s around you seems limited [or] points elsewhere.” As she stays true to her goal, she is continuing to release new projects, with “Tell Me That” as her latest drop.
Ayoni Thompson: Powerful Soul, Powerful Voice
Ayoni Thompson, based in Los Angeles, California, is a 26-year-old Bajan alternative and indie-folk singer-songwriter. She was born in Barbados but moved around a lot during her childhood to various cities and countries such as Miami, Singapore, Jakarta, and California. As a kid, she would sing for her local church choir and learned how to play the piano and guitar. She grew up with an interest in production and sound design, and later attended USC’s Thornton School of Music.
Her sound is reminiscent of womanhood and independence. She brings beautiful, lingering melodies with strong vocals and lyrics that cut deep — stories of the Black woman experience, love and relationships, faith, and self-discovery. In an industry that is often whitewashed and rarely gives Black women the spotlight to tell their stories, Ayoni is making sure her own story is heard and believes in centering Black women’s tellings.
In 2019, Ayoni came out with her debut album,Iridescent, which explored femininity, coming -of-age, and independence. These concepts came from her first year in LA as she navigated love and identity as a young Black woman in pop music. In June of 2020, she released “Unmoved (A Black Woman’s Truth),” a song she kept stored since 2019 and released during the Black Lives Matter movement. This single showed her dedication to sharing vulnerability: “Most importantly, it is every single moment I remembered the walking poems that are my Black sisters, the breathing reasons to continue fighting to forge a path forward.” This was a glimpse into the depth and heart she continues to bring into future projects.
Her most recent album, ISOLA, is a memoir of her early 20s paired with powerhouse vocals. She describes her intention with every project as a creation “with the intention of reaching as many people of different walks of life, ages, gender, [and] sexual orientation.” Her main goal is for her music to resonate “on the most soulful, human level,” a purpose that speaks volumes of her artistry and character.
Leonie Biney: Indie Pop’s Newest Voice
Leonie Biney, a daughter of immigrant parents, was raised in Somerset, England. At a young age, she was encouraged to sing, which sparked an interest in music as she taught herself to play guitar. A childhood love for music grew into a deeper passion during lockdown as she began writing her own original songs. She enrolled at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts and decided to take on the music industry shortly after.
She gained traction seemingly out of nowhere after posting her original “Beach Song” on TikTok, gaining over 100K views in just four days. The progress didn’t stop there; she landed an opening spot on Kamal’s national tour — UK-based R&B and alternative singer-songwriter — and released her debut EP shortly after. It Could Have Been Nice orbits around loss, vulnerability, and change, or as she puts it, “yearning and oversharing, usually hidden behind a cute bossa nova beat, twinkly synths, or excessive harmony stacks.” A tender, heartfelt EP about her feelings and experiences between the ages of 15 and 18, it captures the unfiltered emotional processing of her youth that is universally relatable.
Her most recent singles, “Groupie” (2025) and “Think Twice” (2026), show an artist who still takes pride in authenticity and ingenuity, making her work something to keep a close ear to!
All four of these artists have a special story of prosperity. They’re a reminder that taking up space matters, especially in genres and industries that have historically excluded or overlooked the voices of Black artists. They’re a testament that craft is built out of genuine conviction and passion, and they’re certainly showing it through their remarkable projects!
Interested in discovering more talented Black artists? Click here to read about 5 must-hear musicians!
