2FM Rising 2025 - Irish musical acts to watch

Here is your guide to the hottest new acts, as RTÉ 2FM names the following acts and artists to see, listen to and enjoy in 2025.

Here's a sneak peak of what to expect in 2025. Tune into the RTÉ 2FM Rising 2025 Spotify Playlist.

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Amble

In the summer of 2023, Irish folk trio Amble – comprising Co Longford's Ross McNerney, Co Leitrim's Robbie Cunningham, and Co Sligo's Oisin McCaffrey – went from relative obscurity to a major label signing. Their rise wasn't fuelled by cunning strategies or ambitions for global domination but by a 'less is more' approach where the music and the joy of playing it were paramount. Originally a secondary school teacher, a primary school teacher, and a data scientist, they came together through social media and local pub performances, with their chemistry and talent quickly evident. A pivotal moment came after their first show together, leading to a more structured approach and the decision to move beyond pub gigs to more formal performances.

Amble's music is a testament to their organic process and shared love for traditional and contemporary folk storytelling. Their upcoming EP, "The Commons," showcases songs like "Little White Chapel," "Thoughts Flood Back to You," and "Luke the Navigator," emphasising simplicity and authenticity. Each member contributes uniquely: Robbie draws from personal experiences, Oisin brings a poetic touch, and Ross focuses on melodies. Their goal is to keep their music simple and pure, resonating with listeners through honest storytelling. As Ross aptly puts it, "The hardest thing to do is write a simple, brilliant song," a challenge Amble seems to meet with ease.

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Annie Dog

Influenced by a plethora of fellow idiosyncratic artists including Dean Blunt, Imogen Heap, and Alex G, Annie-Dog self-produces her own material and crafts bittersweet shapeshifting pop tracks that occupy a world somewhere between PinkPantheress and Grimes. Annie-Dog released her self-titled debut EP in 2024 via Leeds indie-label, "Dance to the Radio", and is set to share her sophomore EP, "15", in February 2025. Although her debut track, "The Pressures of the Heart", only came out earlier this year, she has already been put on the bill for the likes of Ireland Music Week, Pitchfork Music Festival, Dot to Dot, Live at Leeds, and Other Voices.

BOLD LOVE

BOLD LOVE – made up of Cian Ó'Maonlaí (lead vocals), Jack Cody (guitar/vocals), Megan Nic Ruairí (vocals, keys/synth), Dan Aherne (bass), Anton Shovlin (drums), and Adam Curtis (lead guitar) - having been tipped by the likes of Hot Press in their Hot for 2024, Whelan's Ones To Watch, and RTÉ Recommends, for their widescreen indie-pop inflected alt-rock live sound, have been gathering significant momentum, culminating in a scintillating show at the annual Ireland Music Week showcase festival and one of three acts chosen by Dermot Kennedy for his inaugural Misneach festival. Dermot said of the bands debut single 'Lily', "I heard a live version of the song Lily by Big Love, and it just kind of hit me. I thought, why haven't millions of people heard this song?". Having sold-out numerous early headline shows around Dublin at staple venues such as The Workman's Club and The Grand Social, as well as playing major festivals such as Electric Picnic and Other Voices, the band will make their first headline appearance in London at Old Blue Last on 19th November.

Recorded in London with the help of producer Matt Glasbey (Alt-J, Sorry, Bloc Party), "Never Enough" perfectly exemplifies why the band have been on such an incendiary rise and sees them continue to deliver on all their early promise. Combining ruminative guitar and piano lines with fervent, danceable drumming and anthemic vocals, the track slowly builds wistful atmospherics around the repeated lyrics "I was never enough" until the instrumentation breaks out into an almost post-rock inflected climax.

The track comes on the heels of their recent single "Is It Over Yet?", which saw the band earn widespread plaudits including landing on the cover of The Line Of Best Fit's New Music Discovery playlist as well as garnering support from DIY, Rough Trade, and more.

With a succesful 2024 almost behind them, they are poised to take the nusic scene by storm for 2025. For fans of BOLD LOVE, it's only just beginning.

CamrinWatsin

Hailing from Ireland, Cameron Watson opened up his path so his success with a take on Jorja Smith's hit "Blue Lights" which garnered (and still counting!):

- 100k plays within three days of release

- 120k+ on TikTok

- No.1 on Soundcloud New and Hot Charts (Ire, Eng)

- 20th on Soundcloud Hip-Hop & Rap Charts (Ire)

Following multiple releases gaining success across the board and a busy gig schedule - Camrin caught the eye of Sony label Robots & Humans, signing a record deal. The success keeps on rolling for CamrinWatsin as he collaborated with BL3SS to release the massive track "Kisses" featuring bbyclose. The track, as of the end of 2024, has amassed 100 million streams entering the top 5 in the Irish charts and the top 5 of the UK singles chart - a rare feature for an Irish producer to achieve. The momentum has not stopped as the track reached Gold status and continues to roar on as Camrin has amassed a total of 9 million monthly listeners on average thus far. Camrin's latest release on Sony: "Blew My Life Up" has just dropped, and with exciting collaborations and further releases ahead, CamrinWatsin continues to climb to the very top.

Celaviedmai

Celaviedmai has emerged as one of the most thrilling names in the Irish music scene, carving her path as one of the few female urban artists to achieve such acclaim. Her career reached new heights in 2023 with significant achievements such as opening for Kelis, being recognised as a Breakthrough Artist by GAY TIMES and Coca Cola, and performing live for the first time at UK festivals and in Prague and Brussels. This year, she released her most successful project, 'ISSA NEW ERA!', which received widespread praise, televised performances, headlined small festivals and was selected for Ireland Music Week 2024.

Hailing from Galway in the west of Ireland, Celaviedmai's music is revered for its genre-blending within urban contemporary music. Her lyrics include English, French, and Irish, paying homage to her Ivory Coast heritage. Mai's live performances distinguish her from most rappers, with a full band, live vocals and unbelievable connection with the audience. Having opened for renowned artists like Kelis, Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, and Nova Twins, she has earned her place on festival stages and as a headliner at events around the country.

In 2022, Celaviedmai started garnering attention with a cover story in the Irish Sunday Times Culture Magazine, her first E.P 'Both Sides of the Story' and an unforgettable Other Voices debut. The following year, she was highlighted by The Irish Times in their '50 people to watch in 2023' setting the stage for an impressive year. From performing for over 13,000 people in Trafalgar Square to headlining in London, featuring in festivals like Electric Picnic, Longitude, Body & Soul, Boardmasters, All Points East and being named a GAY TIMES x Coca Cola Breakthrough Artist 2023, Celaviedmai continued to make waves.

The momentum continued with her first Irish headline ISSA NEW ERA! tour, leading up to the highly anticipated release of her second E.P in Spring 2024. The new project, inspired by afro and dance elements within hip-hop, has been heralded as Mai's best work to date. ISSA NEW ERA! saw extensive Irish radio play, placements on Spotify's New Music Friday UK, Fresh Finds UK & IE, Breath of Fresh Éire and Apple Music's Irish Hip-Hop. With televised performances on Hot Press x Virgin Media's Uprising and the iconic Fanning at Whelan's in Spring, a busy year with shows, collaborations, role as the national Culture Night Ambassador, standout performances at Ireland Music Week and a GUAP Mag London showcase, Celaviedmai's influence on the Irish music landscape is set to flourish further.

Cliffords

After forming in a garage in Cork as teenagers, Cliffords have emerged as an electrifying act bursting out of the Irish scene. The band built their dynamic indie - rock sound by relentlessly playing venues across Cork , captivating audiences with their emotional and cathartic performances . Cliffords went on to receive widespread recognition after the release of their critically acclaimed debut EP 'Strawberry Scented', which came out in April this year. Following this release the band went on to play numerous venues across Ireland and the UK, including a packed out performance at Electric Picnic's '3 Stage', solidifying Cliffords as a live experience which is not to be overlooked .

ESSIRAY

ESSIRAY is an Irish singer, songwriter, and producer known for her dynamic electronic pop music. She combines fast- paced breakbeats with layered vocals and harmonies, creating a vocal-led sound that feels both energising and calming. Rooted in storytelling, her music explores unique soundscapes that push genre boundaries. Having started her music career as an opera singer, ESSIRAY is no stranger to experimentation and thinking outside the box when it comes to her music-making.

This year, she curated an all-female electronic night at Whelan's, showcasing artists who blend electronic music with other genres. Since her debut two years ago, ESSIRAY has been recognised as "The Future of Irish Music" by District Magazine, won the Goldeneire Songwriting Competition, and performed at festivals such as Beyond the Pale and Forbidden Fruit. She showcased her work at Ireland Music Week 2023 and has supported acts like the South African electronic duo Goldfish at The Grand Social in Dublin and LA-based songwriter Miya Folick. Her work has also been featured on major Spotify playlists, including New Music Friday UK and Fresh Finds: Pop. Hot Press describes ESSIRAY as "a breath of fresh air."

Her most recent single 'LOSE YOU' is a distinctive drum and bass track that combines her ethereal vocals with rich harmonies and stirring piano elements, delivering a fresh, dynamic take on the genre.

F3miii

Dublin-based producer and vocalist F3miii is known for his melodic voice and vibrant chords. Music has always been F3miii's passion and he got his start singing in a gospel choir. The talented artist debuted his career with the release of 'Beautiful' on SoundCloud, this tune elevated him to where he is today with over 2 million streams on his last 3 singles collectively.

F3miii has collaborated with amazing artists like KhakiKid, Pat Lagoon, Monjola, and Bricknasty. The vocalist finds solace in creating music about love and heartbreak that people can relate to.

F3miii was chosen as a District Magazine Alumni 2024 and showcasing artist at Ireland Music Week in 2022. No stranger to live crowds, F3miii's has performed at Electric Pinic, Forbidden Fruit festival, Cork Jazz Festival. The emerging artist also sold out his headline shows in London 2024 and Dublin 2022 and 2024.

F3miii has also featured in over 15 Spotify editorial playlists such as Our Generation, Chilled Pop Hits, Fresh Finds, Radar Global and New Pop Revolution to name a few. F3miii has also featured on the cover of Spotify's Indie Dancefloor, A Breath of Fresh Eire and Fresh Finds UK & IE, of which he also appeared on a billboard in Leicester Square, London.

Fortúne Igiebor

Fortúne Igiebor is a rising star in Irish hip-hop, praised not just for his musical talent but for his authentic approach to artistry. Known countrywide for his eccentric genius, combining heartfelt lyricism with bold, genre-blending production.

Fortúne's rapid rise includes sold-out shows, a documentary debut, and two #1 hits in 2023 alone, making him a standout voice in the Irish music community. His fearless approach and public persona make Fortúne an artist who captivates and inspires - a true breath of fresh air in Irish music.

Pastiche

Pastiche is undeniably transforming the Irish music landscape with her captivating pop sound. With a sonic blend reminiscent of Dua Lipa and Chappell Roan, she masterfully fuses classic electronic dark pop with vibrant 80s influences, all delivered through her sharp and witty lyrics.

A dynamic pop sensation, Pastiche is making remarkable strides in the industry. Her debut headline show at Whelan's sold out in an astonishing 72 hours, a clear indicator of her surging popularity. Having showcased at Ireland Music Week, Iceland Airwaves and Primavera Pro, she is an export-ready star. Audiences have been mesmerised by her larger-than-life persona at venues like The 3Olympia and Collins Barracks. Additionally, she has secured spots at major Irish festivals, including Sea Sessions, Indiependence, SoFFt Nights, and Dublin's Pride Festival.

Her debut EP, Freak Show Symphony, achieved remarkable success, garnering millions of radio impacts, hundreds of thousands of streams, and tens of thousands of radio plays. Pastiche has earned recognition from major Spotify editorial playlists like New Music Friday, New Pop UK and Fresh Finds. Her 2024 hit "Forfeit Control" climbed to No. 3 on the Irish Radio Breakers Chart, amassing 7.5 million radio impacts to date. Following that, she dazzled listeners with "Dizzy" and "Abandon The Planet," continuing to rack up millions more radio impacts and thousands of streams. With her consistent success, Pastiche firmly establishes herself as one of Ireland's most promising independent pop writers, ready to take the world by storm.

2FM Rising 2025- Irish musical acts to watch

Your one-stop list of Irish musical acts to watch over the next twelve months