In its purest type, festivals have the power to revive a childlike sense of marvel to these searching for new artists to find, new venues to discover, and a neighborhood of equally passionate music lovers craving one thing recent.
Lodged within the artist’s playground of New York Metropolis’s Decrease East Aspect, the New Colossus Pageant returned from March 4-9, 2025, taking up beloved native venues like Pianos, Baker Falls, Arlene’s Grocery, Drom, Nublu Basic, and extra, whereas spotlighting over 180 rising artists from all over the world.
The New Colossus Pageant featured a dynamic mixture of artists, spanning genres from post-punk and shoegaze to indie rock and past.
Out of the mighty six-day lineup, listed here are 5 standout artists whose distinctive sound is inconceivable to disregard—every delivering infectious tracks that can depart you curious for extra.
1. Rosier
First on the checklist is Rosier, a bilingual, female-fronted indie-folk group from Montreal, Quebec. 
Photograph Credit score: Jean Malek
Previously referred to as Les Poules à Colin, Rosier is a five-piece group made up of Béatrix Méthé, Colin Savoie-Levac, Marie Savoie-Levac, Éléonore Pitre, and Sarah Marchand.
Recognized for modernizing conventional folks songs, the Montreal-based collective crafts a sound that’s enchanting, soothing, and simply the correct amount of haunting. Their managed stage presence permits the music to talk for itself, with ethereal synth traces, layered vocal harmonies, and a mixture of French Québécois and English lyrics taking heart stage.
With a cinematic, dreamlike backdrop, their delicate, heat vocals really feel like a much-needed embrace—one which pulls you in, making it inconceivable to not hear nearer.
Should you’re drawn to lullaby-like melodies, dreamy synths, and wealthy harmonies, that is your band.
2. Grimsøn
Subsequent up is Grimsøn, a music and artwork undertaking created by frontman Aiden Berglund, initially from Brooklyn, NY, now primarily based in Berlin.
Photograph Credit score: Esperanza Pictures
Mixing components of melancholic indie rock, artwork rock, and Burton-esque gothic tones, Grimsøn crafts a sound that immediately clicks, with poignant, “oh effectively” kind of lyrics and melodies that simply really feel proper.
Songs like “I Made My Therapist Cry Right this moment” have an instantaneous enchantment, permitting crowds to attach immediately and even sing alongside—regardless of by no means having heard the monitor earlier than.
Grimsøn’s distinctive mix of rock genres creates a sound that’s each intriguing and simply replayable.
If melancholic, introspective lyrics are your factor and also you get pleasure from bands like Interpol, give Grimsøn a hear—you gained’t be disenchanted.
3. Most Doubtless Marlin
Cue the self-proclaimed “Lil’ Norwegian Rockstar,” Most Doubtless Marlin, the undertaking of frontwoman Malin Isabel DISCO Guleng from Bergen, Norway.
Photograph Credit score: @anal0gram
Specializing in guitar-driven indie rock harking back to a late ’90s or early 2000s film soundtrack, her sound completely matches the present Y2K revival.
Even for those who’ve by no means heard a music of hers earlier than, there’s one thing immediately comforting and nostalgic about it. Her sturdy vocals demand consideration, chopping via heart-pounding breakbeat-style drumlines with easy command.
Most Doubtless Marlin’s stay efficiency of “Sports activities Automobile” was notably memorable as she shared the story of crashing her dad’s automotive whereas driving in reverse, simply earlier than diving into the monitor’s driving melody.
It was clear the competition crowd understood the vibe, with plain swaying and head-bobbing that completely synced with the monitor’s power.
Should you’re a fan of winding guitar traces, breakbeat drums, and vocals harking back to Clairo, you should definitely take a look at Most Doubtless Marlin.
4. Diamond Day
Montreal’s Diamond Day, consisting of Béatrix Méthé (Rosier) and Quinn Bachand, is the following duo to find—and right here’s why.
Photograph Credit score: Ariana Molly
This hazy experimental pair blends shoegaze with glitch-pop drums, effortlessly connecting it with breathy, folk-like vocals.
The vocal melodies shift from staccato and commanding, complementing the heavy synth, electrical guitar, and programmed looped beats, to a extra legato type when leaning into their shoegaze aspect.
What holds all of it collectively are the duo’s charming vocals, which they harmonize on most tracks, mixing collectively superbly.
Diamond Day is a must-listen for followers of surprising digital soundscapes, bands like PVRIS, and dreamy vocals paired with lush synths.
5. Yndling
Photograph Credit score: Lene Nordfjord
Songs like “It is Nearly Like You are Right here” and “Cautious” are superbly written and so effortlessly charming—every notice feels prefer it attracts you in deeper, making them addictive in a approach that stays with you lengthy after the music fades.
The instrumentation effortlessly accompanies Espevik’s light, breathy vocals, creating an atmospheric backdrop that completely captures the essence of the shoegaze style.
If bands like Males I Belief and Mazzy Star are a part of your musical zeitgeist, Yndling is a pure subsequent step in your listening journey.
In Conclusion
For music lovers and the musically curious, if The New Colossus Pageant wasn’t in your radar, I hope these 5 suggestions have modified that. With artists who problem musical norms, push boundaries, and craft soundscapes which might be each attractive and intriguing, subsequent yr’s competition is bound to be even higher.
Here is the best way to join with these 5 artists:
