In its purest kind, festivals have the flexibility to revive a childlike sense of marvel to these in search of 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 Facet, the New Colossus Pageant returned from March 4-9, 2025, taking up beloved native venues like Pianos, Baker Falls, Arlene’s Grocery, Drom, Nublu Traditional, and extra, whereas spotlighting over 180 rising artists from world wide.
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 below are 5 standout artists whose distinctive sound is not possible 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 often called 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.
Identified for modernizing conventional people 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 middle stage.
With a cinematic, dreamlike backdrop, their delicate, heat vocals really feel like a much-needed embrace—one which pulls you in, making it not possible to not hear nearer.
For those who’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 mission created by frontman Aiden Berglund, initially from Brooklyn, NY, now based mostly in Berlin.
Photograph Credit score: Esperanza Images
Mixing components of melancholic indie rock, artwork rock, and Burton-esque gothic tones, Grimsøn crafts a sound that immediately clicks, with poignant, “oh nicely” sort of lyrics and melodies that simply really feel proper.
Songs like “I Made My Therapist Cry At the moment” have an instantaneous enchantment, permitting crowds to attach immediately and even sing alongside—regardless of by no means having heard the observe 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 take pleasure in bands like Interpol, give Grimsøn a hear—you gained’t be dissatisfied.
3. Most Probably Marlin
Cue the self-proclaimed “Lil’ Norwegian Rockstar,” Most Probably Marlin, the mission of frontwoman Malin Isabel DISCO Guleng from Bergen, Norway.
Photograph Credit score: @anal0gram
Specializing in guitar-driven indie rock paying homage to a late ’90s or early 2000s film soundtrack, her sound completely suits the present Y2K revival.
Even for those who’ve by no means heard a track of hers earlier than, there’s one thing immediately comforting and nostalgic about it. Her robust vocals demand consideration, slicing by way of heart-pounding breakbeat-style drumlines with easy command.
Most Probably Marlin’s dwell efficiency of “Sports activities Automotive” was notably memorable as she shared the story of crashing her dad’s automotive whereas driving in reverse, simply earlier than diving into the observe’s driving melody.
It was clear the competition crowd understood the vibe, with simple swaying and head-bobbing that completely synced with the observe’s power.
For those who’re a fan of winding guitar traces, breakbeat drums, and vocals paying homage to Clairo, you should definitely try Most Probably Marlin.
4. Diamond Day
Montreal’s Diamond Day, consisting of Béatrix Méthé (Rosier) and Quinn Bachand, is the subsequent 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 model when leaning into their shoegaze aspect.
What holds all of it collectively are the duo’s fascinating 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
Final however not least is singer, songwriter, and producer Silje Espevik, aka Yndling, from Oslo, Norway. Specializing in dreamy shoegaze, her music transports you to a cloud of mist full of reflection and nostalgic emotions.
Photograph Credit score: Lene Nordfjord
Songs like “It is Nearly Like You are Right here” and “Cautious” are superbly written and so effortlessly fascinating—every observe feels prefer it attracts you in deeper, making them addictive in a means that stays with you lengthy after the music fades.
The instrumentation effortlessly accompanies Espevik’s mild, 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 are each attractive and intriguing, subsequent 12 months’s competition is certain to be even higher.
This is the way to join with these 5 artists:
