Ask Mido: 2025 Music in Review
- Anderson Longenecker
- Dec 31, 2025
- 6 min read
Before launching into 2026, we'd like to reflect on the music of 2025—the melodies that accompanied us through our highs and lows, the live shows that left us starstruck, and the artists who inspired us.
The Mido team listens to a wide range of genres and artists, which is why we've surveyed some of our members, asking them about their favorites from this year—the songs, concerts, and interviews. What has defined 2025 in our memories musically?
Read on to find out and get new artist recommendations for the new year!
Q: Who would you crown your favorite indie artist for 2025?
Hemlocke Springs: Hailing from North Carolina, known for her viral song "Girlfriend" (2022), synth-pop
"She’s the type of artist that I would want to see live anytime she goes on tour."
Dream, Ivory: Two brothers, Christian and Louie Baello, active since 2016
"I think they really found their niche and are truly breaking into the shoegaze and alternative music scene."
Peach Luffe: Toronto-based artist, daydream pop, rich musical discography
"His music is like scenes from a movie."
OutStation: India's new boy band that debuted with a splash
"I really liked their first single released last month. It's titled 'Tum Se' & I find myself humming its lyrics since then."
Select All: Four-member girl band out of Australia, grunge and shoegaze
"Their newest album, Eaves, was recommended to me via Spotify's Discover Weekly playlist. From there, I listened to the rest of their catalogue, and I think their music is just the earworm, old school grunge sound I love, similar to Deftones."
Q: What was your favorite Mido Interview coverage?
In 2025, Mido interviewed 20 artists, including J-pop girl group IS:SUE, Filipino-Hawaiian artist Keoni Usi, and Singaporean pop artist WHYLUCAS. It's an amazing opportunity to share the creative process and stories of these amazing artists with our audience. We hope to talk more in 2026, but now that it's a new year, let's review some of our favorites!
Mido Team: brynne — Being part of the Instagram team, I get to discover new artists not only for Mido but for me as well. I got into listening to his music and found that I liked it a lot! It’s amazing to see the growth in his artistry and read about his journey when it came to making his albums.
Mido Team: JOSEON — I've had JOSEON's "Snows" in my playlists since its release in 2024. I never dived deeper into who JOSEON was until Mido's interview, where I read about their process and who they are as creatives, which was very interesting. Now their summer single "7Degrees" is another permanent playlist feature.
Mido Team: JUNHEE — I think JUNHEE's responses were very well thought-out, and he had a lot of insight to give.
"Breaks are a must. I think rest is just as important as work. Of course, there are definitely times when you want to rest but can’t, but once that period passes, I think you need to get enough rest so you can go full speed again."
Mido Team: Frizzell D'Souza — I discovered her song "My Last Cigarette" from the interview—it's playful, and the instruments used had this song on repeat.
Mido Team: Shye — I wasn't aware of the artist Shye before reading the interview. I am so happy that I discovered a new artist through the interview and really liked the artist and her responses. What I found truly inspiring was the fact that Shye manages most of her work by herself.
"I’ve had to stay true to myself constantly, instead of maybe just doing things because that’s what everyone else does. So it’s definitely helped me find myself as a person." - Shye for Mido Media
Mido Team: The Two Lips — Their behind-the-scenes vlog with Mido captured a side of them we haven't really seen before. It was so nice and refreshing being able to see them laugh and enjoy themselves, all while keeping things professional and fun!
Q: What were your favorite songs/albums/artists on repeat this year?
Mido Team: As one of Mido's live music photographers, I have a ritual before every coverage where I need to listen to high-energy music to forget my nerves. No matter the countless concerts I've attended to photograph, I still feel a sense of anxiety, but songs from JT and Awich helped me get into the zone. These two songs range from the classic hip-hop feel to new-age, it's addicting.
Our team had a variety of songs, albums, and artists on repeat, from Jereena Montemayor to Chase Atlantic to Lorde. HUNTR/X and JENNIE stole our attention this year with "Golden" and "like JENNIE," Riaan filled our hearts with "Adore You," and Daichi Yamamoto reassured us that everything will work out with "Nantokanarusa."
Check out the full playlist for our 2025 strongest repeats here:
Q: What was your favorite concert/event/content to photograph or film for Mido?
Mido Team: I didn't know what to expect from covering Fujii Kaze's show in Toronto, and I love that because I was absolutely blown away. Fujii is a master of commanding the crowd no matter if it's one of his slow yet heartfelt songs or a viral classic. I could not stop thinking about his energy for days after the concert and am eagerly waiting to see him on tour again!
Mido Team: My favorite concert this year to cover for Mido was JAY B in San Francisco or KCON LA because it was really cool to listen to the songs I enjoy live, and I’m grateful to have captured the moments from that tour stop. It was also my first time photographing in San Francisco, so I was happy to experience it in a different city that I've always visited from time to time. KCON LA was fun to photograph and cover; there was so much happening. It was my first time attending, and I liked that I discovered some new artists.
Q: Nothing can beat the magic that live music brings. As we keep our eyes open for next year's events, what was one concert experience that you will always remember from 2025?
Mido Team: I got to attend Ed Sheeran's concert in India and heard him sing “Perfect” live for the first time. Sheeran's voice is enchanting, and I got to know so many other songs.
Mido Team: I saw keshi at Madison Square Garden, and it was quite a transformative experience. I'd seen him before, but I always think he shines even more brightly when he performs live! He did a lot of fan service and also told us how grateful he was to be playing MSG—a lifelong dream he had.
Mido Team: DAY6 - Their energy makes you fall in love with them. I'm attending their concert again in 2026.
Mido Team: Metallica! They're my #1 artist for the past 3 years, and I was lucky to see them in concert this year, clutching the barricade with pure adrenaline.
Mido Team: Lorde’s Ultrasound Tour was one of the best concerts so far that I’ve attended! She had amazing visuals, and her engagement with the crowd was so amazing to see. My experience was insane because she was right in front of me when she came into the crowd! She also brought out Charli XCX which made the crowd roar with excitement.
Q: While we heard lots of amazing music this year, there is always more to discover! So what else should we add to our playlists? Who is your top artist recommendation from 2025?
Hearts2Hearts: K-pop girl group under SM Entertainment, debuted in February 2025
"'They're so cool' is all I say whenever I listen to “STYLE” and “Focus” and watch the girls dance in their MVs."
Fcukers: Duo Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis, electronic, house
"Recently saw them open for Tame Impala and they put on such a good show!"
aldn: American singer-songwriter, digicore
"I believe his newest album, Strung Out Symphony, truly shows his transformation and how settled he is in the genre and his experimentation."
Christian Kuria: Californian producer and singer-songwriter, pushing boundaries of genres
"When I was shuffling R&B music, I kept coming across his songs. I would tap the screen to find out who it was, and it was always a Christian Kuria song."
82MAJOR: K-pop boy group under Great M Entertainment, a blend of hip-hop, pop, and EDM
"They have cool beats, and they are relatable. I feel like they had a good 2025 of getting to meet fans as they toured and performed at KCON LA. Their Trophy mini-album makes you feel like you should be in the club dancing."
And that is a wrap! Thank you for joining us on our reflection of 2025 and the music that moved us the most! We hope to share more stories and to cover more events in 2026.
Who was your favorite indie artist in 2025? What Mido interview did you enjoy reading the most? Let us know in the comments below or by reaching out to us on Instagram or X.
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Edited by Michelle Leung