More often than not, January is a sluggish time for the music world. After the chaos of December, when publications race to release year-end lists, cramming in as much music-listening as possible, January is like a holiday from music – a dry period when few artists perform and even fewer drop projects. But January 2025 was vastly different.
Although the underground scene never sleeps, rarely is the mainstream so active at the start of the year. With stellar releases from Ethel Cain, FKA Twigs, and The Weeknd, 2025 is already off to a fantastic start. Here are just a handful of the best projects I heard this past month, along with a few from December I didn’t have the chance to cover.
FKA Twigs – EUSEXUA
From the first note of EUSEXUA, I was hooked. The album brings together the moody production of trip hop with the colour and personality of R&B, held together by a glue of jittery electronica. Every song is a triumph, from the mesmerising vocal chops on “Drums of Death” to the drum & bass style percussion that dominates “Striptease”. Twigs’s versatility has never been more apparent, thriving on slower, more intimate cuts as well as chaotic bombardments of electronic noise. Her stunning falsettos and silky tone complement the rough soundscape of EUSEXUA, giving the listener a point of focus and stability while the production unravels, revealing new and exciting layers with every tune. Her lyrics are elegantly poetic, discussing themes of love, joy, and intimacy over some unforgettable instrumentals.
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow
Hurry Up Tomorrow is everything I could have wanted from a new Weeknd album. A few singles had me worried the project would not impress – namely “Dancing in the Flames” and “Timeless” – but the album comes together as one of the best in his career. Hurry Up Tomorrow takes the thematic core of Dawn FM and fuses it with the pop appeal of After Hours, this time infused with some vintage dance magic thanks to contributions from Justice and Giorgio Moroder. From front to back, the production is pristine, blending elements of French house, Brazilian funk, ‘80s disco, and soul across its 22 tracks. The recurring themes of life, death, and legacy are tragically conveyed by Tesfaye. His harrowing words are juxtaposed by the gorgeous production and slick melodies. If this album is indeed the final project from The Weeknd, I cannot think of a better way to close his discography.
Cameron Winter – Heavy Metal
If only I had heard Heavy Metal back when it released, it would have landed high on my Best Albums of 2024 list. The debut album from Cameron Winter is a gorgeous effort in folk and singer-songwriter music, defined by Winter’s warm, mumbling vocals that make every song sound like an intimate conversation with the listener. The production is truly beautiful, especially in the front half with song of the year contenders like “Nausicaa” and “Love Takes Miles”. Every instrumental is slow and methodical, perfectly complementing Winter’s style. His writing can be cryptic at times and hilarious at others, striking a fine balance between humour and poetry with the voice and songwriting talent to make it work. If you have not heard Heavy Metal, make it a priority.
2nd Cousin – Hip Hop
To simply title a rap album Hip Hop is a bold move. In those two words, you suggest that the LP is not just like any other record, but hip hop in its purest form; the definition of the genre. With their second album, rapper/producer duo 2nd Cousin did just that. Hip Hop is a prime example of hip hop: a rapper and MC in complete synergy, bringing out the best in one another. Big Noah Genesis is a rapper with limitless bravado, bringing energy to every performance and unwavering sincerity to every bar written. On production, Act Won is a master of his craft, flexing his versatility as the LP zigzags from laidback jazz rap into mind-bending abstract hip hop.
Ethel Cain – Perverts
Perverts is the kind of EP you need to dedicate time to digest. To listen while doing something else; to reduce it to background noise; even listening to it with your eyes open feels like a disservice to the art. On this project, Ethel Cain illustrates a vast and terrifying atmosphere through the world of drone music. Whenever there are words spoken, they are muffled in the shrieking soundscape, reduced to faint echoes that build on the horror of the EP even more. Clocking in at 90 minutes, Perverts is a challenging and heavy listen, but well worth your time. Cain’s lyrics are harrowing and her production even more disturbing. The ideal way to hear Perverts is to shut your eyes and bask in its madness, allowing sound alone to paint a picture for the listener.
Cystic – 22.
Years into his career, Cystic has carved out a unique sound for himself, and 22. is the culmination of all that progress. An EP dedicated to his growth, hopes, and fears, the project is a sonic representation of the rapper’s mind. Stress, isolation, and perseverance define the ever-evolving sound of this release. It begins with “22.”, a relatively tame cut where Cystic shouts into the mic about his struggles but his unbreakable desire to succeed. However, the EP quickly takes a dark turn. “P!SSEDASFXCK!” sees Cystic rap over a dark, disjointed trap beat, embodying all the angst and anger the rapper is known for. Songs like “RUN.” and “stress.” depart entirely from hip hop, with Cystic singing softly over sparse, delicate instrumentals. A constant battle between hope and despair, 22. is the most thematically focussed and sonically versatile Cystic has ever been.
Coughy Bitters & Jazzy Lion Man – The Louvre
In the first moments of this project, a narrator introduces the listener to the Louvre: the famous French museum, and a staple in the world of art. Across its four tracks, Coughy Bitters and Jazzy Lion Man try to replicate the feeling of a museum through the language of hip hop. The production is laidback and elegant, using silence as an instrument to reflect the space of a museum while the MC walks through its halls, rapping under his breath. The Louvre is nothing revolutionary for the genre, but combining their talents, Bitters and the Lion Man depict a uniquely intimate and peaceful atmosphere for the world of underground hip hop. Every track is its own exhibit, and at four songs long, you have no excuse not to visit The Louvre.
Unknown INK – PRAISE THE UNKNOWN
After years of anticipation, the debut album from rapper Unknown INK has finally arrived. The rapper offers a ferocious batch of tracks showcasing his eclectic talents and unbridled passion for the genre. Whether he’s singing a soulful chorus or tearing up an instrumental with his cutthroat flows, every appearance from INK is a joy to hear, brimming with enthusiasm and personality. Features like Unruly, Patty Honcho, and MANSDEM bounce well off the MC, feeding his energy and helping build the bombastic soundscape of the LP. The mixing is a little rough around the edges here and there, with some verses louder than others, but those technical issues never distract from INK and his artistry. I would have enjoyed if the album stretched a little longer – and its tracks had some more time to breathe – but otherwise, PRAISE THE UNKNOWN leaves me excited to see where Unknown INK takes his sound next.
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