Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Julie is the lead singer of HAVVK, and co-founder of VETA Records – an alternative rock duo who most recently released ‘Happening Again’, the band’s first song since their 2024 album To Fall Asleep. Check out their Bandcamp.
See all of the guestlist choices for 2025.
1.
Model/Actriz – Diva
‘Diva’ was the first song I heard from Model/Actriz, and one of my favourite discoveries for 2025. They make sinister industrial art pop that you can absolutely lose a night on the dancefloor to. There’s something about the faceless escapism of the music met with the intimacy of Cole Haden’s vocals that is really confronting, like someone talking in your ear at a club.
2.
Saya Gray – THUS IS WHY (I DON’T SPRING 4 LOVE)
This album was the soundtrack to my summer this year. It reminds me of long stretchy evenings cooking for family and friends. I have a particular love for ‘good kitchen music’ and this is definitely that. I love her lyrics and her very punctuated production choices – they remind me of those early St. Vincent albums.
3.
They Are Gutting a Body of Water – the chase
A big solid wall of sound that also feels like it could’ve been made in someone’s garage – that is a sweet spot for me. I love how hypnotic this track is, the choice to make it centre around one cyclical riff for the first whole minute of a half, before it gives way to the spoken word. The whole album is gorgeous – deep, dark, tense, but comforting shoegaze; a big fuzzy-jumper hug around your brain.
4.
WOOM – Weltz
This song stopped me in my tracks one morning getting as I was ready for work. I had to stop and listen even if it meant I would be rushing later. What drew me in was the vocal layers – the harmonies are so interesting, and they build on them so beautifully. You can tell they treat harmonies as a core instrument rather than an afterthought – as a choir nerd, this is right up my street.
5.
Addison Rae – New York
I inhaled this album this year. I love the softness of her vocals, her carefree storytelling set to just undeniable production from Elvira Anderfärd and Luka Kloser. Dream team. I feel like they gave so much thought to every second of the album – very pristine pop, but with lots of weird little moments of abandon – especially the end of this track. I also visited New York at the end of the summer, so you know this was in my ears the whole time.
6.
HEALTH – VIBE COP
This song is what the rave scene from John Wick wishes it was. They have been drip-feeding this album for a while now and boy am I primed?
7.
Nine Inch Nails – As Alive As You Need Me To Be
All I’ve really wanted since the Challengers soundtrack is more Trent Reznor x Atticus Ross club bangers. I was very excited to hear they’d be taking on the Tron soundtrack. It did not disappoint. NIN were definitely a contender for my gig-of-the-year, especially the way they broke the set up into different chapters, moving the performance from the main stage to the mini plinth stage. One of the highlights for me was the electronic set – the whole crowd dancing in the round with the band lit up in what looked like a cube of red smoke.
8.
RÓIS X hhH – Did ye ever get the ride at the wakehouse?
One of my biggest fomos of the last couple of years is that I still haven’t caught RÓIS live yet – I’ve been totally enthralled by her since day one. Her music holds up such a strange and otherworldly mirror to the Irish landscape and traditions. This track with hhH does exactly that again, poking fun at the wonderfully taboo topic of looking for the ride at a place of mourning. It is also one of the best music videos I’ve seen all year. I promise it will make your day better. Stick it on before your night out.
9.
Fergus McCreadie – Sparrowsong
I am so enjoying the era of trad music that we’re in at the moment. Fergus McCreadie makes Scottish traditional folk tunes cut through with jazz. There is definitely a fine line where something like this could be a gimmick, but McCreadie’s playing and compositions are transformative. I’ve never quite heard anyone combine the two in such a graceful, grounded way. Definitely recommend this album as a Christmas soundtrack.
10.
Deafheaven – Magnolia
So, I may have spoken too soon about by gig-of-the-year. It might be recency bias (At time of writing – I saw them last night at the Button Factory), but that was one of the most euphoric gig experiences I’ve had in years. My skull still hurts from smiling.
Best of 2025 | Albums | Guestlists | Irish Albums | Irish songs |
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
