As flowers come into bloom this spring, so do several rising artists.

From electronic musicians to potential folk icons, a variety of artists have released or will release new albums in 2025. For each artist, soulful stories and memorable songwriting suggest their talents are here to stay.

Keep reading to find out more about several rising artists the Daily Bruin predicts will blossom even further within the music industry.

Cornelia Murr

Cornelia Murr is introducing a newfangled union of poetry and pop.

The 35-year-old London-born singer released her second LP, “Run to the Center,” in February, almost seven years after her soul-filled debut album, “Lake Tear of the Clouds.” This long-anticipated folk project was produced in collaboration with Luke Temple – known for his work with Adrianne Lenker – and features a notable shift towards percussion and propulsive lyrics. Murr will begin her May-June tour opening for the Parisian indie pop duo Papooz before traveling solo through the United States.

While Murr’s new sound echoes the ethereal nature of her past music, “Run to the Center” is a fresh collection of philosophical ruminations and spirited rebirth. Murr’s writing process occurred primarily in rural Nebraska, which is eminent in the pastorality of songs such as the jazzy tune, “In the Wings.” Other pieces lean towards cityscape intonations and reflections on unnatural complex systems that people exist within: “Never quite keeping up with the bills / While machines are writing poetry.” With unpredictable elegant melodies and playful combinations of synth and keyboard, Murr’s music leaves the listener raptured in a panoply of emotions.

Murr’s alluring ability to weave metaphor with reality in songs such as “Skylight” makes her perfect for the spotlight.

– Eleanor Meyers

[Related: Winter music video roundup: Complex symbolism from award-winning veterans synthesizes storytelling and song]

Jensen McRae

Jensen McRae is a hidden gem just waiting to be found.

While the Santa Monica-born artist has been writing music since she was a child, her 2022 debut album “Are You Happy Now?” marked her official entry to the folk-pop scene. The project’s 15 evocative tracks are characterized by McRae’s vulnerable storytelling and powerfully rich vocals, a signature combination that has garnered millions of views on TikTok and support from a range of chart-toppers such as Justin Bieber. Last year, she brought her sharp, introspective discography to sold-out arenas while opening for Noah Kahan’s “We’ll All Be Here Forever Tour.”

Already on the rise, McRae’s star power is bound to grow exponentially with the April 25 release of her sophomore LP, “I Don’t Know How But They Found Me!” Recorded alongside Grammy-nominated producer Brad Cook and Bon Iver’s Matthew McCaughan, the album explores love and heartbreak through the lens of McRae’s self-described “life-altering relationships.” Its lead single, “Massachusetts,” poignantly details the traces of an ex-boyfriend that linger after their breakup, backed primarily by a warm acoustic guitar. The song’s striking hook – and the rest of McRae’s catchy catalog – is sure to entrance audiences on the album’s accompanying tour, which includes two shows at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre on May 28 and 29.

With McRae’s undeniable talent, anyone praying on her downfall is far out of luck.

– Victoria Munck

Morgan Saint

Morgan Saint has emerged out of the blue with her debut album.

The New York-born electronic pop artist released her debut studio album, “Out Of The Blue,” on Feb. 14, more than seven years after her initial EP, 2017’s “17 HERO.” Saint’s music is infused with dance floor pop and lo-fi beats, much like her musical inspiration, British DJ Ross From Friends. Her lyrical themes consist of optimism after heartbreak, nostalgia and introspection.

“Out Of The Blue” has elevated Saint’s presence in the music industry with its sonic prowess and lyrical strength. For example, in “15 Forever,” Saint soulfully sings, “You don’t have to be like anybody else / Shining like a star, just look at yourself / Got the same Nikes on your feet / Maybe fifteen is when you lost me.” Saint proves that both nostalgia and moving forward can co-exist in the turbulence of adolescence and romance. On stage, fans can catch Saint performing “15 Forever” with an ambient LED backdrop that shifts with the rhythm of the song and a crowd that knows every lyric by heart.

For those who enjoy the emotional whiplash of going from tearful eyes to the dance floor, Saint’s music will be there waiting.

– Chirag Tailor

[Related: Second Take: Social perceptions of pop music as emasculating lead to less relevant male stars]

Uwade

Uwade is embracing love and loss in her debut album “Florilegium.”

Uwade’s alternative sound is heavily influenced by her Nigerian background and her home state of North Carolina. She has technical expertise after studying at Columbia University and Oxford University and now is in her first year of a PhD program at Stanford University. Her sound falls into the genres of indie and R&B, inspired by artists such as The Strokes and Fela Kuti.

While her voice has been featured in Fleet Foxes’ album “Shore,” Uwade has only released a few singles under her own name. Her debut album “Florilegium” will be released April 25, and a few of its singles have already been released, such as “Call It A Draw.” Uwade said “Florilegium” was inspired by her father’s death and burial in Nigeria, where she unravels her own crisis with loss and resolves with a newfound respect for life. Another single released, “Harmattan,” has West African drumming beats, tunes, and lines thematic to growth associated with flowers, such as “These days I cry for flowers crushed in bloom / But I’ll believe for you.”

Uwade’s soothing harmonies and folk instrumentals work well in capturing her heritage and growth through personal challenge.

– Angelina Alkhouri