And they said music journalism was dead. It’s list time, losers!
When it comes to round-up episodes we like to draft in No Tags’ very own fifth Beatle, Henry Bruce-Jones. Minimal intro required here: we discuss our favourite music of 2025 so far, from the new wave of weird UK rappers to the changing faces of mainstream pop – plus rap oldheads, surveillance electro, minimal techno reboots and more.
We didn’t include any of the records already discussed on the pod this year – including aya’s hexed and FKA twigs’ Eusexua – but they’re all still in the running for AOTY, of course.
Below is a time-stamped rundown of everything we discussed, so feel free to skip ahead if certain corners aren’t your bag.
We like to see No Tags as a conversation between us and you, so let us know your own most loved (and most hated) releases and trends of the year in the comments below, or maybe drop us a reply on Insta or send an email?
If you like what we’re doing on No Tags (over 50 episodes deep now!), a really helpful way to support is by leaving us a rating on your podcast app of choice, or leaving us a review over at Apple Podcasts. You can also like or share this post on Substack, which makes a big difference – and if you really love the pod, you can subscribe to our paid tier for £5 per month. Thanks to this month’s new subscribers!
Running order:
Pop Corner (07:40)
Oklou – choke enough
Smerz – Big city life
Yeule – Evangelic Girl is a Gun
Erika de Casier – Lifetime
Addison Rae – Addison
Justin Bieber – Swag
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Rap Corner (38:25)
Jim Legxacy – black british music
Clipse – Let God Sort Em Out
Cortisa Star – E.M.O. (Evil Motion Overload)
Playboi Carti – MUSIC
Che – REST IN BASS
OsamaSon – Jump Out
The UK ‘Underground’ (1:05:22)
snoa – 24/7 / 2il de4th du us 7art
fakemink – ‘Music and Me’ / ‘Face to Face’ / ‘Easter Pink’ / ‘I’m Dead’
Zukovstheworld – ‘Cross My Heart’ / ‘Sade’ / ‘Envy Me’
Llondon actress – ‘Country’
SINN6R – 2Often
EsDeeKid, Rico Ace & fakemink – ‘LV Sandals’
Wraith9 – Designer
Producers: 444Jet / Dj ess / ok
Dance Music Corner (1:27:04)
Skrillex – F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3
Los Thuthanaka – Los Thuthanaka
Nick León – A Tropical Entropy
Facta – GULP / Various Artists – Pattern Gardening
Percies (1:41:42)
Tracey – ‘Sex Life’
Marie Davidson – City of Clowns
E.A.R. – ‘Fetish’ / ‘Valley Serpent’
Jump Source (feat. Martyn Bootyspoon) – ‘On’
Heinali & Andriana-Yaroslava Saienko – Hildegard
Avenir – Primitive Maxi Trial
Various Artists – REEL TALK: BEST OF DOUYIN TRACKS
