Christ, is it June already? As another year flies by, it becomes hard to keep track of all the great music which has been gracing our ears these past six months. While it’s hard to ignore the dark times underscoring 2025, music is and always will be an escape from reality for some, and a cathartic act of expression for others. The first half of the year has made us feel plenty; we’ve danced, we’ve headbanged, we’ve loved, and we’ve lost. Here are the ten best songs of the year so far, but instead of bombarding you with paragraphs supporting our choices, we’ve summed each song up one sentence at at time.
Bad Bunny – BAILE INoLVIDABLE
Bad Bunny got us all dancing on this absolute whirlwind of a hip-shaking, euphoric salsa anthem.
Ghost – Umbra
Potentially the most potent and goosebump-inducing hard rock song of the decade so far.
Turnstile – BIRDS
It’s short, it’s furious and it’s buzzing. It can only be Turnstile.
Girl Ultra, Empress Of & Chromeo – Tomás
Mexico’s Girl Ultra teams up with Empress Of and Chromeo on this extremely funky alt pop song.
Camille Schmidt – Stanley
This brooding indie track embodies the sound of modern Brooklyn with its upbeat tempo and catchy vocals.
Aino Salto – Powerlines
Switzerland-based Aino Salto’s debut EP is a short collection of picturesque soundscapes, but it’s on Powerlines where all the magic comes together.
Abor & Tynna – Baller
It may not have won Eurovision this year, but it definitely won our hearts with its club-ready beats and catchy hook.
Drugdealer & Weyes Blood – Real Thing
Drugdealer’s third collaboration with Weyes Blood transports us right back to the 70s, echoing hints of Carly Simon and Karen Carpenter.
Tommy Cash – Espresso Macchiato
Coffee for everybody!
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Aerodynamic
It’s not out yet, but this 70s soft rock-tinged cut is the standout moment on King Gizzard’s first collaboration with a full orchestra. (Song releases 13 June).
