The Year That Was: Local artists reflect on 2025 (Part One)

Tanner York

Tanner York, Balloon Stampede

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: (no particular order) 22° Halo - Lily of the Valley; Sharp Pins - Radio DDR; Wednesday - Bleeds; Combat Naps - This Was The Face; Graham Hunt - Timeless World Forever
Favorite Local Release: Dish - Stellar Mimic
Local Song of the Year: Colin Miller - “Birdhouse”
Favorite New Local Artist: Ok if Not
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Playing at Flicker in Athens, GA.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Wednesday at Eda’s Hideaway 
Goals/Plans for 2026: Go on tour.

Lily Larceny

CAM GIRL

5 Favorite Albums of 2025:1. I couldn't answer this honestly without including our new record, Flesh & Chrome. I've listened to it more than I'd care to admit, and definitely more than anything else that's been released this year; 2. The Hellacopters - Overdriver; 3. The Good The Bad and The Zugly - November Boys; 4. The Hives - The Hives Forever Forever The Hives; 5. Laura Jane Grace - Adventure Club
Favorite Local Release: CAM GIRL - Flesh & Chrome
But, not including our new record? My Gal Monday has three solid singles so far this year. They used the studio where we record, Rock Candy Recordings. Matt Langston is a genius, and anything he touches sounds fantastic. He played and sang parts on our record, and it elevated it so much.
Local Song of the Year: “Flesh & Chrome.” I know I probably shouldn't just list myself again, but I bleed CAM GIRL. Everyday I'm working on band business and our guitarist Kozy has been doing art and animation for it, so the song is always either playing or stuck in my head.
Favorite New Local Artist: Madder Max — a very fun live experience.
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: We played a house show in a tiny tourist town, Moab, Utah. The house was so packed that the floor was bouncing under us with the crowds dancing. The A/C couldn't keep up, and it was incredibly hot. I was soaked in sweat, and ended up just going topless for the second half of the show. We usually do great on merch, but we sold more that night than any other show of the tour except our album release show. It was unforgettable.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: I am a sucker for stage theatrics, and Madder Max goes all out with makeup and costumes. One of the only shows I attended this year that I didn't play was their EP release show, where our boy Ethan (aka "Hot Hands") played with his other band Rhinestone Pickup Truck.
Goals/Plans for 2026: Booking the 2026 CAM GIRL tour is already underway. It's looking like another three months on the road and about 65 shows. I've had to split guitar duties up three ways because not everyone can tour the entire time, but we've tapped Ethan to come back for when Roy can't be there. Don't worry, — at this rate I'll be tired of these songs in no time and finally listen to something else.

Ethan Heller

The Snozzberries

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: 1. Geordie Greep - The New Sound; 2. Steely Dan - The Royal Scam; 3. Geese - 3D Country ; 4. Queens of The Stone Age - Over The Years and Through The Woods; 5. System of a Down - Mezmerize 
Favorite Local Release: Josh Phillips - Everything’s Good
Local Song of the Year: Empire Strikes Brass - “25 or 6 to 4”
Favorite New Local Artist: Paper Pills — just caught them for the first time. They fuckin’ rock.
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Man, I’ve been lucky enough to play some incredible events this year, and it’s so hard to pick just one. I think the craziest by far was at [Suwannee] Hulaween. After our official set at the fest, we were invited to do a late night renegade at the BS Bar stage. They had a bunch of lasers and projections set up with a bunch of moonshine and campfires surrounding the stage. It was probably 20 degrees outside, —we bundled our asses up, and played for six hours straight until the sun came up. That was absolutely bonkers. 
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Holy shit, definitely when Anderson Paak played a DJ set at Hulaween. That show was insane. It felt like being at the best house party of all time. He was spinning his favorite throwbacks on vinyl, singing his own tunes, and even shredded a drum solo. It was an absolute blast.
Goals/Plans for 2026: The Snozzberries are kicking off the year by going to New Orleans, Alabama, Texas, Florida, and a bunch of other states. So, I’m super stoked about our winter tour. We also have plans to bring back Psychedelic Circus, release a live album, and finish up our next studio record. I’m really excited about what we’ve been cooking up and we are stoked to share it with everyone soon.

Torren Brown (Photo by Jonny Leather)

Torren Brown

Seismic Sutra, Impending Joy

5 Favorite Albums of 2025/Favorite Local Release(s): Cheeks - Cheeks; Tanner York - Welcome to the Shower; Paper Pills - Shampoo; Floating Action - A Hand Carved Garden Tool; Candytuft - Sour Flower
Local Song of the Year: Cheeks - “Sound of the Devil”
Favorite New Local Artist: Cheeks
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Being direct support for Castle Rat (3/16/25) to a sold out crowd at Eulogy.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Frankie and the Witch Fingers at The Grey Eagle.
Goals/Plans for 2026: Finishing our second album and playing more great shows.

Jay Moye

The Cheeksters, Doss Church & the Unholy Noise, The Mid Majors, Tanteo

5 Favorite Albums of 2025 (in no order): S.G. Goodman - Planting By the Signs; Liam Kazar - Pilot Light; Craig Finn - Always Been; Samia - Bloodless; Snocaps - Snocaps
Favorite Local Release: Colin Miller - Losin’
Local Song of the Year: Floating Action - “Diamond Store”
Favorite New Local Artist: Susto String Band
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Spontaneously sitting in with Scott McMicken & Co. on “Jackie Wants a Black Eye" at Zadie’s for the Resonance Sessions release show, 11 days after... 
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: …seeing Dr. Dog play a sold-out show at Red Rocks [Park and Amphitheatre].
Goals/Plans for 2026: Continue playing, writing — and writing about music.

Levi Carr

SUPAHEAT

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: Jeff Tweedy -Twilight Override; Blood Root - Turn; Pile - Sunshine and Balance Beams; Wednesday - Bleeds; Scribblers - Scribblers I (Asleep in the Fast Lane)
Favorite Local Release: Scribblers - Scribblers I (Asleep in the Fast Lane)
Local Song of the Year: Wednesday - “Phish Pepsi”
Favorite New Local Artist: Scribblers
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: We had our debut performance at 27 Club after our album came out. We felt our performance was the best we could give and got a mosh going (even on slower songs). I love playing intimate spaces like 27 Club because you could feel our energy and the crowds almost in sync.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Devo at Shaky Knees Festival
Goals/Plans for 2026: We’re recording our second album, setting up our first tour, and getting on the festival circuit. I’m also exploring different options with making short films and other video content that’s longer form.

Lawson Alderson (Photo by Jonny Leather)

Lawson Alderson

Headringer, i-26 Connector, Paper Pills, Pivot

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: Colin Miller - Losin’; Florry - Sounds Like…; Ryan Davis & The Roadhouse Band - New Threats From the Soul; Alex G - Headlights; Motocrossed - S/T
Favorite Local Release: Colin Miller - Losin’
Local Song of the Year: Colin Miller - “Thunder Road”
Favorite New Local Artist: Blithe
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Making the Idle County record with my best friends.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Geese at The Grey Eagle.
Goals/Plans for 2026: Making as many records as I can get my hands on. Capturing the music in our local scene is such an incredibly rich experience right now and I can’t wait to see this community progress in the new year. I also want to release the debut Headringer record. 

Ethan Martin

CAM GIRL, Rhinestone Pickup Truck

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: Viagra boys - Viagr Aboys; Ghost - Skeleta; Dead Billionaires - More!; Hayley Williams - Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party; Joey Valance & Brae - HYPERYOUTH
Favorite Local Release: MADDER MAX - SURVIVES.
Local Song of the Year: My Gal Monday - “Sewer Rat”
Favorite New Local Artist: Ronnie in Angeloclast. I’ve seen them at a couple open mics and they’ve released a few things, but they’re starting to play shows and I’m very excited for them.
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Starting to play shows again after taking a break for a couple years. RPT had a show at Fleetwood’s and the crowd wasn’t particularly huge, but the energy was just palpable. We had everyone sitting in our palm and we ROCKED IT. It helped remind me why I want to be a musician and share this art with people.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Viagra Boys at The Orange Peel — that show was so so so good.
Goals/Plans for 2026: Playing as many shows as I can. I got a couple tours getting lined up behind the scenes and maybe trying to put out a solo album again.

John Wilson

Sk the Novelist

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: Clipse - Let Got Sort Em Out; Freddie Gibbs & Alchemist - Alfredo 2; Conway the Machine - You Can’t Kill God With Bullets; Larry June, 2 Chainz, Alchemist - Life Is Beautiful; JID - God Is Ugly
Favorite Local Release: Tie between two projects - Drawn Up & Spaceman Jones - Canteen Universal and C.Shreve the Professor - Shreve Got Lost, Vol. 1. Both projects have been in rotation since they dropped. The OGs that inspired me when I began my musical journey are still dropping projects that inspire me and show the highest level of quality. 
Local Song of the Year: Musashi Xero - “Seein Red.” Absolute banger that’s been in rotation for months. Multis, delivery, production are all insane.
Favorite New Local Artist: Musikman TP. My guy has the “it” factor and has hit the ground running since he started in 2022.
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Collaborating with ResoNate (finally) for his song “We Just Wanna Test The Water In The Deep End.” Honored to be a part of such an incredible song by my homie Reso, and this collab was long overdue.
I’ll also highlight my track “Forgiveness” which is my personal favorite and most cathartic solo track to date.
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Any live performance by Jooselord, my guy is the ceiling for stage presence and crowd engagement.
Goals/Plans for 2026: Release a few projects. One of them will be titled JOHN and will be my most personal yet. Another will be produced by one of my best friends. And another will be a collab with one of my best friends. I also want to focus on my health and relationships with friends and family.

Geddi Monroe

Socialist Anxiety, Juniper Willow

5 Favorite Albums of 2025: Zach Hill & Lucas Abela - Bag of Max Bag of Cass; Phil Elverum & Arrington de Dionyso - GIANT OPENING MOUTH ON THE GROUND; Aphex Twin - Surfing On Sine Waves (Expanded Edition); Chihei Hatakeyama - Void XXVII; Scattle - The Gift
Favorite Local Release: Lady Kabela - He
Local Song of the Year: Paper Pills - “Shampoo”
Favorite New Local Artist: Silver Kyrie
Most Memorable Personal Music Experience of 2025: Hallowolfbat at The Orange Peel 10/25/25
Favorite Live Performance by Another Artist of 2025: Hans Condor for Fleetwood's 8 Year Anniversary 8/23/25
Goals/Plans for 2026: At least 1.5x as many performances photographed, finish the damn Socialist Anxiety sophomore LP…Oh, and finish the damn Juniper Willow Sophomore EP.

(Tanner York photo by Jonny Leather)