Her debut EP, Lucid, brings together a series of five singles she wrote, recorded and produced over the past year. The project reflects a time of creative openness and exploration, where ideas were allowed to flow freely. Blending organic elements with synths, the project moves between spoken word, song and experimental electronics with an easy sense of fluidity. There’s a playful energy running through it, balanced by moments of quiet vulnerability that surface along the way. Released alongside the previously shared singles “Vision”, “Animals“, “Stitch,” and “Hair“, the final piece of the puzzle is the title track, “Lucid”. It captures the EP’s spirit perfectly, drifting between softness and subtle tension ans wraps everything in a warm yet slightly otherworldly atmosphere.

Minute Nothing plays out like a suspended mood, soft, immersive and gently restless. The EP leans into stillness, letting subtle melodic shifts and sparse arrangements guide the experience rather than pushing it forward. Lead single “Drifting” feels weightless and searching, while “Blue Body” brings warmth and emotional tension, tracing love at its most fragile edges. Written during a period of personal transition, the project captures that in-between feeling, where time seems to stretch and blur. There’s a sense of wanting to hold onto something fleeting, to pause before it slips away, which is exactly what the title suggests. Across its runtime, Minute Nothing doesn’t rush to resolve anything, it simply invites you to sit with it for a while.

Their debut EP first notes brings that vision together in a collection that feels blissful, aerial and airy in the way we love most from dream leaning pop. The project blends new age inspired synthesizers, trap inspired low end beats and delicate wind instruments into something both modern and slightly otherworldly, while moments like the distorted guitar lines on “wash away” hint at the duo’s willingness to dig into different corners of the genre. The final single “a little too late” draws the listener into late night hours where time seems to dissolve, contemplating heartbreak and the emotional traces it leaves behind. The subtle medieval undertones running through the production add an unexpected texture that reminds us of the atmospheres and melodies explored by artists like Oklou and Danny L Harle. Listen below.

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Jawnino and Deer park‘s trippy double single, titled Melancholia, brings together two immersive cuts: “Mattress” and “Buggy”. Both tracks lean into the pair’s shared taste for atmosphere as they drift through foggy instrumentals and introspective moods. “Mattress” unfolds slowly, letting its textures breathe while Jawnino’s throbbing delivery floats through the haze. The track depicts blurred late night scenes, moving between luxury flashes, restless thoughts, and rain soaked city moments. “Buggy” pushes things a little further with a guest appearance from fellow London underground voice YT. Produced by Deer park, the two songs capture that spaced out, late night energy that we love so much over here. “Mattress” also comes with a video, courtesy of Daniel Swan, that you can watch below.

Their sophomore EP, Jobseeker, out via the label Vasen, founded in 2023, picks up the thread from last year’s Sunshower while confidently stretching the project in new directions. The tracks feel tightly driven and purposeful, carrying forward momentum and a subtle sense of longing, but with a clearer, more high-energy edge. Punchy rhythms rooted in jungle, big beat and rave energy bring a physical, almost kinetic drive, while airy pads and ethereal vocal chops soften the edges and keep everything feeling human and dreamy. Add in touches of rock texture, syncopated structures and the occasional trance-leaning melodic turn, and you end up with four tracks that feel anthemic yet atmospheric and emotional.

Stream our favourite two tracks off of the EP below, and check the full 4-track project via Soundcloud.

We know these lists are completely subjective and that ranking music can feel a little weird at times but these are the records we’ve had on repeat over the past 12 months. More importantly, in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms, highlighting lesser-known and often overlooked artists remains the very essence of our blog. We hope you’ll take the time to dive into the artists and projects you might not know yet.

Like last year, the list is ordered alphabetically, because the “real” ranking changes every day depending on our mood. That said, if you’re looking for a top three, keep an eye on Oklou, Nourished By Time, and Smerz.

Merry Christmas to all of you, and stay tuned next week for our Best Songs of 2025 list.

The 47 EPs, Albums, And Mixtapes that defined 2025 according to HighClouds

Acopia – Blush Response
Addison Rae – Addison
After – After EP 1/2
AMORE – Top Hits, Ballads, etc
Annahstasia – Tether
crushed – no scope
Dean Blunt & Elias Rønnenfelt – lucre EP
deer park – Terra Infirma
Disiniblud – Disiniblud
Erika de Casier – Lifetime
Ethel Cain – Willoughby Tucker, I’ll Always Love You
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Georgie & Joe – What I Made With Joe
Horsegirl – Phonetics On and On
Ichiko Aoba – Luminiscent Creatures
JADE – THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!
james K – Friend
Jane Inc. – A Rupture A Canyon A Birth
Jenny Hval – Iris Silver Mist
Jim Legxacy – black british music (2025)
Joanne Robertson – Blurrr
Jouska – How Did I Wind Up Here?
Laura Groves – Yes
Lipsticism – Wanted To Show You
Malibu – Vanities
Maria Somerville – Luster
Marina Zispin – Now You See Me, Now You Don’t
Men I Trust – Equus Caballus / Equus Asinus
Molly Nilsson – Amateur
Neggy Gemmy – She Comes From Nowhere
Night Tapes – portals//polarities
No Joy – Bugland
Nourished By Time – The Passionate Ones
Nuovo Testamento – Trouble EP
Oklou – Choke Enough
Oneohtrix Point Never – Tranquilizer
Panda Bear – Sinister Grift
Pearly Drops – The Voices Are Coming Back
R. Missing – Like The Sound Of Injured Love
Raisa K – Affectionately
Rat Heart – Dancin’ In The Streets
Sea Lemon – Diving For A Prize
Smerz – Big City Life
snuggle – Goodbyehouse
Sofia Kourtesis – Volver EP
Sophia Stel – How To Win At Solitaire EP
Yawning Portal – Anywhere

James has made the New Year’s Substitution EP series something of a tradition, releasing a new installment every four years. Similar to New Year’s Substitution 3, the first two volumes, unveiled in December 2015 and January 2020, remain exclusively available on Bandcamp, at a pay what you want price. Each EP is crafted in just a few days and features a carefully curated roster of collaborators.