IMPALA is pleased to announce the 100 Artists to Watch for 2025, in partnership with YouTube, marking the fourth consecutive year of this exciting initiative. This year’s lineup features a vibrant and diverse selection of emerging talent from across Europe’s independent music scene, providing a fresh outlook on the future of the industry while celebrating the rich cultural diversity that is at the heart of independent music.
Curated by IMPALA’s European network, the 100 Artists to Watch award for 2025 highlights outstanding talent in the independent music scene. In collaboration with YouTube, IMPALA invited members to nominate artists who embody this spirit through their innovation, commercial success, and diversity.
This year’s lineup celebrates the diverse cultures, sounds, and stories shaping the contemporary indie music scene, featuring 100 artists from 30 countries. From reimagining traditional folk genres to pushing the boundaries of innovation, the selection spans a dynamic mix of genres, covering Jazz, Hip-hop, Electronic, Rock, Punk, Pop and everything in-between. We celebrate the pioneering talent and innovative musical frontiers that define our industry.
Aili is a Belgium-Japanese electro-pop duo consisting of Aili Maruyama and Orson Wouters. Formed after a chance meeting in 2019, their instant musical chemistry led to a playful and spontaneous approach to songwriting, blending electronic beats, samples, and Aili's unique blend of Japanese vocals. Their first release, 2021’s Dansu EP, received widespread acclaim, spending 8 weeks at the top of Radio 1's VOX list (BE) and earning a nomination for Studio Brussel's 'De Nieuwe Lichting' award.
Building on their initial success, Aili has captivated audiences across Europe and Japan with energetic live shows and a genre-defying sound that merges surreal electro-pop, joyful electronica, house music, and more. Their debut album, Nandakke?, released on Eskimo Recordings, has been lauded by Humo, Focus Knack, and De Standaard, and has received support from major tastemaker radio stations like KEXP, KCRW, and Nova France. The album made it to the top of KCRW's Top 30 Album Chart and was featured on key Spotify playlists (Metropolis, Pollen..), gathering over 2 million followers.