Five Female Acts to Watch
- Rebecca Tregaskis
- Apr 14
- 3 min read
by Rebecca Tregaskis
The music scene is having a stunning year so far. From artists that have been quietly growing to ones that have just come onto the scene, some of the most creative and fresh work to come out of 2026 has been from female musicians. Here are five acts we've chosen from the UK and Ireland you need on your radar.
#1 Sade Olutola
With her debut EP Arrow Heart released in February, Sade Olutola is already making a name for herself – earning a 5/5 review in Clunk Magazine and receiving co-signs from major music outlets. The South-London singer-songwriter blends bedroom pop intimacy, rap-like verses, and R&B synths to produce a stunningly creative body of work. Her EP shifts through different themes, from self-confidence to relationship breakdowns, but each record has a pop feel that makes you think of dancing round your room in your pajamas with your headphones in. With a talent so vivid in only 5 tracks Sade has got to be one of the most exciting new artists in 2026.
#2 Ledbyher
Ledbyher, a fast-emerging underground artist based in London, has been releasing music since 2020. She has built her discography through early EPs and DIY releases before creating fully formed projects such as her 2023 EP CRUNCH and her 2026 mixtape The Elephant. She signed to Island Records in 2025 and has been described as one of the most compelling new voices in UK rap. Her music often blends bedroom drill with jerk rhythms and wispy vocals which pulls you into a dreamy, underground sound. Moody and experimental, LedbyHer cultivates an atmospheric sound that has caught the attention of underground rap fans.
#3 SPIDER
Alt-pop star SPIDER has been releasing hit after hit. Based in London, the Irish-Nigerian singer went viral for debut single I’M FINE! I’M GOOD! I’M PERFECT! Her second release Water Sign quickly followed suit. Regularly cited as one of Ireland’s rising stars in the alt-pop movement, SPIDER supported BLACKPINK at Hyde Park and had her first London headline show back in 2024. Her debut EP C.O.A was written and produced entirely by SPIDER herself and is a tale of messily finding yourself in adolescence. Her work has evolved to a more provocative exploration of sex, relationships and objectification within her second EP, An Object of Desire. Unforgiving in her raw portrayal, SPIDER is able to unpack all the ugly, taboo parts of adolescence and twist them into a captivity sound.
#4 Leonie Biney
Poetry meets indie pop with Leonie Biney. With a stripped back acoustic sound Biney is able to blend together warm vocals and melancholy lyrics. Her track Beach Song (demo) went viral on Tiktok which allowed for her transition into an emerging artist. She has been described as possessing ‘evocative storytelling and emotional depth’ by WhyNow and has just sold out her London headline show this coming May. Her second EP When You Turn Around is set to release in just over a week. With its various singles already released, Biney seems to be staying true to the authentic, diaristic lyricism as her earlier work. Cemented in her sound and accumulating a strong fanbase, Leonie Biney is sure to only grow in her music career.
#5 Nieve Ella
Nieve Ella has been a rising star in the indie pop scene for some time. However, she has recently entered a new chapter with her latest single leaning into a grungier rock sound. Nieve has supported major acts including Inhaler and Girl In Red and has completed multiple headline tours. She is also a member of Loud LND, a collective known for spotlighting rising female artists in London. The newest single titled Drive explores themes of freedom seeking and emotional detachment in a darker and moodier atmosphere than her previous work. Stripping her instagram feed for this new era, it seems she is offering a push forward sonically and aesthetically and it will be exciting to see her evolution as an artist.
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