This year was a year for the ladies. Actually last year was a BRAT year! So two years running, it's all about the ladies.
From a (very) local release, to a UK Brat sequel (of sorts) to a US singer born in the year I finished school, the year 2000.
2025 served up a fascinating year of music. From solid local releases, lead by Ninajirachi to international gems like Fancy That and Addison.
Despite Fancy That being considered a mixtape, the record got a Brat like remake with loads of solid guests. Fancy Some More was PACKED. Anitta, Seventeen, Bladee, Oklou, Jade, Yves, Kylie Minogue, JT, Sugababes, Zara Larsson, Ravyn Lenae, Nia Archives, Rachel Chinouriri, Kaytranada, Basement Jaxx, Joe Goddard, DJ Caio Prince & Adame DJ, Mochakk, Loukeman & Lead, Sega Bodega, Groove Armada, & Kilimanjaro. WILD!
Then there is Nina Wilson. AKA, Ninajirachi. Her spectacular rise with the release of her long-awaited debut album, I Love My Computer.
Her debut EP, Lapland, landed in 2019 and she continued a series of releases over COVID, including True North in 2021 – a collaborative EP with Kota Banks which was named as one of the albums of the year by The Atlantic.
Three further EPs were released, but despite regular and ongoing support from community radio and triple j, streaming figures were stuck under the million mark across the catalogue. Earlier this year though, the momentum shifted as the campaign for her album I Love My Computer kicked in, with the single All I Am hitting in February, ready for what was to be a rapid build.
Finally Addison Rae. Addison is the debut studio album released back in June.
Addison was produced by Elvira Anderfjärd and Luka Kloser, who also co-wrote the songs with Rae. The album spawned five singles: Diet Pepsi, Aquamarine, High Fashion, Headphones On & Fame Is a Gun.
Addison was met with widespread acclaim from music critics, who praised the album's production and innovativeness. The album debuted at number one on the New Zealand Albums Chart and reached the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Ireland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In support of the album, Rae embarked on the Addison Tour, her first concert tour, in August 2025.
The project helped Rae earn her first Grammy Award nomination at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, for Best New Artist. Rae, Anderfjärd and Kloser were also recognised by Variety with The Future Is Female Award for "breaking the glass ceiling by writing, producing and performing Grammy-nominated debut album entirely themselves."
The album appeared on numerous year-end lists, being named the best album of the year by The Fader and The Washington Post.
So with all that said. For the first time ever. It's too close to tell. That's why, it's ladies year with all three albums, my ALBUMS of 2025!
Well done Addison, Nina and Victoria Beverley Walker (AKA PinkPantheress). Well done to all three records. You can stream them all now via the below links.
Album of the Year - Ninajirachi - I Love My Computer
Album of the Year - Addison Rae - Addison
Album of the Year - PinkPantheress - Fancy That
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