First Listen Fridays – New Music To Know – 5th December 2025

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Get ready for another round of ‘First Listen Fridays’, IndustryMe’s exclusive lowdown on the best tracks that have dropped today. Readers, you’re in for a treat this week. Tom is loving new music from Dolly Doops and TOMORA, whilst Kloe shows some love to ALINA and Sam Fender. As we creep towards the end of the year, we continue to make sure you’re kept up-to-date with what we think are stand-out tracks. Let’s explore what this week has to offer.

Tom’s Picks

Confidence Man – 17

This duo knows how to make a banger, and even with Christmas on the horizon, they’re not done with the year just yet. From their new EP, ‘Active Scenes Vol One‘, this throwback to 90s Eurodance will get you on your feet. Mixed in with a bit of house, wavey synths, and Janet’s vocals in the background, this one is a vibe. Sometimes fun is all you need, and Confidence Man knows how to bring that feeling.

Buy the track here.

Boj FT. Obongjayar – Imposter Syndrome

One of the pioneers of alté, Boj is back with a new album featuring collaborations with Pa Salieu and ODUMODUBLVCK. However, the new one I have focused on is a team-up with Obongjayar. The track focuses on not feeling like you deserve success, but fighting those thoughts. It is a very mellow beat that makes good use of the drum pattern and the sax. Both artists sound great and bring passion to their performances. A track with an important message delivered as some great music is always welcome on my playlist.

Buy the track here.

Meet Me @ The Altar – Dead To Me

Starting off their new EP with a marching call, this band immediately grabs your attention. The pop-punk angst of the lyrics is matched by the heavy riffs that bring the energy. Edith Victoria clearly has much disdain for this person and brings that passionate hatred to the performance. It makes for a great anthem to kick off this new project that shows this group is still going strong.

Pre-order the EP here.

Dolly Doops – NO MEANS NO

This song may have a catchy electro-pop beat, but don’t mistake this for just any old pop song. Dolly Doops is calling out the behaviour of men taking advantage of young and drunk women on a night out. While this isn’t the first time an artist has brought this topic up, it still remains relevant and important. It is delivered with power and confidence, indicating a singer who is using pop not just to make bops. While the fun production will draw you in, the lyrics will keep you coming back.

TOMORA – RING THE ALARM

An exciting new collaboration between AURORA and Tom Rowlands of The Chemical Brothers, this is the debut single of TOMORA. That erratic-siren-esque beat and pounding bass truly blow your socks off, as AURORA repeats the track’s title. The beat is music to my ears and an intense thrill ride that reminds me of why I love the legendary duo so much. The second half provides more industrial sounds as it builds up to the beat coming back. What a sensational opening for this duo. I can’t wait to hear more.

Buy the track here.

Kloe’s Picks

Sam Fender – The Treadmill

Fresh off clinching the Mercury Prize, our Geordie lad has done it again. In the deluxe version of his ultra-successful album, ‘People Watching‘, Sam has treated listeners to additional records as an early Christmas gift. Honestly, I prefer some of these records to the ones that made the main album. Songs like ‘The Treadmill‘, in particular, have Fender fans scratching their heads to why this wasn’t included in the original release. It captures the uncertainty of being a young person so perfectly, in a style only he can provide. “Sean and Rosie are getting married / I can’t even tie my shoes / Will I be alone forever?“

Buy the deluxe of ‘People Watching‘ here.

chloe moriondo – teeth

If you like your bedroom pop seasoned with a bit of indie-rock, you need to check out chloe moriondo. This self-made musician got recognition from her YouTube channel, and is part of a wave of artists who have graduated from viral sensation to respected musician. Earlier this year she dropped their strongest and most cohesive album yet, ‘oyster‘. Today, the Michigan native follows it up with ‘(my world is an) oyster‘ featuring new tracks, including the stand-out, ‘teeth‘. This is a reflective, moodier track compared to the rest of the album, and is definitely worth a listen.

Disclosure and Leon Thomas – Deeper

You can’t go wrong with Leon Thomas in my book, but I wasn’t sure what to expect with this collab. However, let me assure every fan of the R&B superstar, you will not be disappointed! With a hook that will live rent free in your head, we get the best of both worlds here with Disclosure that feels like some of their earlier work. Thomas giving major garage vibes wasn’t on my 2025 bingo card, but I’m so here for it. “You pull me in like the morning tide / I’m the kinda wave that you love to ride.” – I’m hypnotised.

Buy the track here.

Shallipopi FT. WizKid – Like That (bomboclatt)

Experimental Nigerian breakout star, Shallipopi, has just dropped a 22-track album teeming with irresistible bangers. He has brought a lot of famous friends along for the ride on his Afro-pop release, ‘Auracle‘, including Burna Boy, Pa Salieu, and Gunna. However, it’s the link-up between global music veteran WizKid that has caught my attention. Playful and flirty, I wish I had this track in summer. This is refreshing, energetic, and has made me want to check out the entire project. It feels like a real turning point towards even more mainstream success for him.

Buy the track here.

ALINA – nothing i am

Is there a better feeling than stumbling across a new artist you can’t get enough of? That’s my experience with ALINA, as she drops her deeply personal, poetic EP, ‘catching lightning‘. Bursting at the seams with relatable lyrics and a stunning voice, pop fans have a new girl to get behind. ‘nothing i am‘ is a sadder cut from the project, yet very beautiful and soul-stirring. Listening to this artist is like hanging around with the coolest friend you know. I can’t wait to see where she takes her talent.

Buy the track here.

Follow IndustryMe on Instagram, Threads, X, or YouTube. Press play on our First Listen Fridays playlist below to enjoy all our top picks. Read last week’s picks here. Don’t forget to follow the playlist on Spotify below or Apple Music.

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