19 Dec 2025
So Sad So Hot - Record of the Year
Chloe Qisha
WE SAY
This year’s RotD Record of the Year accolade goes to Chloe Qisha. The Malaysian-born, UK-based artist has packed an extraordinary amount into just 18 months. Following her 2024 debut 'VCR Home Video' and first live show, she quickly built momentum with an impressive, self-titled EP showcasing her flair for sassy, melodic, ’80s-leaning pop. This year brought a UK tour, her second EP 'Modern Romance', and a buzzy, standout, commanding set at The Great Escape, which we witnessed. Summer brought support slots for Sabrina Carpenter at BST and three nights with Coldplay at Wembley Stadium, plus festival appearances at All Points East, Leeds, Latitude, and Primavera. A sold-out UK/EU headline tour followed in October and November, with a near-capacity US run lined up for March. Now signed to Columbia UK, Chloe released ‘So Sad So Hot’ in October. Co-written with Caroline Ailin (Dua Lipa, Charli XCX) and longtime collaborator Rob Milton, the sleek, funk-tinged pop cut earned a BBC Radio 1 C List spot and underlined her signature balance of polish and provocation. With cover features in Rolling Stone UK, NME and Knuckle, plus widespread support from Spotify, Radio 1, The Face, ELLE UK, BBC, Clash, Dork, DIY and The Line of Best Fit, Chloe was also named in British Vogue’s “Vogue 25” and nominated for Breakthrough Artist at this year’s Rolling Stone UK Awards. Since our Ones To Watch 2026 feature in November, she’s been included in BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2026 longlist. Chloe’s playful, self-assured spin on pop is a joy to watch, and with 2026 shaping up to be another massive year, we couldn’t be more excited for what’s ahead. Congratulations to Chloe Qisha, Columbia UK, Sam Stubbings and Perusi Kakaire at Native Management, and the entire team—here’s to a phenomenal 2026!
CONTACTS
Label: Columbia UK
Publishing: BMG
Marketing: Hayley Marchant & Angela Grech, Columbia UK
National Radio: Joe Dodson, All Ears
Streaming: Stephanie Wilkinson, Sony Music
Online: Paulina Oronowicz & Catherine Dowie, Columbia UK
Press: Rob Charlton & Tom Mehrtens, Satellite 414
TV: Samantha Sewell, Sony Music
Live: Michael Harvey-Bray, Wasserman
Management: Sam Stubbings & Perusi Kakaire, Native mgmt
Photo: Lillie Eiger
RECORD ARCHIVE
Our last Ones To Watch 2026 for the year (we continue in January) is the...
moody
Royel Otis
Ourness/Capitol (US) & Island Records (UK)
Our last Ones To Watch 2026 for the year (we continue in January) is the brilliant Royel Otis. The Australian...
Today’s Ones To Watch 2026 is east London-based Sofia & The Antoinettes, a startling new...
Women Who Love Too Much
Sofia and the Antoinettes
Warner Records UK/Atlantic Records US
Today’s Ones To Watch 2026 is east London-based Sofia & The Antoinettes, a startling new talent channelling what she describes...
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is indie trio Sunday (1994). Formed around the transatlantic writing...
Rain
Sunday (1994)
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is indie trio Sunday (1994). Formed around the transatlantic writing partnership of Paige Turner (California)...
Starting our final week of Ones To Watch 2026 before Christmas is one of the...
Back To Ground
Iona Luke
Starting our final week of Ones To Watch 2026 before Christmas is one of the year’s most compelling new talents,...
Rising British-Indian singer-songwriter RIKA is our final Ones To Watch 2026 this week. With more...
Exotic
RIKA
Rising British-Indian singer-songwriter RIKA is our final Ones To Watch 2026 this week. With more than 55m streams to date,...
Next up on our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie. We first...
Happy New Year
Blair Davie
Next up on our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising Scottish singer-songwriter Blair Davie. We first tipped them in 2022 with...
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is British singer-songwriter Jack Cullen, who first came onto our...
All I Need
Jack Cullen
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is British singer-songwriter Jack Cullen, who first came onto our radar with his uplifting breakout...
Today's Ones To Watch 2026 is 21-year-old Manchester rapper Nemzzz, who is in the midst...
8PM
Nemzzz
Today's Ones To Watch 2026 is 21-year-old Manchester rapper Nemzzz, who is in the midst of a defining year both...
Opening our new week of Ones To Watch 2026 is multi-talented artist, singer-songwriter and classically...
Mona Lisa
Charlie Jeer
Opening our new week of Ones To Watch 2026 is multi-talented artist, singer-songwriter and classically trained saxophonist Charlie Jeer. It’s...
Closing out this week’s Ones To Watch 2026 is masked alt-rap force EsDeeKid. The enigmatic...
Century
EsDeeKid
XV Records/Lizzy Records through ADA
Closing out this week’s Ones To Watch 2026 is masked alt-rap force EsDeeKid. The enigmatic Merseyside MC has turned anonymity...
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is Nigerian-born, UK-based rising talent Ossi Grace, who is...
Love Like This
Ossi Grace
Continuing our Ones To Watch 2026 is Nigerian-born, UK-based rising talent Ossi Grace, who is fast becoming one of Afro-Soul’s...
Today's Ones To Watch 2025 is rising R&B star kwn (pronounced kay-one). It’s been a...
do what i say
kwn
Today's Ones To Watch 2025 is rising R&B star kwn (pronounced kay-one). It’s been a phenomenal year for the east...
Next up on our Ones to Watch is fast-rising American rock duo Girl Tones. Formed...
Burnout
Girl Tones
Next up on our Ones to Watch is fast-rising American rock duo Girl Tones. Formed by classically trained sisters Kenzie...
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is rising post-punk pop group My First Time....
Sippy Cup
My First Time
Starting this week's Ones To Watch 2026 is rising post-punk pop group My First Time. Since breaking through with last...
Our final Ones To Watch artist this week is Burnley-born non-binary musician, illustrator, and tattoo...
CHRONIC
Cody Frost
Our final Ones To Watch artist this week is Burnley-born non-binary musician, illustrator, and tattoo artist Cody Frost. Since their...
Next up on our Ones To Watch 2026 is rising dance-pop force Rose Gray. Born on...

