BANKS
Kelly Kowalewski, Staff Writer
You may have heard whispers of BANKS’ song, “The Devil” in the background of shows like “Ginny & Georgia” or “Love Island”, but you can bet on BANKS for more than just 30-second features. BANKS just took her fifth studio album, “Off with Her Head,” on a 2025 tour visiting 14 cities. However, her music deserves more praise and attention for creative direction in her music videos, considering her years worth of dedication to dark, mischievous and moody R&B. In 2013, she supported The Weeknd’s “Kiss Land Fall Tour,” and in 2015, opened again for his “The Madness Fall Tour,” alongside Halsey and Travis Scott. The artists she once performed next to have seen huge success, while BANKS seems left behind. Standing out from other artists with her strong vocals and lyrical empowerment, BANKS embraces her bold individuality. I first discovered BANKS in 2022, when Spotify recommended I pre-save her snake-themed album “Serpentina.” The grungey cover struck me initially, and I fell in love with her rhythm and sound instantly. My favorites from this album are “Deadend” and “Unleaveable,” but songs off other albums also give me chills, including “Beggin For Thread,” “Stroke” and “Gimme.” BANKS’ songs are more than just electronic beats — they are glimpses into her life.
Lackvill
Dylan Paradise, Staff Writer
Snippets of his songs have been widely heard across TikTok — mainly over basketball edits — but not many know the name Lackvill. The Michigan artist has cultivated a bubblegum trap sound very similar to popular rappers of the Soundcloud era like Tay-K and Comethazine, characterized by upbeat and energetic beats with airy and distorted 808s. Many of Lackville’s most popular songs are short tracks — “NO JUMPER,” “NOT YOUR FLOW” and “Flexing All Summer.” Lackvill’s top three songs on Spotify are all under one minute and 30 seconds. Lackvill’s music doesn’t really require any deep listening, making him a good artist to put on to tune out the world during a workout. His incredibly upbeat tempo and admittedly violent lyrics flow in such a way that you will find your head bopping regardless. My favorite parts of Lackvill’s lyricism are his continuous pop culture references within his songs. For example, on the track “Batman & Robin,” his use of “Baskin-Robbins” and “Batman & Robin” in the same rhyme scheme just scratches my brain the right way. Lackvill’s creative flow and refined production make him a great new listen for any music fans looking to expand their repertoire.
Mayday Mae!
Maxine Van Nortwick, Senior Staff Writer
If you wish you had discovered Chappell Roan before she got big, let me introduce you to Mayday Mae! She’s a queer pop artist based in California who makes feminine music with eccentric album cover art, fun lyrics and has less than 700 listeners per month on Spotify — hello, underground. Mae embraces the fun in being a queer woman while sharing her struggles with the patriarchy and relationships of all types. Her newest single, “dump ur boyfriend! (let’s lez out)” feels as though she’s getting closer to her artistic peak with its fun dialogue, repetitions and frustration with a friend’s boyfriend that I’m sure many can relate to. My favorite of hers is “Girls Into Music,” released in 2024, which perfectly encapsulates the experience of a female musician dealing with sexism in the music industry. I always hold onto the lyric, “I’m not going insane, am I? / When you think I lie / About the hurdles that I’ve climbed.” She speaks candidly about being a woman in the music scene, being constantly doubted by your peers on your abilities and having to work “twice as hard” to earn the same respect. I haven’t seen such a candid representation of the industry’s misogynistic standards in a song, and it’s extremely underrated considering its cultural context.
Overall, Mae’s music is typically a fun listen with extremely relatable lyrics. She has great beats, funky lyrics and portrays sapphic love in a fun, less-serious manner that still embraces the challenges of being a woman.
Young Miko
Mia Barutta, Staff Writer
Though Young Miko, a Puerto Rican trap artist, has gained a lot of notoriety on the internet in the past year — thanks to collabs with artists like Bad Bunny and opening for Billie EIlish — Miko’s musical discography seems to still be somewhat of a hidden gem. Looking past the viral moments and high-profile co-signs, her music contains depth and intentionality that deserves recognition.
The first Young Miko song I heard was “Lisa,” a single she released in 2023, and high school me could not believe her ears. Here was a Latin trap singer who not only was a woman, but also openly lesbian — unapologetically and explicitly talking about her love and desire for women. In a genre dominated by men and machismo, Young Miko’s voice is not only refreshing — it feels revolutionary.
Unlike many trap singers, Young Miko speaks about her desires for women in a sensual yet respectful way, never performing her lesbianism for shock value or male attention. Her lyrics channel her genuine lived experience and admiration for her preferred sex, and it really resonates with me. Her authenticity paired with her amazing production, natural flow and catchy beats ensure that Young Miko will be more than one of the internet’s current sensations — she’s a groundbreaking artist who will change the Latin music scene forever.