{"id":149208,"date":"2026-01-25T19:19:09","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T19:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/149208\/"},"modified":"2026-01-25T19:19:09","modified_gmt":"2026-01-25T19:19:09","slug":"three-singer-songwriters-poised-to-make-it-big-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/149208\/","title":{"rendered":"Three singer-songwriters poised to make it big in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Olivia<\/a>Olivia Dean. (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve always fancied myself a bit of an A&R guy with an ear for talent. Sure, certain songs appeal to my personal taste, but every so often I get a feeling that someone isn\u2019t just good, but genuinely special, and they\u2019re on the precipice of making it big before they do. <\/p>\n

This happened for me with Dua Lipa, Teddy Swims, Jessie Murph and, most recently, Ella Langley, whose \u201cChoosin\u2019 Texas<\/a>\u201d became her first top-five hit on Billboard\u2019s all-genre Hot 100 chart.<\/p>\n

Here are three artists who I believe will begin their ascent to major stardom this year:<\/p>\n

Olivia Dean<\/p>\n

Okay, I know what you\u2019re thinking: Olivia Dean<\/a> is already on that path \u2014 she received a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and scored the first No. 1 album of 2026 with the resplendent The Art of Loving<\/a>. All true \u2026 but, in my defense, her accelerated rise is much more recent than when my Spidey sense pegged her as one to watch last year.<\/p>\n

The English singer-songwriter released her first single, the bouncy \u201cReason to Stay<\/a>,\u201d in 2018, followed by her critically acclaimed debut album, Messy<\/a>, in 2023. The 12-song LP peaked at No. 4 on the UK Albums Chart and yielded several catchy singles, including the lovely \u201cDive,\u201d brassy dance groove \u201cLadies Room\u201d and poignant \u201cThe Hardest Part.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since her start, Dean, 26, has released two live albums, four EPs and a steady stream of singles. But it was her stunning The Art of Loving that really made people notice her buttery vocals and soothing neo-soul vibe. Add to that her sophisticated, elegant style and it\u2019s difficult not to draw comparisons to Sade.<\/p>\n

Incorporating elements of pop, jazz, R&B and bossa nova, Loving produced four standout singles, including the breezy \u201cNice to Each Other\u201d and \u201cMan I Need,\u201d and landed on numerous best albums of 2025 lists, from Rolling Stone to Entertainment Weekly.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With a potential Grammy win in March (tune in to see if she deservedly bests sombr and Addison Rae, among others), Dean will embark on a global tour running from April through October. As of this writing, her closest dates land at Los Angeles\u2019 Crypto.com Arena, July 14\u201315. Yes, she booked two nights at the 20,000-seat venue. If she doesn\u2019t add a San Diego stop, a road trip is highly recommended.<\/p>\n

Izzy Escobar<\/p>\n

Like many contemporary breakout artists, singer-songwriter\u00a0Izzy Escobar<\/a> first caught attention on TikTok<\/a>, where her intimate performances quickly found an audience. Her 2025 debut single, \u201cThese Eyes<\/a>,\u201d introduced listeners to her enchanting m\u00e9lange of jazz, soul and pop, and her deep, resonant voice rich with warmth and character.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Last October, she released her six-song EP, Sunny in London<\/a>, featuring the title track, a bittersweet breakup song the 26-year-old wrote while traveling abroad. Despite its theme, the easy groove suggests a bright future, in love and music.<\/p>\n

A strong showcase of her songcraft, London features several highlights, from the aching ballad \u201cNevermine\u201d and aspirational \u201cJackie O\u201d to the sultry earworm \u201cVendetta,\u201d which has emerged as her biggest hit to date with more than 6.6 million streams on Spotify.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Growing up in Massachusetts with a DJ father, the Cuban-Italian artist with exotic looks was exposed to all kinds of music. Classical violin became her first passion, eventually leading to writing songs extemporaneously at the piano. That foundation gave her a strong ear for rhythm and melody, which she weaves into her authentic sound.<\/p>\n

At the moment, Escobar has just one 2026 live appearance on the calendar \u2014 a May 24 set at the BottleRock Napa Valley<\/a> music festival in California\u2019s wine country. While headliners like Lorde, Foo Fighters and the Backstreet Boys will attract many concertgoers, I\u2019d get a ticket simply to see her on Sunday. Go and you\u2019ll thank me later.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maya Delilah\u00a0<\/p>\n

I first started singing Maya Delilah<\/a>\u2019s praises here<\/a> last February, before her stellar debut album The Long Way Round\u00a0<\/a>broke in March. It all stemmed from her sultry single, \u201cSqueeze,\u201d a jazz-funk workout foreshadowing great promise to come.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old English singer, songwriter and guitarist got her start at 15, performing at music competitions and later, like Dean, attending the prestigious BRIT School. Delilah released her debut EP, Oh Boy<\/a>, in 2020, followed by It\u2019s Not Me, It\u2019s You<\/a> in 2021 and numerous singles through 2024.<\/p>\n

Her sound, an irresistible mix of jazz, soul and pop, is best sampled through tracks like \u201cI\u2019m Just Stupid,\u201d \u201cQueen\u201d and \u201cBegin Again,\u201d the opener from The Long Way Round. That album led to her being named a 2025 Spotify Artist to Watch.<\/p>\n

While Delilah has yet to announce tour plans for 2026, she continues to release new music, including this month\u2019s deluxe version<\/a> of The Long Way Round featuring four additional tracks. Expect big things for her this year, especially if she hits the road.<\/p>\n

Donovan Roche is a longtime music writer and frequent contributor to Times of San Diego. Send your story ideas to\u00a0droche617@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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