Meet the 16 new artists joining YouTube Music’s Foundry Class of 2026

Since 2015, YouTube Music's Foundry program has had one clear mission: to support the diverse and innovative voices of the global independent music community. We’re proud to have worked with more than 250 artists, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms. Artists selected for Foundry receive a grant, dedicated partner support from YouTube, access to the latest products and bespoke on and off-platform opportunities.

Today, we’re welcoming 16 new artists from eight different countries. Meet the latest cutting-edge artists to join the Foundry Class of 2026:

• Aiobahn (JP), a producer rooted in electronic dance music, bridges Japanese subculture and pop, crafting a distinctive sound all his own.
• Asfar Shamsi (FR), a trailblazing force in the French scene, redefining post-rap pop with her raw, honest songwriting and an eclectic sound that effortlessly bridges rap, electronic, and classic pop.
• Baran Kok (DE), a boundary-breaking phenomenon in German rap, shaking up the scene with his viral, taboo-free storytelling and uncompromising, high-energy sound.
• FLVCKKA (MX) is a pioneering Mexican artist from Chihuahua, redefining the alternative trap scene through her "hypercorridos" style and the creative, genre-blending Neobuchonismo collective, known for distinct visual aesthetics.
• Gabriel Jacoby (US), a rising talent crafting intimate, soulful R&B and funk marked by velvety melodies, vulnerable lyricism and multi-faceted musicianship.
• harha (JP) is a Japanese unit founded in 2022, composed of harha, a music producer, and yonabe, a female vocalist with a strong and clear voice. To remember the pure thoughts that fade as we grow older, they are expressing emotions through music nurtured by hip-hop.
• Jonny Mahoro (DE), a defining force in German indie-pop, captivating fans with his signature blend of poetic intimacy and driving, R&B-infused beats.
• José Jr (BR), a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter blending folk, rock and traditional Brazilian music to build poetic bridges between daily life and spirituality.
• KEVIS Y MAYYKI (MX), a groundbreaking Mexican rap duo from Nuevo León, blend old-school sounds with alternative rock. Their acclaimed 2025 debut, LOS CHICOS DEL NORTE, and recent hits redefine the genre.
• Mariasss (BR), a pop sister trio, and Foundry Rising 2025 alums, fuse beautiful vocal harmonies with pop, K-pop and electronic beats in a rich audiovisual universe.
• Max McNown (US), a breakout folk-country singer-songwriter known for raw, emotive acoustic storytelling and heartfelt, viral ballads.
• Takase Toya (JP), a singer-songwriter/producer handling everything from writing and composing to track-making. His signature track "Doushite feat. Emi Noda" surpassed 1.2 billion cumulative streams, commanding massive popularity across Asia.
• This is Lorelei (US), a solo venture from Water From Your Eyes' Nate Amos whose lo-fi alt-pop is adored by Hayley Williams and indie contemporaries.
• Underscores (US), a genre-bending innovator fusing hyperpop with sharp, cinematic conceptual songwriting and world-building visuals.
• Yapi (ES), Madrid-born artist who blends Spanish and French lyrics with Afrobeat, blazing a trail for Afro-fusion across Europe and Latam.
• Zeina (LB, EG), a Brooklyn-born, Montreal-raised Lebanese-Egyptian artist redefining global pop for a new generation. Blending Arabic, English and French, she has earned two JUNO Award nominations, a Billboard Canadian Hot 100 entry, and a growing international presence.

In June, we announced our Foundry Class of 2026 Summer Drop, including 24 artists from 11 countries. Since then, we’ve been working closely with these artists who have been busy building visual worlds, selling out tours, and making waves in culture. A few recent projects include:

• An exclusive YouTube music video screening event at Cherry Lane Theatre featuring Foundry artist Julia Wolf, who continues her ascent with stunning music videos and massive festival crowds.
• A partnership with COLORS TONES of NYC to throw an album release party for Kelela, whose new avatar was released to universal critical acclaim.
• The Paradox have continued winning fans over with their viral Tiny Desk Concert and recently performed as part of YouTube’s Avenues series.
• In Colombia, Latin Afrobeats pioneer Hamilton is making global waves landing on the Forbes 30 under 30 list.
• In Brazil, all five 2026 Foundry artists will come together at the YouTube Theatre in São Paulo for an exclusive music video screening event.
• In India, our 2026 Foundry artists participated in a YouTube Music Nights showcase at All About Music, India's premier music conference in Mumbai.
• In the UK, we partnered with Natanya for a release party celebrating her highly anticipated ATTITUDE ERA!.

YouTube Music is also continuing support for earlier stage artists who are part of our Foundry Rising program:

• In the US, Mack Keane is selling out headline tours and gaining co-signs from the likes of Justin Timberlake and Giveon.
• In Latin America, Aria Vega sparked a cultural movement dominating the Billboard Colombia charts for 15 weeks with her record-breaking hit.
• Turkish group Manifest is redefining modern pop as they prepare for a milestone debut at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.
• Nigerian artist ru. is captivating crowds at packed shows across Lagos and Abuja.

Ready to discover your new favorite artist? Dive into the sounds of the most promising independent artists with the official Foundry Playlist on YouTube Music and check out the individual artist channels.