If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.
Jameson, one of the world’s most iconic Irish whiskey producers, has announced the return of Jameson Distilled Sounds, the brand’s international music program. Each year Distilled Sounds identifies a cohort of global artists of the future and provides them with the tools and resources to harness their unique potential.
More from Rolling Stone
Last year’s first intake — the class of 2024 — was mentored by international icon Anderson .Paak, a heavyweight and respected music innovator who has also come back to mentor this next generation of talent. This year, .Paak will be leading a new cohort of over 20 artists from around the world as they go through an immersive, creative experience together in Ireland. These artists based in India, South Africa, Portugal, Nigeria and Indonesia (to name a few) will meet up to write, record and perform new music under .Paak’s expert direction.
Each artist will spend 4-5 days collaborating, writing, producing and performing original music inspired by their roots. The results will drop throughout the summer across the Jameson YouTube Channel, including digital performances and artist-led masterclasses. While 10 artists will get one-on-one mentoring to develop their work, a second cohort of 20 gain the opportunity to utilize the Sound Distillery to network and collaborate with each other. But who are the Class of 2025 for Jameson Distilled Sounds, and how are they shaping the future of sound?
With the rise of non-English language hits on global charts, the growing appetite for unexpected, cross-genre collaboration is at an all time high. Whether it’s Alté meets Afrobeats, or Punjabi drill meets Parisian trap, the artists at this year’s program represent the cultural diversity shaping the current music landscape.
This year’s line-up brings together an eclectic mix of artists from around the world who are redefining their respective genres. The 2025 cohort includes a drill innovator from Jameson’s home country Ireland (Skinner), along with Portuguese experimentalist EU.CLIDES and Kazakh synth-pop pioneer Moldanazar. There are exceptional vocalists known for their genre-blending work, like Mary Ann Alexander from India and Monica Karina from Indonesia, as well as South African soul singer Lloyiso and Malaysian alt-pop artist Saint Kylo. There’s also a variety of East African talent this year, including Kenya’s Xenia Manasseh and Kethan. Other artists include Nigerian American R&B force Manny Wellz and Namibia’s own Kp Illest.
Together, this new group forms a collective that blurs borders and blends sounds, each evolving the essence of their local scene into something entirely new. Before those new tracks and digital performances drop this summer, discover the artists that make up Jameson Distilled Sounds new Class of 2025 here.
Best of Rolling Stone
Sign up for RollingStone’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
