JUICE Best Of 2025: Your Year In Bangers, Ballads & Boundary-Pushers

By Lara Kramer • 19 Nov 2025 in Features

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From underground gems to radio anthems, JUICE is back to spotlight the movers, shakers, and rule‑breakers of Malaysia’s music scene. This year we’ve opened the mic to the people and the ears… Because to us, culture isn’t just made: it’s lived.

2025 has been a year of sonic exploration and boundary-pushing creativity. From clubs that made your heart race to tracks that lingered in your mind long after they played, Malaysia’s music scene has been thriving, diverse, and, above all, unapologetically bold.

Whether mainstream chart-toppers or underground pioneers, the acts shaping the sound of the year are here for your recognition—and your vote. We’re diving into the Music categories and nominees that soundtracked your year:

Best Song

1. DOLLA – ‘MWA!’

‘MWA!’ marks the beloved local girl group’s dive into Brazilian funk and the start of a new era for the group. The song quickly sparked a dance challenge that drew in fans, influencers, and even other artists.

2. Spooky Wet Dreams – ‘Air Mata Buaya’

Spooky Wet Dreams bring moody textures and a heavy dose of emotional grit—’Air Mata Buaya’ delivers rawness through its imagery and atmosphere.

3. Heidi Moru – ‘Jangan Dulu’

A vulnerable, slow‑burn ballad from Heidi Moru, this track nails the tension of wanting more time—even when you know a chapter’s closing.

4. ALYPH – ‘Ingat’

ALYPH taps into nostalgia and smooth R&B‑inflected rap here. ‘Ingat’ (which means “Remember”) takes you through the memory lane of love and regret.

5. Chronicalz – ‘##matabengkak’

With pounding beats and sharp lyricism, Chronicalz delivers a track that’s as much about street‑truths as it is about sound.

6. killamisha – ‘BANNED IN KL’

A fearless statement‑track from killamisha, fusing club energy with social commentary. Her ‘Miss Malaysia Mixtape’ launch has become one of 2025’s most talked‑about moments.

Best Album or EP

1. Midnight Fusic – Modus Operandi

Alt‑rockers Midnight Fusic return with an EP that refines their signature sound—emotional vocals, dual leads, and bigger sonic ambition.

2. F.Rider – ORKIDS

Emerging from Malaysia’s indie trenches, F.Rider deliver ORKIDS as a piece of work that looks both inward and outward—part reflection, part statement.

3. Toko Kilat – OPS KILAT

Toko Kilat bring their punk‑DIY energy to this album/EP, reminding listeners that chaos and craft can go hand in hand.

4. Astral Angels – AABNB

Showcases catchy hooks and upbeat hyper-pop sounds, fused with Astral Angels’ distinctive style. The album pushes boundaries in the Malaysian music scene, delivering original, skillful, and energetic tracks that highlight the group’s creativity and vision.

5. Ramayan – Ini Adalah Ujian Transmisi!

A release that feels like both a test and a declaration—Ramayan carve space for themselves with bold choices and atmospheric shifts.

6. Orang Malaya – Ada Apa Dengan OM?

With a title that asks the question out loud, Orang Malaya’s Ada Apa Dengan OM? serves up incisive social commentary wrapped in genre‑bending sounds.

Best Band

1. empty page.

A collective operating at the edge of Malaysia’s underground scene, empty page. balances vulnerability with noise in a quietly disruptive way.

2. Spooky Wet Dreams

Their atmospheric rock continues to resonate with listeners seeking texture, mood, and emotional weight.

3. hawa

hawa bring dreamy post‑rock and ethereal vocals into the local band mix, proving that soundscapes matter as much as front‑person charisma.

4. Midnight Fusic

A band that blends modern alt‑rock aesthetics with emotional lyrics and dual‑vocal interplay.

5. Bunuhdiri

With a name that literally means “suicide”, Bunuhdiri confront the darker side of existence (and super technical black metal) through heavy riffs and a raw stage presence.

6. Raksar

Raksar bring hardcore energy and local flavour, showing that Malaysia’s underground band scene is as vital and prominent as any mainstream pop machine.

Best Album Cover

1. Ramayan – Ini Adalah Ujian Transmisi!

Features disco-retro visuals that perfectly complement the album’s sound. The cover is vibrant, bold, and nostalgic, capturing the energy and aesthetic of the music in a striking way.

2. Astral Angels – AABNB

Stark, fun, and chaotic illustrations of the members with a punk-DIY aesthetic. This cover feels like a comic and perfectly matches their hyper-pop, genre-blending sound. The vibrant pop of pink adds the perfect finishing touch to its bold and playful energy.

3. Loko – Pemuda

Features gritty, urban imagery and bold typography that reflect youth rebellion and street culture. The cover’s mixed-media style, with hints of a Picasso-esque influence, gives it a striking, artistic edge that perfectly complements the album’s energy.

4. F.Rider – ORKIDS

Clean and modern feels meet abstract designs of orchids, reflecting the album title. The vibrant and colourful imagery mirrors the lively and dynamic sounds of the album, creating a visually striking and cohesive artistic statement.

5. Last Khalif – Born Runner

Retro-style illustrations and paintings that evoke old-school hip-hop. The striking colours and the bold, full-of-character typography of the title make the cover a vibrant and memorable visual statement.

6. Glazed Baguette – Dirty Blues & .32s

A design reminiscent of a Marlboro cigarette box, giving it a classy, retro, and nostalgic vibe. The iconic illustrations complement the design and hues, creating a memorable and striking album cover.

Best Collaboration

1. Against Mel, F.Rider, Sophiarazk – ‘MelayuSwagGiler’

A cross‑genre collab that plays with identity, style and swagger—’MelayuSwagGiler’ is both celebration and critique.

2. KDamz, pelam! – ‘Menari!’

These two bring playful energy and dancing rhythms, flipping between trap, pop, and club‑ready hooks.

3. ALYPH, Gard – ‘Sorok Muka’

A slick R&B/hip‑hop pairing that explores what it means to hide one’s face—literally and metaphorically—in modern relationships.

4. Dinho, Afiq Not Nice – ‘Kim’

Brings new sounds to local rap with a jerk-fuelled beat and plugg vibes. Their chemistry turns the track into a standout collaboration that hits hard from start to finish.

5. Nielnoi, Chronicalz – ‘Dompet Gemok’

With humour and bite, this track critiques conspicuous consumption and street culture.

6. empty page., syiqin azlan, mimpi – ‘Laut Kelabu’

A moody, spacey track that pools alternative rock, dreamy vocals and existential metaphor in one.

Best Solo Act

1. Heidi Moru

Soulful, emotionally direct and quietly powerful: Heidi Moru cuts straight to the heart.

2. CLAUDIA

Claudia Tan is making her mark in the entertainment scene both locally and internationally. A singer-songwriter and romance writer, she creates catchy, genre-blending pop, drawing inspiration from disco, indie, and more, with notable and rare sentimentality.

3. Mrizalmustbedestroyed

Defying his name, this solo artist crafts soundscapes that challenge the listener and stir the mind.

4. Khodi

With a voice that carries grit and vulnerability in equal measure, Khodi stands out in a crowded field.

5. NIELNOI

Malaysian-born hip-hop artist NIELNOI blends trap-influenced beats with high-energy storytelling and bold basslines. Known for his dynamic delivery and fashion-forward style, he crafts music that’s modern, fun, and made to get listeners moving, solidifying his ever-rising status.

6. killamisha

A solo act most unafraid of controversy, boundary‑pushing and raw expression. Her nomination here is far beyond well‑earned, and, come on, downright iconic.

Best New Artiste

1. Nolee

A newcomer whose bold sound and aesthetic presence already show serious promise, Nolee approaches music with an open heart and fearless spirit. Through every song, she aims to inspire, connect, and turn her passion into something that truly resonates. A Bratz doll in human form, if you will.

2. Women & Children

Women & Children craft ethereal sonic-pop, weaving dreamlike indie melodies with ambient, electronic, psychedelic textures, and a curious moniker.

3. Milo Christ

Milo Christ is a KL-based midwest emo/alt-rock band crafting heartfelt and eclectic sounds inspired by the likes of Chinese Football and Algernon Cadwallader, quietly making waves with their expertise on all things dreamy, fun, and tastefully satirical.

4. Commemorate

Emerging from Kuala Lumpur in early 2023, this five-piece crafts ethereal, hypnotic soundscapes with reverb-soaked guitars, drifting vocals, and melodies that blur the line between dream and distortion.

5. Ceemkins

Emerging from the underground, Ceemkins is a Malaysian pop artist known for catchy melodies and relatable lyrics, bringing a fresh, indie-tinged sound that connects across generations.

6. Mister Two Five

A new face making bold moves—expect more from Mister Two Five in 2026. And we’re talking far more than rapping outside aquarium shops, though that’s pretty cool too.

Best DJ

1. Miko Naiko

DJ Miko Naiko is an Ipoh-born talent carving her path as a hijabi performer, making her Pestapora debut this year. A self-proclaimed opponent of genre elitism, with a penchant for music as a form of expression and a commitment to values that resonate with it. What more could you ask for?

2. Aidaho

Ultimate cool-girl energy, founder of the beloved Emo Night. Aidaho has become a standout name in Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife. Her unmatched energy and fearless sound transform every space she performs in.

3. Smooth Brain Girly (SBG)

The name alone suggests fun—but the mixes go deeper than mere surface. Cute, chaotic, and endlessly fun, her sets blend Jersey Club, Speed House, and Baile Funk into high-energy, feel-good chaos. Inspired by “life’s most carefree and elated moments”.

4. Juju

Full of hot girl energy, Juju sets the tone with a fearless mix of Jersey, Baile Funk, Miami Bass, and Amapiano, commanding the stage with a truly massive aura.

5. I‑SKY

Known for raw, genre-spanning sets and deep house mastery, he blends melodic grooves with rhythmic textures and stands out on Kuala Lumpur’s club and festival scene, also performing as DJ Kicap and Ninjaboi.

6. SUHSI

Known for her work in techno and psytrance, her DJ sets lean into deep, dark, and experimental techno, often with spiritual or cosmic undertones. She seems to treat music as more than just sound, using it as a means of spiritual connection, channeling energy and vibration in her sets. A driving force in Kuala Lumpur’s techno scene.

Voting for JUICE Best Of 2025 closes on 19 December. Don’t sleep on your chance to champion the artists, bands and curators who shaped your year.

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