This year, music reminded us why it matters - why it moves, why it heals, why it provokes. From global icons reinventing themselves to indie voices carving new lanes, 2025 was a study in sound and storytelling. Here’s a rewind of the albums and singles that defined my listening and writing this year.
Maroon 5 — Love Is Like
A butterfly at the flame: risk, burn, glow. The band promised a return to organic writing, and while the flame flickers brightest on tracks like “All Night” and “California,” the heat sometimes dissipates under feature-heavy scaffolding. Still, when they lean inward, the spark feels earned.
Read the full review →
Peter Kleinhans — By Every Probability
A soundtrack for being human—Kleinhans crafts a record that feels like a philosophical journal set to music. It’s tender, cerebral, and deeply lived-in.
Dive into the review →
PJ Morton & Afro Orleans — Cape Town to Cairo Live
A sonic homecoming that stitches continents together. Morton’s live set is a masterclass in cultural dialogue through sound.
Experience the journey →
Taylor Swift — The Life of a Showgirl
Her most daring era yet—Swift turns the stage into a thesis on reinvention.
Read the full piece →
Wild Horse — “Don’t Wait”
A soulful ode to letting go, painted in raw emotion and rhythmic grace.
Catch the review →
Sam Demas — “You & I”
An anthem of connection that feels like a handwritten note passed across time.
Read more →
Toy Parlour — “Lose It”
A new alternative force emerges—angular, urgent, and unapologetically fresh.
Explore the review →
Jules & The Howl — “Boys Club”
A fiery takedown of gatekeeping, delivered with grit and groove.
Read here →
The landscape feels charged with possibility as artists reclaim risk, redefine genre, and rewrite the rules — so 2026 is going to sound different. Stay connected with Klef Notes as we enter a hopeful new year: more reviews, more interviews, more live concert footage, more voices, more culture on the page. Klef Notes is ready to document the shift, and trust, there will be surprises along the way.
Until next time, I listen. I lead. I write the culture.
— The Original KiKi