Atlanta has always pulsed to the sound of its own unique culture. In 2025, that energy was especially profound, as a new wave of artists cut across genres and expectations, blending trap with classical, punk with politics and folk with furvor. As 2026 approaches, the city’s creative heartbeat is louder and more unpredictable than ever.

Here are six Atlanta-based musicians who aren’t just making noise; they’re shaping the city’s next soundtrack. Each brings something wild, personal, or necessary to the stage. You’ll want to hear them now, and say you knew them before the rest of the world caught on.

---

Justice Micheal & The Passage

Genre: Jazz / Funk Fusion
Listen on: YouTube, Live shows, Spotify

A drummer. A composer. A bandleader. Justice Michael isn’t just a performer; he’s an inspiration. His ensemble, The Passage, has become a live favorite for jazz lovers and groove-enthusiests alike, fusing funk rhythms with intricately effortless improvisation.

They’ve played the Atlanta Jazz Festival and opened for musical giants like Najee and Lalah Hathaway, but their 2024 live album The Passage Live brought that stage energy to listeners everywhere. Look for them in 2026 at outdoor concerts or gallery pop-ups.

---

Upchuck

Genre: Punk / Garage Rock
Listen on: YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify

Few bands capture Atlanta’s raw edge like Upchuck. This punk five-piece brims with grit and urgency, building anthems out of noise, passion, and unabashed vulnerability. Their breakout album Sense Yourself burned through the underground scene, but it was 2023’s Bite the Hand That Feeds , produced by garage rock legend Ty Segall, that drew national eyes.

Upchuck’s live shows are an explosive, brazen scene. Their video for “Our Skin” is a must-watch: a defiant cry against the forces that silence young, Black, Southern voices. In 2026, their message isn’t just artistic expression; It’s necessary.

---

Clejan

Genre: Trap Violin / Classical Fusion
Listen on: YouTube, Instagram, Spotify

If you haven’t heard trap violin yet, start with Clejan, a genre-bending virtuoso who raps, loops and plucks his way between Bach and 808s. Classically trained since age three, Clejan creates soundscapes where a thundering bass booms beneath symphony.

His videos, often recorded live, show him delivering verses while his violin weeps. Part performance art, part cultural collision, Clejan’s rise is one of the most original stories in Atlanta’s 2026 lineup.

---

SpookDaKid

Genre: Trap Soul / Hip-Hop
Listen on: YouTube, Apple Music, Spotify

Introspective yet streetwise, SpookDaKiid is one of Atlanta’s freshest voices in Hip-Hop. His 2025 project Trap Soul walks the tightrope between vulnerability and bravado, with standout track “Pressure” (a collab with Teejay3k) already pulling streams and social buzz.

Still flying just under the mainstream radar, SpookDaKiid is building a foundation the long way, with steady drops, strong visuals, and a deeply authentic style.

---