As someone whose life has revolved around a passion for the arts—and more specifically, music—from a young age, I always dreamt of celebrating music’s biggest night on the West Coast. That dream was realized when I attended and covered my first Grammys for Cosmopolitan last year. But I had yet to experience the delicious chaos of the week’s exclusive industry events leading up to the ceremony, including Spotify’s Best New Artist party.
Since its inception in 2017, BNA has honored nominees and fostered a community of music trailblazers, from Doechii to Chappell Roan. To be among such impactful artists for the first time, a few nights before the Grammys, felt like a fever dream in the best way.
Without a doubt, BNA has become a staple—and, dare I say, the hottest ticket—of Grammys Week. In conversation with Cosmopolitan’s editor-in-chief, Willa Bennett, Spotify’s chief public affairs officer, Dustee Jenkins, talked about the event’s impact on culture.
“I love tonight so much for lots of reasons, but we’ve been watching these artists for a long time,” she said. “We know that they’re talented and good and just on the cusp of the world all knowing their names—and tonight is a celebration of the world knowing their names.”
As I moved through the massive room in The Lot at Formosa, I clocked some of my playlist’s personal favorites. GAG’s rising stars and Hollywood’s favorite DJs, Alex Chapman and Zoe Gitter, set the tone with a mix of Y2K hits and some of Spotify’s global chart toppers, while Benson Boone was chopping it up with one of his childhood friends by the Churro truck. Ravyn Lenae strolled through as Sienna Spiro studied the stage from afar. I even reunited with Adéla as we caught up with Blackpink’s choreographer, Kiel Tutin and chatted about her excitement for her year ahead.
Kiel Tutin and Adéla
Diplo and Benson Boone
The night’s slew of performances marked the first time all of this year’s Best New Artist nominees—Addison Rae, Sombr, Leon Thomas, The Marías, Lola Young, Olivia Dean, KATSEYE, and Alex Warren—played the same stage. As the show started, the room began to feel smaller, and everyone wanted a piece of the action.
Leon Thomas, who effortlessly oozed bravado and hit layered R&B runs like they were nothing, kicked off the evening with a trio of tracks from his album, MUTT, before people shuffled forward to watch Lola Young’s first performance since fainting mid-set at All Things Go in New York last September.
Lola Young
“This is a special moment for me,” she said in between songs. “I’m feeling better, so thank you to everybody here, and to everybody who makes performing feel like this.” Witnessing her triumphant return to the stage was incredibly moving—so much so, it initially went over my head that Lola opted to sing deeper cuts like “Dealer” and “Post Sex Clarity” instead of her megahit, “Messy.” An attendee behind me said it best: “We’re so fucking back.”
Then came The Marías, who made me reach a flow state as they played their melodic dreamscapes “Back to Me” and “Nobody New.” At one point, frontwoman María Zardoya’s vocals acted as a siren song during “No One Noticed,” even putting the wait staff in a trance. I can’t say I blame them one bit for hitting pause on picking up empty glasses in order to appreciate the music.
The Marías
Alex Warren brought his chart-topper, “Ordinary,” to the stage after playfully flirting with Mr. Fantasy (aka KJ Apa) in the crowd as his own wife, Kouvr Annon, watched. I then realized Lara Raj’s sister and fellow pop girlie, Rhea Raj, had made her way to the front with her parents to witness KATSEYE’s highly anticipated set. Naturally, I took a moment to congratulate them on having beautiful, talented, and iconic daughters, their eyes sparkling with pride as they wholeheartedly agreed. After that, not a moment of choreo was missed between my crew and me as the global girl group hit the stage to perform “Gabriela,” “M.I.A,” and “Gnarly.”
KATSEYE
After predicting his Best New Artist nomination when we met for his Seventeen cover story last August, Sombr played four tracks from his debut album, including his self-proclaimed song of the summer, “Undressed.” I’ve previously waxed poetic about this track having one of the best bridges in pop music, and to witness it live during this full-circle moment was incredibly special.
Leading up to Addison Rae’s standout performance, Spotify’s AI DJ X introduced every act throughout the night. But pop’s newly minted diva took matters into her own hands as she addressed the crowd through giggles backstage before performing “In the Rain” in a white cinched blazer with hot shorts to match.
Addison had several outfit changes, removing a layer of clothing with each song, and as much as I ride for Pop Star Addison Rae, I must say she robbed the crowd of the spiritual experience that is “Headphones On” as she opted for “High Fashion” and her breakout hit, “Diet Pepsi,” instead.
Addison Rae
Perhaps the most anticipated performance of the night was Olivia Dean, who didn’t miss a beat with her buttery smooth vocals. This was the only time the crowd seemed perfectly synchronized, as they sang and swayed along to “Man I Need,” “So Easy (To Fall in Love)” and “Nice to Each Other.”
After taking a break from the event last year due to the devastating L.A. Wildfires in 2025, Spotify certainly brought the heat in a new way as they truly provided us with a perfect kick-off to music’s biggest weekend.
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