There were a lot of great releases by New Orleans artists in 2025. The year saw new albums by Alexis & The Sanity, Sarah Quintana, Jon Cleary, Bo Dollis Jr. & The Wild Magnolias, Cha Wa, Sabine McCalla, Kr3wcial, The Convenience, Alfred Banks and Pell, Cristina Kaminis and more.
In fact, the 2026 Grammy category for Best Regional Roots Music Album is almost entirely made up of New Orleans artists: Kyle Roussel and his “Church of New Orleans”; Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet for their “Live at Vaughan’s” record; Preservation Brass and Preservation Hall Jazz Band with “For Fat Man”; and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and the New Breed Brass Band for “Second Line Sunday.” The one outlier in the category is the Louisiana-focused “A Tribute to the King of Zydeco,” a tribute album to zydeco pioneer Clifton Chenier featuring The Rolling Stones, Lucinda Williams and many others.
It’s impossible to pick subjective “bests” out of a strong year for New Orleans music. Instead, here are five of my favorites (out of many) I kept coming back to all year.
Boyfriend — “In the Garden”
New Orleans vocalist and songwriter Boyfriend has often used her bassy alt-pop and “rap cabaret” to critique and skewer sexism and culture’s expectations of women. With her latest album, “In the Garden,” Boyfriend, the performance name for Suzannah Powell, dug into patriarchy’s cornerstone myth: The story of Eve and the Garden of Eden.
With a genre-blending mix of pop, indie rock, hip-hop and lo-fi R&B, “In the Garden” retells Eve’s story from her perspective and with a feminist queer lens. Boyfriend portrays an intellectually curious Eve in the concept album alongside Big Freedia as God — declaring “Turn the lights on!” — Jake Shears as Adam, electro-punk artist Peaches as the Serpent and Billy Porter narrating the story. It’s an equally entertaining and captivating record that continues to reveal new layers.
Galactic and Irma Thomas — “Audience with the Queen”
The Soul Queen of New Orleans held court with one of the city’s best bands this year. Galactic and Irma Thomas have worked together in the past — Thomas sang on the song “Heart of Steel” on Galactic’s “Ya-Ka-May” record — but a full-length collaboration is one of those things that works so well, you’re surprised it didn’t already exist. “Audience with the Queen” is full of tight New Orleans funk, soul and rhythm and blues, and both Thomas and Galactic are in top shape.
The album features strong songwriting contributions by Sean Carey as well as Boyfriend and Princess Shaw on the sweet, powerful song “Puppet on Your String.” With a balance of classic R&B and modern grit, “Audience with the Queen” is a new crown jewel in New Orleans music.
Big Freedia — “Pressing Onward”
Before becoming a bounce icon, before reality TV shows and before becoming the Queen Diva, Big Freedia was Freddie Ross Jr. dressed in his Sunday best and singing in the church choir. Big Freedia revisited her gospel roots this year with “Pressing Onward,” a joyous record full of praise, encouragement for difficult times and a bit of bounce.
Although Freedia made her career as a bounce artist, gospel music and artists like Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams and Shirley Caeser have remained close to her heart. And her faith has helped her through difficult times, including after the loss of her partner of 20 years, Devon Hurst, earlier this year, Freedia told Gambit.
Freedia is backed by a powerful choir on “Pressing Onward,” and there are contributions by Billy Porter, Tamar Braxton, K. Michelle and Dawn Richard. It’s an energetic album, and Freedia, an LGBTQ icon, makes a point to welcome all to the revival.
La Reezy — “Welcome to La Reezyana, Vol. 1”
2025 was La Reezy’s year. The young New Orleans rapper and producer was awarded the Hip Hop Museum’s Next Up Award and received nods from Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, the Creator and director James Gunn. La Reezy, the stage name for Khayree Salahuddin, also released four projects this year, including a collaboration with Grammy winner PJ Morton, “Pardon Me, I’m Different.”
But if you only have time for one, make it “Welcome to La Reezyana, Vol. 1.” The eight-track project filters New Orleans, Louisiana and the world through La Reezy’s eyes. There’s a blend of styles, from bounce to Southern hip-hop, block party-worthy tracks to introspective, conscious lyricism and soul samples. There’s also just a lot of charm and swagger — look no further than the ear-wormy “I Look Good.” And keep an eye out on the ascending La Reezy in 2026.
Free Agents Brass Band — “Made It Through That Water”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the federal levee failures, drummer Ellis Joseph found himself in Atlanta. While there, he reached out to other displaced New Orleans bass band musicians staying in the area and formed the Free Agents Brass Band. After returning to New Orleans in early 2006, the Free Agents continued, playing welcome home celebrations, funerals and clubs like the Green Room. In 2007, the band recorded its sole album, “Made It Through That Water.”
Long out of print — despite the title track taking off after its use on the show “Treme” — Free Agents reissued “Made It Through That Water” this year in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Katrina. Written in those early years after Katrina, the album is a natural reflection of those brass band musicians’ experiences and emotions in a city rebuilding. There’s relief, love for brass band culture, defiance and tough emotions all over the record.
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