The future haunts popular music. From Sun Ra‘s cosmic philosophies to Kraftwerk‘s robotic minimalism, from Janelle Monáe‘s android suites to the shimmering dream worlds of Björk, artists have long looked to the future as both a warning and a possibility. To imagine the future in sound is not merely to garnish it with synthesizers and sci-fi tropes but to wrestle with what it means to be human in a world constantly shifting under the weight of technology, identity, and desire.

In 2025, that conversation is more urgent than ever. Music is no longer just a mirror of culture, but a laboratory for speculation: a space where love can be reprogrammed, identities shapeshift, and utopias and apocalypses coexist in the same beat. What defines “futuristic” music today is not its palette of synthetic tones; those are already common currency, but its ability to disrupt time itself, destabilizing the boundaries between memory and prophecy.

The five albums gathered here don’t simply gesture toward tomorrow. They inhabit it. Each one offers a distinct vision of how music can bend space, fracture genre, and reimagine the self. Together, they form a constellation of possibilities.

Kid Cudi – Entergalactic

Loneliness Among the Stars

Few artists embody the paradox of futurism like Kid Cudi. Since his 2009 breakthrough Man on the Moon, Cudi has been hip-hop’s melancholic astronaut, orbiting mainstream rap while never quite belonging to it. Entergalactic, released alongside his Netflix animated odyssey, distills his ethos into an interstellar love story that is both cartoon fantasy and confessional diary.

Futurist records often revel in alienation, but Cudi makes the infinite feel intimate. His voice — nasal, fragile, endlessly human — floats against glacial synths and psychedelic textures. Songs like “Willing to Trust” transform zero gravity into a metaphor for vulnerability, while “Do What I Want” pits trap percussion against shimmering arpeggios.

“Space here is not a void,” the album insists, “but a canvas for longing”. In Cudi’s cosmos, the cold vacuum of the future still carries the warmth of a heartbeat.

NZCA Lines – Infinite Summer

Dancing Through the Anthropocene

Where Cudi looks upward, NZCA Lines looks around at the planet itself. Michael Lovett’s Infinite Summer dazzles with the sleekness of 1980s synthpop, yet its brilliance hides shadows: an ecological crisis, a world locked in perpetual heat. The title alone feels like an omen, paradise turning to drought, endless light shading into exhaustion.

Tracks such as “Persephone Dreams” seduce with crystalline surfaces, but their lyrics evoke collapse: oceans swelling, skies burning. Lovett’s genius lies in the tension between sound and theme. The music sparkles like utopia even as it mourns the fragility of the earth beneath it.

This is futurism for the Anthropocene: the apocalypse not as silence, but as something glittering and dangerously danceable. Infinite Summer reminds us that tomorrow’s catastrophe may arrive disguised as pleasure.

Don Toliver – Love Sick

Posthuman Desire

If NZCA Lines envisions planetary collapse, Don Toliver zooms into the microcosm of desire. Love Sick is futurism refracted through romance in the digital age, where emotions are filtered, mediated, and reassembled by technology.

Toliver’s Auto-Tuned croon is less an effect than an existential condition. His voice drips like liquid chrome, warping between seduction and distortion. In tracks like “Private Landing”, ecstasy collides with alienation; in “Do It Right”, nostalgic samples crash into futuristic beats, compressing decades into a single moment.

Here, AutoTune becomes a metaphor: in a posthuman world, to love is to glitch, to yearn through distortion. Love Sickaches with vulnerability despite, or because of, its synthetic sheen. It argues that the future of intimacy is not the erasure of feeling, but its mutation.

Lava La Rue – Starface

Queering the Cosmos

For Lava La Rue, futurism is liberation. Starface imagines queerness not as marginal, but as interstellar —a force expansive enough to light entire galaxies. Where Cudi makes space personal and NZCA Lines makes it planetary, La Rue makes it political, envisioning futures where identity is fluid and infinite.

The EP shapeshifts like its creator. UK rap bleeds into neo-soul, psychedelia rubs against indie textures, all threaded with cosmic imagery. “Lift Off” pulses with ecstatic confidence, while quieter tracks hover like weightless daydreams.

La Rue’s cosmos echoes the traditions of Black queer futurism, Octavia Butler’s novels, Janelle Monáe’s android anthems — yet it feels distinctly rooted in London’s multicultural vibrancy. Starface is speculative but never escapist. It argues that the future is not abstract: it is lived, grounded, and already shimmering in communities that refuse confinement.

Johnel – Galactic Theme

Ancestral Rhythms in Hyperspace

If La Rue queers futurism, Johnel reorients it toward heritage. Galactic Theme fuses African polyrhythms with cosmic synthscapes, producing music that feels both ancient and interstellar. Inspired by Kid Cudi’s Entergalactic, this short album is a distinctly Afrofuturist vision: the drum as heartbeat and warp drive, ancestral memory traveling across galaxies.

Unlike futurist projects that abandon the past for shiny abstraction, Johnel insists that continuity is itself a radical gesture. Released via Nnamani Music Group, his music resonates with Sun Ra’s cosmic philosophies and Burna Boy’s global reach, yet it never imitates. Instead, it extends the lineage. The future, he suggests, is not blank but already inscribed with ancestral echoes.

In Galactic Theme, one hears time collapse: tradition becomes trajectory, history becomes horizon. The past is not left behind in tomorrow; it is what powers the leap into it.

The Future Is Already Here

What unites these albums is not sonic uniformity, but rather a defiance of stasis. Cudi turns solitude into cosmic intimacy. NZCA Lines transforms climate dread into shimmering pop. Toliver reframes digital longing as posthuman desire. La Rue queers the cosmos into infinite possibility. Johnel launches ancestral rhythm into orbit.

To call them “futuristic” is less about sound design than about ambition, the audacity to construct sonic worlds that imagine beyond the limits of today. Each album refuses the idea that the present is fixed. Each insists that tomorrow can be sounded into existence.

“Perhaps the most radical act of futurism,” these works seem to say, “is not predicting what comes next, but daring to invent it.”

In their music, the future is not a horizon waiting to arrive. It is already here, scattered across beats, refrains, and voices bold enough to claim it.

Cher
Disco Fever Never Dies!!!

Published September 11, 2025 8:17 AM PDT

Mariah Carey is gearing up to release her 16th album, but this is no Christmas miracle. The songstress, who is typically known for her holiday cheer, is instead releasing her new album, “Here For It All,” in September. Carey announced the new album on her personal Instagram, teasing a short clip of the new track that the album was named for. According to Variety, this is not the first hint of what is to come. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee also released another track, “Type Dangerous,” earlier in June.

Carey is still keeping the details of the album under wraps, but Variety has also reported that another track will be entitled “Sugar Sweet.” These songs do not appear to be thematically in line with her previous fare, but fans should be excited all the same. The singer has made a name for herself with Christmas-themed songs and several specials airing on Apple TV+. These new songs may not be “All I Need For Christmas Is You,” but they should have the same panache when “Here For It All” debuts on September 26. Until then, fans can still relive all of Carey’s hits in her long career.

Mariah Carey Is a Pop Culture Touchstone For Many

Mariah Carey has been teasing a new album for quite some time. She explained to Variety a few months ago that she was figuring out the track list.

“I’ve written some new songs. You know, I’m excited about it,” Carey stated. “I have to figure out which songs I’m going to do and which songs I’m not going to do. But I think I’m very excited about it.”

Carey’s last album was in 2018, when she released the record “Caution.” Since then, she has continued her Christmas pageantry with the likes of Michael Bublé, who also comes out of his shell every holiday season. In the past two decades, Carey’s work has appeared in a variety of different films, from the holiday romance Love Actually to the more bizarre, Beau Is Afraid. Ari Aster specifically asked Carey for permission to use her song in his most uncomfortable film because of how significant it was to the story. Aster had scripted “Always Be My Baby” into Beau Is Afraid from the very beginning, which encouraged the singer to give him the rights. No matter what the occasion, it seems that this Christmas queen is valid for every occasion. Fans should make sure to stay tuned to Collider and watch out for “Here For It All” when it comes out on September 26.

Source: Variety

When it comes to organizing comic conventions for geeks and pop culture nerds all around the world to delight in, it doesn’t get better than FAN EXPO HQ. When one attends one of their events, quality and entertainment are always guaranteed. From July 3rd to July 6th this year, fans in the Denver area will get their own FAN EXPO Denver.

As is the case with any FAN EXPO, attendees can expect an endless variety of panels, shows, tournaments, meetups, and other events to make their experience unforgettable. It can get overwhelming to choose between all these different activities, which is precisely why this handy guide is for. Everything at FAN EXPO Denver 2025 will be worth doing, but these are the activities that fans will want to prioritize.

15

Start the Event With DJ Awesomus Prime

Thursday, July 3rd @ 11:00 am — Cosplay Red Carpet (Street Level Lobby)

The start of any comic convention is a thrilling occasion, whether it’s an attendee’s hundredth or very first time attending such an event. FAN EXPO Denver is aware of this uncontainable feeling of excitement that attendees will be feeling on day one, so they’re holding a DJ dance party to take advantage of that feeling.

The dance party will be livened up by Indigenous/Hispanic/Two-Spirit Artist, Producer, and DJ Awesomus Prime, a household name in the world of convention DJing who loves bringing joy to his fellow nerdy con-goers. Whether they’re veterans in full cosplay or newbies accompanying their friends, attendees won’t want to miss out.

14

Learn About Prehistoric Poop

Sunday, July 6th @ 2:00 pm — Theater #3 (Mile High 1D-E-F)

Poop. Everyone does it. “Everyone” includes, of course, the fantastic beasts seen in media like Jurassic Park, one of the highest-grossing films of the 20th century. Dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures are, of course, a huge pillar of modern pop culture, which makes learning about them and their fecal habits quite fascinating.

At the “Fantastic Feces and Where to Find Them” event, attendees will explore the fascinating world of prehistoric poop, looking at real fossil examples and the speculative scat of legendary monsters, like Godzilla. For those interested in learning what studying fossilized feces (coprolites) reveals about ancient ecosystems, this will be an event they won’t want to miss.

13

Do Some Introspection at the “What’s Your One Ring?” Event

Saturday, July 5th @ 12:00 pm — Programming Room (Room 301/302)

Escapism and entertainment are only two of the many dimensions that make storytelling one of the most powerful resources at humanity’s disposal. Something else magical that fiction can do is raise a mirror to serious matters like mental health, as well as bring up conversations centered around such topics.

At the “What’s Your One Ring?” event, professional counselors Antoinette DaSilva-Fausto and Mike Ensley will accompany attendees in exploring the dynamics of addiction, dependence, and recovery and how they’re reflected in the journeys of famous Hobbits, as well as other beloved movie and video game characters. Fiction can be a great way to address severe, real-life issues, and it’s great that mental health discussions are becoming more prominent in today’s entertainment landscape.

12

Just Dance—No, Really, It’s Just Dance

Friday, July 4th @ 5:15 pm — Anime HQ (Mile High 1C)

For people who join the inaugural dance party and still feel like tearing up the dance floor a little more afterwards, Friday will have another music-centric event. Attendees will be able to join cosplayers and comic lovers alike in a fabulous dance party featuring the video game classic Just Dance.

Comic conventions are often very high-energy and fast-paced events, meaning that it’s quite easy to get tired pretty quickly. Events like this one can help one blow off some steam while still having a fun activity to do with friends, as well as a solid excuse to make new friends. As far as those kinds of excuses go, Just Dance is a perfect fit.

11

Attend a Fandom Meetup

Throughout the Event — Friendiverse Lounge (Room 407/406)

Events like FAN EXPO Denver would be nothing without the strong sense of community and unity that they foster. Fandom culture is the basis of contemporary pop culture, and as such, it’s a much-welcome delight that FAN EXPO Denver will have several fandom meetups at the Friendiverse Lounge throughout the whole event.

Whether it’s gamers wanting to meet other gamers, comic fans wanting to meet other comic fans, or sci-fi fans wanting to talk about their favorite sci-fi movies with other like-minded folks, these fandom meetups are the perfect opportunity to make new friends and share one’s interests.

10

Attend a Sketch Duel

Throughout the Event — Theater #4 (Room 403/404)

There are, of course, plenty of panels and events focused on movies, television, and video games. However, it’s always worth keeping in mind that comic conventions like FAN EXPO Denver, as the name might indicate, find their roots in comic book fandom culture. As such, artists are a crucial pillar of the community.

Throughout the whole event, there will be several “Sketch Duels” where famous comic book artists like Balam, Joey Lee Cabral, and Sajad Shah will be going pen to pen in a friendly competition on stage. They will also be answering the audience’s questions about their work, and at the end, lucky audience members get a chance to win the artwork they create on stage.

9

Participate in a Video Game Tournament

Throughout the Event — Gaming Zone (Show Floor)

Like comics and movies, video games are also a growingly important and mainstream pillar of modern pop culture. Friendly and competitive video game tournaments are becoming increasingly common events at conventions like FAN EXPO Denver, so gamers attending should make sure to add at least one or two game tournaments to their checklist.

Mortal Kombat 1, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and Tekken 8 will be but a few of the many competitive games that will be available for attendees to pick up while at FAN EXPO Denver 2025. Hosted by Texas Gaming Empire, these tournaments should be the perfect opportunity to either show off one’s skills or simply have a bit of friendly fun for a few minutes before a professional Jigglypuff player knocks you off the stage.

8

Contribute to the One Word Story

Throughout the Event — Book Nook (Mile High 4A-B-C-D)

Comics, movies, games, television, board games—you name it. Every single pillar of pop culture and geek culture can be traced back to a single concept: stories. They’re the fuel that keeps geeks and nerds around the world running, and the thing that brings them all together at events like this one.

At the Book Nook, FAN EXPO Denver will have a Story Wall where people will be able to walk up and add a single word to a growing narrative that will quickly start taking shape. Attendees should make sure not to miss out on contributing to this exciting story, and then coming back later to see how it has evolved with the addition of each new word. It’ll truly be fascinating to see how a collective story grows and develops, especially coming from people who have such a passion and understanding of narrative.

7

Explore How ‘Star Wars’ Uses Music for Storytelling

Saturday, July 5th @ 11:00 am — Programming Room (Mile High 4E-F)

Star Wars is nothing short of the biggest, most important, and most influential multimedia franchise in history, and as such, it’s no surprise that it’s always a huge part of any and all fan conventions around the world. FAN EXPO Denver 2025 will be no exception. Several activities and events will be centered around the galaxy far, far away, and fans should try to attend as many of them as they can.

Among these exciting activities is a thrilling event on Saturday, where the musical themes of John Williams and other Star Wars composers will be explored, touching on the franchise’s best compositions and how these tunes contribute to the story and themes. Dr. Frank Lehman, music theorist and film musicologist, will be leading this exciting event, which will aim to provide both entertainment value and a more in-depth discussion of music and its importance to sci-fi and cinema.

6

Craft Your Fantasy Map at Cartographers of the Realm

Throughout the Event @ 11:00 am — Book Nook (Mile High 4E-F)

World-building is undoubtedly one of the most salient and important elements of any sci-fi or fantasy story, whether it’s a movie, a show, or a book—and, like every sci-fi/fantasy fan knows, maps are a delightfully helpful tool in world-building. Every lover of the genre also loves maps, but chances are they’ve never actually tried their hand at creating their own.

For people who would like to concoct their own Middle-earth or Westeros-like geography, the “Cartographers of the Realm” event that will be taking place throughout the event is a can’t-miss. Attendees will be able to sketch, design, and build their dream world in a fun, interactive session. While supplies last, that is—so, in this case, a wizard should definitely aim to be early.