YouTube Unveils Foundry’s Fall Class of 2026: Underscores, Zeina and 14 More

Since 2015, YouTube Music’s Foundry program has had one clear mission: to support the diverse and innovative voices of the global independent music community. We’re proud to have worked with more than 250 artists, helping them build sustainable careers on their own terms. Artists selected for Foundry receive a grant, dedicated partner support from YouTube, access to the latest products and bespoke on and off-platform opportunities.

Today, we’re welcoming 16 new artists from eight different countries. Meet the latest cutting-edge artists to join the Foundry Class of 2026:

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• Aiobahn (JP), a producer rooted in electronic dance music, bridges Japanese subculture and pop, crafting a distinctive sound all his own.
• Asfar Shamsi (FR), a trailblazing force in the French scene, redefining post-rap pop with her raw, honest songwriting and an eclectic sound that effortlessly bridges rap, electronic, and classic pop.
• Baran Kok (DE), a boundary-breaking phenomenon in German rap, shaking up the scene with his viral, taboo-free storytelling and uncompromising, high-energy sound.
• FLVCKKA (MX) is a pioneering Mexican artist from Chihuahua, redefining the alternative trap scene through her “hypercorridos” style and the creative, genre-blending Neobuchonismo collective, known for distinct visual aesthetics.
• Gabriel Jacoby (US), a rising talent crafting intimate, soulful R&B and funk marked by velvety melodies, vulnerable lyricism and multi-faceted musicianship.
• harha (JP) is a Japanese unit founded in 2022, composed of harha, a music producer, and yonabe, a female vocalist with a strong and clear voice. To remember the pure thoughts that fade as we grow older, they are expressing emotions through music nurtured by hip-hop.
• Jonny Mahoro (DE), a defining force in German indie-pop, captivating fans with his signature blend of poetic intimacy and driving, R&B-infused beats.
• José Jr (BR), a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter blending folk, rock and traditional Brazilian music to build poetic bridges between daily life and spirituality.
• KEVIS Y MAYYKI (MX), a groundbreaking Mexican rap duo from Nuevo León, blend old-school sounds with alternative rock. Their acclaimed 2025 debut, LOS CHICOS DEL NORTE, and recent hits redefine the genre.
• Mariasss (BR), a pop sister trio, and Foundry Rising 2025 alums, fuse beautiful vocal harmonies with pop, K-pop and electronic beats in a rich audiovisual universe.
• Max McNown (US), a breakout folk-country singer-songwriter known for raw, emotive acoustic storytelling and heartfelt, viral ballads.
• Takase Toya (JP), a singer-songwriter/producer handling everything from writing and composing to track-making. His signature track “Doushite feat. Emi Noda” surpassed 1.2 billion cumulative streams, commanding massive popularity across Asia.
• This is Lorelei (US), a solo venture from Water From Your Eyes’ Nate Amos whose lo-fi alt-pop is adored by Hayley Williams and indie contemporaries.
• Underscores (US), a genre-bending innovator fusing hyperpop with sharp, cinematic conceptual songwriting and world-building visuals.
• Yapi (ES), Madrid-born artist who blends Spanish and French lyrics with Afrobeat, blazing a trail for Afro-fusion across Europe and Latam.
• Zeina (LB, EG), a Brooklyn-born, Montreal-raised Lebanese-Egyptian artist redefining global pop for a new generation. Blending Arabic, English and French, she has earned two JUNO Award nominations, a Billboard Canadian Hot 100 entry, and a growing international presence.