only way to go is up

Looking forward instead of back this time and I must say the task is a bit less daunting. I’ll go as far as to proclaim 2021 the year l get my life back (?). 2020 has been trying for so many including myself: I can’t wait for this year to bring all I’ve been working towards to fruition. If we could get some incredible music to punctuate the next phases of lockdown, the dewey hesitation of vaccinations and their blissful aftermath (let’s keep a positive outlook…), that’d be great. Also treating the live music industry and professionals that have been out of jobs for nearly a year now with dignity and compassion would be great too. Here’s a great article by Hannah Mylrea for NME on what you can do to help save the future of live music (mostly in the UK but I don’t imagine it’s much harder to find information at your local level wherever you’re reading this from).

With that in mind, I’d like to go into a handful of records that are either confirmed to be released this year or not confirmed at all but there’s a decent chance they might and I am manifesting their coming to our ears before the ball drops in who-knows-how-much-time-there-is-in-a-year-anymore. I apologize for all the self-indulgence, here’s what we’re going to do: I’ll count down from 20 to my most anticipated release of the year, dropping a bit of information I’ve gathered on the way and my feelings about the upcoming projects.

Before I start the countdown, a couple worth mentioning that are worth keeping tabs on: King Princess should be releasing her sophomore album soon, “more rock and roll” than Cheap Queen according to her despite the dance-pop flavor of its lead singles; Miley Cyrus had announced a Metallica covers album but I’m not entirely convinced that’s going to happen (prove me wrong Miley!); Cardi B has been teasing new music for a while and that’s always a riot; Taylor Swift’s third installment of the folklore sisterhood was rumored to come in the form of ‘woodvale’ although she gave a very confusing explanation as to why those rumors were simply not true; Normani has yet to release her debut album (zero albums and two Fenty shows under her belt, she might be holding out like another R&B/pop queen we know); Adele will probably be making her comeback this year after pushing her album cycle away from the curse of 2020; and finally the chaotic problematic queen of twitter feuds, Azealia Banks, also gave hints an album was on the way (for way over a year I might add).

20. MARINA - ?

Man’s World, M5’s lead single

We don’t have a name yet but Marina Diamandis’ fifth project is well under way. She gave us Man’s World back in November and left fans hungry for more. It shouldn’t take too long for the album to grace our ears after she said to Uproxx that the writing was finished and she was now working on production. It’s said to be a bit darker than Love + Fear because there wasn’t much to feed the positive angle of the songs and I (we?) feel that.

19. Kero Kero Bonito - ?

A recent cover from KKB dropped on Christmas Day

There is no serious indication that KKB have an album on the way but I just have a hunch. And also I would like nothing more (well except the 18 albums ahead on this list). If their previous album cycle frequency is any indication there should be something substantial on the way. After all the sequence goes 2014 - 2016 - 2018 - ?; in all likeness 2020 got skipped for ______ (choose one of the thousand reasons why releasing music in 2020 wasn’t necessarily the best option for many bands out there), so 2021 should take it home. Or is that just me?

18. BROCKHAMPTON - ?

BROCKHAMPTON’s last single, the Sugar remix with Dua Lipa

Kevin Abstract has confirmed an album was on the way more than once in 2020. That’s all you get.

17. Lana Del Rey - Chemtrails Over the Country Club

Lana’s first track out from the upcoming LP

Lockdown Lana has caused quite the commotion in a year that didn’t need any of it (see her clumsy social media posts with unnecessary name-dropping and her refusal to acknowledge their poor execution and Lana wearing a mesh mask during a book signing and deflecting after criticism). The rants write themselves but all in all, Lana has made some pretty great music in the past and I hope the new music will follow suit. I’ll be keeping an ear out for Chemtrails with a side-eye.

16. St. Vincent - ?

A particularly brilliant arrangement of New York with X Japan member Yoshiki

Annie Clark has confirmed the advent of a new St. Vincent era - if Pitchfork reports it, you know it’s serious sh*t. Last offering of hers was a feature on Gorillaz’ 2020 record, which was a solid track but it didn’t really showcase St. Vincent as much as I’d hoped. Knowing I’ll get my SV fix soon has appeased my soul.

15. Rihanna - ?

Take me back

This one. I somehow still think it’s going to happen? I can’t imagine the pressure; R9 is going to break records, good or bad. Looking for a Rih video to put on here was a struggle: our girl has more Fenty content than music out here now. Beyonce’s “best revenge is your paper” didn’t fall on deaf ears. Apparently she has a cookbook on the way too.

14. Travis Scott - Utopia

ngl FRANCHISE grew on me (A LOT) since September

Another high-profile release, this time in no terms uncertain. Utopia is set to build on Travis Scott’s legacy and propel rap into his very specific brand of hip hop psychedelia in 2021. Looking forward to it is an understatement - I can’t wait for 1) the music, 2) the cultural impact.

13. Kim Petras - ?

Malibu, a 2020 nugget

Beyond the massive LGBTQIA+ and allies rolodex of the Malibu video, Kim has been holding out some bangers for when people can actually go off in the clubs. There’s a chance 2021 is a year she releases two albums (like in 2019): the following act to Clarity and the sequel to TURN OFF THE LIGHT. I’ll admit the latter is the one I’m most excited for - no one makes a techno-pop Halloween record just like her - especially after she pushed it back one full year for us to enjoy the songs in a setting more prone to snogging.

12. EARTHGANG - ?

The newest offering from the duo, supposedly from the upcoming record

EARTHGANG have kept busy in 2020, preparing their next album as well as crafting an entire record with the Spillage Village crew in quarantine which they delivered back in September. They’re one of the most exciting hip hop acts of the day and I’m revving up for what’s to come for them.

11. Josef Salvat - The Close / Le Reveil

A track from the upcoming project - also one of my favorites of 2020

OK so this one is technically an EP but oh well. Josef released a pair of tracks simultaneously in late 2020 to announce the upcoming EP and both were some of 2020’s finest all genres included. I suspect the EP might be some of the best music 2021 delivers so I allowed myself the inclusion in this list.

10. JPEGMAFIA - EP2!

From EP!

OK you caught me, second EP of the list. What I said about Josef Salvat also applies here. If EP! (released a couple of weeks ago) is any indication, we’re in for a treat. Peggy’s brand of experimentation rarely fails to impress. If he’s still adamant on pushing the needle in 2021, no one can get in his way. Manifesting a 2021 Peggy overhaul.

9. Tierra Whack - ?

Presumably an indicator of what’s to come from Tierra and one of her finest tracks ever

Tierra hasn’t confirmed a new album per se although she’s given hints more music was to come (and has already come in the form of some of her best music yet in 2020). No one does it like Tierra Whack. No one.

8. Jorja Smith - ?

Jorja going dancehall somehow feels like a full circle moment

Jorja Smith has got her pulse on something very special. She’s got the vocals of an angel, an ear for melody that rivals Mariah Carey’s and has shown great versatility since the release of her stellar debut in 2018. In 2020 we got a jazzy cover of St. Germain’s Rose Rouge, an incredibly important song in the wake of police brutality and the continued fight against systemic racism, a dancehall collaboration with Popcaan and a remix of Enny’s Peng Black Girls that caused a bit of stir and launched more discussion on colorism and the erasure of black women that the song itself denounces. Let’s hope Jorja’s new solo stuff steers clear from those murky waters.

7. Christine and the Queens - ?

The video odyssey of La Vita Nuova, her latest audiovisual feast

New music from Chris is always an event. La Vita Nuova was one of the best EPs of 2020 and her previous albums have always struck a chord in a generation that has made it their mission to redefine what it means to be human. Chris has called her upcoming album “vast, hopeful and ambitious”. Great PR.

6. Tkay Maidza - Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3

If after watching this you’re gaga over Tkay Maidza I don’t know what to tell you

Last EP of the list I swear. I couldn’t release this list into the world without mentioning the sequel to Last Year Was Weird, Volumes 1 & 2 and sleep at night. Tkay Maidza’s poly-genre music is where the mainstream is headed in many ways - while also constructing the canon for an organic transformation that few are likely to execute as well as she has. There’s something for literally everyone in her music and the series can only get better. I mean, imagine all the inspiration she must have gotten writing Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 based on the events of the past year. And yes, Tkay has already announced the music is more or less finished. It’s really a matter of time.

5. Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez, See Your Future

An incredible 2020 collaboration that requires more attention

Denzel has been on the edge of stardom for the past two years. His true reckoning came in the form of TA13OO in 2018 and he’s been consistently making bangers left and right since, including last year’s collaborative project with Kenny Beats. Denzel is still one of us, better catch him live before he blows up even more. New music is in the works, we even got a title. Putting a pin in this for later.

4. slowthai - TYRON

A single from the upcoming LP

This one is well-documented. We have a title, a date (Feb. 5 if you’re curious), the tracklist, three tracks out already and confirmation from Tyron himself that his team and he have decided against pushing the album release amidst Boris Johnson’s announcement of a third lockdown in the UK. If the upcoming LP is as high on this list it’s because I expect it to be that good. The two singles released in 2020 are some of his finest ever, tapping into what he does best: keeping his eyes open and telling us what he sees in and out. One of many Brit acts that deserve our attention and then some.

3. SZA - ?

The fact SZA delivered one of 2020’s best tracks only days before the year ended

I mean… SZA has been trying to get her music to us for some time now and it finally looks like there’s light at the end of the tunnel on that front. Hit Different and Good Days are out to keep us fed in the meantime. If the new album is to 2021 even half of what Ctrl was to 2017, 2021 might be remembered as the year of vaccinations & SZA.

2. ROSALIA - ?

ROSALIA’s latest if we don’t take the Blinding Lights Remix into account

A full album from Spanish pop princess ROSALIA is within reach. She announced she was close to wrapping it up in late 2020 so now all there is left to do is wait and see. She worked with Pharrell on that one. Two possible reacts: 1) wait, that’s so cool, really? this oughta be exciting, El Mal Querer X Sweetener, 2) wait, what? ugh please no El Mal Querer X Entrepreneur X G I R L. I’m hopeful the outcome will be spectacular because 1) Pharrell has had far more hits than he has misses, 2) it’s ROSALIA for g*d’s sake. Really excited about this one.

1. Kendrick Lamar - ?

A track I’ve had on rotation for two (three?) years and still not tired of

KUNG FU KENNY. We have no concrete information but only vague promises by Top Dawg that the new album was on the way. The label has its history of delaying releases even pre-COVID (hey SZA, again) so I wouldn’t hold them to it. Still, 2021 has to be Kendrick’s year. He has himself acknowledged he was in the process of making new music in 2020 and that it took him time to try new sounds - well aware that trying to re-make good kid, m.A.A.d city is pointless and focusing on carving his own lane in the expanse beyond the doors opened by PIMP and DAMN. No way I’m missing a beat on this. Nor should you!

That’s all folks!

P.S. Drake also has an album set for release this month and that’s probably all you are going to hear for a while whether you want to or not ~

P.S.2 Here’s a Spotify playlist with music from the artists mentioned to prepare for their upcoming releases

 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — -

Any and all feedback is greatly appreciated! Hope you enjoyed it

Twitter: @REDTAKES1