2018 has barely begun and it’s already looking like a bumper year for music, boasting an impressive range of new albums from musical veterans and breakthrough artists alike. Here are just a few of the exciting releases coming our way in the new year.
Vance Joy Nation of Two
Release date February (exact date tbc)
It’s hard to believe that the Aussie singer-songwriter’s infectious folk-pop track Riptide was released all the way back in 2013. According to Joy, his sophomore album, Nation of Two tells the story of a ‘perfectly self-contained couple, their world beginning and ending at the bed they share’. This poetic description hints at plenty of euphoric indie love-songs with some heartbreak thrown in. He’s already shared two singles from the upcoming release; the emphatic Lay it on Me, and the gentler Like Gold which contains hooky, finger-plucked acoustic guitar.
Rae Morris Someone Out There
Release date February 2
Rae’s wispy, ethereal vocals have earned her comparisons to Bat for Lashes and Ellie Goulding. Think dreamy synth-pop and you’ve got Morris’ new song Atletico (The Only One), but it’s the more rounded Do It with punchy vocals ‘we could write a duet, or instead we could just do it’ that signals a new bolder, poppy direction for Morris’ music. If her new singles are anything to go by, her second album will break away from the haunting, acoustic sounds of her debut album Unguarded, and steer towards more confident electronic art-pop.
The Wombats Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life
Release date February 9
Hailing from Liverpool, the bouncy indie trio perfectly described awkward teenage romance on 2007’s A Guide to Love, Loss and Desperation, opening tracks with lines like ‘I’ve met someone who makes me feel seasick’. 2015’s Glitterbug was a notably more restrained effort which featured heavier synth-beats and was met with mixed reviews by critics. Determined not to keep fans waiting too long, they have already teased singles Turn and Lemon to a Knife Fight from their upcoming 4th release. Frontman Matthew “Murph” Murphey said of the new music ‘I wanted to make an album that had more swagger, was a bit more laid back, wasn’t punching you in the face every time you listen to it’.
Tom Grennan Lighting Matches
Release date March 9
When Grennan released his bluesy EP Something in the Water back in 2016, he showed of his primal, husky vocals and collaborated with drum and bass legends Chase and Status on All Goes Wrong. He seems to have gone from strength to strength ever since, releasing the anthemic Found What I’ve Been Looking For and being named on the BBC’s Sound of 2017 list. His debut album will feature his newest single, throbbing ballad I Might, and will hopefully bring him even more success in this year.
Major Lazer Music is the Weapon
Release date TBA
The electronic trio, composed of producer Diplo, and DJs Jillionaire and Walshy Fire, have been dominating the EDM scene since 2013’s Free the Universe with their blend of pop, reggae and dancehall beats. Their newest effort will feature smash hit singles Cold Water and Know No Better. Collaborations with huge stars like SIA and The Weeknd have also been rumoured.
Jack White TBA
Release date TBA
Jack White has been suitably cryptic when discussing his new album, which will be released in the first half of 2018, claiming it would be ‘good gardening or roofing music, or, you know, back alley stabbing music’. Whatever that is supposed to mean, this will be his solo follow-up to 2015’s Lazaretto, which was a strange cocktail of tracks that refused to settle on any one musical style, featuring screeching guitars, thumping piano and White’s unique, grating vocals. This one is set to be equally bizarre, but will hopefully contain equal amounts of genius.
Arctic Monkeys TBA
Release date TBA
So far, the details of the indie-rock giants’ 6th studio album remain under wraps. However, bassist Nick O’Malley has confirmed that the follow-up to 2014’s AM will be released sometime in 2018, saying ‘if it isn’t, we’ve got problems’. The album will be their first release since they announced a hiatus four years ago, which has seen frontman Alex Turner work on his other project Last of the Shadow Puppets. Take this one with a pinch of salt but fingers crossed there’ll be some new bangers coming our way very soon.
– Sarah Roberts
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