2021 was certainly the year for music. Having officially reached a state of ‘too much TV to know what to watch’, music became the best entertainment for a year that overstayed its welcome. From highly-anticipated releases from artists like Taylor Swift, Drake and Adele to some albums we didn’t know we needed until we heard them, 2021 gave us soundtracks to any situation life may throw at us. Although neither Drake nor Taylor features on this list, here are my 10 ten albums of 2021 that added a little spark to an otherwise jarring year proving once again that as long as we have music, we can get through anything.
Kareen Lomax – Hard Feeling
Kareen Lomax is an artist I discovered earlier in the year. I can’t remember how or what I was looking for, but I’m pretty sure Spotify recommended her songs based on my music choice, and thank God it did. ‘Get Right’ is one of those songs I have been streaming on repeat for the last few months, and I will not tire of it. Kareen’s voice is a mix of soul, folk, acoustic magic, which is unsurprising as her musical influences are so varied. ‘Hard Feeling’ is Kareen’s life story, ‘her brush with fame and the feeling that it was all over’, presumably after she blew up with the release of her debut single ‘Melatonin. It’s a seven-track project, and it really is worth a listen. She experiments with voice, and each track is different from the last, but it still works as one album. She has written songs for Maroon 5 and Diplo, and I am definitely going to be on the lookout for whatever she does next.
Marina – Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land
I don’t know what it is about Marina, but I can’t help but appreciate everything she does. With a voice you can’t mistake and quirky style, Marina has stayed true to herself since her ‘Marina and the Diamonds’ days. Her lyrics speak the truth, and she loves a good metaphor, all things that I appreciate in an artist who embraces weird, wonderful creative practice. She’s American pop with a twist, and ‘Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land’ sees Marina do what she does best, tells it how it is whilst giving a quick f*** you to the patriarchy. Purge the poison!
Wizkid – Made In Lagos Deluxe
Although technically, ‘Made in Lagos’ came out in 2020, the deluxe version came out this year, so it absolutely belongs on this list. There’s been a long fight getting Nigerian music its flowers in Western society, but WizKid has certainly pried that door open further and has been doing so for the last ten years. With his sell-out UK tour and people braving Storm Arwen and the snow just to see him, WizKid’s ‘Made in Lagos’ is a whole vibe. With features from Burna Boy, Ella Mai, and H.E.R, ‘Made in Lagos’ gave us that summer feeling all year round. Not only that, but he opened people up to other Nigerian artists, like Tems, who deserve to be known on stages everywhere. WizKid continues to take Afrobeats to the next level, mixing the old and the new to create his unmistakable sound.
Jay-Z et al. - The Harder They Fall Soundtrack
I really haven’t been that invested in films this year, but when I saw Netflix was bringing out a Black Western, I was intrigued. ‘The Harder They Fall’ (film) was great, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say the best thing about it was the soundtrack – and the stunning display of Black male actors. ‘The Harder They Fall’ soundtrack is a celebration of Black music across all genres. Each song matched perfectly to the corresponding scene, and without it, the film would have just been so-so. The album pushes your emotions. From ‘Guns Go Bang’ with Kid Cudi and Jay-Z hyping you up to the operatic sensation that is Pretty Yende transporting you to a higher plane, ‘The Harder They Fall’ soundtrack is a well-crafted piece of art that celebrates Black artistry effortlessly.
Lil Nas X – Montero
Lil Nas X has been in the media all year. From releasing his controversial ‘Call Me By Your Name (Montero)’ music video that saw him giving Satan a lap dance (iconic!) to releasing Nike trainers with human blood in the sole. You would have had to be living under a rock to have not heard at least one of the three number ones from his album. Montero explores the struggles of Lil Nas X growing up as a gay Black boy and not being able to express himself – until now. The album challenges preconceptions of being Black and gay, but more importantly, it celebrates Black homosexuality in a way that hasn’t been done before. Lil Nas X is unapologetic, and no matter what he does next, I expect the unexpected.
Jazmine Sullivan – Heaux Tales
Jazmine Sullivan is the voice of the Black female relationship struggle. She sings the truth and has become the Queen of riffs and runs. As much as I have loved Jazmine since ‘10 Seconds’, this album launched her into the spotlight she so rightly deserves. With real-life testimonies of women’s tales punctuating each song which is even more relatable than the last, she also has some great features from H.E.R, Ari Lennox and Anderson .Paak. Sullivan has brought us some classic hits that women everywhere will be singing for eternity. ‘Girl Like Me’, ‘Pick Up Your Feelings’ and ‘Lost One’ reiterate what we already knew, that Sullivan is the unsung Queen of RnB.
Adele – 30
Oh, Adele. Where do I even begin with this one? Adele only graces us with an album once every 6 or 7 years. Her last album, ‘25’, took the world by storm, and she has the Grammy’s to prove it. No one knew what to expect with ‘30’, but she did not disappoint. Exposing her raw post-divorce emotions and struggle to convey how she felt to her child, ‘30’ sees Adele turn her pain into an album that reminds us all what music is. Single release ‘Easy On Me’ floored fans of the Tottenham-born singer but was nothing compared to what was to come. ‘I Drink Wine’, ‘Woman Like Me’ and ‘Oh My God’ are firm favourites of mine, but none compare to ‘To Be Loved’, a stunning display of powerhouse vocals, pain and artistic excellence.
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
Arlo Parks is the voice of the new generation. Her music is melancholic, poetic and quite frankly a breath of fresh air. With Arlo, her music feels so personal and is the perfect soundtrack for chilled vibes. ‘Collapsed in Sunbeams’ is her debut album, but it certainly won’t be her last. The London-raised singer has sold out her tour, and every time she adds new dates, those tickets sell almost as fast as the first ones. So far, Arlo has won the Hyundai Mercury Prize, the Brit Award for Breakthrough Artist and was on the cover of the Vanity Fair Future Issue. If you don’t yet know who Arlo Parks is, she will soon be a name you won’t be able to forget.
Billie Eilish – Happier Than Ever
Since her inception, Billie Eilish has taken the music industry by storm. She’s young, she’s original, and she plays to the beat of her own unique and unrivalled lyricism. ‘Happier Than Ever’ is her second studio album, and what an album it was. The title is 100% deceiving as the songs and topics Billie explores are not very happy at all. However, the title speaks to where Billie is in her life now that she has overcome everything in the album. The song ‘Happier Than Ever’ is nothing short of a masterpiece. She, with the help of her brother Finneas, seamlessly transitions from old Hollywood vibes to an anthem that would bring your ceiling down. She released two other versions of ‘Happier Than Ever’ (album), one highlighting the lyrics and another celebrating the beats. Protect Billie at all costs because, despite all that she has accomplished at her young age, she is only just getting warmed up.
JoJo - Trying Not To Think About It
Ahh, JoJo. She was the voice of a generation for us 90’s babies. With hit songs like ‘Leave, Get Out’ and ‘Too Little Too Late’, her disappearance from the music industry left a JoJo shaped hole in our hearts for someone with a voice like hers to fill. Little did we know that it would be her, years later, back with a vengeance. It’s fair to say that as a generation, we are a pretty anxious bunch, and JoJo being one of us, has laid out all our insecurities on a 12 track EP that screams, ‘you are not alone in any of this.’ JoJo has always been underrated, but this album is simply beautiful and deserves the number one spot on my list. Each song is well thought out and beautifully performed, from her ironically named intro, ‘World of Sunshine’ to ‘Lift’, where she normalises asking for help. In my opinion, JoJo’s album is the comeback album of the year, and not one song on there deserves to be skipped over.
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