Don’t miss these eight albums set to be released through 2022.
Kehlani, “Blue Water Road” — April 29
Kehlani is one of Oakland, California’s pride and joys. Their music is a mix of pop, hip hop and R&B. Their smooth voice and catchy choruses have come to be a favorite for many. Their last album, “SweetSexySavage,” was well received, debuting at number 3 on the Billboard 200, making their newest release very anticipated. Blue Water Road includes features from Blxst, Jessie Reyes, Justin Bieber, Syd, Thundercat and Ambré.
Jack Harlow, “Come Home the Kids Miss You” — May 6
Jack Harlow gained popularity in 2020 when his song, “Whats Poppin” peaked at number two on the United States Billboard’s Hot 100 — not to mention TikTok’s obsession with his confident demeanor. Harlow’s single, “Nail Tech” reached top 20 on the Hot 100, and caught the attention of Kanye West, who praised the song. In the past, he has collaborated with notable artists like Eminem, Lil Nas X and Pooh Shiesty. Harlow’s single from the album, “First Class,” went viral on TikTok before even releasing, and topped the Billboard Hot 100.
Kendrick Lamar, “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” — May 13
Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest rappers, songwriters and record producers of all time and fans have been patiently waiting five years for an album since his last solo release in 2017, “Damn.” He is known for his four studio albums, his collaboration with the “Black Panther” film in 2018, his 14 Grammys, 11 MTV Video Music Awards, six Billboard Music Awards, two American Music Awards, a Pulitzer Prize, a Brit Award and an Academy Award Nomination. Since the release of “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers”, there has been some mixed reactions from fans due to the dark and heavy material in the music. Lamar addresses deep issues in his marriages, gender, sexuality, abuse, racism, society and healing in a beautifully dramatic and tragic way.
Florence + the Machine, “Dance Fever” — May 13
Florence + the Machine is an English indie rock band that was formed in 2007. Their music is a mixture of rock and soul, and they have been nominated for six Grammys over the course of their career. Their third album, “How Big, How Beautiful, How Blue,” debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard top 200 and the United Kingdom charts. Lead singer Florence Welch also made history as the first British female headliner at the Glastonbury Festival this century. The band’s music has been included in a variety of American movies and shows including “Gossip Girl,” “Twilight: Eclipse,” “Game of Thrones,” “Eat Pray Love,” “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Glee.”. “Dance Fever” is an album about the mental health issues that were byproducts of the pandemic and this current desire for togetherness and unity and freedom.
Harry Styles, “Harry’s House” — May 20
Harry Styles is quickly becoming a pop icon of our generation. His album, “Harry’s House,” and teased with the release of the single “As it Was,” is highly anticipated. Styles was discovered on the British “X Factor,” where he performed in the boyband “One Direction.” There are no confirmed collaborations for “Harry’s House” yet, but there is speculation that he might be working with American singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. Styles posted a full track list for the album on Twitter and performed two of the songs, “Late Night Talking” and “Boyfriends,” when he headlined Coachella in April.
Tate McRae, “I Used to Think I Could Fly” — May 27
“I Used to Think I Could Fly” will be Tate Mcrae’s first studio album at only 18 years old. The Canadian singer-songwriter rose to notoriety on the hit television show, “So You Think You Can Dance” in 2016. Mcrae released an original song, “One Day,” on YouTube in (date) that quickly went viral and caught the attention of RCA Records. She has released two EPs in the last few years and was the youngest musician featured in the 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Her second EP, “Too Young to be Sad,” was the most streamed EP by a woman on Spotify in 2021.
Calvin Harris, “Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 2” — summer 2022
“Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1” released in 2017 was the ultimate summer playlist, and audiences expect nothing less of the sequel set to come out this summer. The original Vol. 1 album is a fan favorite among Harris’ listeners with a star-studded track list featuring Frank Ocean, Nicki Minaj, Pharell Williams, Future, Migos and Katy Perry. Harris has been secretive with regards to the vision and actual music of the album, but hopefully this can live up to Harris’ magnum opus and these songs will slide into all our playlists.
Sky Ferreira, “Masochism” — Estimated 2022 release
The release date for Sky Ferreira’s “Masochism” album is to be decided, despite being announced in 2015. Ferreira finally came back into the limelight releasing a sneak peak of a single on the album through Instagram. Listeners are excited by the news, given that the last album Ferreira released was her debut “Night Time, My Time” in 2013. All her teasing has only elevated the hype around this album.