These pandemic years have been strange in many ways. Several artists released albums but they never got to tour them. Some things are coming back to normalcy and so, it’s expected that artists will start touring again (some have already had). But that’s not the only thing to look forward to in 2022, lots of album releases are in the pipeline. Lots of artists are unearthing albums from the vaults where they have been storing these heavy-hitting audio pieces waiting for a live audience.
When you are looking for ways to get entertained other than watching cable on your Spectrum TV bundles and package, music comes to the rescue. Mark your calendar for these albums in the year 2022:
1: The Weeknd, Dawn FM
Release Date: January 7
The Weeknd is ringing in the New Year with Dawn FM, which features collaborators like Lil Wayne, Tyler, the Creator, Quincy Jones, Post Malone, and his neighbor turned quarantine friend Jim Carrey, following on the ’80s-villain image he developed in his single After Hours.
He envisions the album as a radio station in the car of someone trapped in agony, ” hoping to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. His album is out now and songs like One Right Now, and Sacrifice have made it to the top charts already.
2 FKA Twigs, Caprisongs
Release Date: January 14
FKA Twigs has been teasing a new project she worked on in confinement with remote collaborators, including Spanish producer El Guincho, for quite some time. She started teasing a mixtape called Capri Sun, beginning with the release of the Weeknd featuring the single “Tears in the Club.”
Twigs teased the follow-up to 2019’s Magdalene as “really deep, emotional, and honest. She channeled her melancholy in a different way, and announced that the mixtape, officially named Caprisongs, will be released in January. She called it her “journey.”
3: Charlie XX, Crash
Release Date: March 18
Charli XCX wore black latex and danced on a coffin in the video for “Good Ones” to announce her new era. Her next album Crash has a dark synthpop smash about rejecting goodness “in favor of the evil,” as she put it in press materials.
This self-proclaimed workaholic who has spent her time in the pandemic creating music made us familiar with her emotions by the single released in 2020 called How I’m Feeling Now.
For her new album, you can expect Caroline Polachek and Christine and the Queens contributed to her most recent hit, New Shapes.
4: Years and Years, Night Call
Release Date January 21
The lead singer behind the electro-pop act “Years and Years”, Olly Alexander announced that he will embark on a solo journey. His very first solo project called Night Call will feature a dance single and a Collab with EDM duo Galantis.
He has been writing the album from a fantastical space and wanted to have pleasure in the music.
5: Kendrick Lamar
TBA
Kendrick Lamar finally spoke up about his new album in August last year after a long hiatus. The rapper has been working on his final TDE album. Lamar has appeared on tracks with artists like Frank Ocean, Jay Rock, Nipsey Hussle, Anderson, Paak, Rich the Kid, Rapsody, Pharrell, and even U2 after releasing his album Damn.
He also worked on the Black Panther soundtrack contributed verses to two Baby Keem tracks. He will be performing the Super Bowl halftime show with Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige. Hopefully, we will get some answers about what projects are in the making and the expected release date.
6: Arctic Monkeys
TBA
In an interview with 5 Live Breakfast, Matt Helders, the band’s drummer said that their follow-up to Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino is “very much” complete. While dealing with the pandemic, the band reportedly began recording in January 2021, and Helders admitted that they were working on new material.
Butley Priory confirmed the claims on their website after thanking the band for recording with them. We can only assume that if/when the album is published, the band will live up to the fan’s expectations.
7: Sky Ferreira
TBA
The enigmatic pop star Sky Ferreira has been teasing a new album since Night Time, My Time (2013) and fans may soon be treated to its follow-up, Masochism, after almost a decade of waiting.
The pop artist announced the release of her album on Instagram, adding its release could coincide with her appearance at the Primavera Sound festival in Spain.
