As 2021 comes to a close, we can think of some spectacular music albums and EPs that we enjoyed and reviewed on EastMojo (from the magnificent ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’ by Little Simz and the electrifying ‘Lately I Feel Everything’ by Willow to the megahit ‘Planet Her’ by Doja Cat). But, the year saw a lot more music releases than we could cover. So we have made a list of some of the records which made an impact on the indie music scene – for better or worse – in the year of 2021.
This is by no means a thorough list and we had to sadly leave out a lot of mainstream releases such as Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift, Kanye West and Drake, choosing to bring attention to lesser-known, yet promising, artists instead.
We hope that this list gives you new music to add to your playlists!
1. ASHNIKKO – DEMIDEVIL
Genre: Hip Hop / Pop
Check out: “Daisy”, “L8r boi”, “Slumber Party”
For fans of: 100 gecs, Black Dresses, Princess Nokia
2. AUDREY NUNA – A LIQUID BREAKFAST
Genre: Hip Hop / R&B
Check out: “damn right”, “Cool Kids”, “Top Again”
Check out: Childish Gambino, Joji, NIKI, Lava LaRue
3. BABY QUEEN – THE YEARBOOK
Genre: Pop rock / Teen pop
Check out: “You Shaped Hole”, “Narcissist”
For fans of: Pixey, ‘Start A Riot’-era Jetta, Holly Humberstone
4. CELESTE – NOT YOUR MUSE
Genre: Soul / Blues
Check out: “Love Is Back”, “Tonight Tonight”, “Strange”
For fans of: Amy Winehouse, Adele, Joy Crookes
5. CLAIRO – SLING
Genre: Pop / Folk
Check out: “Partridge”, “Amoeba”
For fans of: Fleetwood Mac, Vashti Bunyan, ‘Solar Power’-era Lord
6. DARKOO – 2 IN 1
Genre: Hip Hop / Afrobeat / Dancehall
Check out: “Drunk Texting”, “Pick Up”
For fans of: Shaybo, Remi, Haile, Alicai Harley
7. ENNY – UNDER TWENTY FIVE
Genre: Conscious Hip Hop
Check out: “Under 25”, “Same Old”, “Peng Black Girls”
For fans of: early Estelle, Digable Planets
8. GREENTEA PENG – MAN MADE
Genre: R&B / Meditational
Check out: “Nah It Ain’t The Same”, “Dingaling”, “Suffer”, “Kali V2”
For fans of: Erykah Badu, Amy Winehouse, Bob Marley
9. GRIFF – ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER
Genre: Pop / Dance
Check out: “Black Hole”, “One Foot In Front of the Other”, “Remembering My Dreams” For fans of: Jetta, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift
10. HALSEY – IF I CAN’T HAVE LOVE, I WANT POWER
Genre: Pop / Rock
Check out: “You asked for this”, “honey”, “I am not a woman, I’m a god”, “The Lighthouse”
For fans of: Willow, Poppy, Olivia Rodrigo, Daya, Kiiara
11. JAPANESE BREAKFAST – JUBILEE
Genre: Pop / Soft rock
Check out: “Paprika”, “Be Sweet”, “Kokomo, IN”, “Tactics”
For fans of: Beach Bunny, Mac DeMarco, Wallows
12. LADY GAGA – DAWN OF CHROMATICA
Genre: Hyper-pop / Dance / Club remix
Check out: “SOURCANDY”, “911”, “BABYLON”
For fans of: Charli XCX, AG Cook, Mura Masa, Ashnikko, Dorian Elektra
13. LADY GAGA & TONY BENNETT – LOVE FOR SALE
Genre: Jazz / Blues
Check out: “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “I Get A Kick Out Of You” For fans of: Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire
14. MAISIE PETERS – YOU SIGNED UP FOR THIS
Genre: Teen pop
Check out: “John Hughes Movie”, “Psycho”
For fans of: Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo
15. MARINA – ANCIENT DREAMS IN A MODERN LAND
Genre: Pop / Rock
Check out: “Purge The Poison”, “Ancient Dreams In A Modern Land”, “Man’s World” For fans of: Florence + The Machine, Pussy Riot, Regina Spektor
16. PINKPANTHERESS – TO HELL WITH IT
Genre: Bedroom pop / Garage / Two-step
Check out: “i must apologise”, “Just for me”, “Reason”
For fans of: Hannah Diamond, Kero Kero Bonito, Coco & Clair Clair
17. PIXEY – SUNSHINE STATE
Genre: Pop-rock
Check out: “Life is a Stereo”
For fans of: Oasis, Baby Queen, Jetta
18. PRIYA RAGU – DAMNSHESTAMIL
Genre: Hip Hop / R&B
Check out: “Locked Down”, “Kamali”, “Santhosam”
For fans of: M.I.A, IAMDDB, Tamil music
19. REMI WOLF – JUNO
Genre: R&B funk / Pop
Check out: “Guerilla”, “Front Tooth”, ” Sexy Villain”
For fans of: BENEE, Bruno Mars, TiaCorine, Omar Apollo
20. QVEEN HERBY – A WOMAN
Genre: Rap / Pop
Check out: “Juice”, “Balenciaga Dreams”, “A Woman”
For fans of: Iggy Azalea, KARMIN, The Buttress
21. SAWEETIE – PRETTY SUMMER PLAYLIST: SEASON 1
Genre: Hip Hop / R&B
Check out: “Backseat”, “Seesaw”, “Pretty & Rich”
For fans of: Jhené Aiko, Ella Mai, Jorja Smith
22. SHAYBO – QUEEN OF THE SOUTH
Genre: Hip Hop / Dance
Check out: “My Sister”, “Broke Boyz”
For fans of: Lady Leshurr, Stefflon Don, ‘The Pinkprint’-era Nicki Minaj
23. TKAY MAIDZA – LAST YEAR WAS WEIRD VOL. 3
Genre: Hip Hop / Pop
Check out: “KIM”, “Syrup”, “So Cold”, “High Beams”
For fans of: Missy Elliott, M.I.A, Kendrick Lamarr, Little Simz
24. TRAMP STAMPS – WE GOT DRUNK AND MADE AN EP
Genre: Pop punk
Check out: “I’d Rather Die”
For fans of: Green Day, sum 41, Good Charlotte
Also read: New Songs Sunday: A look at the latest tracks this week