Music solves everything right? If you’re feeling down, pick yourself up with some feel good hits. Desperately need a pre-drinks playlist, Spotify has tonnes. Sick of talk about Boris, Brexit and broken promises? Why can’t music be the answer to the General Election on December 12th? (btw, register to vote guys)
Friday 13th falls during election week and I’m not superstitious but this seems like a bad omen to me. Clearly the music industry has realised the UK need something to look forward too and perhaps this is why both Harry Styles, member of One Direction, and Stormzy, headliner of Glastonbury’s Pyramid stage this summer, have announced that this is the release date for their upcoming albums. It’ll be both artists second album within two years and there hasn’t been a lack of anticipation.
The success of Styles’ first solo album ‘Sign of the Times’ created a whole new fanbase and celebrity status for Harry. His Instagram following has increased by 11 million since 2015, the year One Direction last performed as a band. 2019 has been huge for Styles, in May he co-chaired The Met Gala, with Lady Gaga, Alessandro Michelle and Serena Williams, and back in March he performed alongside Stevie Nicks at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. With his first tour as a solo artist selling out within minutes, there’s no wonder why his latest single, ‘Watermelon Sugar’ has over 6 million streams within days of its release. The music video for ‘Lights Up’, Styles’ first single from his upcoming album, ‘Fine Line’, has already reached 34 million views on YouTube.
Although these figures are a positive sign for how the album will be received, the singles released aren’t exactly what fans may have expected. ‘Sign of the Times’ featured a 70s rock influence (probably explained by his admiration for Stevie Nicks) whereas ‘Fine Line’ seems to have a more experimental sound compared to music we have previously heard from Styles. Rolling Stone said the “soulful” ‘Watermelon Sugar’ had “warm keys, horn blasts and eruptions of distorted wah-wah guitar” and that Styles “slipped into ballad mode for ‘Lights Up’, showcasing a raspy tone and smooth vibrato” when performing on Saturday Night Live in the US on November 16th.
Stormzy also had shooting success when his single ‘Vossi Bop’ reached the top of UK charts in April this year. Stormzy spoke to OfficialCharts.com, and said, “Words don’t really do it justice. I’m genuinely, for once in my life, speechless! My supporters have had my back like crazy – this is all you guys, thank you so much”. With his single now having over 123 million streams on Spotify, ‘Heavy Is The Head’ is sure to receive a similar popularity when released on December 13th.
Stormzy announced the date of release for his second album alongside photos of the albums cover image and track list. The cover image shows Stormzy holding a Union Jack covered stab-proof vest. This Banksy-designed vest matches the one he wore at Glastonbury Festival in June. Stormzy revealed to Q Magazine that the set brought him to tears as he thought he had “absolutely blown it”. Technical issues with sound meant he couldn’t hear himself for the majority of the performance. Despite this fault, the crowd and fans watching at home only had praise for the first solo black British headliner.
‘Heavy Is The Head’ features the number one single, ‘Vossi Bop’, and collaboration tracks with artists such as H.E.R, Burna Boy and Ed Sheeran. After his previous collaboration with Sheeran, ‘Take Me Back To London’, reached number one in the UK charts, this new song promises great things for the success of Stormzy’s second album.
Both these British artists are confirmed for Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball in December, and while Stormzy is yet to announce a tour for ‘Heavy Is The Head’, Styles’ 2020 tour begins in April.
‘Fine Line’ by Harry Styles and ‘Heavy Is The Head’ by Stormzy will be released on December 13th. Let’s hope, whatever Election week throws at us, that these new album releases will save everything.
Comentarios