So far, 2015 has been the best year for music in nearly half a decade. Almost every genre has seen celebrated releases and it’s only May. These releases will continue into June with the month being dominated by women, which is an added plus. Here is a short outline of a few records that everyone seems to be looking forward to.
How Big How Blue How Beautiful – Florence and the Machine
Florence Welch has been making the festival circuit this year with the release of a new record plopped right in the middle on June 2. This will be her third studio album and the singles that she’s released thus far are the only bits of music we’ve heard since 2011’s Ceremonials. The album seems to boast her most mature sound yet and takes a bluesy-pop route, but the tracks are still tinged with her signature anthemic choruses.
Kicker – Zella Day
Routinely described among the likes of Lana Del Rey and Banks, Zella Day seems to already have made a name for herself with the help of the singles and EP that she’s released. Her music is perfect for summer— a huge sound consisting of a torrent of drums and synths, equal parts haunting and nostalgic. Kicker is also out on June 2.
Before The World Was Big – Girlpool
Hailed by many critics as the best thing to happen to music in 2015, Girlpool, the moniker under which Cleo Tucker and Harmony Tividad perform, are just that. They’ll release their debut album, Before The World Was Big, on June 2. The music video for the title track single was released today over at Rookie. This is a perfect partnership— Girlpool’s new record seeks to reconcile femininity, rebellion and friendship, which is pretty close to Rookie’s mission.
The Fool – Ryn Weaver
The hype just keeps on piling up for pop newcomer Ryn Weaver. Last summer she released “OctaHate” and dropped names like Passion Pit’s Michael Angelakos, Cashmere Cat, and Charli XCX, who all worked on the track. Since then, she’s released an EP, some remixes, and a couple of theatrical music videos. Her debut, The Fool, arrives June 16 and she’s released the title track as a single already.
Venus – Joy Williams
Joy Williams is a musician who has evolved in peculiar ways. In the early 2000’s she was a successful Christian music artist, a few years later began performing with John Paul White as The Civil Wars, and now has chosen to embark alone again. So far, the singles seem to gather all of her experience together by mixing folk-rock with synths and vocals that are more adventurous. Venus will be released on June 30.