My Top Five Albums/Singles of 2018

1. Anne-Marie - Speak Your Mind (Asylum Warner)

Anne-Maries debut album Speak Your Mind is top of my list for many reasons. Anne-Marie herself is a very forthright, literal 'speak your mind' type of person and that is highly portrayed throughout this record. After releasing multiple singles from 2015 until present, this album has been highly awaited.
She writes her own songs, which I feel gives this album that personal touch. Her songs Peak and Machine are very emotional songs, she doesn't hold back and really bares her soul in such a raw, relatable way. But in contrast to this the album also possess the funky upbeat, classic pop songs that you will have no trouble dancing to on a Saturday night! Her songs are about love, heartbreak and more importantly self love. The messages she aims to get across to her audience are, I feel, highly important and give you that feel good F*** you type of attitude, while also making you feel upbeat and positive, which is something I look for when listening to an album.

2. Jorja Smith - Lost & Found (Famm Limited)

Jorja Smith is second on my list. Lost & Found is another very personal record, it's a pop album with  strong influence of R&B. Jorja Smith is from a small town near to where I myself am from, so I kind of feel like she's representing the hometown! The reason I love her music is because its so raw and soulful. Her gritty lyrics are weaved around strong bass stabs and it all just works so well. Similar to Anne-Marie, Jorja sings about love, heartbreak and self love, can we see a theme here? Her title track Lost & Found Smith actually includes her speaking about how she has 'been lost' and that shes always 'finding herself,' it gives the album an almost philosophical feel, which draws me towards it even more... sorry to get all hippy on you. This album really expresses Smiths talent, one of my favourite tracks is Lifeboats

3. Mø - Forever Neverland (Columbia)

Forever Neverland it at number 3 on my list. I have been listening to this album on repeat throughout the last days of my summer, the reason being it is such an upbeat, 'dreamy' sounding album. The electro-pop sounds on this record really give it that feel good factor, as well as this it is super catchy! The album revolves around embracing adolescence and having fun being young, it comes across in an almost poetic sense. The lyrics used are meaningful and have a deep side to them, if you listen to this album with an open mind and read into the metaphoric side, you will uncover the true beauty of this album and Mø as an artist herself.

4. Isaac Gracie - Show Me Love (Virgin EMI Records)

Isaac Gracie is an artist I have recently stumbled upon. His song Show Me Love is full of gritty vocals and a strong bass, giving it this upbeat 'folk rock' feel but with such an easy listen. This coupled with meaningful lyrics makes this song so honest and real, asking someone to literally show him love. Isaac has a very raw and honest sound, his songs really have an emotional feel to them, but not in a depressing way. He achieves this I feel by coupling his lyrics with a jazzy tune that you'd have no problem bopping along to. It's a great mood buster as well as meaningful - the best concoction.

5. Billie Eilish - When the partys over (Interscope)

Last on my list is of course, probably Billie Eilishs most renown single When the party's over. This song has been very popular with many people including myself towards the later end of 2018. It is one of those records you put on when you want to feel a little sorry for yourself, or maybe even to just experience something full of emotion and meaning, which are two factors I look for when listening to new music, something with emotion and meaning behind it. This song didn't just make me a little teary with its heartbreaking lyrics and with its mellow sound, it also gave me an eerie kind of vibe making it quiet unique to anything else I had previously been listening to earlier in the year. I've had this song on repeat for the last few months, i think that Eilishs sound is one that you can't really get bored of and I find her music entrancing,and that's why it's in my top five.