The 20 best debut albums of 2024

“Get the Brits out!” chant Belfast rap trio Kneecap. “Jungle is back!” declares Nia Archives. “I want to be me.” Lola Young pleads, a slight crack in her voice. “Is that not allowed?”

These are just some of the many resounding statements made by new artists in 2024 – a year where breaking out has become increasingly difficult. You have cost-of-living crises that stifle time, energy and creativity, music venues dwindling by the day, and an industry which expects so much more of its artists than just music. Oh, and you’ve got to compete with thousands of voices, all fighting to be heard.

What does it take to cut through the noise? Listed below in alphabetical order are 20 artists who have all dropped their debut albums this year and made bold, creative statements. They’ve all brought something fresh and new to the plate and shown that what they have to say is worth paying attention to. They’re also artists who have used their first shot at a full-length project to take a risk – whether sonically, emotionally, or politically – and to take a stand.

These artists are some of the brightest faces of new music today, and they have all defined 2024 in their own unique ways. Now, it’s up for us to listen.

Alex Rigotti, Contributing Editor (New Music)

Cumgirl8 – ‘The 8th Cumming’

Who: New York collective and “sex-positive alien amoeba entity”

What NME said: “Melding intriguing lore with a provocative (and sometimes crass) take on feminist politics elevates the album into more interesting territory than mere revivalism. Although Cumgirl8 are still working some things out sonically, the best is seemingly yet to come.”

Key track: ‘UTI’

Dua Saleh – ‘I Should Call Them’

Who: Minnesotan futuristic R&B star and breakout Sex Education actor

What NME said: “‘I Should Call Them’ is an ode to today’s dystopian times and anxiety, but they still leave us revelling in the potency of trans queer love. At its best, Saleh’s debut shows us the thrilling beauty behind our internal imperfections.”

Key track: ‘Want’

English Teacher – ‘This Could Be Texas’

Who: Leeds-Lancashire quartet making inventive art rock

What NME said: “What you have in ‘This Could Be Texas’ is everything you want from a debut; a truly original effort from start to finish, an adventure in sound and words, and a landmark statement. Poised for big things? Who knows if this industry even allows that anymore. Here are a band already dealing in brilliance, though – who dare to dream and have it pay off.”

Key track: ‘The World’s Biggest Paving Slab’

Fat Dog – ‘Woof.’

Who: Irreverent South London band ripping up DIY venues with their blistering fusion of dance and punk

What NME said: “Crucially, Fat Dog have committed to the bit, and it makes the intricate and occasionally miserable post-punk that’s inundated the UK recently seem like a bore in comparison. Scream the words and dive head-first into the Fat Dog experience, because ‘Woof.’ is pure, unbridled escapism – just what the world needs right now.”

Key track: ‘King Of The Slugs’

Gut Health – ‘Stiletto’

Who: Melbourne post-punkers with a cult live reputation for their angular indie rock

What NME said: “As great as what’s on offer here is, you just know Gut Health are just getting warmed up. For those seeking their indie rock artsy, out of the ordinary and daringly different, try ‘Stiletto’ on for size. It might just be a perfect fit.”

Key track: ‘The Recipe’

Heriot – ‘Devoured By The Mouth Of Hell’

Who: Metalcore band formed in Swindon making visceral, atmospheric music

What NME said: “Everything, this time around, feels bigger. The towering opener ‘Foul Void’ feels apocalyptically expansive, while ‘At The Fortress Gate’ thunders along with the ferocity of metal forebears such as Lamb of God. By contrast, the creeping, smouldering ‘Opaline’ strikes a different tone, Gough’s chilling clean vocals matching the slower, but only just slightly softer sound. Here, Heriot wield their savagery carefully.”

Key track: ‘Siege Lord’

Julie – ‘My Anti-Aircraft Friend’

Who: Los Angeles rockers doing things old school whilst ushering in nu-gaze

What NME said: “‘My Anti-Aircraft Friend’ is clearly a product of a band uncompromised. It’s loud, brash, and, at times, deliberately confrontational – a welcome anomaly among major label releases in 2024.”

Key track: ‘Clairbourne Practice’

Kneecap – ‘Fine Art’

Who: Rambunctious trio chronicling modern life in Belfast through the Irish language

What NME said: “In the dark of the night out, the moment is all that matters and the rave will set you free. To shout that in a ‘dying’ language on a record that couldn’t sound any more alive? That’s power – and Kneecap have it.”

Key track: ‘Fine Art’

Lola Young – ‘This Wasn’t Meant For You Anyway’

Who: South London singer (and recent Tyler, The Creator collaborator) with raw honesty and a one-of-a-kind voice

What NME said: “Though Young’s specific type of yearning and bluntness may be indebted to SZA, she possesses the genuine star power to further develop an already strong artistic identity. This is a record that always remains sure of itself, even in its deepest, darkest moments.”

Key track: ‘Messy’

Mk.gee – ‘Two Star & The Dream Police’

Who: New Jersey-born singer-songwriter gathering a cult following with his captivating blend of indie rock, R&B and psychedelia

What NME said: “Mk.gee wielded few tools when crafting the spacious, understated songs of ‘Two Star & The Dream Police’. All the better to beguile you with: glimmering production, unplaceable guitar tones, smouldering lyrics and his own voice, which goes from a quiet mumble to a cracked yell.”

Key track: ‘Alesis’

Nemahsis – ‘Verbathim’

Who: Palestinian-Canadian singer turning feelings of powerlessness into anthemic pop songs

What NME said: “Over its 12 songs, Nemahsis steadily unspools her narrative through radically precise pop. She sifts through suppressed emotions, setting vibrant lyrics against pattering drums, ringing electric guitars and rhythmic bass lines. Even in its title and sound alone, ‘Verbathim’ is a self-determined statement of being.”

Key track: ‘Stick Of Gum’

Nemzzz – ‘Do Not Disturb’

Who: Industrious UK rapper making waves for the Manchester hip-hop scene with his signature ‘Nemzzz type beat’

What NME said: “‘Do Not Disturb’ documents the realities of navigating life as a young adult; on money and mental health, relationships and rivalries. It’s clear that Nemzzz is a refreshing voice in UK rap, steering the genre towards an even brighter future.”

Key track: ‘PTSD’

Nia Archives – ‘Silence Is Loud’

Who: Bradford singer, songwriter and producer reviving jungle with Britpop influences and diaristic lyricism

What NME said: “With each project, Nia waters the seeds of ideas and concepts she has planted throughout her discography. And, on her debut album, they all blossomed into a rich, self-reflective record that shows the artist beyond the beats.”

Key track: ‘Crowded Rooms’

Rachel Chinouriri – ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’

Who: Infectious South London indie-pop star turning pain into beauty

What NME said: “As a portrait of a life (and career) transformed, however, ‘What A Devastating Turn Of Events’ – despite its slightly macabre title – is consistently charming, while offering enough range in sound and scope to hint at Rachel Chinouriri’s future ambitions. She has worked hard to make it sound this easy.”

Key track: ‘Never Needed Me’

Speed – ‘Only One Mode’

Who: Sydney hardcore band with community and creativity as their north stars

What NME said: “Speed have put Australian hardcore on the map, to a global extent which hasn’t been seen before. It’s surely a matter of time before they reach the heights of Turnstile and Militarie Gun, but while taking their own, uncompromising path.”

Key track: ‘The First Test’

Tems – ‘Born In The Wild’

Who: Nigerian singer blending Afrobeats and R&B with her trademark silken voice

What NME said: “On her long-awaited debut, the Lagos-born artist embodies the careful intersection of African music’s rising cultural presence and the diverse array of genres found across her native West African homeland. From Highlife to hip-hop, ‘Born In The Wild’ exemplifies the region’s rich musical diversity via Tems’ fluid approach to genre.”

Key track: ‘Love Me JeJe’

The Last Dinner Party – ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’

Who: London five-piece turning heads with their sophisticated, theatrical take on baroque pop

What NME said: “Some may choose to posit The Last Dinner Party’s success as an antidote to the intense scrutiny – about their rise, appearance and decision to make music without a ‘serious’ intention – they’ve received in their early career. But take all of that away, and you’re still left with fantastic songs that are easy to embrace and return to. It’s hard to miss all the things they’re doing right.”

Key track: ‘Nothing Matters’

tripleS – ‘ASSEMBLE24’

Who: 24-member genre-adventurous K-pop group from the agency Modhaus

What NME said: “For those who’ve been paying attention to tripleS’ journey since the beginning, this first outing with their full line-up has been a long time coming. ‘Assemble24’, though, proves it was worth the wait – this is a girl group with the substance to back up the novelty of their concept and should be just the start of a glorious blossoming.”

Key track: ‘Girls Never Die’

Two Shell – ‘Two Shell’

Who: Cheeky, mischievous dance group making addictive tunes for the underground rave world

What NME said: “At a time when dance music is becoming faster, sillier, and all-round headier, the overall sonic identity of ‘Two Shell’ is a true marker of the times. Packed with USB-ready tracks that are energetic and experimental, ‘Two Shell’ positions the enigmatic group as flag-bearers of a daring new era.”

Key track: ‘Be Gentle With Me’

Tyla – ‘Tyla’

Who: South African superstar who at 22 is already the entire pop package

What NME said: “While Tyla’s parents may have hoped she grow out of her ambition to be an artist, she never did: ‘I’m very determined,’ she previously told us. ‘If I want something, I make sure I get it.’ Through sheer faith and tenacity, Tyla anoints herself as South Africa’s brightest new star, reinforcing that amapiano was never a ‘moment’ – and only ever a true movement.”

Key track: ‘Jump’ (feat. Gunna and Skillibeng)

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