From Beyoncé, to Taylor Swift and Harry Kinds, 2022 was graced with new data by a few of the greatest names in pop music. However loads of new artists made their marks too.

And let’s not overlook Kate Bush, whose track Operating Up The Hillinitially launched in 1985, turned one of many yr’s greatest hits after it was featured on Stranger Issues.

If the return of stay music and the wealth of big hit data left you overwhelmed this yr, Day 6’s music panel has you lined.

Nate Sloan is a musicologist from Los Angeles, and co-host of the podcast Switched on Pop; Andrea Warner is an creator, CBC Music producer and co-host of the Pop This podcasts; and Odario Williams is the host of CBC Music’s Afterdark and lead vocalist for hip-hop collective Grand Analog.

Greatest new artists

“I fell in love with Devon Cole and her breakout hit WITCH,” stated Warner. “I am unable to consider that she got here up with ‘lady in complete management of herself’ as an acronym earlier than I did.”

There is a tiny scream in the course of the track that Warner describes as “good.”

“Simply fascinated by the methods of energy which can be occurring this yr on the subject of girls, it is nicely mirrored,” she stated.

WATCH | Devon Cole with WITCH:

Warner says there’s loads occurring within the track and the accompanying music video — kind of like reclaiming very previous style and witch narratives, and turning it on its head.

“I am unable to consider we’re nonetheless having to reclaim it however right here we’re, and I believe Devon Cole does an important job of it.”

Sloan’s decide was Steve Lacy, “and particularly his track, his primary track, Unhealthy Habits.”

Technically not a newcomer, Lacy — who’s solely 24 — has been round for some time and is a “legit musician” who actually embraces his sound.

However Sloan thought the catchy refrain of Unhealthy Habits propelled him to a brand new degree of fame.

WATCH | Steve Lacy with Unhealthy Habits:

“I believe you may describe it as bed room pop. It’s totally DIY. It is a bit of bit lo-fi. To see him get this sort of mass business success and a focus is actually thrilling,” Sloan stated.

“I believe should you’re like me, you are going to be singing that for the remainder of the day. It is simply sort of an earworm that buries itself in your mind. He is doing a little issues which can be a bit of bit totally different, utilizing odd instrumentation.”

Williams picked “a younger cat popping out of London, England named Obongjayar along with his single attempt.”

Obongjayar, initially from Nigeria, emerged on the music scene in 2019 collaborating as a hip-hop artist.

Williams says that makes the sound of his 2022 debut album Some Nights I Dream of Doorwayswhich he described as a curler coaster trip of sounds, much more spectacular and sudden.

WATCH | Obongjayar with Attempt:

“He dabbles into people rock, hip hop. He is additionally a spoken phrase artist, and introduced a few of that Nigerian taste into his pop rock as nicely. You may nonetheless inform he is a hip hopper. He jogs my memory of what Mustafa appears like right here in Toronto. I believe that is possibly why I gravitated to him.”

Greatest albums

Warner gave her best-album kudos to Lizzo’s Specials.

“I do know I have been speaking about Lizzo since 2016, and I do not remorse a single factor,” she stated, including that Specials exhibits an evolution for Lizzo in comparison with her earlier hip hop data that she additionally keen on.

“Oh my god, I adore it a lot. I imply, a cathartic dance celebration is the vibe that I want in 2022. I’ve wanted it for some time. [It’s got] top-of-the-line makes use of of flute in a disco pop soul track in without end,” she stated.

Warner says she loves the breathy syncopation within the single About Rattling Timeincluding it appears like champagne corks popping all over the place.

“It nonetheless feels just like the Lizzo that we all know and love and kind of have grown with. And she or he’s feeling herself in an entire new approach tonight.”

WATCH | Lizzo with About Rattling Time:

Williams admits to being somebody who did not need something to do with the boy band One Route. However he could not assist giving the nod to former member Harry Kinds’ new file Harry’s Home.

“I needed to succumb to this as a result of I could not escape it,” he stated. “And if I needed to decide a track aside from the massive hit, I might decide Late Evening Speaking. It is obtained this nighttime groovyness about it that I really like.”

Williams says Kinds has matured right into a flamboyant performer, who’s attention-grabbing to look at, and performs nice music — going so far as to say he may very well be the following Elton John.

“One factor is he is doing the rock star factor as he ought to. There’s a bit of little bit of thriller there. Everybody needs to know what aspect does Harry Kinds land on? He is doing the Bowie factor. And I like that he is sporting simply the craziest items of clothes as of late. I am simply actually loving what this younger man is doing as of late.”

WATCH | Harry Kinds with Late Evening Speaking:

Sloan stated Beyoncé’s Renaissance was one of the best file of the yr, and the one he is listened to probably the most.

Borrowing an earlier phrase from Andrea Warner, Sloan calls it a “cathartic dance celebration” vibe. Regardless of Beyoncé’s lengthy historical past of success, this album explores a special sound.

“That is, I believe, what so many individuals wanted after various years of attempting. This file offers a message of liberation by the dance flooring, by motion, by communal celebrations,” stated Sloan.

On the similar time, he stated it gives a historical past and celebration of Black music, dance, home and disco music.

“It simply appears like this file is a celebration in a field. Press play and it’ll explode for you. I am unable to cease listening.”

WATCH | Beyoncé with Cuff It:

For a deeper dive on music in 2022, go to CBC Music.

Interview produced by Annie Bender.