Who’s dropping new music (and who isn’t) in the coming weeks?
Ariana Grande put fans in a frenzy late Monday when she shared a video clip on social media showing a computer playing a few seconds of vocals for a new song. The pop star captioned it: “brb.”
The tease came hours after a tweet from Grande with what appeared to be lyrics. “Know my love infinite nothing that I won’t do.”
Grande hasn’t released an album since Thank U, Next in February 2019. The 27-year-old collaborated this year with Justin Bieber for “Stuck with U” and with Lady Gaga for “Rain on Me.”
Among those sharing their excitement at Grande’s cryptic clip was Troye Sivan, who commented: “My favourite voice.”
Sam Smith on Monday took to Instagram with news that their single “Diamonds” will be out on Friday. It’s the second solo single from Smith since February’s “To Die For.”
Also on Monday, Alicia Keys announced that her album ALICIA will finally come out this Friday. Her seventh studio album – and first since 2016’s Here – was delayed twice earlier this year due to the pandemic.
It has already spawned several singles, including “So Done” ft. Khalid.
Bieber continues to hype the release of “Holy," his collaboration with Chance the Rapper, this Friday. On Monday, the Canadian singer posted a photo showing him sitting next to video director Colin Tilley on location.
Bieber’s manager Scott “Scooter” Braun commented: “New era. Friday.”
One artist who is definitely not releasing a new album this year is Billie Eilish, whose brother and collaborator Finneas told The Herald Sun last week: "Billie’s album, and my album, they won’t be a bummer COVID record. I have a desperate desire not to release them during COVID-19. It’s the vaccine record! I want it to be the album everyone’s out dancing in the streets to."
But, on Monday, Eilish revealed in an Instagram Live session that she plans to drop a song. "I have a song and a video coming in a couple of weeks,” she said. “Or a month, I don’t know. I actually genuinely don’t know when.
"Shouldn’t have said that. … I’m gonna go now."