10 Debuts of Note: 2021
Debuts of Note’s sixth annual look at our 10 favorite debut albums
Collapsed In Sunbeams
by Arlo Parks
Sounds Like: Solange, Amber Mark
Favorite Tracks: “Too Good”, “Eugene”, “Portra 400”
Homebase: London, UK
Listen to Collapsed In Sunbeams: Spotify / Apple / Pandora / Bandcamp
Due North
by Liam Kazar
Sounds Like: Dr. Dog, Spoon
Favorite Tracks: “Shoes Too Tight”, “On A Spanish Dune”, “I’ve Been Where You Are”
Homebase: Chicago, Illinois
Always In Motion
by Mini Trees
Sounds Like: Japanese Breakfast, Snail Mail, Sun June
Favorite Tracks: “Doomsday”, “Carrying On”, “Otherwise”
Homebase: Los Angeles, California
Listen to Always In Motion: Spotify / Apple / Pandora / Bandcamp
Excelsior!
Sounds Like: Julia Jacklin, Hand Habits, Julien Baker
Favorite Tracks: “Sonny”, “Nature’s Way”, “All Is Fine”
Homebase(s): Los Angeles / NYC / Brooklyn
Introducing…
by Aaron Frazer
Sounds Like: Curtis Harding, The Black Keys, Leon Bridges
Favorite Tracks: “Bad News”, “Love Is”, “Over You”
Homebase: Brooklyn via Baltimore, Maryland
Listen to Introducing…: Spotify / Apple / Pandora / Bandcamp
MADAME GOLD
by Gavin Turek
Sounds Like: Janelle Monáe, Jessie Ware, Dawn Richard
Favorite Tracks: “ELEVATOR”, “THANK YOU”, “HERO”, “SIMPLE REASONS”
Homebase: Los Angeles, California
Absolutely
by Dijon
Sounds Like: Frank Ocean, Wilco, Loyle Carner… but, honestly, these comparisons don’t do Dijon justice —ya gotta listen
Favorite Tracks: “Big Mike’s”, “Many Times”, “The Dress”, “God In Wilson”
Homebase: Los Angeles via Baltimore, Maryland
Once I saw this quote of Dijon’s, his schtick fell into place. Kaleidoscopic, scattershot recording is not always the best method of music creation. But In the right hands, this technique can produce pure chaotic earnestness, a semblance of lucidity rising from the muck. Absolutely is the result of this fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants recording style — and it’s all the better for it.
I’m personally not the type to clamor for albums which ping-pong between different genres. Absolutely, however, starts with one of its best tracks, “Big Mike’s”, which cleverly introduces Dijon’s distinctive croon amid the environment of what feels like a backing band just chilling on a casual afternoon; not a care in the world, Modelo within arm’s reach, getting into the groove — in fact, the promo clip released in anticipation of Absolutely suggests just as much. It sneakily lulls the listener into believing they have a grasp over what type of album they’re about to absorb. It’s a trick.
See, Dijon’s not interested in crafting the perfect album; he’s interested in crafting the best Dijon album: “There’s something so confusing to me about making something that’s immediately put into some genre. My impulses just lead me to make shit…there’s nothing more American than a kid who grew up on hip-hop and R&B…(who) also got into a dozen other kinds of music.”
But Dijon didn’t start out with this philosophy. Dijon’s musical origins stem from his membership in the 2010s duo abhi//dijon, making breezy, pop-esque R&B with fellow member Abhi Raju. After a move from Baltimore to Los Angeles, a personal break up and then a professional (and amicable) break from Abhi, Dijon was determined to make music which was reflecting his own shifts in influence and inspiration.
Once he released a plethora of singles and two EPs (2019’s Sci Fi 1 and 2020’s How Do You Feel About Getting Married?), Dijon was feeling a tad stifled. After a half decade of a solo project where he himself had completed the majority of the recording, Dijon realized that he wanted to explore new zones, but he did not have the vocabulary to do so: “I had to humble myself a little bit and try to open (my music) up a little bit…if I’m just doing everything myself…you get stuck in almost like a treadmill of your tropes.”
Enter Mike Gordon, who records under the name Mk.gee, as recording got underway for Dijon’s debut: “There was…this weird feedback system where we didn’t really know each other that well. So we’re kinda almost competing in the room together. And I just realized immediately, not only is this person inspiring a lot of new ideas, but they’re pushing out a different edge.”
Removing this intense self-reliance from Dijon’s own shoulders gave him more room to freak out, experiment and evolve. The evolution paid off — not only did Dijon create an incredibly emotional album, but also one of the most diverse (and yet whole) debuts of 2021. When Dijon brags at the end of “Noah’s Highlight Reel” (a languid Americana ballad) by saying, “New styles! It don’t matter what it’s on…I can hit a new style every time, bitch!” and then transitions straight into uptempo pop ditty “The Dress”, you’ll believe it too.
Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order):
Another Michael / New Music And Big Pop
Celeste / Not Your Muse
Dry Cleaning / New Long Leg
easy life / life’s a beach
For Those I Love / For Those I Love
Genesis Owuso / Smiling With No Teeth
Gold Dust / Gold Dust
John Glacier / SHILOH: Lost For Words
Lady Dan / I Am The Prophet
Magdalena Bay / Mercurial World
The Marías / CINEMA
Mustafa / When Smoke Rises
Myd / Born A Loser
Remi Wolf / Juno
Yebba / Dawn
