Contributor Jenessa Williams

DIY’s Best Albums of 2021

From incendiary debuts to welcome returns, here are the top 20 albums we had on repeat this year.

December 17, 2021 3:00pm

Little Mix: The Magic Number

Ten years into the game, Little Mix are still at the peak of their creative powers. On the eve of their greatest hits, they talk pop, pressures and the perks of pissing off politicians.

November 11, 2021 5:00pm

Faye Webster - I Know I’m Funny haha

She knows she’s funny, but we think she’s pretty smart.

June 24, 2021 7:58am

Wolf Alice: Full Throttle

With ‘Blue Weekend’, Wolf Alice are proving that the best bands don’t always have to shout the loudest. Their finest work yet, DIY dives deep into the joy of getting comfortable with your own voice…

June 4, 2021 3:30pm

cleopatrick - BUMMER

Not everything about ‘BUMMER’ is fully perfected just yet, but there’s plenty to feel upbeat about.

June 3, 2021 7:55am

Olivia Rodrigo – Sour

A youthful tour through heartbreak angst that only falters when it plays too safe.

May 21, 2021 5:00am

Paris Texas - BOY ANONYMOUS

This is a duo ready to make a serious mark.

May 13, 2021 8:00am

Rachel Chinouriri - Fourº In Winter

Rachel may be feeling blue, but her shade choice is royal.

April 22, 2021 7:58am

Behind The Curtain: Black Honey

Black Honey have never been ones to think small, and on ‘Written & Directed’ their flights of fancy are out in full force. Izzy B. Phillips unpacks the rich world that makes up the band’s second.

March 19, 2021 3:21pm

Genesis Owusu - Smiling With No Teeth

He plays well with dark and sinister, throwing theatrical voice in a musical hall of mirrors with real versatility.

March 4, 2021 7:58am

slowthai - TYRON

A remarkably efficient job of reclaiming his own narrative.

February 11, 2021 8:00am

Arlo Parks - Collapsed In Sunbeams

She makes light work of demonstrating exactly why the nation has become so invested in her art.

January 28, 2021 8:00am

HAIM: “I’m really proud of us not listening to anyone. We really did not give a fuck”

Coming in at Number Four on DIY’s Albums of 2020 list, the HAIM sisters reflect on ‘Women in Music Pt. III’ and a year of masks, madness and crowing in your garden like a rooster.

December 21, 2020 12:15pm

Class of 2021: Pa Salieu

From Coventry to magazine covers across the country, Pa Salieu is the undeniable force shaking up the face of British rap.

December 6, 2020 12:00pm

A Quiet Revolution: Michael Kiwanuka

With his most recent, Hyundai Mercury Prize-winning album, Michael offered up his most spectacular record yet. Now, as the year draws to a close, he reflects on what’s been a strange one for us all.

November 16, 2020 10:45am