My Favorite EPs, 2021
Counting down the short kings of projects from this year
Here I go, making lists again. Today we’re counting down my favorite EPs from 2021. Reference last year’s list here if you’re interested, and be sure to stream the below playlists compiling my favorite track from each EP!
Honorable Mentions:
After All This by Dreamcastmoe, From Then ‘til Now by Haich Ber Na, Homegrown by VanJess, Be Right Back by Jorja Smith, & Blame Game by Beach Bunny
25. Rap? - Tierra Whack
Released: December 2nd, 2021
Genres: Rap?
For Fans Of: Leikeli47, Tkay Maidza, Artists that care about visuals, The Abstract
I don’t think we’re done with everything Tierra Whack has in store for this release yet, as Rap? was followed quickly by two more three-song EPs called Pop? and R&B? in the subsequent weeks. But the first in the series starts it out strong, and Whack proves herself to still have some of the strongest visuals in the game right now.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
24. BUTTER-FLY - Lava La Rue
Released: February 19th, 2021
Genres: R&B, Alternative, Pop
For Fans Of: Nayana Iz, Clairo, Yazmin Lacey, Queer love songs
The West London artist sang/rapped her way through this dazzling EP, her first project since 2019.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
23. Junior Varsity - Junior Varsity
Released: August 13th, 2021
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Rock, Pop-Punk
For Fans Of: Jean Dawson, Harry Teardrop, Moshing at basement shows, Post-teenage angst
After an unprecedented word of mouth rollout for their music (no releases, just pop up live shows) was brought to a halt in 2020 by COVID, Junior Varsity made things official by putting out their first project this summer. And then of course returning and making the pop ups even bigger once shows were safe again.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
22. My Way - ROE
Released: May 7th, 2021
Genres: R&B, Pop, Dance
For Fans Of: Tinashe, Normani, Muni Long, Sleek & Sexy songs
The songwriter who’s penned songs for artists like Mary J. Blige, Usher, Normani, Teyana Taylor, and the TV show Empire stepped out from behind the scenes to deliver her debut EP this year. Makes you think she was saving the best for herself, and I don’t blame her.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
21. Prim & Propa - Connie Constance
Released: September 3rd, 2021
Genres: Indie Rock, Pop
For Fans Of: Nilüfer Yanya, Jackie Hayes, Cosima, Early 2010’s indie rock
Read my full writeup on this electrifying EP from Connie Constance here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
20. All Dogs Go To Heaven - glaive
Released: August 6th, 2021
Genres: Hyperpop, Electronic, Pop
For Fans Of: brakence, ericdoa, watching a high schooler be more talented and successful than you
glaive’s career is best summed up by this tweet dubbing him the real life Hannah Montana (except his identity is no secret). The 16 year old gained traction with his 2020 EP cypress grove, and follows it up strongly with All Dogs Go To Heaven.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
19. Motor Function - Binki
Released: August 13th, 2021
Genres: Alternative, Indie, Punk
For Fans Of: Bakar, King Krule, Yeek, Drum machine punk rock
binki is a one man show that expertly executes a clear and distinct sound with his debut project. It lives somewhere between indie rock and punk music.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
18. Hues - Unusual Demont
Released: September 17th, 2021
Genres: R&B
For Fans Of: Frank Ocean, Choker, Ryan Beatty, Isaia Huron, Internet R&B, A24 movies
The buzzing R&B singer comes through with a debut project full of promise and beautiful jams.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
17. The Things I Can’t Take With Me - yaya bey
Released: April 9th, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop, R&B, Soul
For Fans Of: keiyaA, Liv.e, lo-fi beats to work through trauma and grow to
yaya bey crafts tales of learning and healing over soothing instrumentals on her latest project. Her lyrics often feel simple but sharp, cutting through in ways that make her feel as much like a poet as she is an artist.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
16. KYOT - Tony Velour
Released: August 30th, 2021
Genres: Drum & Bass, Electronic, Pop, Rap, Hyperpop
For Fans Of: Dylan Brady, Aaron Cartier, Pritty, Crazy Frog
One of two EPs released by Velour in the latter half of 2021, KYOT is an acronym of Kill Your Old Thoughts. If these songs are the old thoughts, I’m very interested in what the new ones will be.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
15. Most Wanted - Jean Deaux
Released: November 19th, 2021
Genres: R&B
For Fans Of: Mereba, Rayana Jay, Ama Lou, Chicago Music, Platonic Romance
Jean Deaux has dropped one of my favorite EPs a few years in a row now. Hopefully this means the Chicago singer will be dropping one of my favorite albums soon?
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
14. End Of The Earth - MAVI
Released: February 22nd, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop, Rap, Underground
For Fans Of: Earl Sweatshirt, Liv.e, Mike, hearing from Shel Silverstein’s lawyers
Read Angelie Benn’s breakdown of Mavi’s reflective EP in my outsourced WIBLT from last month!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
13. Saccharine - Pinkshift
Released: April 2nd, 2021
Genres: Punk, Rock, Pop-Punk, Hard Rock
For Fans Of: illuminati hotties, Paramore, Blasting your old pop-punk CDs in the car as a form of therapy
Read my full writeup on the hard rocking Baltimore band here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
12. The Fun Is Here? - Cosima
Released: February 26th, 2021
Genres: R&B, Alternative, Singer/Songwriter
For Fans Of: Jorja Smith, Amber Mark, Empress Of, Singers that put their vocals on display
Read my full writeup on Cosima’s vocal prowess here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
11. Year Of The Orc - Body Meat
Released: April 6th, 2021
Genres: R&B, Electronic, Hyperpop
For Fans Of: Tony Velour, Curtis Waters, dltzk, HyperR&B, Feeling like an Orc
Check out my write up on the singing and producing expertise of Body Meat here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
10. Goober - Lauran Hibberd
Released: July 30th, 2021
Genres: Rock, Pop
For Fans Of: Charly Bliss, Coach Party, Dreaming about Phoebe Bridgers making pop rock
Lauran Hibberd makes music that sounds like your high school diary entries were transformed into ripping rock anthems.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
9. Armani - Jahmed
Released: March 3rd, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
For Fans Of: Baby Keem, ICECOLDBISHOP, SAINT LYOR, Beats that make you head nod/stank face immediately
From a song to song and project to project basis, Jahmed has to be one of the most consistent out right now. If he keeps this up, big things are ahead.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
8. Good Grief! - James Ivy
Released: October 22nd, 2021
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock, Pop-Punk
For Fans Of: Harry Teardrop, The 1975, Spotify anti pop
Read my write up on this incredibly well crafted project here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
7. The Asymptotical World - Yves Tumor
Released: July 15, 2021
Genres: Alternative, Rock
For Fans Of: Prince, Blood Orange, Taking genre boundaries as a challenge
Tumor continues following that sound explored on their superb 2020 album, Heaven To A Tortured Mind.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
6. Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 3 - Tkay Maidza
Released: July 9th, 2021
Genres: Rap, Pop, R&B, Indie, Alternative
For Fans Of: Junglepussy, Kari Faux, Bree Runway, Projects that feel like playlists (in a good way)
I pray one day we’ll have a year normal enough that Maidza won’t have to make these EPs anymore. But for now I’ll just enjoy the latest in this series that gets better with each installment.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
5. Boy Anonymous - Paris Texas
Released: May 14th, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Alternative
For Fans Of: Kenny Mason, Teezo Touchdown, Rappers using guitars in a cool way (not a Lil Wayne - Rebirth way)
Paris Texas arrived with a bang earlier this year through the release of their '“Heavy Metal” music video linked below. This phenomenal debut project (and another EP later in the year) proved that exciting intro was far from a flash in the pan.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
4. Antenna - Dizzy Fae
Released: May 26th, 2021
Genres: Dance, Electronic, R&B
For Fans Of: Kelela, Tei Shi, Thinking about how cruel it would be to not let your body move
Dizzy Fae drops her most dance floor ready tracks to date with Antenna. And if you had any up and coming artists dropping a Ying Yang Twins remix of their biggest song on your 2021 bingo card, you can cross that off thanks to Fae.
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD
3. Imposter - Miss Grit
Released: February 5th, 2021
Genres: Alternative, Indie Rock
For Fans Of: St. Vincent, Nilüfer Yanya, Wednesday, Trying to fight imposter syndrome
Read my full writeup on this delightfully heavy EP here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP
2. shut the fuck up talking to me - Zack Fox
Released: October 15th, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap
For Fans Of: Father, Bfb Da Packman, Wanting to slap Ed Sheeran
The comedian turnt rapper delivers on the promise of a full project that’s as engaging as it is entertaining at every bar. Don’t judge a book by its cover on this one (or on second thought, maybe you can).
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
1. Claire - Kezia
Released: June 11th, 2021
Genres: Hip-Hop/Rap, Bedroom Pop, Indie
For Fans Of: Serena Isioma, Jean Deaux, Amindi, Music to be hot to
Read my full writeup on this lovely EP, that I found myself coming back to the most this year, here!
APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE
Songs and albums lists coming next!