10 Artists We Hope Return In 2018

Image via Getty/XL Recordings

Last we heard from them: He appeared on a Fabiana Palladino song that was only available for one day last November.

In 2016, XL Recordings signee and legendary enigma Jai Paul announced plans for The Paul Institute. In 2017, we finally saw its launch, but for the most part Jai Paul has remained in the shadows. It’s been a long time since we last heard a solo song from Jai Paul, with the gorgeous “Jasmine” coming out in 2012. Even those infamous leaks, which may or may not have been a stunt pulled by Jai Paul himself, surfaced all the way back in 2013.

The Paul Institute is a project he’s working on with his brother A.K. Paul and their associate Muz Azar—and they just recently found a physical home for it. Its main goal is to “support and nurture new British music talent,” and we’ve already seen some of that come to fruition in the form of a number of limited releases. Now that it appears the institute is in its final stages of setup, hopefully he’s got a bit more time to work on his own music, as well.

Paul's stunning production and remarkable songwriting skills are sorely missed, even if he is preparing to make something potentially groundbreaking with The Paul Institute.

Last we heard from them: Last year, she released a studio version of her "Unchained Melody" cover.

2018 marks four years since Lykke Li’s I Never Learn, and this is quite frankly unacceptable. Well, she took time out to give birth to her son, but it’s still been excruciating waiting for her next solo release. Li has since formed supergroup LIV, as well, but it’s just not the same. It’s great seeing her do a little more acting, too, but what we really want is another solo album.

I Never Learn was a gorgeous slice of Scandinavian pop, and a lot has happened in her life since its release, so we’re confident her next album will be just as great. LIV is a fun distraction for now, but unless we’re getting something substantial from them in the near future, we’re hoping that we get a new Lykke Li solo album this year. It might be a bit of a stretch considering the work involved with LIV, obviously, but hey, let us dream.

Last we heard from them: They released a remix of "Step" featuring Danny Brown, Heems, and Despot right at the end of 2013.

The beginning of 2016 brought some big news for Vampire Weekend fans. Ezra Koenig confirmed that the band had started recording the follow-up to 2013’s Modern Vampires of the City, but it was also announced that Rostam Batmanglij would be leaving the band. Responsible for producing all three of their albums, it came as a bit of a shock. Rostam went on to release a fantastic solo album, letting us know his presence will be missed.

Each of the band’s albums have been fantastic, though, and there’s no doubt they’ll be able to live up to their reputation with a fourth. Judging that they’ve been working on the album for at least a year already, there’s little doubt we’ll be hearing their highly anticipated fourth album in 2018.

Last we heard from them: She released Art Angels in November 2015.

It hasn’t been all that long since we last heard from Vancouver’s Grimes, but we’re definitely ready for more. Just as 2017 came to an end, Grimes teased that the follow-up to 2015’s Art Angels was on the way soon. After a fan tweeted at her asking for new music, she said she had just been playing new music to her label, adding that they “really dig it.” If everything goes well, it won’t be very long until Grimes releases yet another challenging, inventive pop album. Thankfully, the wait seems like it’ll be a little shorter than the time we had to endure between her breakthrough Visions and Art Angels.

Last we heard from them: He dropped Black Messiah in 2014.

Late 2014 brought us D’Angelo’s long-awaited third studio album Black Messiah, bringing an end to his 14 year hiatus. Living up to the legendary status of 2000’s Voodoo, it reinforced D’Angelo's status as one of the most important R&B and soul artists of our time. It’s the sort of long, in-the-works albums that actually lived up to the expectations, rewarding everyone who patiently awaited its arrival.

Considering how brilliant Black Messiah turned out, and how expertly D’Angelo conveyed the frustrations so many were feeling in America at the time, we’d love to avoid having to wait 14 years again for his next studio album. He’s already proven he’s adept at tackling current issues, and there’s little doubt he’d be able to offer something thought provoking and soul-bearing once again—especially in the current political climate.

Last we heard from them: They released their final album The People's Key in 2011.

Conor Oberst retired the Bright Eyes moniker in 2011 alongside his bandmates, but the impact their music left is unmistakable. Keeping himself very busy as a solo artist, Oberst hasn’t been quiet, but it feels like now might be the perfect time to revisit Bright Eyes. It might sound blasphemous to some fans, but it could even work to put out something wildly different—working with a number of underground rappers.

Okay, okay, hear us out. In 2017, emo made a comeback (again) in the form of rap music. Some of the year’s best tracks channeled this approach, and some artists were rapping over samples of The Microphones and even Bright Eyes themselves. The late Lil Peep built his name on this fascinating combination—remaining true to both emo and rap—and with the right rappers we think Bright Eyes returning the love might turn into something incredibly interesting. Conor Oberst could undoubtedly put together some mesmerizing production for some rappers, and with his lyrics alongside them, it could be something really special. Please don’t hate us.

Last we heard from them: He appeared on Rapsody's "Nobody" alongside Anderson .Paak and Moonchild in 2017.

Just recently, the world was reminded how great a rapper Black Thought is. The Roots emcee has always delivered when it comes to his lyrics and technical wizardry, but his ten-minute freestyle essentially shutdown rap twitter for a few days. It’s worth pointing out that he’s always been this great, though, it’s just that easier to forget how incredible he can be when he’s hanging out with Jimmy Fallon every night.

With very little in the way of solo material to his name, it’s about time we got a proper studio album from Black Thought. There's been talk of a solo album from him before, but the last time we heard anything was back in 2013. Eyes are on him once again, with Funkmaster Flex almost having a heart attack when he heard the freestyle live. Covering everything from his past to rap’s present, he refused to hold back. If this is what he could deliver during a 10-minute freestyle, just imagine what he could accomplish in 40 or more.

Last we heard from them: He released a collaborative album, Dec 99th, with Ferrari Sheppard in late 2016.

Yasiin Bey, the artist formerly known as Mos Def, has already announced that he’s heading into retirement. But, he says there’s more music on the way before that happens—it’s just that it’s not entirely clear when these albums will be coming out. He's announced that there’ll be one last solo album on the way, tentatively titled Negus in Natural Person, alongside a collaborative effort with Mannie Fresh. There has been no recent news about either release, but there’s a good chance this will change in 2018.

His world passport troubles definitely had an impact on his workflow to some degree, but it didn’t stop him putting out an album with Ferrari Sheppard as Dec 99th in 2016. What’s really needed right now, especially as things in the world get more and more tense, is a solo full-length from Yasiin. It’s clear he’s got another truly great album in him, especially considering the quality of everything else he’s attached his name to.

Last we heard from them: They reunited for a tour that ran from 2013 until 2015.

Maybe it’s not the right time for new music from Louisiana’s Neutral Milk Hotel, but it’d be a shame if Jeff Mangum were to never release anything again. The group’s seminal In The Aeroplace Over the Sea is a certified classic, and it would be fantastic if we could finally get the long overdue follow-up. The album initially released in 1998, so it’s been a long time, but it’s there’s still a lot of love for the lo-fi landmark.

Reforming for a sold-out, wildly popular tour that ran from late 2013 through to 2014, it was announced that the few shows they played the following year in 2015 would be their last for “the foreseeable future.” Judging by how well those shows tours did, and how the album still comes up in conversation today, another project from Neutral Milk Hotel would be potentially huge—and almost definitely great.