2012 - An Exciting Year In Music – The National Student

After a year branded as a triumph for boredom,what is the world of popular music going to bring us in 2012?

This year is set to bring us the return of some familiar faces, with everyone from Bloc Party to Black Sabbath making welcome returns and delivering an Olympian effort to dispel the demons of 2011. All the while, music’s newcomers, the artists that will be the driving force behind new trends and styles, offer plenty of reason to be optimistic.

Emerging from a two-year hiatus, The Killers will be making their hotly anticipated return with the release of their fourthalbum, Battle Born. Speaking to Radio One DJ Zane Lowe, front-man Brendon Flowers claimed Battle Born would be a mix of styles from the previous albums, but assured fans it would remain original: "We don’t want to make Hot Fuss ", Sam’s Town 2 or Day & Age 2."
With a back catalogue that boasts an array of indie rock Anthems, a return to normalcy can only be a positive for The Killers.

After much speculation about the future of the band following the rumoured departure of lead singer Kele Okereke, Bloc Party return, bringing a new album expected for release later this year. Renowned for their unique brand of dance rock, a Bloc Party album is sure to inject some energy into 2012.

After a year of delays and setbacks, Dr. Dre is finally set to release his hotly anticipated third album, Detox. Dre, hailed as hip hop royalty, is a name that has dominated rap in the past 30 years. A Grammy winning rapper and the man that brought the world Eminem, the return of Dr. Dre is one of the most anticipated events of 2012, and after the drollery of 2011, his return couldn’t come any sooner.

Heavy metal is set to make an assault on the billboard charts in 2012, headed by the triumphant return of Black Sabbath, with all four founding members back in the band. Simply put, the band is a giant of the genre and one of the few that can claim they are synonymous with metal. With an appearance at Download Festival and a brand new album, it is a very exciting time for fans of the band.

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Along with the return of many musical big hitters, 2012 will see the emergence of an exciting and talented group of musicians intent on mainstream success. Here a few of those set to impress this year:

Having spent 2011 conquering America, Skrillex now sets his sights on the UK as he looks to bring his unique brand of dubstep to the mainstream. Having been nominated for five Grammys and making it into the charts around the world, the future looks very bright for Sonny Moore, as he is set to lead the dubstep revolution with the fast rising genre becoming increasingly popular. A small but vocal minority among the dubstep faithful have said a lot against Skrillex, but these jibes are frankly irrelevant. Sonny Moore is the DJ to watch this year as he brings dubstep a level of recognition that it previously lacked, single-handedly dragging the genre out of the underground.

Having been voted the BBC’s sound of 2012, Michael Kiwanuka’s potential this year is obvious. Kiwanuka looks set to bring the charts some well-needed soul with his hauntingly beautiful acoustic melodies, drawing comparisons with legends of soul and even being labelled the Otis Redding of the modern day. Quickly amassing a legion of followers, Kiwanuka is sure to top the charts with his debut studio album, Home Again, set for release in March.

Bursting onto the scene with 212, Azelia Banks is making all the right sounds in the world of music. Bagging herself a place in BBC’s Sound of 2012 and topping NME’s Cool List, the future is very bright for Banks. Known for her catchy beats, rapid delivery and vulgar lyrics comparisons to Nicky Minaj are inevitable. But Banks rejects being labelled ‘the new Nicky Minaj’ and instead looks to carve out a chart topping 2012, and attempt to oust Minaj and become the new queen of rap.

Set to explode in 2012, King Charles has a lot to be excited about this year. After a 2010 filled with a tour supporting Mumford and Sons and winning the international song writing competition, King Charles spent 2011 touring relentlessly and preparing his debut album, set for release this year. Describing his sound as ‘glam funk,’ King Charles makes infectious, idiosyncratic folk-pop that is winning over critics and fans alike.

With all these exciting acts appearing throughout the year, 2012 looks set to be an exciting year capable of dispelling the drollery and boredom seen in the past year. However, only time will tell if these acts get the recognition they deserve, or whether 2012 will be the year of Lana Del Rey and her dull brand of Hollywood Sadcore.

2012 - An Exciting Year In Music

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