I hadn't heard of Michael Aldag before but I'm liking this song a lot! His voice is great and I really like how the song builds throughout.

I'm so glad you like it Pete! :wub: It's one of his most raw tracks. Highly recommend his EP!

 

 

Alternative Artist: glaive

 

It's tough to put a label on glaive's music. 17 year old Ash Gutierrez has already released three projects with his debut album on the way, and though his music began as hyperpop, the lines have become more blurred as he's dipped his toes into other genres. In early 2022, glaive re-released his EP all dogs go to heaven, under the title old dog, new tricks. It included six new songs, making it effectively a full length album at 13 tracks. Hyperpop features on the project, of course, but there are influences from pop, rock and hip-hop to be found throughout too. Recent singles minnesota is a place that exists and three wheels and it still drives! venture slightly more towards being commercial, but it's still difficult to imagine songs as abrasive as those in the chart. I saw glaive live earlier this year, and he performed a full set of 22 songs, and the entire set clocked in at about 50 minutes due to how short each song is! His stage performance was unpolished, yet it matched the music perfectly and despite being so young, glaive seems to know exactly who he is. I can't wait to come from his debut album, because I truly don't know what to expect from it! Either way, if it's anything like the two singles so far (both #1s in my chart), it's bound to be great.

 

 

 

Best Music Video: The Kid LAROI - Thousand Miles

 

The Kid LAROI's follow-up to megahit STAY didn't set the charts alight outside of his home country Australia, but that's not to say it was a write-off. I'll talk more about the song later of course, but the music video was easily my favourite of 2022. It followed two Larois, one good, one evil, where the latter was continually sabotaging and torturing the other. "Good" Laroi is flattened, has a piano dropped on him and is smashed into by a speeding train, all so "bad" Laroi can win the girl they like. The girl (the barista at the start of the video), is played by Laroi's real-life girlfriend Katarina Deme. The video is hilarious, whilst also making me wince in parts...! The direction and symbolism of the costumes only solidifies how good the concept is. Laroi's best and most creative video yet for sure.

 

 

 

Pop Group: Why Don't We

 

Everything looked to be landing in Why Don't We's lap at the start of 2022. With a Jonas Blue collaboration landing them their first UK top 100 hit, perhaps a breakthrough was finally on the cusp? Three excellent singles followed - Let Me Down Easy (Lie), Just Friends and How Do You Love Somebody - each having a distinct sound that broadened the Why Don't We palate. Just Friends was notably dancier, while How Do You Love Somebody was pop-rock at its best. Five years in, Why Don't We were still delivering high quality pop music despite the lack of commercial success. However, bubbling away was a lawsuit against their management, involving unfair treatment and poor working conditions. A tour they had arranged was cancelled, and the boys subsequently chose to go on hiatus all of a sudden. Things almost definitely aren't over for the boyband, especially if they win the lawsuit, but the sour close to the group's activity is made even sadder when you consider just how good the music has been.

 

 

 

Best Era: Harry Styles - Harry's House

 

Of course, he had to appear at some point! Harry Styles released his third studio album this year, and it's clear it was a carefully crafted project. As soon as the title, Harry's House, was announced alongside the stunning artwork, I figured there was a theme with this album. A theme of homeliness, warmth and comfort, because without that, the name sounds a little ridiculous. Hearing the album proved me right - it was a cosy listen from beginning to end, and this didn't stop with the album. As It Was led the album perfectly, being the defining hit single of the year globally, with an insane music video to boot. Late Night Talking and Music for a Sushi Restaurant followed as singles, with videos that perfectly matched their themes, much like Harry achieved with the Fine Line era. Though Love on Tour as a concept was a carry-over from the planned pre-pandemic Fine Line tour, it ended up perfectly fitting Harry's House like a glove. From the complexity of emotions in the self-titled album, to discovery and passion in Fine Line, Harry's House feels settled and calm, and just the perfect comfort era for 2022.

 

WOn't comment on Harry's House... I'm sure you know i just am not keen on him or his music in general. The Kid LAROI is another artist i'm not too keen on, but Thousand Miles is a great song and deserved to do better in the UK charts!

Really like Harry's House being your best era award, even if "Music For A Sushi Restaurant" is my least favourite song from his new album.

Thank you both for your replies :wub:

 

 

North American Pop Soloist: Sarcastic Sounds

 

Winner of Producer of the Year last year, Canadian artist Jeremy Fedryk, better known as Sarcastic Sounds, continued his move towards being recognised as an artist in his own right. Though he's been releasing music since 2018, 2022 brought his first project, an EP. This brought along a move towards more mainstream-friendly music and a greater identity as a performer himself. The era that later became I'm a Disappointment began with four singles in 2021, notably say goodbye, a #1 in my chart, but it was the new tracks released in 2022 that saw Jeremy himself at the forefront of the tracks, singing on all three new songs on the EP (Disappointment, ohfuckimnotok and existential crisis in c major) without distorting his voice, and starring in their music videos. The folk-pop tracks mixed with his more produced tracks that featured guest vocalists such as Maisie Peters, Birdy and Clinton Kane to create an EP that felt like the perfect portfolio of who Sarcastic Sounds is. New single might be this followed in late 2022 as he begins a new era, all while continuing to produce for numerous artists, including close friend Powfu.

 

Just given i wanna slam my head against the wall a listen now - I hadn't heard the term 'hyperpop' before but having heard the song I assume this is an example of it? I can see what you mean by not fully being able to put a label on his style!

Just given i wanna slam my head against the wall a listen now - I hadn't heard the term 'hyperpop' before but having heard the song I assume this is an example of it? I can see what you mean by not fully being able to put a label on his style!

Yes very much! This is perhaps an even clearer example, it's his most streamed song on Spotify:

 

 

 

Comeback of the Year: Charlie Puth

 

In 2015 and 2016, Charlie Puth was one of the most exciting new artists around. He hit the ground running with a couple of UK #1s, and he also reached the top in my chart with We Don't Talk Anymore. Nine Track Mind topped my album chart and was one of the defining albums of 2016, while Voicenotes also reached the top in 2018. What followed Voicenotes was a significant dip in both commercial success and my interest in his music. A run of standalone singles came and went, with I Warned Myself scraping into my top 10 before he began a two-year absence from the top tier. Charlie himself has since admitted that was a low point in his career, and Elton John helped him understand that. With the help of TikTok and fully embracing his musical geekery, Charlie found himself again. Following a great collaboration with Elton in late 2021, the infectious Light Switch fully kickstarted the next part of Charlie's career. It returned him to #1 in my chart, as well as the UK top 40 with a significant run in the chart. His third album, CHARLIE, was his best to date. A well-crafted pop album with hooks aplenty, Charlie Puth proved there was still a lot more to offer in the tank.

 

 

 

Live Artist of the Year: Harry Styles

 

There are three winners for my Live Artist award this year, all three of whom defined my year of concert-going. In June, I attended Harry Styles' Love on Tour twice at Wembley Stadium. The first night, I had platinum VIP seating - this didn't include a meet and greet (though I would have paid over the odds for that, for Harry), but it had one of the best seats in the stadium (just to the right of the stage, bearing in mind the floor was all standing) as well as a tote bag full of merchandise. Then the show commenced. I'd had a glimpse at the setlist so I knew roughly what to expect but I'd forgotten much of the order. Most of the set was the Harry's House album, from which he performed all bar three songs, but of course the hits were thrown in too. From the start, Harry's audience interaction was top notch. He created an atmosphere of positivity and love among people who had never met, including encouraging people to take the hand of the person next to them, if they were comfortable to do so. Songs such as As It Was and Watermelon Sugar obviously went down a treat, but the real moment of the night was Sign of the Times, performed at the B-stage with rain pouring through the open roof. It was the most beautiful sight, and a true moment. The second night was so much fun as well, and involved Harry helping a fan to come out. Both nights were just divine, so much so that I'm going back for three nights at Wembley when he returns there next year...!!!

 

 

 

Live Artist of the Year: The Kid LAROI

 

Do you remember where you were on the two hottest days of the year? Hopefully somewhere cold, in front of a fan. Me? I spent both nights at O2 Academy Brixton seeing The Kid LAROI. It was roasting and wholly unpleasant on the heat front - my portable handheld fan only went so far but at least I was seated - but the show from Laroi was worth it. I'd only seen him once before, at an intimate show in 2021, and it was amazing, so I was ridiculously hyped for these shows on his End of the World tour. From opening with crowd-pleasers Let Her Go and Diva, released before his commercial breakthrough, to raw moments such as SELFISH, Laroi looked to be having the best time on stage. I was particularly delighted that he performed NEED YOU MOST (So Sick), the song that made me fall in love with his music and a surprise addition to the setlist since I'd looked on the previous leg of the tour. It was such a good night, and night 2 was even better. I had a VIP ticket for the second night and was one of a very small group of people who had a meet and greet. We went inside the venue, stood by the stage, and Laroi came to meet every one of us individually, spending time talking and taking photos for as long as wanted to chat. It was so relaxed and it was obvious he wanted to create the best experience for his fans. He and I discussed my favourite songs by him as well as what I do for work, and he was so kind, there wasn't an awkward moment at all. Obviously, night 2 of the concert was even better - especially as I got the nearest seat to his encore performance of WITHOUT YOU on the balcony!!

 

 

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Live Artist of the Year: Delta Goodrem

 

For years, the artist I've most craved seeing live has been Delta Goodrem. She is one of the defining artists of my childhood and, seeing her tour DVDs, I always knew she put on the best show. Finally, in 2022, she announced her first London headline show, and I couldn't make it. After a ridiculous chain of events, Delta announced a second show due to the insane demand, and I was able to attend that. Wow, what a night! Delta performed so many of her classics as well as tracks from her latest album Bridge Over Troubled Dreams, and she looked to be loving every single moment, gobsmacked that a crowd halfway around the world knew the music she hadn't promoted here in almost two decades. Not only did she blow everyone away vocally, she also stayed behind to meet everyone who wanted to wait. We queued outside the venue where Delta took the time to talk to everyone, sign anything we wanted, and genuinely show her appreciation for our presence. It was a spellbinding night, and one I will truly never forget.

 

 

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European Pop Soloist: Boy In Space

 

Solidifying himself as one of the most consistent and reliable popstars around, Sweden's Boy In Space, aka Robin Lundbäck, wins this award for a second year running. A couple of features kickstarted 2022 for Boy In Space, with the gorgeous Spider alongside Said the Sky and the slick Liked You Better with good problem being his first two top 10 hits of the year. The best was yet to come, though. Following 2021's FRONTYARD EP, which spawned three #1s in my chart, Boy In Space naturally released BACKYARD in 2022. It was preceded by A**hole, another #1 to his name, and a #2 hit in Lean On, which was unlucky to miss the top against an even bigger hit (Ruel's YOU AGAINST YOURSELF). His best song of the year arrived in the form of Slide, another #1 hit, which was the promoted single alongside the EP's release. Slide's infectious moody-pop production with a big chorus made it one of the best tracks of the year, and the entire EP made for the slightly moodier follow-up to the breezy FRONTYARD, the perfect pairing of EPs.

 

 

 

Breakthrough Artist: Benson Boone

 

GHOST TOWN, Benson Boone's debut single, was a force to be reckoned with in late 2021. It debuted at #1, an impressive feat in this day and age for an artist's debut release, and held the top spot for three weeks, finishing at #5 in my EOY with just a couple of months to impact. All of this from an American Idol auditionee, who dropped out of the contest to find himself as an artist on his own terms instead. I didn't watch American Idol so only discovered him when I spotted GHOST TOWN on a playlist, but even with how big that song was, there was no guarantee it would last. However, Benson built on this, following it up with another #1 hit in ROOM FOR 2 in early 2022, though this didn't impact the global charts unfortunately despite showing a different side to his music. It was third single, In the Stars, which truly changed things, storming into global charts, including #21 in the UK (and as we'll learn in this countdown, #21 was the new #1 in 2022). It debuted once again atop my chart, as did fourth single Better Alone, before debut EP Walk Me Home... unsurprisingly topped the album chart. With another #1 under his belt since, with "wedding song" Before You spending three weeks at the top, Benson's emotional music has struck quite the chord with me, and the stats say it all: he's the first artist in my chart's history to debut his first five singles at #1.

 

 

 

Hip-Hop / R&B Artist: The Kid LAROI

 

To be fair, there's not really much competition for this award, so even following a quiet year, Laroi sweeps this award with ease. That's not to downplay his success, though. New single Thousand Miles was one of the biggest hits of 2022 in my chart, not to mention the ongoing level of success of STAY, which has actually outlasted Thousand Miles by quite some way, only just breaking the record for most weeks top 40 (it's now on 75...!). Of course, both of these lean more towards the poppier end of the spectrum, but Laroi's kept his foot in the door of the hip-hop world this year too, featuring on new singles by Fivio Foreign and Nardo Wick (the latter being the better of the two for sure), as well as an album track on Post Malone's album. Laroi is promising January will be a big month, so I'm hoping new music is just around the corner!

 

Nice seeing Benson Boone here, I know hes done very well on your charts! Funny though, his (so far) only song on my chart was nights like these and it got to #3 for me, and for you it seemed to be the worst performing song of his! I just thought that was funny how its the same music but we interpret and like different songs differently! Looking forward to seeing the chart countdown!

Nice seeing Benson Boone here, I know hes done very well on your charts! Funny though, his (so far) only song on my chart was nights like these and it got to #3 for me, and for you it seemed to be the worst performing song of his! I just thought that was funny how its the same music but we interpret and like different songs differently! Looking forward to seeing the chart countdown!

It was the third highest of the four non-singles in my chart! Let Me Go peaked at #19 compared to NIGHTS LIKE THESE making #15, I do love them all though and it's no spoiler to say that all of them appear in my songs countdown *.*

 

 

Australian Pop Soloist: Ruel

 

Another year has passed and Ruel's debut album still hasn't surfaced, but that's not to say it hasn't been an exceptionally good year for the 20 year old British-born and Australian-raised singer. Ruel closed 2021 with GROWING UP IS _____, one of his best songs to date and his third #1 in my chart. He followed it up with the subtle and tender LET THE GRASS GROW in 2022, though it appears neither song will be on his eventual album unfortunately. The "proper" lead single YOU AGAINST YOURSELF arrived at the end of the summer and it was love at first listen. The anthemic track became another #1 in my chart and his first to spend more than a week, logging more time in the top 10 than many of his singles spent in my top 40. I saw Ruel live not long after its release at a last-minute popup show in London, which was the second time I'd seen him in 2022. He always puts on a great show but this particular one was at the same venue I saw Ruel at his first London show, four years ago. The crowd was full of diehard fans who were loving every moment, and I had the best time. Ruel closed the year with SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM, the second single from his album, and a feature on the remix of JVKE's golden hour, both of which made my top 10. Right now, Ruel is untouchable, and his debut album feels all but certain to arrive next year, at last!

 

 

 

Special Recognition: Why Don't We

 

I mentioned earlier how bitter a taste the hiatus of Why Don't We felt to me. Embroiled in a lawsuit against their management over poor working conditions and bad treatment, the band were seemingly blocked from touring and subsequently called a hiatus. There's power in their move - they're not allowing their management to benefit from their music any further and are simply choosing not to work together as a group anyway. However, it shouldn't have come to this. With singles Love Back, Let Me Down Easy (Lie), Just Friends and How Do You Love Somebody released on the trot, it was shaping up to be an insanely good era for the boys. I chose to give them this award because no boyband post-One Direction has quite impacted me the way these guys have. The Vamps came close, but with 15 #1 singles and no sign of dipping quality, Why Don't We have consistency on their side, plus two top notch albums and every tour I attended was seriously brilliant. The pop world feels a little darker without Why Don't We around right now, despite their solo careers now beginning. Thanks for the memories boys, and I hope you'll be back together on your own terms before long.