As the 2024 Paris Olympics concluded, the music industry is poised to unleash a tidal wave of new releases. September comes in full force with a myriad of releases, featuring everything from debut albums to long-awaited comebacks across a spectrum from indie darlings to megastar acts.
The month kicks off on September 6, marking the return of ’00s socialite Paris Hilton with her album Infinite Icon, her first in two decades. On the same day, Pink Floyd‘s David Gilmour ends a nine-year hiatus with his solo release, Luck and Strange. The momentum continues with Suki Waterhouse, Brantley Gilbert, and Miranda Lambert all dropping fresh LPs in the following week.
The peak of this release frenzy hits on September 20, a day packed with new music from Bright Eyes, Katy Perry, Manu Chao, Nelly Furtado, The B-52s’ Kate Pierson, Hippo Campus, Keith Urban, Mitchell Tenpenny, James Bay, and the anticipated debuts of Kassi Ashton and Mason Ramsey. Whew. But catch your breath quickly, because the last week of September closes the month out strong with Ezra Collective’s Dance, No One’s Watching and Luke Bryan’s Mind of a Country Boy.
To navigate this bustling season, GRAMMY.com compiled a list with 15 must-hear albums coming out September 2024.
Fred again.. — ‘ten days’ (Sept. 6)
The 2024 GRAMMYs‘ Best New Artist nominee and viral producer Fred again.., real name Frederick Gibson, is set to release his fourth LP, ten days, on Friday, September 6. The album includes magical collaborations with Anderson .Paak, Four Tet, Emmylou Harris, the Japanese House, Skrillex, and more.
On Instagram, Gibson shared the intimate concept behind the album: each of the 10 songs represent a different, important day in his life. “There’s been a lot of biggg mad crazy moments in the last year but basically all of these are about really very small quiet intimate moments. Some of them are like the most intensely joyful things i have felt, and some of them are the other side of things.”
The British star has previewed the record with singles “adore u” with Obongjayar, “ten” featuring Jozzy and Jim Legxacy, and “places to be” with Anderson .Paak and CHIKA. Gibson is also set to play a handful of concerts throughout North America in September and October.
Read more: 6 Reasons Why Fred Again.. Was Dance Music’s Rookie Of The Year
Toro y Moi — ‘Hole Erth’ (Sept. 6)
Experimental chillwave artist Toro y Moi, aka Chaz Bear, is set to release his eighth studio album, Hole Erth, on September 6. The title was inspired by Stewart Brand’s counterculture magazine Whole Earth, which was published in the late ‘60s. “The Whole Earth catalog is this encyclopedic, self-sustaining guide. With the album title alone, that’s something I wanted to spark as a conversation,” said Bear in a press release. “We can be off the grid, and also be on the internet, and try out all of these different lifestyles at the same time.”
Bear shared a first look into this nostalgic project with the single “Tuesday” shedding light on his evolving musical tastes. “Growing up, the often-controversial-line between mainstream and underground artists was so defined, but now that line has become so blurred I can’t even tell what I like anymore… sometimes.”
This eclectic mix is evident across the album’s 13 tracks, which navigate through rap rock, pop punk, and emo, marking Hole Erth is Bear’s most unexpected project yet. The album holds a slew of superstar features including Don Toliver in “Madonna,” BROCKHAMPTON’s Kevin Abstract and Lev in “Heaven,” and Death Cab for Cutie‘s Ben Gibbard in “Hollywood.” Overall, the record emerges as an oeuvre, steeped in the digital era yet deeply connected to the human experience.
Paris Hilton — ‘Infinite Icon’ (Sept. 6)
It’s been nearly two decades since early-aughts’ socialite Paris Hilton launched her singing career with Paris in 2006. Since the global success of its hit single “Stars Are Blind,” Hilton has only sporadically dabbled in music, focusing on a variety of other endeavors. This September, she surprises fans with her much-anticipated album, Infinite Icon.
Executive produced by popstar Sia, the 12-track album includes collaborations with Rina Sawayama, Meghan Trainor, Argentine singer Maria Becerra, and Sia herself. The buzz around Hilton’s musical comeback bubbled up in December 2022 following the re-release of “Stars Are Blind (Paris’ Version).” Her performance of the hit song with Sia and Miley Cyrus‘ at a New Year’s Eve concert in Times Square further fueled anticipation.
In June 2024, Hilton performed the new single “I’m Free” with Rina Sawayama at the Alice + Olivia Pride party in New York City, igniting excitement for future performances yet to be announced.
David Gilmour — ‘Luck and Strange’ (Sept. 6)
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour is set to release his fifth studio album, Luck and Strange, on September 6 — his first in nearly a decade. In an interview with Prog Magazine, Gilmour hailed it as “the best album I’ve made in all those years since 1973 when [Pink Floyd’s] The Dark Side Of The Moon came out.”
Luck and Strange was co-produced by Gilmour and Charlie Andrew, known for his work with indie band Alt-J. “We invited Charlie to the house, so he came and listened to some demos, and said things like, ‘Well, why does there have to be a guitar solo there?’ and ‘Do they all fade out? Can’t some of them just end?’ shared Gilmour in a press release. “He has a wonderful lack of knowledge or respect for this past of mine. He’s very direct and not in any way overawed, and I love that. That is just so good for me because the last thing you want is people just deferring to you.”
The upcoming LP contains eight tracks “from the point of view of being older,” majorly written by Gilmour’s wife, Polly Samson, and includes a stirring cover of The Montgolfier Brothers’ “Between Two Points.” Gilmour and Samson’s children, Romany and Gabriel, also feature as singers in the latter. As for the title track, it includes a special 2007 recording by late Pink Floyd keyboardist, Richard Wright. In October, Gilmour will head to the U.S. for several shows in Los Angeles and New York.
Nilüfer Yanya — ‘My Method Actor’ (Sept. 13)
British singer Nilüfer Yanya dives deep into the craft of her new album, My Method Actor, drawing parallels between her process and method acting. “I was researching method acting — and from what I read, it’s based on finding this one memory in your life, a life-altering, life-changing memory,” Yanya explained in a press statement. She describes method acting as sometimes traumatic because it involves constantly revisiting pivotal personal moments— a process akin to the emotional recall required during musical performances.
Scheduled for release on September 13, My Method Actor explores themes of transition and change, a reflection of a period of Yanya’s own life. To write it, she and producer Wilma Archer secluded themselves in the studio to create what she describes as her “most intense album,” focusing solely on their collaborative efforts without any external influences.
Yanya is ready to share her new work with audiences across North America, Europe, and the UK, beginning with a tour that kicks off on September 28 in Philadelphia, PA. She has given fans a taste of what’s in store with singles “Like I Say (I Runaway),” “Method Actor,” “Call It Love,” and “Mutations.”
Suki Waterhouse — ‘Memoir of a Sparklemuffin’ (Sept. 13)
Suki Waterhouse’s new album, Memoir of a Sparklemuffin, was inspired by a spider. But not your average house spider: “I came across the Sparklemuffin — which is wildly colored, does this razzle-dazzle dance, and its mate will cannibalize it if she doesn’t approve of the dance,” she said in a press release. “It’s a metaphor for the dance of life we’re all in. The title felt hilarious, ridiculous, and wonderful to me.”
The album arrives on September 13, two years after her lauded debut I Can’t Let Go, showcasing a sundry of styles, from folk, to indie, to pop across 18 tracks. The English singer collaborated with producers Jonathan Rado, Brad Cook, Greg Gonzalez, Rick Nowels, and more, all while preparing for the arrival of her first child. “I finished the record in my home studio during the last months of my pregnancy,” she recounted. This period of personal transformation shaped the album, which she hopes will resonate deeply with listeners. “If it captures something pure I’ve experienced, it should touch others too,” she added.
Starting September 28, Waterhouse will embark on The Sparklemuffin Tour through North America, performing in 26 cities throughout December.
Brantley Gilbert — ‘Tattoos’ (Sept. 13)
“All my albums, they capture a chapter of my life,” said country rockstar Brantley Gilbert about his new LP, Tattoos. “If somebody wants to know who I am, what I’ve been through and where I stand, they can start at the beginning and listen through, and that’s why it was undeniable that Tattoos should be the title — because my tattoos do the same thing.”
Marking Gilbert’s seventh studio effort, Tattoos comprises 10 tracks co-written by the singer, and features Justin Moore, Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones, and Gary LeVox. On its lyrical contents and symbolism, Gilbert added: “People get ‘em for a lot of reasons, but for most of us, tattoos talk about our victories and losses, our struggles and the whole nine.”
The Georgia-born artist will celebrate the release day in style, headlining Brantley Gilbert’s World’s Largest Album Release Party on Broadway in Nashville. Following the release, he will play several shows across the U.S., including stops in Knoxville, Jonesboro, and Savannah. Gilbert also shared the single “Me and My House,” featuring Struggle Jennings and Demun Jones.
London Grammar — ‘The Greatest Love’ (Sept. 13)
A decade after their debut, London Grammar is set to release their next album, The Greatest Love, signaling a new chapter for the band. According to a press release, this album allows the band to “leave their past behind them and hone in on a newfound sense of freedom.”
Following their 2021 critically acclaimed album Californian Soil — which earned them a second BRIT nomination — the new album is brimming with confidence and a new outlook, while retaining their classic etherealness. Hannah Reid explains, “The last couple of years have changed our priorities and process as artists. That is a big part of our story.”
The album’s lead single “House” encapsulates this new direction with empowering lyrics: “This is my place, my house, my rules.” Another track, “Into Gold,” speaks to overcoming adversity, reflecting: “And when I was made from the right kind of wrong / All of these things that I’ve seen turned darkness into gold.” The band will support the release with a tour beginning in November, with eight shows scheduled across Europe and the UK.
Miranda Lambert — ‘Postcards From Texas’ (Sept. 13)
Country queen Miranda Lambert went back to her roots for her ninth studio record, Postcards from Texas. Reflecting on the album’s deep personal significance, Lambert shared with Variety, “I made this record in Texas, and it meant the world to me. I had not made a record in Texas since I was 18, my independent album… And this music really reflects what made me the artist that I am. I feel like it’s pretty honky-tonk.”
Postcards From Texas also marks Lambert’s debut release under Republic Records after her departure from a two-decade stint at Sony Nashville. “I just thought I could learn a lot, to be honest, from a New York-based label, and try to grow my career still and do it in different ways than I have before,” she told Variety.
Collaborating closely with frequent co-producer Jon Randall, Lambert crafted a 14-track collection, personally co-writing 10 of those songs. Album highlights include the lead single “Wranglers,” “Santa Fe” with Parker McCollum, a cover of David Allen Coe’s “Living on the Run,” and “Alimony.” Notably, “Dammit Randy,” marks the first song to feature co-writing credits from her husband, Brendan McLoughlin.
Jamie xx — ‘In Waves’ (Sept. 20)
Nearly a decade has passed since Jamie xx, famed DJ and producer from The xx, released his full-length debut album. His eagerly awaited sophomore album, In Waves, is slated to finally break that drought on Sept. 20.
“I am so unbelievably happy,” Jamie expressed in a press statement. “It’s been a while… and a lot has happened in that time. Ups and downs, growing up, figuring stuff out and then forgetting it all many times over. I wanted to make something fun, joyful and introspective all at once. The best moments on a dance floor are usually that for me. I can’t wait to share it with you.”
Over four years in the making, Jamie meticulously shaped the album to evoke “the emotional crescendos and thrilling volatility of an almost mystical night out.” To help him on this mission, he collaborated with bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim, as well as John Glacier and Robyn, and included a special feature with Erykah Badu in the deluxe vinyl edition.
In May, Jamie previewed In Waves during his intimate The Floor residency in London. He has since publicly shared tracks “Treat Each Other Right,” “All You Children” with the Avalanches, “Life” with Robyn, and “Baddy on the Floor” with Honey Dijon.
Manu Chao — ‘Viva Tu’ (Sept. 20)
It’s been 17 years since Manu Chao’s La Radiolina graced the airwaves, but the wait for new music is finally over. The mythic French-Spanish singer is set to release Viva Tu, his fifth studio LP since his debut with Clandestino in 1998, heightening the anticipation for his latest work.
Drawing inspiration from his global travels and the everyday lives of people, Chao’s new album offers a tapestry of languages including Spanish, French, Portuguese, and English, reflecting on “the current state of the world, both in factual and virtual terms.” “São Paulo Motoboy,” a standout track, pays homage to the city’s delivery drivers who navigate its sprawling chaos daily, while “Viva Tu” is a heartfelt rumba celebrating the women of his neighborhood.
Viva Tu also shines with collaborations from Willie Nelson on “Heaven’s Bad Day,” and French singer Laeti on “Tu Te Vas.” As Chao continues his current world tour fans can catch him live in various European cities throughout September.
Bright Eyes — ‘Five Dice, All Threes’ (Sept. 20)
The indie sad boys of Bright Eyes will be back with their first new album in four years. Five Dice, All Threes is set to drop September 20, following 2020’s Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was. The fully self-produced record also features Cat Power, Matt Berninger of The National, and Alex Orange Drink from The So So Glos’.
Discussing the album’s melancholy themes, frontman Conor Oberst reflected in a statement, “For whatever reason, I was born with a brain that’s preoccupied with that kind of thing. When I was young, there was a performative aspect to it, which got reflected back at me. Now I’m at a point where I don’t care what the reaction is going to be. Before it was a little out of my hands — I didn’t know how to write if it wasn’t specific to my actual life. Now I do it by choice.” Nate Walcott, the band’s multi-instrumentalist, added, “I think it revisits the spirit of our older records. There is a real quality of chaos and ecstatic urgency in the performances.”
For now, fans can enjoy the single “Rainbow Overpass” and will soon have the opportunity to experience these emotions live. Bright Eyes embarks on a U.S. tour in September, followed by a European leg, before returning to North America for an extensive 43-show tour across the continent starting in January 2025.
Katy Perry — ‘143’ (Sept. 20)
Katy Perry’s seventh album, 143, heralded as a “sexy, fearless return to form,” is set to drop this fall with 11 club-ready anthems. Perry described the album as “a bold, exuberant, celebratory dance-pop album,” with the title ‘143’ representing the symbolic numerical expression of love.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1, Perry revealed the personal significance behind the album’s title: “It’s my angel number. It’s my symbol, it’s my sign,” she said. “A couple years ago, we were going through a little bit of a hard time medically in our family, and it was a little bit scary, and I started seeing 143 in many different ways, not just on the phone. It was trippy, almost. And I looked it up, and it’s code for ‘I love you.'”
For this release, the former American Idol judge worked with long-time collaborators Max Martin, Dr. Luke, and Stargate, but also enlisted new names, such as Vaughn Oliver and Rocco Did It Again!. The tracklist features collaborations with 21 Savage, Doechii, and Kim Petras, previewing this new era with singles “Woman’s World” and “Lifetimes.”
On the day of release, September 20, Perry will headline a sold-out show at Rock in Rio in Brazil. Further tour dates have yet to be announced.
Ezra Collective — ‘Dance, No One’s Watching’ (Sept. 27)
Following their 2022 Mercury Prize-winning album, Where I’m Meant to Be, jazz group Ezra Collective will return with their third LP, Dance, No One’s Watching, on September 27. The album is described as “an ode to the sacred, yet joyous act of dancing,” capturing the essence of various dance floors the band has encountered on their global tours and exploring how rhythms connect humans on a deeper level.
Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios, Dance, No One’s Watching was enriched by surprise visits from close friends and family, infusing the album with a profound sense of community and shared experience. The British quintet recently released the single “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing,” featuring Yazmin Lacey, which exemplifies these themes.
Drummer Femi Koleoso elaborates on the significance of dance in their music: “Myself, Ife, and TJ all grew up in church, and it played a massive role in how we view the purpose of dancing. Dancing is bigger than just the club space. Dancing is a community thing, dancing is a spiritual thing, and ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ is like a window into that element of Ezra Collective for the five of us.”
Luke Bryan — ‘Mind of a Country Boy’ (Sept. 27)
Luke Bryan explores fresh vocal styles in his forthcoming album set to release on September 27, Mind of a Country Boy, reflecting on songs that have stood the test of time. “If it’s a song that I cut two or three years ago, and I still love it, and it still sounds fresh, then I feel like it’ll stand the test of time.”
Summed up as “a well-rounded collection of songs from a man who has lived what he sings,” Mind Of A Country Boy has “a little bit of everything,” according to Bryan. “I do some things differently vocally on this one that I’ve not done before. It’s about each song having its place and having its meaning. It’s trying not to be overly redundant with songs. I think that’s why I’ve been blessed to have a long career and what I feel like this album’s going to do.”
The album includes 14 tracks produced by Jeff and Jody Stevens, who previously worked with Bryan on his 2020 album Born Here Live Here Die Here. Leading singles from the album include “Country On,” “But I Got a Beer in My Hand,” and “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.”
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Source: grammy.com
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