Are we really at the dawn of 2022 already!?

Reflecting on the past 12 months of new music and where I was when collating last year’s roundup brings home the enormous leap forward I’ve had in my wellbeing and enthused anticipation for new ventures ahead. While the artists that scored my 2020 served more like urgent lifebuoys as I thrashed in a swamp of anguish and uncertainty (apologies to those who were at times on the receiving end), the heroes of 2021 soundtrack a personal rejuvenation and excitement for life once again.

Hoisting myself out of the ‘funk’ also meant switching Heads on Sticks to a ‘reduced service’, but with a new site and graphics revamp I think it was worth it! I’m excited to go back to the heartbeat of the ‘ead, which is the weekly write-ups I’ve had to intermittently forgo across the year due to moving from Bristol to London, as well as other personal needs for respite. The spare time also afforded me space to unleash the ‘Heads on Sticks Chats‘ podcast which I frankly love doing and endeavour to deliver many more!

As ever, my round-ups are arranged by cohesion and journey, so please listen in order. Neither are they necessarily the ‘best of’, but simply the result of a painful whittling away to the mere 25 tracks I’ve set as my yearly number. Not only do I hope that you discover fantastic new music, but let it serve as a conduit to new love, revitalisation, the discarding of toxicity, and pastures new! I hope you enjoy it, I’m sure you will!

Tom (a fan)