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Everything you need to know about the Hottest Records of 2018

Arctic Monkeys - Four Out Of Five

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, Arctic Monkeys' sixth album, may have a complex and surreal concept, but how it originally came about is quite simple, and it all stems from Alex Turner sitting at a piano.

The guitar had lost its ability to give me ideas
Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner

"The guitar had sort of lost its ability to give me ideas, it seemed like. Every time I sat with a guitar, I was suspicious of where it was going to go. I had a pretty good idea of what the outcome might be," he told Annie Mac of how switching guitar for ivory keys gave him a new lease of life.

"Suddenly my imagination was ignited once more," Alex added of his switch to the piano. In fact, he felt so invigorated creatively that it was almost like his band were starting out all over again. "I think there’s something about the lyrics on this new album that really remind me of the lyrics on the first record somehow," he argued. "I haven’t quite been able to put my finger on why. But I think there’s something [similar between] what I was doing then and what I’m doing now."

Clara Amfo hosted an Arctic Monkeys Listening Party to celebrate the release in May, sitting in for Annie Mac. Making Four Out Of Five her Hottest Record, Clara said: "It’s not even just the Hottest Record, it’s scorching. It’s an inferno."

A$AP Rocky ft. Skepta - Praise The Lord (Da Shine)

A collaboration between A$AP Rocky and Skepta may seem surprising at first but, as Radio 1's Phil Taggart pointed out while making it his Hottest Record in May, the pair actually have a lot in common: "They are basically the Dons either side of the Atlantic, they are no strangers to making fire music and they both have a deep, deep love of high fashion. Their earrings probably cost more than my whole wardrobe does."

It starts with pan pipes, what more do you want?
Phil Taggart

Phil’s favourite thing about their team up, Praise The Lord (Da Shine), was the song’s rather strange use of instrumentation: "It starts with pan pipes, what more do you want?"

This off-kilter nature is reflected in A$AP’s new album, Testing, too. "It’s a record that’s not just another hip hop album," Phil argued. "He’s trying to move the genre into new territory. It’s inevitable that he’ll alienate a few people with this one but also pick up some brand new fans along the way."

Bring Me The Horizon - MANTRA

When Annie first played this track as her Hottest Record back in August, she described it as a "monster of a song" while also pointing out the "sophistication" of its sound. And when she spoke to Bring Me The Horizon's frontman Oli Sykes, he seemed to agree, saying that the Sheffield group "wanted to make a big budget, mainstream rock album that could really connect with people that we have connected with before."

We really challenged ourselves to do something completely different
Bring Me The Horizon's Oli Sykes

Despite wanting to reach the masses, Oli and co also wanted to explore new sounds. "We’ve never done the same record twice," he told Annie. "This is the hardest record we’ve ever written because we really challenged ourselves to do something completely different and not lean on anything we’ve done before."

Sykes also talked about how MANTRA was perhaps indirectly inspired by fellow hometown heroes Arctic Monkeys. He explained: "I met Alex [Turner] last year at a festival and he actually remembered me from school. Inside, I was fanboying. I really admire Arctic Monkeys. I really love Alex as a lyricist and that you know for a fact that whatever their next album is going to be like, it’s not going to be the same as the last album. I just think that’s so cool."

BROCKHAMPTON - 1999 WILDFIRE

There’s so many interesting things about Brockhampton: there’s 14 of them, they formed on a Kanye West forum, they hail from all around the world and they've released four albums in the last two years.

It reminds me of OutKast and that’s always a great thing
Annie Mac

They’re pretty much the perfect rap collective for 2018 too: they share messages of positivity and hope on social media, have attracted a loyal and feverish fanbase and are vocal about inclusivity. Speaking to Annie Mac in August, band leader Kevin Abstract explained what it’s like to be an openly gay hip hop star. "I want to be me and express that and break new ground along the way," he said. "We embrace transparency. Hip hop's all about expression that's why I got into it."

Brockhampton are pretty much unlike any other group in music at the moment but, airing 1999 WILDFIRE from their most recent album Iridescence in July, Annie pinpointed one source of comparison: "It reminds me of OutKast, and that’s always a great thing."

Calvin Harris ft. Dua Lipa – One Kiss

Speaking to Annie earlier this year, Calvin Harris explained how he wanted his music to take a "new direction", even though he wasn't entirely sure what this would involve as Calvin admitted: "I barely know myself."

I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to do whatever I want'
Calvin Harris

But it all stemmed from a period at the end of 2016 when Harris was feeling creatively unfulfilled: "I realised I never felt more unexcited about what I was putting out. I’ve been doing this for 11 years, which is a long time to feel excited about the tunes you’re putting out. They'd come out and I’d just be like, 'eh'."

"I knew that I needed to take action for my own sanity because my entire life is making music. I don’t do anything else. So [I realised that] I needed to be elated about what was coming out."

"So I was just like, ‘You know what, I’m just going to do whatever I want’." From all this we got Calvin’s massive Dua Lipa collaboration One Kiss, which we are infinitely grateful for. The infectious, sun-kissed track was even covered by Pale Waves during their recent Live Lounge performance.

Calvin Harris ft. Sam Smith - Promises

One Kiss wasn't Calvin's only huge hit of 2018. He also dominated the airwaves with the slick and smooth Promises, featuring none other than Sam Smith. Spending six weeks at No.1 in the UK, Promises was a major milestone for both artists, becoming Harris’ tenth Top 10 single (seeing him join the likes of Elvis, Madonna and The Beatles in reaching double figures) and earning Sam his seventh chart-topper, seeing him draw level with Michael Jackson, Elton John and Jess Glynne.

Speaking of Glynne, Jess delivered a soulful rendition of the song during her Live Lounge Month performance. Promises, meanwhile, was briefly knocked off No.1 by Funky Friday in October, with Sam himself even admitting that he wanted Dave and Fredo’s song to topple his own.

Christine and the Queens - Girlfriend

Girlfriend, the first track from Christine and the Queens’ new album Chris, saw the French star emerge with a new stage name, persona and identity. Speaking to Annie Mac in May, Chris explained that it all came from the “unexpected whirlwind” that followed the release of her first album, Chaleur Humaine.

I wanted to write things that were more muscular, exposed and raw
Christine and the Queens' Chris

"I wrote the [first] album as a young girl wanting desperately to twist the narrative imposed on me by society. I was tired of being polite so I wanted to create a new space for myself to exist," Chris told Annie.

"Touring the first album changed my life. I became more powerful in a way… I wanted to write things that [were] more muscular, exposed and raw. I wanted it to be more personal and daring… It was about this new character that I wanted to create for myself, which was an evolution of Christine. A 2.0 version. Chris is more witty, defiant and in charge."

Chris' performance of the track made for a memorable Live Lounge moment earlier this year, when we were treated to the singer's signature show-stopping dance moves.

Drake ft. Michael Jackson - Don't Matter To Me

When you're a star at the level of Drake, who has accomplished so much and achieved so many things, it must take a lot to surprise fans. While God's Plan, Nice For What and In My Feelings may have been bigger chart hits, when the Toronto rapper's fifth album Scorpion dropped in June, it was his Michael Jackson collab, Don't Matter To Me, that made everyone's eyebrows raise.

I didn’t see this coming at all
Clara Amfo

"This track actually features Michael Jackson," Annie exclaimed, handpicking the track as her Hottest Record in the summer. "It’s quite strange and eerie when you hear him on the record, it’s an unreleased piece of music from 1983. How do you even get a Michael Jackson sample? There can’t be that many artists in the world that have enough money to be able to acquire it."

Clara Amfo agreed, saying: "This, to me, was the most surprising moment on the record. If you had told me that he was going to have Michael Jackson on the record, I would have been like, ‘What?! Really?!’ I didn’t see this coming at all. It’s really interesting. At first, I was like, 'Hmm, I’m not sure', but now I really like it. I think it’s a jam."

More than simply a power play though, Don't Matter To Me is an intricate slice of atmospheric RnB that shows the breadth of Drake's artistic ambitions.

Florence + The Machine - Hunger

Hunger is a song that we almost never got to hear. Chatting to Annie Mac during a wide-ranging interview in May, Florence + The Machine’s Florence Welch explained: "I never thought I would release it because it was too personal and too real… It was just a poem that I was writing to myself about the ways that I’ve looked for love in things that weren’t love."

I never thought I would release it because it was too personal
Florence Welch

"The last record was about a broken heart. I thought that if I could have this person then it would fix everything. With this new record [High As Hope], it was a recognition of it being me. I’m the only continuity in this."
Flo went on to describe Hunger as "about what it is that we’re actually looking for. I quite like the idea of putting a perhaps unanswerable spiritual question in a pop song. It might not be able to be answered but we can dance about it."

"At the core of this record is looking to connect and encouraging connection in others," Welch added and, when asked what advice she would give her younger self, said: "I’d give myself a hug and say, ‘You don’t have to try so hard, it’s going to be ok. Being you is ok. You as you are is fine, you don’t have to strive to be perfect or to be special to get love.’" Well said.

George Ezra - Shotgun

Shotgun may have been one of the songs of the summer, but George Ezra made a bit of a bold move by originally releasing the song back in March. "We’ve actually been having conversations of whether we have to consider the weather when we release songs," he told Phil Taggart earlier this year.

I don't have a driving license... riding shotgun is my only option!
George Ezra

But Shotgun was always one that was meant to soundtrack the sunnier months, with George himself admitting that it’s one of his favourite times of the year: "Summer means festivals and everyone singing along, I’m very excited for that."

Asked about the real-life story behind the track, Ezra explained that he always rides shotgun for one very good reason: "I don’t have a driving license. It’s not like I enjoy taking a break from behind the wheel, it’s my only option!"

Janelle Monáe - Make Me Feel

When Janelle Monáe returned with Make Me Feel - the first single from her futuristic album Dirty Computer - in February, many noticed its similarities to one musical great - Prince - not only in its musical intricacy but its uncanny ability to make our feet uncontrollably tap.

Prince taught me to embrace your authenticity
Janelle Monáe

It makes sense because not only was the Purple One a major creative influence on Monáe, but he was involved with her record too. "Prince actually was working on the album with me before he passed on to another frequency, and helped me come up with sounds. I really miss him, it’s hard for me to talk about him," Janelle told Annie.

"Prince growing up was always otherworldly to me... I think one of the most important things that I got from him, and the thing that sticks with me most, is to embrace your authenticity."

"I cannot tell you what that means to have his support," Monáe continued. I still feel his spirit all around. I still hear his laughter. He was a very funny person, not a lot of people know that."

"I think he's inspired the world and will continue to inspire the world through his music."

Mabel ft. Not3s - Fine Line

Fine Line, Mabel's Not3s team-up and follow-up to 2017 breakthrough hit Finders Keepers, came from the London-based Sweden-born RnB singer's realisation that she needed to staying true to herself.

The best music is coming from the UK right now
Mabel

She told Annie back in January: "My success has always come from just being myself... growing as a person. Sometimes you make mistakes, but [you have to] learn from your mistakes. It’s incredibly important for me that before I put something out that I’m 100% happy with it, because then it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks."

It also marked Mabel's return to recording music in the London, recruiting Hackney native Not3s for the cross-London duet. "I’ve stopped going to LA and all that," Mabel explained. "The best music is coming from the UK right now. I don’t need to be going anywhere else, it’s all here."

Peggy Gou - It Makes You Forget (Itgehane)

Peggy Gou may be one of the lesser known acts of the Hottest Record of the Year list, but here's how Annie introduced her earlier this year: "Anyone who is into dance music or regularly goes clubbing will probably have heard the name Peggy Gou. She’s a wonderful DJ and plays everything from techno to disco to house and beyond. She’s a great producer as well."

I just trust my ear. I just incorporate every sound that I like
Peggy Gou

Speaking to Annie over the phone from her studio in Berlin, the DJ said: "I can’t describe my genre. Some people have started calling it K-house. I think I just trust my ear. I just incorporate every sound that I like and it ends up sounding like this."

Annie noted how the track It Makes You Forget (Itgehane), which features Korean vocals, uses the foreign language as another instrument in the mix, with Peggy Gou agreeing: "I have some rare records from Japan and local markets in Thailand. I don’t understand their languages but somehow it makes the records even more precious to me."

Post Malone ft. Ty Dolla $ign - Psycho

Post Malone's album Beerbongs and Bentleys was so huge on its release at the end of May that 1Xtra's Dotty shook things up a little by making the entirety of the album the Hottest Record in the World when she sat in for Annie Mac during May.

If I hear something like this, I know that I need to go online and download it
Stefflon Don

The rapper has been on an impressive run lately, breaking streaming records and winning over fans at Reading + Leeds. He even featured on last year's Hottest Record list.

Stefflon Don, a guest on the show, had these words of praise to say about Post's Ty Dolla $ign collab Psycho in particular: "This is the first time I’m hearing and it’s so good. I haven’t even listened to his album yet, but that song makes me want to go and get it right now. It’s hard to keep up with what everyone is doing sometimes, but if I hear something like this, I know that I need to go online and download it."

Robyn - Missing U

Missing U, Robyn's first proper solo single since 2013, was written as "a little bit of a message to my fans that I’ve missed them", the star told Annie in August.

It's a little message to my fans that I’ve missed them
Robyn

During her time away, Robyn says that she "went travelling, went clubbing... I just explored", but her single - the first from eighth album Honey - made it feel like she had never been away at all, returning to what she has always done best: producing electro-pop gems for us to dance our troubles away to.

"When I wrote this album I think I was quite tired of myself writing sad love songs," said Robyn. "But it’s okay for things to be sad. It’s a space that a lot of human beings are in. It’s a big part of our lives. Combining it with something that’s bright, strong and powerful is a way of finding your way out of it too. That’s the important thing for me."

The 1975 - Give Yourself A Try

Give Yourself A Try was our first introduction The 1975's new album, A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, and it saw frontman Matty Healy switch from the irreverent and wry lyrics he had become known for to more honest and sentimental reflections on growing older.

You have to be a bit soppy, sincere and cringe sometimes
The 1975's Matty Healy

He told Annie: "You know what, I don’t want to be postmodern and ironic all the time. You have to be a bit soppy, sincere and cringe sometimes."

Of his band's single, Matty added: "It’s sincere and simple… What I like about [the song] was that it still had that kind of inherent prettiness that I think exists in the 1975, so it felt like a really good start, because there’s a lot of tension to the record. I do think it’s kind of us at our most honest."

For Annie, its lyrics were as universal as the music itself: "The guitar part gets in your brain and the chorus is so immediate. I feel like I’ve known the song for years."

Theophilus London Ft. Giggs - Bebey (SN1 Road Mix)

Bebey (SN1 Road Mix), a collaboration between Giggs and Kanye West collaborator Theophilus London, was the Hottest Record from Benji B, sitting in for Annie Mac, in August and it soon became a hit out of nowhere.

Giggs was the first British rapper I got into
Theophilus London

Speaking in September to Toddla T on 1Xtra, Trinidadian-American rapper London explained how he jetted out to the UK after the song was a big earworm at Notting Hill carnival: "I jumped on the plane to London because my record is getting hot over here... it has blown up."

Describing how Giggs got involved in the track: Theophilus said: "I’ve known Giggs for a minute. He was the first [British] rapper that I got into, the first one that I understood. Coming from Brooklyn, I didn’t really know UK rap at all. In 2009, I played my first London show and no one knew of me. I put on a hell of a show and that [introduced me] to Giggs… I met him later and he was the nicest guy."

Travis Scott ft. Drake - SICKO MODE

Travis Scott's third album, Astroworld, featured an impressive roll call of star-studded guests, from Frank Ocean to The Weeknd to Pharrell to James Blake. As Radio 1's Phil Taggart argued: "I guess when you’re Travis Scott, you can call on anybody to feature on your album. And that’s an all-star A-list of collaborators."

When you’re Travis Scott, you can call on anybody to feature on your album
Phil Taggart

SICKO MODE, the album's sprawling but sharp standout track, not only featured Drake and Rae Sremmurd's Swae Lee but sampled the Notorious B.I.G too.

And there was another thing that Phil loved about it: "Travis celebrated the release of his record by getting a massive sculpture of his own head and putting it on top of a building in Hollywood. I mean, if you could, you would do it too. Who knows, maybe I’ll do the same at the top of the BBC one day."

Twenty One Pilots - Jumpsuit (2018's Hottest Record of the Year)

When Twenty One Pilots aired their comeback track Jumpsuit on Annie Mac as the Hottest Record in July, drummer Josh Dun admitted that he and frontman Tyler Joseph had been nervous about what the reaction would be.

We have visions of there only being 15 fans left
Twenty One Pilots' Josh Dun

"It’s a scary time," Josh admitted. "Finding out who is sticking around. We always have visions of there only being 15 fans left, or going to play a show and nobody being there."

Obviously Dun had nothing to fear, as fans embraced the track as warmly as they did its predecessor, Blurryface. While it took the baton passed from that earlier album, Jumpsuit indicated a heavier sound coming from the duo on fifth record Trench.

"It’s a little bit heavier," Josh told Annie. "I remember near the end of the last tour, we just played things at soundcheck and we came up with that riff. It felt like where we left things off, so it was the perfect song to bridge that gap between records."

Years & Years - Sanctify

Years & Years' album Palo Santo may be centred around an ambitious concept (it's set on a planet where humans are worshipped by robots, with frontman Olly Alexander playing the role of a cabaret performer asked to dance for the mysterious android king), but inspiration originally came from stars much closer to home.

You got to do your own thing and I think people respect that
Years & Years' Olly Alexander

Olly told Annie in July that with Sanctity, the first single from that album, he wanted to pay tribute to the best of 90s pop. "When I was in the studio, I had in my mind questions like, ‘does it sound like something TLC would have do? Or Destiny’s Child, Britney or Christina?’ Then those influences got filtered through the Years & Years matrix and came out the other side as something really special and unique."

Doing things on your own terms is important to Olly too. "You got to do your own thing and I think people respect that," he added. "If I get too wrapped up in how other people will perceive things then I think it just messes my brain up a little bit. If I know that I’m being honest and expressing something that actually happened to me, then I can always stand by that and hopefully other people will get that too."

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