Chances are, you’ve seen friends share their Spotify Wrapped 2022 this week showing users most listened to songs and special messages from artists. As the year is coming to a close and we begin to reflect, we want to highlight 11 excellent new albums from Midlands musicians.
We’ve included a little bit for everyone, from pop, rock, and R&B, to a whole lot in between. Throw on your headphones and dive into this Spotify playlist of Soda City sounds.
Admiral Radio — Admiral Radio’s new album “Songs from the Vault” opens with a beautiful and delicate version of “You are my Sunshine” showcasing how well the husband-wife duo’s voices weave together. The new album features old Southern standards and gospel tunes. Catch them live on Sat., Dec. 10 at NoMa Warehouse.
Autocorrect — On their new album “Here, Together” the experimental hip-hop group explores aging as a millennial in today’s world as they rap over expertly crafted beats. They recently performed these songs at the Columbia Museum of Art’s Arts & Draughts event.
Band of Horses — Though they’re currently based out of Charleston, Band of Horses features two members with Cola roots in frontman Ben Bridwell and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Monroe. Their new album “Things Are Great” peaked at No. 21 on the Bilboard Rock Charts and is one of South Carolina’s most notable 2022 releases.
Been Milah — On her fourth album “Still Been Milah,” Columbia rapper Milah explores the worlds of hip-hop + R&B sharing her personal experiences through her music. Milah celebrated the album release with a big night of music at Curiosity Coffee in June.
Brandy and the Butcher — The band’s latest album “Lucky Foot” is a fresh dose of rock n’ roll recorded here in town at the Jam Room Music Studio. The new album is pressed to vinyl and was celebrated with a release show at the Art Bar in the Vista.
Hillmouse — The new album “See you in the Car” from Hillmouse is a delightful mix of melody and indie rock. The band celebrated the new release with a headlining show at New Brookland Tavern in October.
Katera — Soulful singer-songwriter Katera explores a blend of modern R&B on her new album “Fear Doesn’t Live Here.” Her skills as a guitarist and her sultry voice shine at her live shows. You might have seen her at Cottontown Art Crawl or you can catch her Fri., Dec. 16 at Gardner’s Outpost.
Lang Owen — Singer-songwriter Lang Owen’s album “She’s My Memory” is a masterpiece as he writes about the beauty in everyday life. He films short videos of his songs at many recognizable local spots that tie into his lyrics.
Rex Darling — One of the Soda City’s most promising indie pop acts, Rex Darling shines on their debut album “Living Room Diaries.” You might have seen them open for the viral act Marc Rebillet at the sold-out show at The Senate.
Walker McDonald — Before Soda Citizen Walker McDonald took off for a multi-year Peace Corp trip to Africa, he released “Inside & Out” via local record label Comfort Monk. The album caught the attention of the Free Times and was named one of the best releases of the first half of the year.
Zion — More than just an album, Zion is a three-part composition from local musician Saul Seibert. The new music was performed at a release show in November at the Columbia Museum of Art, accompanied by visual art.