January is always hard work – The fun of the festive period seems like a distant memory, and pay day can't come soon enough. However, some top artists look set to release albums in 2018, and that has given us something to look forward to. Here's who to keep tabs on this year.
Ariana Grande
She's recently gone back into the studio to record her fourth album - with Pharrell Williams putting his producer hat back on to work with the singer.
In the very last moments of what was at times a tough 2017, the pop star blessed the world by teasing new music with a sparkly new video on her Instagram page.
The video shows a computer screen on which Grande is seemingly working on a track with the lyrics “you can feel it feel it” echoed over a cappella harmonies. Captioned “see you next year,” the clip marks the second hint at new music that Grande has given fans after she posted a photo of her working in the studio last month.
Charlie Puth
One of the first major albums to drop this year is scheduled to be Charlie Puth’s Voicenotes.
It has already produced 2 Top 10 singles in the form of the funky R & B-tinged track Attention and slinky and catchy How Long.
The name of the album comes from Apple’s smartphone app, as he used it to record snippets of tunes, ideas and lyrics for the album whilst he was out on the road.
Justin Timberlake
JT has also been dropping hints about new music. His last album was released in 2013, but in December he trademarked the phrases "Man Of The Woods" and "Fresh Leaves" for use in music and merchandise.
His website has now also changed to a symbol made up of the letters MOTW.
Should we be expecting a set list of brand new songs for his Super Bowl performance next month? Probably not, but we can only hope.
Cardi B
Bodak Yellow was everywhere in 2017. The single from the Bronx rapper topped the charts, broke records, was nominated for a Grammy but amazingly she's yet to release her debut album.
Fear not, speaking to Capital Xtra in November while in the UK for the Mobos - she confirmed an album is on the way stating, "I have deadline and it will be coming out in January," she said. "I have three good songs right now."
Well we’re into January now and there’s still no confirmation, but here’s hoping it’s soon.
Nicki Minaj
From one Bronx-born rapper to another, in 2018 Nicki Minaj is back with a new album. She hasn't exactly fallen off the grid as she released lots of singles last year, but no full body of work.
The release date for her 2018 album is yet to be confirmed and we don't know who will be featured on it, but what we do know is she thinks it's going to be great. "I know it's going to be my best body of work," she said.
Arctic Monkeys
And let’s not forget about the Brits! After the Arctic Monkeys' headline sets at Reading & Leeds Festivals in 2014, lead vocalist Alex Turner said it seemed "like the perfect place to leave things for a while".
He wasn't lying - three years later, not a single new track, and right now, we're very much in the dark on a new album.
But the Sheffield band's bassist Nick O'Malley has confirmed they have been recording at a "secret location" and hoped it would be out this year.
The Wombats
Keeping it British, Liverpool rockers The Wombats have announced that they will be back with their fourth studio album in early February.
“I wanted to make an album that had more swagger, was a bit more laid back, something that wasn’t punching you in the face every time you listen to it,” frontman Matthew ‘Murph’ Murphy said of the new music. “On every level, musically and interpersonally, we’re much closer.”
The album is set to be called Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life and already spawned the very catchy if not bizarrely titled Lemon To A Knife Fight.