15 future pop moments to get excited about in 2015

It’s New Year and a new you. Well, maybe. But it is definitely a new year. We look at some of the marvellous musical moments heading our way in the year we’re affectionately calling 2015.

Charli XCX-cellence

We can’t be the only ones who are more than a little XCX-cited (yes, we went there) at this lady’s upcoming album. SUCKER, on its way late January, features Charli’s first solo Top 10 hit Boom Clap and if it goes Top 40, will be her first visit to the Official Albums Chart.

Mark Ronson’s funk gon’ give it to you

What he’d planned to be a busy 2015 started a few weeks early for Mark when his single Uptown Funk found itself in Official Christmas Number 1 contention when its release was moved forward thanks to a barnstorming X Factor performance by Fleur East. It then went on to break the record for most streams in one week.

So now we’re in 2015-proper, Mark is set to unleash his fourth album on the world. The quifftastic dreamboat’s Uptown Special features collabos with Stevie Wonder, Mystikal, Tame Impala's Kevin Parker, newcomer Keyone Starr and, of course, Bruno Mars on that smash hit Number 1.

Little Mix stir it up in the studio

The follow-up to 2013’s Salute is on its way. Perrie, Jesy, Leigh-Anne and Jade are hard at work in the studio on album number three, with a host of guest stars set to make an appearance. Becky Hill, CPF of Clean Bandit Jess Glynne and none other than Jessie J have been working with the girls, along with man of the moment MNEK. Not much is known about the album, although Rixton say they’ve heard some of the tracks and, according to them “they sound MASSIVE”. Whoop!

Adele

Adele has been appearing on our “things to look forward to” lists for what feels like 100 years, but we are fairly confident that this year is the year when Adele will return. First two albums 19 and 21 are multi-million sellers and it’s safe to say that when it finally does arrive, album number three is going to be quite the chart-botherer. And when is it coming? If we knew that, we’d tell you. Adele, drop us an email and let us know.

Madonna’s Rebel Heart beats faster

2014 was an exciting year for Her Madgesty, as she recorded songs for her 13th studio album with producers like Avicii and Diplo. The year ended on a bit of a bummer as a whole load of songs from these sessions were leaked on the internet. Madonna responded with characteristic calm on her Instagram, before giving us all an early Christmas present and announcing Rebel Heart would be released March 10 2015, and chucking five songs our way as a taster. Single Living For Love, which definitwely falls into the banger category, is out in February, along with more teaser tracks for the album – we can’t wait.

Coldplay all played out?

Is Chris Martin planning to call time on Coldplay? On announcing seventh album A Head Full Of Dreams on Radio 1, Chris suggested it may well be the group’s last. While he admitted there might be more Coldplay material one day, he told Zane Lowe that A Head Full Of Dreams “is the completion of something”. Whether it’s the swansong or not, the bad are touring in 2015, so there’s still plenty more Coldplay to come.

Kanye West knows best

Kanye has been more famous for his marital dramas than his tunes recently, but in 2015, everyone’s favourite award ceremony guest will be back behind the mic. Comedian Seth Rogen said the outspoken star freestyled the follow-up to Yeezus to him in the back of a limo. Over two hours. Why does that never happen to us when we get into limos, eh?

While most of us were clearing up after New Year’s Eve, Kanye was releasing a surprise song – he dropped new track Only One on 1 January. The ballad features former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. With Kanye also slated to tour in 2015, so it looks like we’re in for a very West year ahead.

Giorgio Moroder still rocking at 74

The godfather of dance and disco is back and he’s back with a bang, and a bit of a boom. The man behind huge hits like Donna Summer’s I Feel Love has enlisted the help of some modern-day pop icons on his new album 74 Is The New 24. Among the special guest stars are Britney Spears and Kylie Minogue – on-set pics show that Kylie has been filming as video for her collaboration over Christmas.

Rihanna returns – at least!

Oh, RiRi, how we expected a new album from you in late 2013, but it was not to be. And then again in late 2014, but no, you denied us once more. Now we’re into 2015 and the signs are looking good. Kiesza says she's penned songs for the star, and Rihanna is now in the studio and has even shared the tiniest of snippets to show us what she’s been working on. We’re quietly confident that we will see Rihanna’s eighth – eighth! – studio album in 2015. Have faith, people.

A video posted by badgalriri (@badgalriri) on Dec 9, 2014 at 1:03pm PST

Ellie Goulding heading for a hat trick of Number 1 albums?

Ellie kicked off 2014 with second album Halcyon returning to the Number 1 spot and the star has confirmed a third is on its way in 2015. Long-time collaborator Calvin Harris could well be involved, and Ellie has been recording with none other than Drake – sounds like there’ll be plenty for us to get starry-eyed and eared over this year. (Starry-eared is totally a thing.)

Ellie is kicking things off for 2015 with the release of new single Love Me Like You Do, out on January 8 and taken from forthcoming movie 50 Shades Of Grey, which stars Ellie's mate Rita Ora. Ellie has 14 Top 40 singles to her name, with one Number 1 – are there more chart-toppers to come?

Glastonbury – let’s get muddy

The mother of all festivals is back again and while we’ve not had much details on the lineup, guessing the headliners is all part of the fun. While Lionel Richie has been confirmed for this year’s festival, other names getting a mention are Libertines, Prince and Radiohead. Australian rockers AC/DC will be touring this year and they are one of the most popular tips to be a headliner this year.

Fleetwood Back!

Fleetwood Mac kicked off their long-awaited tour last year and despite rumours they might be headlining Glastonbury, the veteran rockers instead committed to the Isle of Wight festival. The band have also confirmed they will record a new album together once they’ve taken care of festival commitments. The album will be the fist to feature the five members from the ‘classic’ era Fleetwood Mac in over 25 years.

BRIT Awards 2015

Confirmed performers for the glitziest night out in the music biz are Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift, who’ll also be playing live shows in the UK this summer. Last year’s Critics’ Choice Award winner Sam Smith is also set to take to the BRITs stage after a phenomenal 2014. Both Ed and Sam sold over a million albums in the UK last year. One award has already been announced – James Ray has bagged this year’s Critics’ Choice Award.

Bjork is on her way bjack

It’s three years since everyone’s favourite experimental Icelandic popstar released her last album Biophilia and this year sees the star return with her as yet untitled ninth studio album. The new collection is being co-produced by Venezuelan producer Arca, who worked with Kanye on Yeezus.

Fleur East

As we all know, 2014’s The X Factor was won by Ben Haenow, who scored the Official Christmas Number 1 with Something I Need. But apart from Ben, the other contestant we’re getting pretty excited about is runner-up Fleur East. After a game-changing performance of Mark Ronson’s Uptown Funk in the semi-final, Fleur was the name on everybody’s lips.

While she didn’t win, runners-up seem to do pretty well – step forward Olly Murs and JLS – and even Mark Ronson himself has said he’d love to work with Fleur as a thank you for helping to make Uptown Funk such a massive hit. Don’t believe us? Just watch!

Other stars on their way back and doing something we can’t wait for in 2015:

- Greenday

- Kelly Clarkson

- Ne-Yo

- Marina & The Diamonds

- Emeli Sandé

- Rita Ora

- Gwen Stefani

- Fall Out Boy

What music event are you looking forward to in 2015? Head on over to Facebook and Twitter where we’re getting our New Year chat on.