Best albums September 2022: Rina Sawayama, Alex G & More

September was a month where we needed quite a few distractions to block out all the chaos and uncertainty that currently surrounds us. Well, that escape is easily found in music and we had plenty of amazing albums to offer us new tracks to dance and relax to. From indie to dance music and the experimental, there's something on this list that you'll definitely enjoy.

Rina Sawayama- Hold The Girl

Rina Sawayama's debut album Sawayama was a thrilling introduction to an artist who likes to contort and twist pop to mix it with abrasive nu-metal. Her second album Hold The Girl may not be metal quite as often but it doubles down on her stadium-ready sound with anthemic outpourings.

More of an emotional outpouring, this time around it really helps you gather a sense of who Rina Sawayama is.

Alex G- God Save The Animals

Alex G opened himself up to more collaboration than ever on his new album God Save The Animals. Known to make tracks on his own, the script has flipped as we hear more voices and characters than ever on his latest effort. An album that affirms him as an incredible story-driven lyricist and a master of melody.

Find tickets for Alex G - here

Courting- Guitar Music

Courting's new album is called Guitar Music and surprisingly the title is a bit of a facade. Of course, from a UK indie band, you'd expect them to stay strictly grounded to their main instrument. Instead, we get a deceptively ambitious album that is completely unreadable, taking turns at any given moment.

Find tickets for Courting - here

Oliver Sim- Hideous Bastard

One of the standout moments of Oliver Sim's debut album is the track Hideous which has a stark directness that completely floors you upon first listening. The former XX member stands tall on his own here, with a helping hand from Jamie XX on production duties, an album that is intriguing throughout.

Find tickets for Oliver Sim - here

Djo- Decide

If you didn't know already, Djo is the musical alias of Joe Keery of Stranger Things fame. What we get on his second outing is a slick collection of synth-pop bops. There's shimmering light and darkness in equal measure here, it's a completely different and more personal glimpse into the gifted actor/musician's creativity.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover even more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.