These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find any artist who goes straight from obscurity to a debut album. Instead, for better or worse, we get to watch as musicians discover themselves and find their sound, dropping mixtapes and EPs along the way.

Here are a few buzzing women in music who’ve embarked on that process and have us patiently waiting to press play on their official debut albums. 

Tems

Tems is the moment, “the leading vibe” as she so effortlessly harmonized on her debut single “Mr Rebel,” well before the world recognized her as such. Half-rebel, half-songbird, Tems has captured the attention of casual radio listeners and self-proclaimed “musicheads” alike. The Lagos-raised singer, songwriter and producer began doing music professionally after returning home from school in South Africa. Her trademark full-bodied tone is commanding yet vulnerable, immediately announcing her arrival on a record and gifting the 26-year-old a presence beyond her years. Fresh off a hot streak marked by the release of her debut EP For Broken Ears and a slew of spotlight stealing features (including a highlight on Wizkid’s Made in Lagos), Tems’s official debut album is arguably the most highly anticipated Nigerian project of 2021. 

Gaidaa

Gaidaa, who describes her own sound as “kinda R&B, kinda Neo Soul-ish, kinda Jazzy,” fits seamlessly into today’s landscape of soulful moody R&B, yet, still manages to elevate it. The Netherlands-based Sudanese singer first made the social media rounds in 2019 with a striking COLORS performance of “Morning Blue,” a song dedicated to her homeland and a reference to the #BlueforSudan campaign. A year after the performance, Gaidaa released her debut EP Overture, landing the singer high praise and placement on a number of year-end wrap ups. Her piercingly honest vocals shine on songs like “I Like Trouble,” where she sings with a sweetness that makes the statement hard to believe. The former background singer makes music for when a spirit needs soothing, creating the kind of intimacy that has the power to build a cult following. If this stage in Gaidaa’s journey is simply an overture, then we can’t wait for the opera.

Elaine

When the most streamed South-African track of the year is an R&B song, you pay attention to the artist. Born Ndivhuwo “Elaine” Mukheli, the “You’re the One” singer is making her mark on the industry through a genre that has struggled to maintain widespread support on the continent. In 2019, while moonlighting as a second-year law student at the University of Witwatersrand, Elaine released her debut EP Elements. The chart-topping 7-track project is a sonic diary of sorts, journeying through youthful love, heartbreak and angst. With lyrics like “I think it’s time you admit that I’m the only one for you,” Elaine, who says she was drawn to R&B for its honesty and swag, wields a pen that is instantly relatable and packed with confidence. Since signing to Columbia Records late last year, the 22-year-old has been fairly quiet about an official album release but teased fans with a short glimpse into her recording process. “The world may not be ready but I am,” Elaine can be heard saying. “I’m coming for everything.”

Bree Runway

Most artists can only dream of snagging a Missy Elliot feature with no album out but they aren’t Bree Runway, she actually has one. From editorial fashion to impeccably choreographed music videos, Bree Runway serves star-quality in a way that feels deserving of a TRL moment. With talent to match her charisma, the rapper/singer’s resume includes being selected by her secondary school singing teacher to perform for Michelle Obama. Born to Ghanaian parents in London’s Hackney, Bree Runway credits her drummer father for introducing her to genre-bending music. Today, she’s an artist who wears numerous hats and is extremely hands-on in every aspect of her creative output. While Bree Runway has multiple EPs out, her multifaceted persona ensures that there’s still much left to explore. With a viral dance challenge and a potential summer anthem on her hands, Bree’s official arrival couldn’t come any sooner.

Moliy

Since releasing her debut EP Wondergirl in 2020, Moliy has fast gained traction among Ghana’s alté scene. The 6-track EP is a top-to-bottom groove punctuated by standout “Ghana Bop,” a certified baddie anthem laden with endless Instagram captions. On singles like “Jonny” and “My Way,” she flexes her silky whisper, adding a layer of laidback sensuality to the record. Moliy has also proven she can hold her own on features, making noteworthy appearances alongside Amaarae, M.anifest and Vic Mensa. The 22-year-old who is currently working on new music recently alerted producers to send over beats. “2021 finna be a madness,” she warned.

Sha Sha

2020 was the year Amapiano conquered the continent and Sha Sha was its leading lady. Labelled South Africa’s Queen of Amapiano, the South-African based Zimbabwean artist sings in a mix of English, Zulu, Shona and Ndebele. Sha Sha got her start after a friend shared one of her tracks with a top radio station in Harare, leading to the station’s CEO being so impressed that he asked to meet her. After moving to South Africa and through a chance meeting with a well-connected cab driver, Sha Sha began collaborating with Amapiano heavyweight DJ Maphorisa, cementing herself in the scene. The singer’s debut EP Blossom, showcases versatility and a brilliant ear for harmonies as her dreamy vocals glide over each track. Last year, Sha Sha beat out a strong nominee list to become BET’s Best New International Act and went on to release “Woza,” which instantly shot up in views on YouTube. With a summer “outside” looming, Sha Sha’s infectious rhythms would make the perfect soundtrack.

Dua Saleh

A poet, an organizer, a singer — Dua Saleh has lived many lives and you can hear it in their music. Having discovered a knack for poetry at the age of four, the Sudanese-American artist eventually amassed a significant following in the Minnesota slam community. In 2019, they released their first EP Nūr, and soon followed up with 2020’s ROSETTA, the latter revealing a distinctly darker side to the multi-disciplinary artist’s coin. On both projects, Saleh takes listeners along as they tinker with varying genres, rap cadences, and clashing instrumentation. Their music explores themes of faith, sexuality and identity, with tracks like “Sugar Mama,” displaying their storytelling skills. The soon-to-be cast member of Netflix’s Sex Education, is gearing up for more releases in 2021, even poking fun at herself for leaving fans without an official album release date.

Falana

When Falana first appeared on the scene, she was unlike anything the Nigerian music industry had ever witnessed. She’d lived in Toronto and Havana, she infused Spanish into her signature jazzy sound and her pop-up concerts leaned more experiential art show than open mic. A natural it-girl, it wasn’t long before Falana’s buzz grew beyond music and into fashion, bringing about collaborations with Nigerian powerhouses like Andrea Iyamah and Alara as well as prompting Vogue to name her Nigeria’s coolest front row star. But then the striking singer seemingly took a step back, only to reemerge in 2019 with Chapter One. The 5-track EP held fans over for a while and now two years later, Falana seems ready to pick up where she left off. In February, she shared a sunshine-drenched single aptly titled “Joy,” an island-inspired track about finding beauty in the small things. After a year or more locked down, we could all benefit from more of Falana’s optimistic energy.