We’re several months into 2024, and there’s already been a few major music moments worth savoring. But with multiple icons poised to return, and the promise of new drops from a few rookie industry assets, it’s hard not to envision the groundbreaking potential of what’s to come. With that being said, here’s who we’re currently expecting absolute artistic perfection from before the year comes to a close. And with high-caliber artists like these — how can you not be excited?

Normani

Normani is clearly a legend, and we’ve come to thoroughly enjoy her transcendent growth from being an X-Factor contestant to a Fifth Harmony member, and now, a thriving soloist with hit singles like “Motivation.” After the singer recently expressed that music has been a key piece of her day-to-day life, (while confirming that an album is coming soon), we officially can’t wait to see how that’s manifested in her new era of art. But considering she’s always going viral for something, you can also guarantee it’s going to gain some traction.

ILLIT

When finalists of the K-pop survival program R U NEXT? solidified their place in the Belift Lab/Hybe group ILLIT, fans instantly had high hopes for the lineup given their respected platform and rigorous training. By the time the newly conceptualized group dropped their captivating debut single “Magnetic,” this unique collection of next-gen performers surpassed all expectations with a charm-heavy production that’s an easy contender for song of the year. Now that they’ve gained the attention of everyone, we’re eager to see what the group is prepared to release as a highly-anticipated follow-up to “Magnetic” because we’re expecting another hit.

Khalid

In January of this year, the sensational vocalist Khalid assured fans took to social media to announce that his next album was coming soon and that it was definitely worth the wait. With the knowledge that he’s been slowly piecing it together over the past four to five years (and a very fresh, enigmatic 2024 single), we just know that it’s going to be a soulful, evolutionary body of art by the time it’s ready. After two griping albums of R&B exquisiteness, he’s easily earned the buzz.

Rihanna

First and foremost, this one isn’t confirmed, but there’s always a desire for more from Rihanna. And needless to say, Rih is as busy as it gets. She has a whole family, an unstoppable cosmetic brand, a clothing brand, and the right to live her best life. So honestly, who knows if she’ll ever really step back into music. However, there was that recent instance where ASAP Rocky hinted she was clocking some studio time… But in all seriousness, we’re just trying to manifest that the influential superstar gets an inkling to step back into the music scene for a 2024 comeback— and you’re lying if you say you don’t feel the exact same way.

KATSEYE

In 2023, powerhouse companies Hybe and Geffen Records launched an ambitious global talent initiative to curate a brand-new girl group through the Dream Academy YouTube series — with more than 120,000 applicants in consideration. By the time the dust settled and the missions came to a high-stakes conclusion, six exceptional artists were chosen to create KATSEYE, bringing rich, detail-oriented K-pop training concepts and ideas into the American pop music market. Also, after teasing potential hits like this in their versatile repertoire, you can’t help but anticipate the group’s eventual debut in 2024.

Dua Lipa

Yes, Dua Lipa already released her nostalgically vibey track “Training Session” and the follow-up “Illusion” this year, but if anything, it only activated fans’ hunger for more retro-pop-charged singles from the singer. As of now, there has since been confirmation that the pop star will be back with her third studio album in May (titled Radical Optimism) generating a lot of excitement from fans — suggesting that we can now prepare for another Dua Lipa takeover across playlists, radio, and social media. Oh, she’s coming!

Lady Gaga

I mean, obviously. There’s never really a time where her presence isn’t missed in the pop music scene but after the COVID-era drop known as Chromatica, we’re genuinely begging for more psychedelic, electronic pop-fusion releases that we’ve come to love. A little bit of Artpop with a little bit of Chromatica is exactly what the world so desperately needs! Perhaps a follow-up to “Telephone” after nearly a decade of waiting? We’re grasping here.