We’ve collected the best songs of 2021 – our favourite releases for you to fill your end-of-year playlists.

What did music look like over the past year? Some of the biggest tracks of 2021 emerged from TikTok song trends, reworkings of old releases, from remixes, and through collaborations.

Mainstream pop had the unexpected lightning-quick rise of Olivia Rodrigo and the guaranteed success of the return of Adele and Ed Sheeran, whilst below-the-radar songs written in the pandemic emerged, proving to be energising, creative, cathartic and comforting.

Our 2021 list has jazz remixes, indie ballads and punk-laced rap. Scroll on to hear a few of RouteNote’s favourite songs of 2021.


Hiatus Kaiyote – Red Room


Octo Octa – Goddess Calling


Nubya Garcia – La cumbia me está llamando ft. La Perla (Kaidi Tatham Remix)


Denise Chaila – 061


IDLES – The Beachland Ballroom


Villagers – The First Day


Alice Glass – BABY TEETH


Olivia Rodrigo – deja vu


brakence – argyle


JPEGMAFIA – HAZARD DUTY PAY!


Durand Jones & The Indications – Witchoo


Jayda G – All I Need


Don Broco – Uber


Wet Leg – Wet Dream


Alewya – Channel High


Taylor Swift – All Too Well (10 Minute Version) (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault)


Snail Mail – Valentine


Want to discover more new music? Check our artists to watch in 2022:


If that little lot got you inspired to release a track you’ve been sitting on for a while, check out RouteNote.

Our music distribution gets your songs onto all the major streaming services around the world. Whether you choose Free or Premium distribution, you’re completely in control of your music, free to come and go whenever you please without signing away the rights to your music.

Find out more about the RouteNote story here. We can’t wait to hear your music!