May was a big month for music. While Drake and Beyoncé continued their reign over the charts following the late April releases of Views and Lemonade respectively, there were also major releases in every other genre.

There was everything from the moody, experimental R&B of James Blake on The Colour in Anything to pristine pop songwriting on Ariana Grande’s Dangerous Woman – God bless that Lil Wayne verse. Dance music also dropped heavy fire, with Norwegian remix genius Kygo unveiling his folk rock-tinged debut album just a few weeks before the arrival of Skin, the second full-length from local producer Flume. Punks saw the light of day with NYC trio Against the Current reviving Paramore’s fiery old sound with attitude and energy. And then there were the mixtapes, the weird in Die Antwoord’s Suck On This, the eclectic, trap-influenced on Post Malone’s August 26th, and the best of all in Chance the Rapper’s Coloring Book.

But the calendar changed over last night. Here are five projects to get keen for in June.

The Temper Trap – Thick As Thieves (June 10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVlB6eF2Y3A

Half a decade ago, the Australian alt-rock group The Temper Trap was virtually inescapable the world over with rhythm-heavy radio hits like ‘Sweet Disposition’ and ‘Fader’ from their debut album Conditions. After the more experimental eponymous follow-up in 2012, however, production on a third record hit a major snag with the departure of guitarist and founding member Lorenzo Sillitto in September of 2013. Juggling both an international touring schedule and multiple recording sessions in Byron Bay, London, and Quebec, the Melbourne boys eventually ended up spending a total of thirty-two months recording their third full-length.

It’s been a while, but according to drummer Toby Dundas the new material is “filled with hope, raw energy, and a passion that brought us back to the early days”. With renewed “grit and attitude” as well as songwriting from veteran producers Malay (Zayn Malik, Frank Ocean), Damien Taylor (The Killers, Björk), and Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Ellie Goulding) among others, Thick As Thieves is bound to be worth the wait.

Rae Sremmurd – SremmLife 2 (June 24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZx5WXwNUVM

Rae Sremmurd had one of the most lit albums of 2015, with more than half the songs on SremmLife not only peaking on radio charts, but also lingering on party and club sound-system playlists for many months after their initial release. Staying relevant for the entire duration between album cycles is no small feat, so it comes as no surprise that even the New York Times listed the original SremmLife as one of the best albums of the 2015, wisely noting that “any old group could have had one of these ideas and had a great year as a one-hit wonder. But Rae Sremmurd had them all, and that made all the difference.”

Anyone unconvinced by the brothers’ tracks on air would have had a change of heart after seeing their live show, which boasts an unmatched level of rowdy, unfiltered energy, every single damn time they take the stage. Rae Sremmurd make peak-form turn-up music – let’s hope they’re able to continue their winning streak this time around.

Nahko & Medicine for the People – HOKA (June 10)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTLnB8E5ejY

Nahko Bear, the unmistakable leader of Medicine for the People, sounds at first like a modern day shaman. There is a deep, upward-flowing spirituality to his music, with lyrics blending the vibrancy of Native American Indian legends with a kind of call-to-arms search for identity and inner harmony. But for those familiar with a more mellow, acoustic sound from the group, judging by the riff-heavy lead-off singles ‘San Quentin’ and ‘Make A Change’, HOKA may well feature a harder, more political edge. Reinforced by horn player Max Ribner and electric violinist Tim Snider, Nahko is coming back full force.

Jake Bugg – On My One (June 17)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNBTOSNpmKQ

Jake Bugg began gracing the world with his songs at a very young age, proof of which is the fact that at just twenty-two years old, this is his third full-length album. The sound he’s honed since dropping out of school at 16 has been celebrated for its rawness and humor, the warbling vocals and acoustic guitar combination at times resembling Bob Dylan’s 1960s heyday. In a recent interview with NME, the English singer/songwriter admitted that his third full-length will be a huge step forward, a “make or break” for his career. While Bugg’s album will no doubt feature his singular folk rock sound, sardonic tone, and vivid storytelling, the aforementioned interview mentions On My One may have absorbed “a larger hip-hop influence with early sessions for the album recorded with Beastie Boys’ Mike D.” This could be huge.

RiFF RAFF – Peach Panther (June 24)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vAqaUwLg7g

No matter what you think of RiFF RAFF, there is no denying that he’s created one of the most memorable novelty characters in hip-hop history. After securing the assistance of dance music overlord Diplo’s Mad Decent label, the Neon Icon aka the Lavender Lizard aka the Hologram Choke Slam immediately set to work tailoring his over-the-top persona, adopting a pet husky, giving himself a slew of ridiculous but still slightly awesome WWE-esque nicknames, and braiding his pink hair into some bizarro-looking braids. Since then, RiFF’s career has had some definitive lows, as well as some highs, like the time he freestyled alongside Mac Miller to a beat made up solely of dolphin noises and a tambourine. There’s also his recent general life decision to basically turn himself into a jacked-up WrestleMania fighter. There’s potential here – we’re excited to hear what RiFF has to offer.