2021 was a rough year for many, especially for artists, who could rarely perform live, go on tour, or rock music festivals—all due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Macklemore anticipated the turn of the year as early as October 29, when he dropped “Next Year” featuring Windser. The two celebrate the new year in style and assert that “next year’s gonna be better than this year.”

A New Year’s anthem, the song marks the reunion of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, with the latter acting as the track’s producer. The duo who burst onto the scene in 2012 with their smash hits “Thrift Shop” and “Can’t Hold Us” had split in 2017 after their last joint project This Unruly Mess I’ve Made from 2016.

“Next Year” was first heard live at Washington State Fair in September. The official release came with an official music video. On New Year’s Eve 2021, Macklemore and Windser performed the song live on stage on ABC’s New Year’s Rockin' Eve.