2023 in Music.
Back on the road, and back at the gigs.
What I listened to in '23.
A proper gig year. Springsteen, Pulp, New Order and Harry Styles all saw me in a field or a stadium at some point, and the car got its miles back too.
The list is a bit shorter than usual, but it's a good mix: some Irish lads, a bit of jungle, some Spanish, and plenty of TikTok.
*Standard warning: grown-up words and themes, as always.
People – Libianca
Libianca grew up in Cameroon and Minnesota, and this is a song about mental health that went massive on TikTok. Simple and honest, with that chorus that gets in your head.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Hold Me – Lavern
Just a nice, dreamy dance tune with that flickering chorus.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Blue Razz – Versatile
Just bedlam. Childish brilliance.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Got Me Started – Troye Sivan
Troye Sivan sampling Shooting Stars by Bag Raiders, so the bit everyone knows from a thousand memes turns up in a slick pop song. Something to Give Each Other was the most fun pop album of the year.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Baddadan – Chase & Status, Bou ft. IRah, Flowdan, Trigga & Takura
Jungle was back in 2023 and Chase & Status were at the front of it. Flowdan's voice alone could knock down walls. Loud in the car, always.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Brand New – Tyga, YG, Lil Wayne
The Lil Wayne verse on this is a classic.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
NO SZNS – Jean Dawson, SZA
Jean Dawson and SZA. A weird, warm, genre-hopping little song. SZA's on two tracks this year.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Ice Slippin – Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo back on the list after Invincible in 2022. Still don't know much about him, still like everything he does.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
To Summer, From Cole – Summer Walker, J. Cole
Summer Walker and J. Cole. A slow, intimate one built like a voice note between friends.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
un x100to – Grupo Frontera, Bad Bunny
Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny. Mexican regional music crossing over into the mainstream, and Bad Bunny adding to his already huge reputation. Doesn't matter if you don't understand the words.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Farewell – Dame D.O.L.L.A.
Damian Lillard is a basketball player first and a rapper second, but he's a proper rapper. This came out within hours of him being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers to Milwaukee after eleven years, and it’s a genuinely touching goodbye.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
In The City – Charli xcx, Sam Smith
Charli XCX and Sam Smith. Big, dramatic pop, and a warm-up for the brat summer madness of 2024.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
CABRA DRIVE – Kojaque
Kojaque is one of the best things to come out of Dublin in years, and there's something about hearing a Dublin accent on a track called after a Dublin place. Just an example of new Dublin music we can be proud of.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Who's That Girl – KhakiKid, chameleon, CARSTEN2X
KhakiKid's first appearance on the list. He's back in 2024 and 2025, so keep an eye on this fella.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Not Strong Enough – boygenius
boygenius is Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus, three brilliant songwriters in one band. The Record swept up at the Grammys and this is the most fun track on it.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify
Nobody Gets Me – SZA
SZA's SOS came out at the end of 2022 and was everywhere for most of 2023. This is the stripped-back, acoustic heartbreak moment.
Listen: Apple Music · Spotify