2023 has been a fantastic year for music, with monumental releases achieved in almost every genre imaginable. These are 10 singles that have stood out to me this year in no particular order.
“Doubt” by Jeff Rosenstock
“Doubt” is an emotive and impactful pop-punk song about the trials and tribulations of being an anxious adult in 2023. Rosenstock’s truly cathartic vocal performance, mixed with the screeching and angular guitar riffs near the breakdown at the song’s end, makes this one of the most exciting songs of 2023.
“Emergency Contact” by Ian Sweet
It’s the holiday season, which means it is likely a tumultuous break-up season for couples everywhere. Jilian Medford — a.k.a. Ian Sweet — understands this completely.
That feeling when you take the heart emojis off of someone’s name in your contact list on your phone is a feeling Medford clearly and deliberately explores on “Emergency Contact.” Lyrically, this one hits hard.
“Locals (Girls like us) [with gabby start]” by Underscores and Gabby Start
April Harper Grey — a.k.a. Underscores — is an artist I have been watching for a while now — since at least 2020 — and I have watched her grow and change right before my eyes into a competent artist with the ability to put out monster singles like “Locals (Girls like us).”
Sonically, the song is a decadent 2000s Ke$ha-bling-era throwback with crunchy bass hits, penetrating synthesizers and nasally full-of-herself vocals — in a good way. The rap feature by Gabby Start is a welcome and, frankly, goofy inclusion on a super non-serious song that fits perfectly.
“A&W” by Lana Del Rey
Lana Del Rey’s first single of 2023 for her album “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Boulevard?” happens to be one of the longest and most emotionally-charged songs she has ever put out.
Her lyrical prowess and talent for catchy hooks rings true on “A&W,” and if that was not enough, she subverts expectations by plunging the song into a dingy and dark trap beat around four and a half minutes into the track.
This proves Del Rey’s versatility as not only a pop artist but also a pop icon in an era that demands women be everything and more.
“Chosen to Deserve” by Wednesday
To switch gears a bit, here’s a sweet and sappy love song with a killer riff attached to it. The lead singer of Wednesday — Karly Hartzman — does a fantastic job putting out a trashy yet elegant country-girl vibe.
A mix of indie rock, alt-country and country rock, “Chosen to Deserve” balances lyrics with sonics as it contains one of the catchiest and most captivating guitar riffs of the year — performed by MJ Lenderman.
“Amaranth” by Model/Actriz
“Amaranth,” by the dance-punk-inspired noise-rock band from Boston, is a grimy and dirty tune. It is a song that showcases not only impressive guitar work but catastrophically heartbreaking lyrics and vocals by frontman Cole Haden.
The song follows the main character as he navigates a broken and toxic relationship. We feel the same pain he feels, but we also feel enthralled by the chaos.
“Skin in the Game” by Slowdive
“Skin in the Game” is dream-pop done right. Oftentimes dream-pop gets trapped in a cycle of drab instrumentation mixed with wishy-washy vocals. However, the sixth track of Slowdive’s newest record does none of these things. This single’s hypnotic vocals and instrumentation take over your mind and completely wash you into its ocean of sound.
“Talk To Me Nice” by Tinashe
Tinashe Jorgenson Kachingwe — a.k.a. Tinashe — is now an industry veteran at this point. She released her sixth album, “BB/Angel,” this past summer, and her second single for that album, “Talk To Me Nice,” cemented herself as a great R&B artist but also a daring electronic artist.
“Talk To Me Nice” is a nice mix of alt-R&B, trap soul, footwork, dubstep and UK bass music that never oversteps its bounds.
“Census Designated” by Jane Remover
Like Underscores, Jane Remover has undergone some changes within the last three years or so. Emerging in 2020 as an upcoming talent in the mashcore and dariacore scene, Jane eventually transitioned to hyperpop, noise pop and now alternative rock as well as shoegaze.
Jane’s ability to write emotionally potent hooks and verses remains true on this impressively long single spanning six minutes of crazy talented energy.
“Vampire Empire” by Big Thief
Last but not least, “Vampire Empire” by Big Thief might be the most lyrically devastating song of the year. Originally performed on “The Colbert Show” in September 2023, this song’s lyrics are truly original and emotionally charged.
The frontwoman of Big Thief, Adrienne Lenker, is no stranger to emotionally draining lyrical performances, but this one takes the cake. Often screaming and shouting the lyrics, Lenker proves women still have a place in rock and folk music in 2023.
