This is an aggregation of every song I fell in love with in 2023.
These were the songs I hit play on and watched the sparks fly. The only qualification: it had to be released within the year. Hope you find something new to add to your rotation or you feel the same about a few. Cheers!
Daydreamin’
Anderson.Paak, NxWorries, Knxwledge
80s soft rock reminiscent. Romantic in dramatic ways. My heart skips beats every time I hear Anderson sing “look me in the eyes, tell me you would die for me”.
Alright
Victoria Monet
Kaytranada laid the foundation for 2023’s pop-out R&B princess to illustrate a picture of her character’s penchant for wielding her sexual prowess as a shield and a weapon. My waistline falls prey to this beat every time. These two are on to something, more please.
Speed Drive (From the Barbie Movie)
CharliXCX
For me, the climax of 2023’s Barbie mania was the first time I played the soundtrack through. Could the soundtrack be better than the movie (gasp)? At the request of my daughter I put this song on one morning and found myself, unprovoked, coming back for more. “I’m a classic real deep Voltaire”, what a fucking lyric. AP English did me a solid.
Water
Tyla
Okay so yes, this song was every fucking where. But that’s the point. We had a song of the summer(ish) that really rose to the occasion, bravo Tyla. I wish this young lady a healthy career creating music that she loves and the world loves right back.
Waiting for You
Majid Jordan (feat. Naomi Sharon)
This song singlehandedly carried me through a few weeks worth of sadness. Naomi Sharon’s voice is earnest, I believe her when she tells me “there’s another one waiting for you…”
Put it on Da Floor
Latto
I wanna thank Latto for saying “Rip me out the plastic I been actin’ brand new”. Something about this line got my ass power walking on those early mornings and eventually led to me dropping 22 lbs. Grizz and Latto are also on to something, more please!
What You Wanna Try
Masego
Masego, sir, why do you always do this to me? Create a song so smooth that I immediately have to run it back. Tightly woven stories of seduction and fantasy are Masego’s expertise. Layer that with a double dipped sample situation and a little mystery. Absolutely delicious.
Vox
OG MarlynMonROLLUP
In just under 60 seconds this rap girly who, I’m pretty sure I found via TikTok, speeds through the track effortlessly while listeners ride shot gun for a lavish little adventure. And that little chord change up that sweeps in on the “Papi call me on the FaceTime…” perfection.
Reckless & Sweet
Amaarae
Here’s the scenario: I’ve been kidnapped and to escape I must name one song from Amaarae’s Fountain Baby as my number one favorite. I’m gonna shout “Reckless & Sweet” to save myself but then, in a sudden flip of the script, I’ve tied up my captors, I’m eating a blue bag of Doritos and drinking a LaCroix while I force them to listen to the entire album end to end because there’s not a single skip is to be found.
Go Baby
Cleo Sol
Open the blinds, switch on the speaker, press play, run the shower till steam emerges, cry, coffee, journal, breathe and take off with wings into your day. That’s Go Baby for me.
Talk Myself Out
Dana Williams
Sitting in my second favorite neighborhood coffee shop one afternoon, this song is playing and I’m immediately compelled to Shazam it. The rest of the day I’m spinning in Dana’s world of what it takes to pry herself mentally and emotionally from her lover’s grasp. Can I truly relate or is my overly sensitive Pisces empathy kicking in while feeling high off this melody?
Today
Q
Written, produced and performed by Q Marsden, Q, being their artist name.
My GOD. Just listen to the song, absorb the artistry. This song is so rich and layered in every way, from the track to the vocal production to the story it spins.
Jersey
Baby Tate
Classic tale of girl meets boy, girl likes boy and so it seems reciprocal, and special. Boy hurts girl. Girl immortalizes feelings about boy in the form of clever lyrics over a Jersey Club beat. Appreciate your vulnerability here Baby Tate, hand heart emoji.
Sauvignon
Black Pumas
At first note I’m transported to the outer deck of a yatch with a beautiful stranger I’ll only know for the evening. Every time this song ends I have that same feeling I get at the end of a vacation, slightly nostalgic even though the experience isn’t even a memory just yet.
Best Time
Brent Fiyaz
Brent beasted this Neptunes/Kelis sample and made it his own. I also love when Brent talks shit like this.
Lover/Friend
KAYTRANADA, Rochelle Jordan
Rochelle finally lands on a Kaytra joint and all is right in the dance music world. To the ears for whom Kay’s sound is familiar, the formula is simple. But that simplicity is what makes this newly released song (one of a two-pack) irresistibly sweet and repeatable. Rochelle floats over the track in a way that she’s perfected. Press play for joy.