The end of 2022 saw a binge-release of music from several major artists attempting to get their songs out before the new year began. Luckily, the beginning of 2023 is looking equally promising for music lovers. With announcements from Kali Uchis, Miley Cyrus, Paramore and numerous other big names in the industry, there will be something for listeners of every genre. As someone who listens to just about everything, here are my top five releases I’m marking my calendar for this year in no particular order.
Paramore: This Is Why
After a seemingly long drought, Paramore is finally coming back with a new album, This Is Why, out on Feb. 10. This announcement was followed promptly by the release of the lead single with the same name on Sep. 28, 2022, “The News” on Dec. 8, 2022 and “C’est Comme Ça” on Jan. 12. I’ve been a fan of Paramore since the early years of my adolescence, and I feel as though I’ve grown up listening to their music as the soundtrack of my life. From jamming in my mom’s car to “Still into You” and “Misery Business” in my early teens, to blasting “Fake Happy” through the speakers of my own car now, the six-year wait has left me with much excitement and anticipation. If these new tracks are any indication of what the album will sound like, This Is Why will be one of my long-time favorites.
Kali Uchis: Red Moon In Venus
Kali Uchis’ last album Isolation was iconic in every sense of the word. This release got her an insane amount of attention due to her song “Dead to Me” going viral on several social media platforms. She is well-known for her songs which combine both Spanish and English, as well as her euphoric melodies and rhythms. Before this, “telepatia” from Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) was her smash hit and has obtained just under 800 million streams on Spotify. Uchis released the lead single for her new album, “I Wish you Roses,” last week on Jan. 19, followed by the announcement of her upcoming new album on Jan. 23. Coming from a Latina that was personally changed by Isolation, I cannot wait to see what Kali Uchis brings to the table this time.
Miley Cyrus: Endless Summer Vacation
Although Miley’s music hiatus hasn’t been that long, with Plastic Hearts being released just less than three years ago, her fans are reeling over her new single “Flowers” and album announcement. “Flowers” was a hit from the very start, with millions of fans drawing connections between the lyrics and her past relationship with Liam Hemsworth. The song quickly went viral on TikTok and inspired people who were experiencing a break-up to show off their independence. The highly anticipated Endless Summer Vacation is out on March 10.
Lana Del Rey: Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
It’s no secret that Lana loves a casual release, dropping songs here and there to tease her fans and give them what they want. However, she’s also been on a recent streak of mass-releasing songs randomly, which has kept her fans on their toes for a few years now. The single, “Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” was released on Dec. 7 of last year, coupled with the album announcement. Her last album Blue Banisters didn’t completely knock my socks off, and I personally favor Norman F*cking Rockwell! and Lust For Life of her recent releases. I’m excited to see what she comes out with this year. Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd was originally set to release on March 10, but has now been pushed back to March 24.
Ellie Goulding: Higher Than Heaven
We haven’t heard much about Ellie Goulding in a while, and it feels like her last big hit was being featured on the Fifty Shades movie soundtracks. “Love Me Like You Do” is sitting pretty at over 1B Spotify streams currently. Her past hit, “Lights,” has been resurfacing on TikTok due to an influx of new remixes being created by online DJs. Ellie herself released a sped-up version on streaming services in 2022. Goulding announced her new album Higher Than Heaven on Nov. 24, 2022, but the release has been since delayed to March 24.
With all these releases and many more to look forward to in the first quarter of this year, fans are set to have their headphones and speakers busy in 2023. We can all expect an amazing year for music in 2023.
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