2023 hit us fast and it hit us hard. The year flew by and we were bombarded by stacks of standout releases from all the usual suspects and plenty of newcomers too.
In all our team considered over 400 tracks released throughout 2023 and had the unenviable task of condensing them down into a list of fifty tracks. That the task was so challenging and prompted plenty of debate is testament to what is another fine year for music from these shores.
So stop what you’re doing, put those headphones in and recap our top twenty five songs of 2023.
Check out the full list in playlist form here, or check out tracks 50-26 here.
Words & Selections by Aaron Cunningham, Addison Paterson, Amy Porter, Ben Magee, Jonah Gardner, Martha Greer & Robert Brown.
25 ► Cherym – It’s Not Me, It’s You
Paramore meets Avril Lavigne in this pop punk anthem straight out of the credits of a 2000’s teen movie. The layers of mesmerising vocals and angsty lyrics reflecting complete candid honesty alongside the thrashing guitar adopts such a danceable quality, feisty yet charismatic. Amy
24 ► Heart Shaped – Felt
Texan Kendall Bousquet’s songwriting talents ensures every Heart Shaped track has a certain lo-fi relatability. On ‘Felt’, recorded as part of our Kickstart competition, there’s an extra dose of magic afforded by the sparkling production. The songwriting, Bousquet’s vocal, guitars and production combine to make this one of Heart Shaped’s best. Aaron
23 ► Aoife Wolf – A Ringing in the Ear
Comparing loneliness to tinnitus, Aoife Wolf deftly echoes the drone and ring of isolation through instrumentation and images which, as ever, harken back to the rural Irish Midlands she hails from. Wolf’s lyricism and delivery are both languid, sharp, and harrowingly on the nose. This is but one release that solidifies the artist’s standing among the island’s most seminal contemporary voices – not that we needed to be convinced. Addison
22 ► AOIBHA – Muddy Water
‘Muddy Water’ is the standout single from AOIBHA, an insightful musician whose songs provoke a sensation very few can effectively produce. There is something haunting about this performance, whether it be the vulnerable lyrics, gentle vocals, or ghostly instrumentation, it surely keeps listeners asking for more. Martha
21 ► Far Caspian – Pet Architect
Far Caspian’s latest full length is an album replete with end of year list worthy tracks. ‘Pet Architect’ displays many of the key Far Caspian components from its steadfast beat, interlocking guitars and songwriter Joel Johnston’s gently drifting vocal. Aaron
20 ► Lemonade Shoelace – Do Whatever Makes You Happy
‘Do Whatever Makes You Happy’ perfectly encapsulates why people are raving about Lemonade Shoelace. Overtly positive, Ruairí demands we find the courage to embark into the unknown, stand up for ourselves and put our personal happiness above everything else. He does this under a vibrant and trippy soundscape, loaded with just the right amount of psychedlic synths. Robert
19 ► Moon Landing – Violet
Written following the passing of a friend, ‘Violet’ was a form of catharsis for Jake McCrea. Unsurprisingly it is deeply melancholic but there is a real beauty amongst the darkness. Its multi-layered sounds and instrumentation have an orchestral quality that is stirring and heart wrenching at the same time. Robert
18 ► Becky McNeice – Flatline
Top-level tuneage from McNeice, who built her rep on swirling lo-fi bedroom pop beats with PinkPantheress style vocal deliveries. She nails her sound on this collaboration with frequent producer Eulogy, hitting the sweet spot between hyper-pop and club beats. Ben
17 ► The Florentinas – Weatherman
Relishing in their vivacious perfection, The Florentinas seem to be an indie hit making machine, reminding us of this with ‘Weatherman’. This track encapsulates a nostalgic energy that really sets it apart from previous releases. As always, The Florentinas are moving on up in the most stylish and sublime way possible. Amy
16 ► LipGloss – Better Off This Way
‘Better Off This Way’ transcends listeners to a place like no other, a luscious dream pop escape that reverberates through your ears. It is the first insight into LipGloss’ collaborative mind, and the ethereal swirl of distant vocals contrasting with the buzz of bass is enough to keep audiences hooked, eager for what is to come. Martha
15 ► Makeshift Art Bar – Inertia
Makeshift Art Bar clearly intended that their debut single should make a statement, and that it did. Somewhat foreboding with it’s repetitive, looming bass riff and hard hitting vocals yet utterly thrilling, post-punk has never sounded better. Amy
14 ► Ferna – Bleed
Nestled at the heart of Ferna’s debut album lies ‘Bleed’. One of two tracks inspired by the story and power of Coretta Scott King, songwriter Hannah McPhilimy is joined by the voices of some of Northern Ireland’s best female artists to elevate the track’s final third. The handclaps and backing vocals make it one of the album’s most vibrant moments. Aaron
13 ►Amerik Feat. Sasha Samara – The Real Thing
Adam Booth has made a name for himself collaborating with the great and the good of the NI music scene under the Amerik moniker. This time he has nabbed the talents of Sasha Samara and on the evidence of ‘The Real Thing’, it’s a match made in heaven. It feels like a bit of a throwback, a genuine and uplifting love song characterised by Adam’s smooth production & Sasha’s mesmerising vocals. Robert
12 ► New Pagans – Hear Me, You Were Always Good
An album track from Making Circles of Our Own, and proof that the band’s second full length was a release full of great tracks from start to finish. Less direct than the singles, ‘Hear Me, You Were Always Good’ is more of a slow burner with glittery guitars behind Lyndsey McDougall’s vocals before the big, empowering ending. Aaron
11 ► Tabitha Smyth – Sad About Nothing
‘Sad About Nothing’ is a sad-girl pop song, shone through an indie lens, with Smyth’s strong voice sounding right at home amongst the retro production. There’s a shift between the verse and the chorus, with the track’s relatable hook ensuring this new songwriter’s first single was one of the strongest debuts of the year. Aaron
10 ► Lucy Bell – Love Me The Most
Over the last year London-via-Belfast songwriter Lucy Bell has confidently and unassumingly grown to be a vital voice of indie-pop in the North. Taking the stand-out spot on the tracklist of this year’s Emotion Pending EP with its evocative and often-scathing lyricism, ‘Love Me The Most’ is nothing short of the perfect break up song. Addison
9 ► Chubby Cat – Kissin’ In The Valley-O
Straddling the lines between the alternative, the electronic and the pop worlds, this feels like the track we have been waiting on from Chubby Cat all this time. A tongue-in-cheek (or, not at all) take on the dystopian rent-to-live landscape that aims its crosshairs squarely at slum lords. Fun and arresting from start to finish. Ben
8 ► Problem Patterns – Letter of Resignation
Corporate life getting you down? Boss denied your holiday request 3-months in the making? Is Colin at the reception desk still acting the maggot? Problem Patterns have provided the perfect antidote. A ferocious bell-ringer that doubles as your way out of your shitty 9-5, this track is all energy, energy, ENERGY. Ben
7 ► Niall McDowell – I Have Given Up
‘I Have Given Up’ cements Niall’s status as one of the North’s most accomplished songwriters. Their first release since the critically acclaimed EP in 2022, it is led by rich vocal harmonies and gentle melancholic guitar playing. Despite the warm outer layer, the track is laced with anxiety, as McDowell sharply reflects on the trials & tribulations of being a professional musician. Robert
6 ► Jock – What A Drag
The effortlessly timeless appeal of ‘What A Drag’ has thrown Jock into a world of raw vocals and hammering sound that people just can’t seem to get enough of. It’s shouty, it’s queer, it’s snappy and it has rightfully earned this three-piece outfit a place as one of the most explosive bands of the year. Martha
5 ► Conchúr White – Atonia
Underpinned by White’s characteristically dreamy vocals, ‘Atonia’ waltzes and weaves through a moonlit lament inspired by the experience of sleep paralysis. The 1st single from his forthcoming debut album is rich and beautifully textured with a chorus which is sumptuously unforgettable. Robert
4 ► Brand New Friend – Stars Bleed
The second single that enticed us into the Grandstand era (Brand new friend’s remarkable second album), ‘Stars Bleed’ exerts authenticity, and melancholic energy reminiscent of The National. It’s the type of anthem-like track a yearning, youthful crowd could scream the relatable lyrics to due to its raw energy. Amy
3 ► Joel Harkin – Is Iomaí Lá Sa Chill Orainn
A macrocosmic 6-minutes from Donegal song-weaver Joel Harkin pulls at the threads love, loss, and fear of the everyday. To untangle these, Harkin enlists beautifully sparse melodies and the hushed vocals of Offaly’s most singularly haunting voice Aoife Wolf on this cross-county collaboration. Their quiet contemplation falls apart toward the end of the track for a moment of gut-wrenching release. Addison
2 ► Arborist – Unkind
It’s hard to make a call on Mark McCambridge’s best album to date. But ultimately it’s the sultry dogmatic drone of ‘Unkind’ that takes the cake. Born in Spacebomb Studios down in Richmond, Virginia, its an encapsulation of everything that makes the album great. Tinged with soul and psychedelia, draped in hypnotic folk and lined with dark, tense imagery and lyricism, this track is Arborist at his very best. Ben
1 ► Chalk – Conditions
‘Conditions’ is an emotional rollercoaster. As the electro-industrial trance of Chalk continues to take the world by storm, it is this song’s powerfully nostalgic sense that will forever transport listeners back to their first encounter. It is a glimmer of hope through the darkness, a lyrical overflow amongst a crescendo of sound. Martha
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