Essential Listening: New music releases in April 2023 Update
The best new music releases in April 2023 with playlists for house and techno, drum and bass and jungle, indie and alternative, and hip-hop and jazz.
Date published: 11th Apr 2023
Another week, a bunch of new music to treat our ears to!
Back again with our Essential Listening playlists to make those journeys to and from work that bit better, we’ve got some cracking new additions from alt-rock outfit Wednesday, drum and bass maestro and DnB radio presenter Mollie Collins, Kaytranada and Amine AKA KAYTRAMINE, and the massively adored electronic titan Jamie Jones.
Below you’ll find all this and more in dedicated playlists to house and techno, indie and alternative, hip-hop and jazz, and drum and bass and jungle.
Scroll down to discover and read about April’s best new tracks and find tickets to see these artists in concert.
Essential Listening: House and Techno
Got Time For Me - Jamie Jones & Channel Tres
Feeling summer ready with this blurry, warm track, Jamie Jones is back and delivering songs that force you to groove along and, upon first listen, have you wishing you already knew the lyrics to the catchy hook so you can sing along.
Channel Tres was the perfect choice of vocalists for this one. In fact, we wouldn’t mind an entire project with these two working together. But for now, you can find us dreaming about beer gardens and sipping cocktails with this one playing in the background.
Get tickets to see Jamie Jones live here:
We Are FSTVL | Friday 25th - Monday 28th August 2023 | Damyns Hall Aerodrome in Upminster
Essential Listening: Indie and Alternative
Quarry - Wednesday
A sprinkle of melancholy and another of nostalgia, Quarry has that coming-of-age movie vibe with an explosive chorus to complete the picture. If you ask us, a great track should instantly transport you somewhere - be it a place, a feeling, or something else, real or imaginary. And Quarry does exactly that effortlessly and in the first few seconds.
This winning combination has us feeling like Wednesday will be bloody everywhere soon enough. When that day comes, we’ll be more than happy, sinking into cathartic otherworldly tunes and joining the band on their ride.
Get tickets to see Wednesday live here:
FOLD Meets Fast Forward (Extended) | Saturday 13th May 2023 | FOLD in London
Wednesday | Monday 5th June 2023 | YES Basement in Manchester
Essential Listening: Drum & bass and Jungle
Shut It Down - Mollie Collins, Elipsa
Mollie Collins has been on the clubbing and rave scenes before she even left school. As soon as she turned 18, she threw herself into it, working with and at clubs and submerging herself in the culture. Nowadays, you can find her behind the decks at some of the world’s biggest raves and presenting KISS FM D&B.
This new banger with Elipsa wastes no time, getting straight into a catchy chorus before launching into a chorus overflowing with percussion and bass. Having secured Best Breakthrough DJ in 2017 and Best Female Artist in 2020, we know she’s just warming up.
Get tickets to see Mollie Collins live here:
New World Festival | Sunday 30th April 2023 | Gloucester Park in Basildon
Essential Listening: Hip-hop and Jazz
Archetype - Joe Armon-Jones & Maxwell Owin (feat. O the ghost)
Weird, trippy, glitchy, and basically how you’d imagine riding a nebula would sound, we’re in love with this new one from Joe Armon-Jones and Maxwell Owin. Layering so many sounds that seem disconnected while still creating a clear, coherent picture, Archetype is a thrilling, ethereal ride from start to finish.
Impossible to lose focus, the track tosses and turns and throws curveballs to keep the listener fully engaged throughout. And we couldn’t forget the music video, could we? Colourful, trippy, and flowy, they’ve truly nailed this one.
Get tickets to see Joe Armon-Jones live here:
Project 6 Festival | Friday 26th May 2023 | Brockwell Park in London
Follow our Essential Listening playlists featured above to discover the best new tracks released each week, as curated by the Skiddle team.
Check out our What's On Guide to discover more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.
Header image credit: The Japanese House / Facebook.com