Essential Listening: New music releases in February 2023 (Updated)

Tired of listening to the same old records, over and over? Looking for a place to discover the best new releases of the current moment? Well, you're in the right place. Our weekly updated Essential Listening playlists consist of only the finest new releases and future anthems covering everything from house and techno right through to indie and alternative. 

Rounding up this week's eclectic selection, the Skiddle team has picked out tracks from an array of celebrated purveyors of recorded music. From house legend MK, who teamed up with Aussie DJ Dom Dolla for his latest dance pearler, to Marshall Jefferson and Tensnake, D'N'B producers Sub Focus, DJ Hazard and Benny L, with Jappa and the Ragga Twins, acclaimed guitar acts the likes of Shame, The National and Algiers, and Logic, Ice Spice and Pink Pantheress, delivering some fire hip hop beats.

Plug in those earbuds and listen through each of our Essential Listening playlists below to find your new favourite artist or track, learn a little more about some of the records included and buy tickets to see the featured artists live in concert. 

 

 

Essential Listening: House and Techno

 

MK ft. Dom Dolla - Rhyme Dust

The story behind the release of this track is quite remarkable and highlights the power fans hold in music.

Originally penned to be released later in the year, 'Rhyme Dust', a collab between Detroit house legend MK and Aussie superstar Dom Dolla, was previewed in front of EDM enthusiasts on Tik Tok earlier this year. Quickly reaching 10 million views, the hype and need for the full track became apparent when ravers from across the globe began demanding the song be released ahead of its schedule. A certain group of hardcore fans even went as far as to hire a pilot to skywrite a message over Sydney Harbour, urging the pair to drop the track. MK and Dolla obviously obliged. 

Was it worth all the fuss? You decide. Listen to the track above.

 

Get tickets to see MK live here:

 

Creamfields South 2023

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Festival Republic presents Kygo plus special guests

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Essential Listening: Indie and Alternative

 

Eaves Wilder - Are You Diagnosed? 

The third single from the fast-rising singer-songwriter's debut EP, Hookey, is as authentic an indie-pop banger as they come. The production on 'Are You Diagnosed?' is ethereal and most certainly shoegaze-inspired giving the track a real 90s aesthetic, with flickers of inspiration from grunge acts of the era such as Hole intertwined. It could quite easily have featured in the soundtrack of any coming-of-age flick from thirty years ago.

Sharing some pretty harrowing details concerning Wilder's experiences with mental health growing up and the lack of services in Britain for young adults struggling with their well-being, the lyrical content is honest and a little tongue-cheek. Written when in hospital, the London-based artist stated she was unable to speak her mind at the time and used songwriting as a cathartic medium to unload. 

Hookey is due for release via Secretly Canadian on Friday 24th March.

 

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Essential Listening: Drum & Bass and Jungle

 

Sub Focus - Vibration (One More Time)

Torch-bearer of British drum n bass, Sub Focus has recently issued his latest studio effort 'Vibration'. Enlisting the skills of up-and-coming electro duo, AR/CO, the 4-minute track is everything we've come to expect from the Guildford-hailing producer. Leaning into the more commercial arm of the genre, it's incredibly club friendly and will no doubt have audiences losing their minds at events throughout the approaching festival season. Although, the purists among you might feel a little different. 

Lyrically, it's a song about coming together and feeling the energy of music as a collective, whether that be on the dancefloor or out in the open fields. With a few beverages inside us and some good company, we can definitely get on board with that sentiment. 

 

Get tickets to see Sub Focus here:

 

Worried About Henry presents Sub Focus

Buy tickets:

 

Highest Point 2023

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Essential Listening: Hip-Hop and Jazz

 

Pink Pantheress ft. Ice Spice - Boy's A Lair Pt. 2

Everyone's seen or heard the viral mash-up of Radiohead's 'Weird Fishes' with this track, right? Once you hear it you can't unhear it. Oddly, it works so well. Anyway, we digress... 

The sequel to PinkPantheress' 'Boy's A Liar', part 2 is largely unchanged. The only difference is the inclusion of soon-to-be-megastar Bronx rapper, Ice Spice. And what a huge difference she makes. Experimenting with her flow and cadence over the upbeat bop, the so-called 'Princess of Hip Hop' tells of her woes with dishonest men and failed past relationships, relating to the track's title. 

Known for harnessing the electro-pop, Jersey-bass sound found in 'Boys A Lair Pt. 2', it's little wonder why Ice Spice feels so at home on this record. 10/10 for wordsmithery. 

 

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Make sure to follow our Essential Listening playlists featured above to discover the best new tracks released each week, as curated by the Skiddle team.

 

  

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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: Eaves Wilder / Facebook.com