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

New music continues to come at us thick and fast in 2023. Showing no signs of slowing anytime soon, the rate at which we're being presented with fresh bangers and epic soundscapes from DJs, rappers, solo artists, bands and girl groups is most certainly on the rise, and we are here for it!

That being said, it's given us curators here at Skiddle much to chew over and made our job of whittling down our selections to just ten records a very difficult one indeed. 

We've taken a deep dive into streaming platforms, delved into the recesses of YouTube's sidebar, and peeled through the latest releases on sites the likes of Bandcamp and Beatport to bring you, in our most humble opinion, the very best new music for your listening pleasure. 

Learn more about some of the tracks included in our updated Essential Listening playlist below and listen to the best releases of January 2023 so far, at the bottom of the page. 

Miley Cyrus - Flowers

The Tenessee 'Wrecking Ball', Miley Cyrus is back with long-awaited new music and it's a spicy little number with lyrical content apparently taking aim at ex-husband, Aussie actor Liam Hemsworth. 

Released on Friday 13th January, fans have speculated the date was chosen specifically to coincide with Hemsworth's birthday, whilst lyrics such as 'I can love me better' (ouch) and clues littered throughout the music video (seen above) also appear to give further evidence that 'Flowers' is indeed a jibe at the man who portrays Thor in the Marvel movie franchise.

'Flowers' is Miley's first single release from her forthcoming eighth studio album, Endless Summer Vacation, marking her first solo release since her 2020 album, Plastic Hearts. The new album will be available globally from Friday 10th March 2023.

Wesley Joseph - HIATUS

Talented wordsmith and London-based creative, Wesley Joseph has recently launched his 2023 campaign with brand-new music, debuting 'HIATUS' on the minimalist YouTube performance series, COLORS just last week. 

Taken from his latest project, GLOW, set for release on Friday 17th February, the new single follows on from last year's tracks 'MONSOON' and 'COLD SUMMER', also from the same project. 

Exhibiting his aptitude for storytelling and with mastered cadence and flow, Joseph's lyrics lay out a narrative between his teenage self and his future self. A self-proclaimed 'time capsule moment', his words tell of how he's developed from a resentful youth looking for a route to escape life in a small town into a 'clearer and more empowered' adult and artist. 

Production on the record comes from Wesley's close friend and mastered electronic producer, Leon Vynehall. 

Everything But The Girl - Nothing Left To Lose

90s trip-hop icons, Everything But The Girl are back! Almost a quarter of a century on from their last album release, 1999's Temperamental, married couple Ben Watt and inimitable singer Tracey Thorn have delivered 'Nothing Left To Lose', the first single from their forthcoming new record, Fuse, due for release on Friday 21st April.

Known widely for the Todd Terry remix of their signature track, 'Missing', which became a worldwide smash hit back in 1995, the duo have turned their backs on the downtempo sound heard on earlier records such as Amplified Heart, instead opting to move toward the uptempo-dance direction featured on 1996's Walking Wounded. 

Ladened with bass and with a more polished production sound to boot when compared with previous releases, 'Nothing Left To Lose' brings Everything But The Girl back up to date and back to the cutting-edge of contemporary electronic music. 

Wehbba - Premonition

Drumcode roster artist, Wehbba shows us exactly why he's worthy of Adam Beyer's acclaimed label with his latest dance floor weapon, 'Premonition'. 

Imagine the soundtrack of a retro sci-fi flick such as The Matrix, specifically the scene in the first movie where Trinity and Neo go full send in the lobby of the building where Morpheus is being held, and you're getting close to the vibe of this hard-hitting techno anthem. As with most of the Brazilian producer's tracks, both the sound and feel of the record are rooted in high energy making it pretty hard to resist getting up and raving as we write this.

Throw in some industrial Transformer-like noises for texture, bringing balance to the four-to-the-four bassline, and you've got yourself a track fit for the club.

Listen out for the sample of the late-great David Bowie sharing his opinion on Wehbba's 'Premonition' from the grave. 

Listen to the best new releases of January 2023 thus far, as chosen by the Skiddle team, on our Essential Listening playlist, below (Click or tap the heart button to follow our Essential Listening playlist and stay up to date with the best new releases each and every week).

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: Miley Cyrus / Facebook.com