Essential Listening: The best new music releases in August 2023 (week 3)

Whew, August is flying by, isn’t it? You can almost smell that bank holiday weekend coming and all the chaos it’ll bring.

But before we get down to some cracking bank holiday events, we’ve got to get through this week. And what better way to make the time fly than with some delicious new music releases in August 2023? 

This week, we’ve added tracks from Chaos in the CBD, Sufjan Stevens, Hozier ft Brandi Carlile, Tash Sultana, Chimpo, Armand Van Helden, Bakar, JAWS, DJ Hybrid and Agro, Kojaque, and so many more.

So scroll down and check out some of the best new music of August 2023 and find tickets to see featured artists live. 

 

Essential Listening: House and Techno

 

Hard To Breathe - Hannah Wants ft Hannah Boleyn

Former professional footie player turned DJ/producer Hannah Wants is back with another club-ready banger.

Beautifully marrying emotional electronic sounds with a deep, thumping club beat and catchy vocals, Wants has penned a track that can provoke an emotional state while still being a belter at the rave. 

The track is Wants’ third release on Defected within the past year and, looking back on those other two releases, it’s clear she’s only improving with each. Enlisting the help of Hannah Boleyn was a truly stellar decision with pristine, simple but extremely complimentary vocals.

 

Get tickets to see Hannah Wants live here:

 

Defected Ibiza Closing Party | Eden in San Antonio | Friday 29th September 2023

Buy tickets:

 

Defected Malta Festival (w/ Hannah Wants and many more) | Malta | Fri 6th - Sun 8th October 2023

Buy tickets:

 

Hannah Wants | Tank Nightclub in Sheffield | Saturday 9th December 2023

Buy tickets:

 

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Essential Listening: Indie and Alternative

 

Nothing Left To Lose - Bleach Lab

Taking inspiration from Mazzy Star and The Smiths, Bleach Lab's new track is a moody indie rock tune with a slight shoegazey sparkle. 

Taken from the London band’s upcoming debut, Lost In A Rush of Emptiness, a title borrowed from Leonard Cohen’s The Flame, Nothing Left To Lose is about the beginning of a relationship. 

Their album Lost In A Rush of Emptiness is set to be released on Friday the 22nd of September this year. If you’re a fan of indie, this hotly anticipated album is one you’ll want to keep your ears out for. 

 

Get tickets to see Bleach Lab live here:

 

Bleach Lab | Hare And Hounds Kings Heath in Birmingham | Monday 6th November 2023

Buy tickets:

 

Bleach Lab | Canvas in Manchester | Wednesday 8th November 2023

Buy tickets:

 

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Essential Listening: Drum & Bass and Jungle

 

City Lights - Sigma and Gardna

Multi-platinum-selling DnB duo Sigma enlisted the help of MC Gardna for this cinematic, string-laced, bassy track. 

About the track, Sigma (read more about them here) said, “We’ve always respected Gardna so we are really excited to have him on this absolute anthem and cannot wait to play it out all over the world.” Gardna said, “Sigma are responsible for some of my favourite Jungle DNB tracks over the years, so as you can imagine I’m super excited to collaborate with them.”

A belter of a summer DnB track, we’re just hoping and praying the sun pops out so we can enjoy this track the way it should be: at a festival with the heat beating down on us. 

 

Get tickets to see Sigma live here:

 

Sigma | Kasbah in Coventry | Saturday 16th September 2023

Buy tickets:

 

Sigma Up Close & Personal Tour | Joshua Brooks in Manchester | Friday 13th October 2023

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SIGMA Up Close And Personal Tour x CODEC | SWX in Bristol | Saturday 14th October 2023 

Buy tickets:

 

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Essential Listening: Hip-Hop and Jazz

 

Show & Tell - Mick Jenkins ft Freddie Gibbs

Packed with god-knows how many flows between the two of them and a heavenly instrumental, this might be one of the highlights of Jenkins’ new album.

Taken from The Patience (which features JID, Vic Mensa, and Benny The Butcher on other tracks), Show & Tell kicks off with some stunning strings, bassy drums, and some serious hunger from Jenkins. 

The album, Jenkins’ fourth, is just under 30 minutes long. Upon hearing that, many may be desperate for more but in an age where artists seem to cram their albums with mid tracks, we’re excited and hopeful the album will be banger after banger. If the singles are anything to go by, it definitely will be. 

 

Love hip hop? You might like…

 

Rakim | O2 Ritz in Manchester | Wednesday 15th May 2024 

 

The Plug 4, Live Rap Battles | The Steelyard in London | Sunday 19th November 2023

Buy tickets:

 

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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: Hozier / Facebook.com