Essential Listening: The best new music releases in January 2024

Hear the best new music releases in January 2024 and buy tickets to see our featured artists live right here.

Skiddle Staff

Date published: 8th Jan 2024

After hibernating for December, Essential Listening is back to help you find some bangers to add to your playlists and to show you where you can see some of the best artists live.

If you’re new to Essential Listening, welcome! As we’re now in 2024, we’ve got some of the best new music of January 2024 in playlists for house and techno, DnB and jungle, indie and alternative, and jazzy hip-hop.

This week we’ve added some beauts from Bob Vylan, goddard, Ab-soul, Serum, FETISH, Ruby Haunt, Erick the Architect, Charlie Boon, and many more.

Take a look and listen at what’s new below and secure your tickets to see our featured artists live.

Essential Listening: House and Techno

Dance To The Music - Low Steppa, Tony Romera

House music’s much beloved Low Steppa is back in 2024 with a collab with Tony Romera.

Following a belting 2023 full of sold-out shows around the globe and releases on Defected and Armada, Low Steppa returns with what is almost certain to be an incredible year. A proper feel-good, dance-focused track, Dance To The Music is proof Steppa’s not going anyway.

Having already received support from some key names in the scene, including Dom Dolla and Dombresky, we're certain we’ll be hearing plenty of this banger in the fields come festival season.

Get tickets to see Low Steppa live here:

Vaults Presents: Low Steppa | Friday 2nd February 2024 | Portland House Bank And The Vaults in Cardiff

Buy tickets:

Low Steppa | Friday 15th March 2024 | Joshua Brooks in Manchester

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Indie and Alternative

Just Another Rainbow - Liam Gallagher & John Squire

Two Manc indie kings have joined forces for a ten-track album, with Just Another Rainbow as our first glimpse into the project.

From seeing The Stone Roses at his first-ever gig as a teen to linking up for an album with him, we have to say we’re a bit jealous of Gallagher here. Still, the track is a bit of a throwback with Squire’s signature guitar tone and Liam’s growling vocal.

Donned by Squire as, “one of the most uplifting tracks on the album,” the track is also full of plenty heavenly guitar solos that’ll definitely please Stone Roses fans.

Love indie? You might like…

Revival Indoor Festival Blackpool | Friday 8th - Saturday 9th March, 2024 | Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Drum & Bass and Jungle

Real Champion (DJ Hybrid Remix)

The hardest working, most consistent name in jungle and drum and bass (at least in our opinion) is back again, this time with a remix of Phibes’ Real Champion.

A vital name on the scene, Hybrid, has been at it since 2004, representing Serial Killaz, Audio Addict, and more. Known for his diverse sets, he went on to chart and secured himself a few awards along the way.

Pure energy from the mad percussion and packed with hard basslines, we’ll have this one on repeat for the rest of our lives.

Get tickets to see DJ Hybrid live here:

Hidden Agenda - DJ Hybrid & Exile + more! | Friday 19th January 2024 | Hare And Hounds Kings Heath in Birmingham

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Hip-Hop and Jazz

Cry Baby - Brad stank ft. Lord Apex

Heavily leaning into jazz sounds on this one, Liverpool’s Brad stank has joined forces with Lord Apex, who grew up in London.

Cinematic, stunning, and comfortably lazy, like reclining in the sun, Cry Baby is incredibly easy to slip into. And when the saxophone kicks in? It’s like the warmest, cosiest blanket wrapped around you and your brain - easily one of the best new music releases in January 2024.

About the track, Brad stank said, “Relax your aching bones, recline, and sink into Cry Baby… [Lord Apex’s} raps alongside Gal Go’s soaring saxophone really make this one of my favourite pieces I’ve ever made.”

And you know what puts the icing on the cake? We have tickets for both Brad and Apex below.

Get tickets to see (Artist Name) live here:

Brad Stank | Tuesday 30th January 2024 | The Jacaranda Club in Liverpool

Buy tickets:

Lord Apex (Live) | Wednesday 10th April 2024 | 24 Kitchen Street in Liverpool

Buy tickets:

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.