No rankings. Just 50 songs that tell the story of music in 2023’s first half
*all songs were released before a cutoff data of June, 1. Any songs released after that date will be eligible for part 2 of this series
By Ben Leshan
5g- brakence
Source: @brakence
brakence, one of our Artists to Watch in 2022, has really found his sound on his most recent project hypochondriac, and “5g” is a fantastic example of how to execute a concept song that has replay value. The sonic experience is exciting and catchy, while the lyricism and messaging are thoughtful and well-crafted. This track is hyper-pop, and it features brakence’s signature passionate vocal delivery, but it is not overly experimental as to lose its accessibility.
UNDEFEATED- EST Gee
Source: @est.gee
This track exemplifies what EST Gee can do over a vocal sample that gives his voice room to breathe, and the result is special. Gee, one of our Next Up Rappers back in 2022, comes through with some of the hardest verses of the year and a high-quality sung chorus, making for one of the best overall rap tracks we’ve gotten in 2023. EST Gee is not just a hard, street rapper, he is a versatile emcee with the potential to follow a similar path to an artist like Lil Baby who emerged from the trap scene to become a mainstream mega star.
Let Me Down- Quinn XCII feat. Chelsea Cutler
Source: @quinnxcii
“Let Me Down” has the classic bubbly bounce of a Quinn XCII track, and it is executed to perfection. The juxtaposition of the vibrant instrumental and sad lyrics works well, and Quinn and Cutler show off their incredible chemistry and strong vocal chops here. The ear worm chorus and warm synths feel magical on the chorus, and each artist showcases their writing strengths on strong verses. This track is radio-ready and full of life, and it should have gotten even more love as the best track on Quinn’s 2023 release The People’s Champ.
Boy’s A Liar Pt. 2- Pinkpanthress feat. Ice Spice
Source: @pinkpantheress
This song was a moment. Two of the biggest up-and-coming stars in the music industry on the same track, and both killed it. The soft electro-glamor of pinkpantheress music doesn’t seem like the ideal space for rising drill rapper Ice Spice, but the Bronx rapper dominated her verse, coming with perhaps the most memorable mainstream rap verse of the year. Credit should also obviously go to pinkpantheress for crafting the incredible initial track and having the vision to add Ice Spice to the remix.
on the street- j-hope feat. J Cole
Source: @uarmyhope
A collaboration between a member of k-pop sensation BTS and J Cole sounds like a fever dream, but this collab is real and impressive. j-hope comes through with a memorable chorus and a solid verse over a fantastic instrumental featuring a boom-bap drum groove and a background whistle, and then J Cole comes in with what may be the rap verse of the year. In his signature style as a feature artist, Cole comes in and eviscerates the track with beautiful lyricism and powerful delivery, elevating this track from a solid effort to one of the best releases of the year.
Worst Case Kid- Tommy Lefroy
Source: @tommylefroy
Indie duo Tommy Lefroy have tapped into something special in their early releases together, and “Worst Case Kid” is the best of their excellent Rivals EP. Built on moody guitars over an indie drum groove, this track has incredible vocals to match the standout production, and imaginative and descriptive lyrics to take it over the top. The track feels cinematic, holding depth and warmth, but also pain within its aura, and communicating emotion with ease and passion. Tommy Lefroy are artists to watch and this song shows the quality of their work.
The Hard Way- PNAU, Khalid
Source: @pnaupnau
Australian EDM trio PNAU comes through with an absolutely killer instrumental on this track, and find the perfect vocalist to do the production justice in Khalid. Known for his superb vocal performances on previous dance mega hits like Marshmello’s “Silence” and Martin Garrix’s “Ocean”, this track has the potential to reach the same stratosphere with the raw emotionality of Khalid’s tone and the lush synths and catchy melodies in PNAU’s performance. This song is something special.
How I’m Feeling Now- Lewis Capaldi
Source: @lewiscapaldi
Lewis Capaldi is known for being vulnerable about love on his songs, but he has never been so vulnerable about his mental health as he is here, diving into his struggles with depression in raw, yet eloquent lyrics. The song also sounds like a hit, juxtaposing lower register vocals over acoustic guitars on the verses with belting and heavier instrumentation on the choruses. This track is also incredibly catchy and should be relatable for millions of fans.
Always- Daniel Caesar
Source: @danielcaesar
“Always” is easily in the running for the most beautiful song of the year, featuring impeccably soulful vocals from Caesar and topnotch songwriting. On an album full of beautiful tracks, this one stands out, and is arguably one of the very best all-around rnb song of the last few years. The depth of emotion in Caesar’s voice is magical, and he expresses his unconditional, yet unrequited love with passion and vulnerability.
Weightless- Arlo Parks
Source: @arlo.parks
Arlo Parks has been one of the best artists in the game for years at this point (we first wrote about her as one of our Artists to Watch in 2021), but this is her best work yet. Singing over more active and energetic production than is typical of her catalog, an instrumental that features popping synth hits, grooving drums, and drifting pads, Parks is given the backdrop to show off the incredible clarity in her tone. Lyrically, the track dives into a relationship that has gone bad, but that Parks can’t let go of, using well-thought-out metaphors and imagery to tell the story in a unique way.
So So close- kamal.
Source: @kamalnw
kamal.’s “So so close” is short and sweet, communicating intense emotion and showcasing beautiful vocals in under 2 minutes. Built on an acoustic guitar lick and piano chords, kamal. shows off his beautiful tone in an intimate setting here. The track builds and transforms throughout its short run time, delivering a full experience for the listener. This song feels like an interlude, but it also does more in under 2 minutes than most songs can do in 4 or 5.
Difficult- Gracie Abrams
Source: @gracieabrams
“Difficult” is the track with the most up-beat and energetic production on Gracie Abrams’s Good Riddance, featuring heavy drums and huge, anthemic choruses, but themes of pain and confusion in early adulthood ring through in the lyrics. Abrams shows off her vocal tone and finds a balance between her singer-songwriter leanings and commercial pop here. She is able to create a song that has the energy to change the tempo of a live show while sticking true to her artistry here.
Ribbons- Ryan Beatty
Source: @ryanbeatty
Perhaps most noted for being a Brockhampton collaborator in the late 2010s with ear-catching vocals that catapulted him to fame as a pseudo-member of the group, Ryan Beatty stepped back into center stage with the release of “Ribbons”, the lead single of his 2023 album Calico. A moving, cinematic ballad built on sparse piano melodies and Beatty’s gripping voice, this track is one of the single best examples of emotional songwriting we have seen in years. The imagery, production, and vocal layering create a true spiritual experience for the listener on this track.
Pit Stop- Bakar
Source: @bakarrrr
UK artist Bakar has been one of the most consistent and impressive acts in the world over the last few years. His completely original, accented vocal tone is completely gripping, and his songwriting never fails. “Pit Stop” is another great example of what he can do, featuring memorable melodies, emotional songwriting, and a guitar-based instrumental that builds with a unique drum groove.
Creepin’- Metro Boomin feat. The Weeknd, 21 Savage
Source: @metroboomin
Metro Boomin wanted to show versatility on Heroes and Villains and this track accomplishes that goal. Featuring The Weeknd’s interpolation of Babyface hook and rapping from 21 Savage, Metro merges an rnb-leaning, spacy production style with the signature trap production that originally popularized his beats. Abel and 21 may seem like an unorthodox combination, but Metro creates a sonic world where they can both thrive, finding the right mix of moody synths and a fantastic drum groove both artists sound great over.
Flowers- Miley Cyrus
Source: @mileycyrus
“Flowers” was a massive chart-topper for good reason. It takes the essence of what made Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” a smash hit and flips it into an anthem for women who have recently broken up with a significant other. Miley finds a balance between using the full, raw power and soul of her voice and making a track that can dominate pop radio, making a danceable and energetic track that still features high quality vocals and strong songwriting moments.
Forever $cams- BabyTron
Source: @babytron
BabyTron’s rise onto the scene had a lot to do with his meme-worthy qualities, but the potential to be a top quality emcee has always been there, as we noted in his feature on our 2022 issue of Moonlxte’s Next Up Rappers. On “Forever $cams” BabyTron lives up to that billing by creating one of the best hip hop intros of the year. The track starts out with Tron rapping nonstop over an open instrumental, and when the beat drops as he goes in even harder, barring up a classic Detroit instrumental with a clear intent to show off his wordplay and hunger.
Ghost- Brevin Kim
Source: @brevinkim
Brevin Kim’s 2023 project High School Football has so much sonic diversity and many candidates for this list, but “Ghost” stands out for its infectious production and song structure. This track features one of the best choruses of the year, and uses sonic experimentation to bring the emotions in the vocal to life. The production also plays with moments of acoustic vibes and a buildup into controlled chaos, exemplifying what made Brevin Kim one of our Artists to Watch in 2022, and what makes them one of the most exciting artists in the modern music world.
Lovely Sewer- Yves Tumor
Source: @yvestumor
“Lovely Sewer” plays with the contrast between deep, full vocals from Yves Tumor and haunting refrain vocals from collaborator Kida. The catchiness of the bass lick, the frenzy of the drums, and the atmosphere of the record make this one of the best sonic experiences of the year. On an album full of excellent tracks that prove Tumor’s elite talent, this one stands out for its simultaneous juxtaposition of very different sounds and the cohesion of the end-product.
Good For Now- Chiiild feat. Lucky Daye
There is something comforting about chiiild’s approach to “Good For Now”, as he draws his listener in with a soulful and calm delivery over soft indie drums and guitar. Chiiild builds to a catchy chorus that puts everything together, and then rnb star Lucky Daye jumps in on the second verse, adding sonic diversity to the track but not diverting too far from the original sound and message. All together, this is one of the best songs of the year.
Chemical- Post Malone
Source: @postmalone
“Chemical” is slightly different in sound from Post Malone’s previous work, but finds a familiar theme of bubbly, warm sounds contrasted with darker lyrics. Posty sings about a toxic relationship but makes this an upbeat pop song that will get stuck in your head. His vocals communicate the pain associated with his lyrics in his signature style though, and the overall aura of the song seems to meld elements from each of previous albums.
Mountain With A View- Kelsea Ballerini
Source: @kelseaballerini
“Mountain With a View” is desperately sad. On the song, Ballerini sings about a failing engagement in a clear tone with a bit of southern twang. The track is built on layered guitars that build and fade to create energy in the production, as Ballerini starts the song wallowing in sorrow, and then comes to accept the breakup, although with sadness, by the end of the song. This is a unique and quality take on a country breakup song that feels innovative and important in the current landscape of the genre.
Mind Body Soul- G Perico, DJ Drama
Source: @gperico
G Perico’s confident delivery, incredibly original rap voice, and west coast swag shine over a soul sample on “Mind Body Soul”. Perico raps about his adoration for a woman on the track, combining his slick confidence and throwback style with a genuine, loving tone in his lyrics. G Perico is truly original in the modern rap landscape, and this track is a great example of what he can do.
Drive me crazy!- Lil Yachty feat. Diana Gordon
Sources: @lilyachty
“Drive Me Crazy!” is another in a long line of infectious Lil Yachty songs, but its style is completely different from his previous feel-good anthems like “iSpy” and “Broccoli”. With a standout feature from R&B singer Diana Gordon that sets the tone for the track, Yachty finds his groove over funky production with hints of disco, bringing melody, vocal experimentation, and upbeat energy to a top quality verse.
Dawns- Zach Bryan feat. Maggie Rogers
Source: @zachlanebryan
Zach Bryan and Maggie Rogers may seem like very different artists on the surface level, but they are two of the most purposeful songwriters and passionate musicians in the modern music scene, so a collaboration makes a lot of sense. “Dawns” is full of Americana imagery and raw passion like much of Bryan’s catalog, but its style also lends itself to Rogers’ style from her most recent album Surrender, and she turns in an excellent verse and backing vocals to round out the track.
Since I Have A Lover- 6lack
Source: @6lack
“Since I Have A Lover”, the lead single to 6lack’s album of the same name, is an introduction to the sonic world and mindset he currently occupies. There is a brightness to the production that we have not gotten in his previous work, and the lyrics match in their increased optimism. There is an honesty and self-acceptance in this song that shines through, making the track different from anything he has ever released while remaining true to 6lack’s unique vocal style and artistry.
Fight the Feeling- Rod Wave
Source: @rodwave
Rod Wave’s ability to make sad rap songs with anthemic qualities is unmatched, and this track perfectly fits that bill. This is a radio-ready hit, with more upbeat energy in the production and vocals than most Rod songs, but it doesn’t sacrifice the soulful vocals and honest songwriting that make him great. It has the versatility to thrive across a variety of settings from a party to quiet car ride. The song has also seen great commercial success, and still has more room to grow.
Gutter- venbee
Source: @venbee.music
The raw honesty of young UK artist venbee’s lyrics draws in her listener immediately on “Gutter”, and she keeps them engaged by creating a track with sonic merit to match the appeal of its story. On the song venbee sings about the mistakes and challenges that could have led her to be “dead in the gutter by now” over hyperpop style production. venbee has quickly developed into a rising star over the last two years, and this song should push her to higher heights.
Homicide Gvng- Key Glock
Source: @keyglock
Key Glock’s Glockoma 2 is full of bangers, and “Homicide Gvng” might be the best one. With a cool confidence and complete command of flow, Glock slides over soulful, upbeat production here. Throughout the song he takes a boastful tone and makes numerous wide-ranging references with accessible yet, clever wordplay, and shifts his flow regularly to keep his listener engaged. Glock has been a sneaky good lyricist for his entire career, and this track shows him to be a truly polished hitmaker and songwriter.
Right My Wrongs- Khamari
Source: @khamarimusic
One of our artists to watch in 2023, Khamari has lived up to that billing by releasing great songs like “Right My Wrongs”. With a soul sample behind him, Khamari’s beautiful vocals shine through as he sings about trying to redeem himself in a relationship where he has made mistakes. The production sounds like something Dominic Fike or Omar Apollo would sing on, but the vocal is firmly Khamari’s unique sound, this time casually delivered, yet firmly soulful.
Body bag- Charlotte Lawrence
Source: @charlotteslawrence
Charlotte Lawrence’s skill as a ballad writer is incredible. A largely acoustic piano ballad centering Lawrence’s vulnerable lyrics about a painful relationship, “Bodybag” pulls you in immediately with the pain in her breathy vocal. Lawrence writes gut-wrenching lyrics that immerse her listener in the depths of her emotion while simultaneously maintaining a sound that doesn’t fall into the pitfalls of dullness or over-singing sometimes associated with this type of track.
Familiarity- Teezo Touchdown
Source: @teezotouchdown
Teezo Touchdown has been a buzzing name for some time now, cosigned by major artists like Tyler, the Creator, and while his early catalog has shown legitimate potential, this is the best track he has released in his young career. The sound here is completely unorthodox, with verses that meld rock and hip hop both in production and vocal delivery, and rock-leaning choruses full of ear candy that will get stuck in your head. Teezo’s genreless sound and infectious energy can make him a superstar, and this song is the best glimpse of that potential we have gotten so far in his career.
First Testament- Sauce Walka
Source: @sauce_walka102
Houston rapper Sauce Walka has been a prolific and respected MC for years, but his pure rap skills have not gotten the shine they deserve. He put everyone on notice with his most recent project Sauce Ghetto Gospel 3 though, and this song is his best work. Melding traditional Texas flows with a slowly drifting soul sample, Sauce raps about a variety of topics including the pain associated with gun violence and death with passion and poise on this song.
No Merci- Little Simz
Source: @littlesimz
Little Simz never fails to deliver quality raps, but this track stands out on her most recent effort NO THANK YOU for the uniqueness of its message in a music climate that definitely needs to hear it. Speaking about the power of saying no and the dangers of predatory record contracts, Simz focuses on ownership in music from a novel angle. She nonchalantly shows off stellar command of flow over a dynamic instrumental, and takes things to the next level lyrically. Instead making one-off references to music ownership, Simz gives us a cohesive narrative full of advice for other artists based on her own experience.
Un x100to- Grupo Frontero, Bad Bunny
Source: @grupofrontera
“Un x100to” shows off the skill of Texas Mexican-American band Grupo Frontera, and was catapulted to unprecedented levels of American chart success for the group with a quality feature from global superstar Bad Bunny. The track mixes regional Mexican production with Bad Bunny’s raggaeton singing style, creating one of the catchiest songs of the year, as the members of Grupo Frontera and Bad Bunny sing with passion about using the last one percent of their battery power to try and win back an old lover.
Not Strong Enough- boygenius
Source: @xboygeniusx
boygenius is made up of three incredible singer-songwriters with illustreous solo careers in Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker, and Lucy Dacus, and together they made a lot of great songs for their alubm, the record. This is the best one though, seamlessly mixing each of their individual visions together into a cohesive and unforgettable track. There is room for each of their voices to shine, and their individual song-writing styles come through without disrupting the flow of the song.
We’re All Gonna Die- Joy Oladokun feat. Noah Kahan
Source: @joyoladokun
Joy Oladokun and Noah Kahan previously worked together on Kahan’s “I Was / I Am” project, and the two star songwriters came together again this year for Oladokun’s 2023 album, Proof of Life. One of our Artists to Watch back in 2022, Oladokun showcases personal growth in the lyrics, finding acceptance in not knowing everything in life. Sonically, the track leans more rock than most of Oladokun’s work in its heavier guitars and drums, and she and Kahan sound great over that style of production.
Denver- Jack Harlow
Source: @jackharlow
“Denver” is Jack Harlow at his best. Reflective and thoughtful over one of the best beats released in mainstream rap this year, Jack takes on the pitfalls of fame, making the common rap topic stand out with his honesty and unique descriptions of his feelings. His vocal performance and flow are also high quality on this song, making this record and his entire album, jackman., feel like a needed pivot from the heavily commercial pop-rap of his last album.
Brooklyn Chop House- Conway the Machine feat. Fabolous, Benny the Butcher
Source: @whoisconway
“Brooklyn Chop House” sees Griselda emcee Conway the Machine rap at his best over top quality production from Daringer. On this track Conway is feeling himself, and he shows, as always, that he has the lyrical chops to boast without sounding corny. Conway, Fab, and Benny all turn in memorable verses over a luxurious string loop. Conway puts together a strong hook, and it all comes together as one of the best boom-bap style tracks we’ve gotten in a while.
Handgun- Jake Minch
Source: @jakeminch
Young singer-songwriter Jake Minch claims he wrote “handgun” when he was trying to write a bad song, but we can assure you he did the opposite. With poignant reflections on the pain associated with the mistakes and realizations of growing up sung in a beautiful tone over acoustic guitar, “handgun” is reminiscent of artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Kevin Atwater. Minch shows himself to be an incredible songwriter and emotional storyteller with gobs of potential on this track.
Nobody Gets Me- SZA
Source: @sza
The commercial success of SZA’s most recent album SOS has been elite. “Nobody Gets Me” has been one of the best performing songs on the record due to its ability to remind fans of what made SZA a star in the first place. With its pain-centered lyrics, largely acoustic, unconventional rnb production, and impressive vocal performance, the track will remind fans of her 2017 effort Ctrl, but it still feels completely modern and shows SZA’s growth.
Every F***ing Time- Claud
Source: @claud.mp3
One of our artists to watch in 2022, Claud is one of the best songwriters rising into the indie pop mainstream. They always find a way to communicate the complexity around processing and gaining understanding of your own emotions surrounding a relationship within the context of a song, and they do so beautifully here. They also add quality vocals and smart production choices to round out a strong track.
PROUD OF ME- Armani White feat. Fridayy
Source: @armaniblanco
“PROUD OF ME” is the anthem of rising Philly rapper Armani White’s debut album Road to CASABLANCO.. Most known for his song “BILLIE EILISH.” which found massive success on TikTok, White shows he is a versatile and talented artist with an ability to meld lyrical competence with mainstream appeal on this song. With the added bonus of top quality vocals on the chorus from rising vocalist Fridayy, this track really stands out.
Snake Eyes- Aries
Source: @aries
Aries has been a mainstay on Moonlxte since he was featured as one of our Artists to Watch in 2021 through his incredible consistency. “Snake Eyes” sees Aries take an upbeat approach that will get concert-goers up and dancing. As always, his songwriting is full of clever metaphors and concepts, and. the production has a level of depth and complexity that elevates the track as a whole.
LSE to LAX- Carlie Hanson
Source: @carliehanson
23-year-old indie artist Carlie Hanson turned in one of the very best albums of the year so far with her project Wisconsin, but before we get to our albums article, it’s time to cover our pick for the best song of that album. Featuring an interesting mix of hip hop style drums and indie rock production melodies, “LSE to LAX” is both a sonically and lyrically original take on a song about the difficulties of a long distance relationship.
Honey- Samia
Source: @samiatheband
On “Honey”, 26-year-old indie rock singer Samia will remind audiences of Phoebe Bridgers with her evocative lyrics, and passionate, yet soft vocal delivery. Her vocal tone, though, is very much her own, as well as her production choices and style of chronicling specific observations into defining aspects of emotional experiences. This track is also deeply catchy in its chorus and vocal licks, giving it significant pop-crossover potential.
Psychopath- Morgan Wade
Source: @morganwademusic
Morgan Wade has been one of the most promising voices in country music in recent years due to her songwriting and vocal tone. This song once again shows off those abilities, as one of the most unique and intricately crafted country love songs of the year. Wade always pays extra close attention to the way she describes things in her lyrics, giving her music an unusual level of soul usually (unfairly) only ascribed to male singers like Zach Bryan and Tyler Childers in the modern country scene, and that can be heard clearly on this track.
TRUSTFALL- P!nk
Source: @pink
Almost 30 years into her career P!nk is still releasing great pop music. “TRUSTFALL” is a really strong vocal performance over high-quality pop anthem production. She is able to take a style of music that often feels soulless and reserved for department stores and poorly-DJed functions and adds the depth and quality that makes pop songs stick. Simply put, this is great song, and whether you just dance along or immerse yourself in the story, you can get a lot out of it.
Momentary Sweetheart- Deb Never
Source: @debnever
Indie singer Deb Never’s “Momentary Sweetheart” showcases an ability to meld quality vocals with big rock guitars and drums to create a catchy track. Singing about the simultaneous excitement and emptiness of romantic connections without commitment, Never uses imagery and vocal delivery well to paint a picture of how she’s feeling. The standout moment of her 2023 EP Thank You For Attending, this song is certainly one of the best of the year so far.
Honeydew 02- Isaia Huron
Source: @isaiahuron
A re-recording of a 2020 release of this song, the 2023 rendition of “Honeydew” is breathtakingly beautiful, featuring airy vocals floating over warm acoustic guitar strums. Huron’s vocals are impeccable, clean and controlled, yet full of emotion. The songwriting is also phenomenal. Huron took a great song and showed off how he has improved as a vocalist and songsmith here, making it even better.
Enjoyed the post? Check out our playlist of songs to introduce you to these emerging artists!
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