My Favorite Things 2023: Music

As 2023 comes to a close. I’ll be sharing my favorites of the year and chatting about my top picks. Today I’ll be sharing my top picks in music. Narrowing down music into compilation posts is always a daunting task for me since I listen to a wide variety of music daily.

I listen to way more Spotify and music playlists on YouTube, etc. I’ve been listening to a lot of Lo-fi or indie music playlists especially since it helps me as I work or study.

Here’s a list of some of my 2023 favorites in music:

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Spotify Stats

There’s no surprise that K-Pop is my number one genre on Spotify as that’s where I go to listen to most of my K-Pop playlists and find the newest tracks. I listen to a multitude of genres on Spotify, but I can say the top genres compiled here are probably the most accurate. I listen to Spotify when I work or commute, so I know my overall listening time per week is high. I would say YouTube is still my number one source for finding new artists and listening to other genres of music. I’ve also managed to find a lot of new music through social media as well.

I am not shocked to see that a New Jeans song made my song of the year! I listen to their music constantly. I’m not a huge Aespa fan, but I do love their song Spicy. I was still shocked to see that song many my top five list.

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Breakout/New to Me Artists

• Laufey
• Rolling Quartz
• The Linda Lindas
• Samara Joy
• Purple Kiss
• Jaime Miller
• XG
• DreamNote
• Thuy
• MXFRUIT
• Lu Kala
• Ava Max

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Songs

There’s no way I could list all of my favorite songs I listened to, but here is a sampling of songs (new and old) that I had on replay constantly all year long.

• When I Get Old by Christopher, CHUNG HA
• Fearless by Rolling Quartz
• Growing Up by The Linda Lindas
• Warm In December by Samara Joy
• Nerdy by Purple Kiss
• TGIF by XG
• Skeleton Sam by LVCRFT
• From The Start by Laufey
• Why’d You Come in Here Lookin’ Like That by Dolly Parton
• Cheat by Mahalia feat. Jojo
• Angel by Halle
• Strawberry Ice Cream by MXFRUIT
• Step by Step by Kenta Dedachi
• Cotton Candy by Jinyoung
• You’re Makin’ Me High by Toni Braxton
• Baila Casanova by Paulina Rubio

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Albums

Six the Musical Soundtrack – I got to see Six The Musical in June and I love how the show is a pop-style concert infused with a modern take on history. The soundtrack is full of power anthems, ballads, and songs that will make you get up on your feet. It left a long-lasting impression on me!

Bewtiched by Laufey – Bewitched is the second studio album by Laufey, who is one of my favorite new Jazz artists. Her music can best be described as “hopeless romantic” and the theme and songs of this album is love. I love her melodic and soothing vocals which have this charisma to it.

Beetlejuice The Musical Soundtrack – If you enjoy things that are strange and unusual then Beetlejuice the Musical is the show for you! You should know that the musical does share some similar moments from the 1988 film, but for the most part, it deviates from the original source which I appreciated. The soundtrack is filled with catchy, lively tunes that get stuck in your head after the show. It’s loud, raunchy, and fun!

Hometown Cha Cha Cha Soundtrack – So technically this album came out in 2021, but I’m always late on the K-drama bandwagon. I love how this OST reflects the calming nature of this show and its scenic seaside setting. The show can best be described as a dreamy and relaxed take on life away from the city and the songs on the album whisk viewers away to this magical place.

This is Why by Paramore – This Is Why is the sixth studio album by Paramore and it is the band’s first album in nearly six years. After Laughter (the previous album) had a more retro sound and feel to it. This is Why felt more like a return to their original sound with a bit of twist. I’ve been a huge fan of Paramore since the Riot! album days and love to see how they’ve evolved over the years. I love the post-punk vibe and sound of the tracks.

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What were your music favorites in 2023? Are there any albums, genres, or songs that you constantly had on repeat? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.