17 Up & Coming Artists in 2023
A new year means a plethora of new music to anticipate. While excitement ascends for albums from well-established musicians, many fresh, new artists are navigating their way to breakout success.
As ways to create buzz change with the help of TikTok and other social media tools, unpredictable career kickstarters are at the fingertips of many. Here are the artists that you should watch in 2023.
LAUNDRY DAY
Genre-defying LAUNDRY DAY consists of five multi-instrumentalists, giving their tracks an authentic DIY approach. The New York band credited Tyler, the Creator and Brockhampton as inspirations, but have a uniquely infectious sound with standout recent releases “Back to Blonde” and “Moved On.” With an extensive discography, the group released their fourth studio album, “We Switched Bodies” in the early months of 2022.
The group has a lot to offer, with their music videos portraying their artistry just as much as their lyrics. Releasing music videos and behind the scenes for a bulk of their songs, they show dedication to their craft through the innovation of the lyrics.
More*
Kane Ritchotte, former drummer of Portugal. The Man, and Malcolm McRae crossed paths in L.A., where they decided to collaborate and form more*. Last year, the band released the rock-and-roll-infused Another Change EP and in 2023 we want more, more, more!
Ultra Q
Formed in Oakland, CA the group Ultra Q, take on the rock genre by storm. With a mix of alternative, pop and rock the group showcase their talent in every release. The band is set to release “VR Sex” in late January, followed by their debut album.blu
Maggie Lindemann
Maggie Lindemann proved with her 2022 album SUCKERPUNCH that she’s not just a pretty girl. Shedding her past persona, Lindemann reformed her musical taste with songs like “she knows it” and “how could you do this to me?” featuring Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens, solidifying her position in pop punk.
Noah Pope
With just two singles released, “Closer” and “Sumthin,” Noah Pope has begun to shape his artistic vision. Pope is setting his year career for success with his ability to mix and record in his basement, paired with an aurally intriguing vocal technique.
WOAH
WOAH practically bottles-up nostalgia and infuses it into their songs. The band’s sophomore EP sitting in an open room dropped on December 29, and we expect to be streaming it well into 2023.
Dogpark
Composed of University of Richmond students, “Dogpark” is known for their eccentric covers, most recently covering Amy Winehouse’s “Valerie” and “This Love” by Maroon 5. Gaining traction on social media platform Tik Tok the group has accumulated over 10 thousand followers in just under a month. The band consists of Eamon Moore, Will Harford, Billy Apostolou, Christian La Rose Conte, and Declan Harris. Playing at both house parties and local venues, they have been performing as a group for nearly two years.
Check out the group on Tik Tok! @Dogpark.Band
Sarah Crean
Sarah Crean’s summer release “02:00” shot from thousands to nearly 2M streams on Spotify last fall. Through influences by the likes of Men I Trust and Japanese Breakfast, the Irish singer-songwriter navigates folk and indiepop genres effortlessly.
Isaac Dunbar
19-year-old Isaac Dunbar has everything that it takes to dominate music in 2023— the eccentric look, intricate lyricism and a whimsical point of view. Merging dance-pop and R&B, Dunbar has a diverse catalog of four consecutive EPs, the most recent being 2022’s Banish The Banshee.
Social Cig
“Born and brewed” in Wisconsin, Social Cig encapsulates coming-of-age intricacies as if it were a conversation over a cigarette. With his love for midwestern culture at the forefront, Social Cig is royalty in the Milwaukee live alternative music scene.
Blackstarkids
After the release of their album CYBERKISS*, a festival run and joining The 1975 on their “At Their Very Best” Tour, Blackstarkids had a phenomenal year. The high-energy, hip-hop/indie pop group is heavily influenced by pop culture, as evident through breakout tracks “Frankie Muniz” and “Love, Stargirl.”
Boyish
Recipients of the 2021 LGBTQ+ Emerging Artist Award presented by the Music Forward Foundation, Boyish speaks to the queer experience through an indie sleaze lens. With their next project scheduled to release in the spring, Boyish is a duo to watch for 2023.
Chappell Roan
Self-proclaimed “thrift store pop star” Chappell Roan found success over the past year by marketing herself on TikTok, promoting releases like “Naked in Manhattan” and “Casual.” After years of label drama, Roan went independent in 2022 and gained rapid popularity by taking her career into her own hands.
Tanukichan
Tanukichan is the pseudonym for classically-trained artist Hannah van Loon, who pivoted towards a “dad rock” approach after discovering bands like Incubus during her adolescence. Van Loon works alongside Grammy-nominated Chaz Bear of Toro y Moi and is expected to release her sophomore album GIZMO on March 3.
Forrest Nolan
Gen-Z bedroom pop is in great hands with Forrest Nolan. Nolan’s relatability is off-the-charts on tracks like “stupid i miss u,” “a song from yesterday” and “Pickup Lines,” which accurately recount the feelings of contemporary young adulthood.
THE BAND LIGHT
Self proclaimed “rock n roll boy band”, “THE BAND LIGHT”, creates a simultaneously confident and idealistic sound in their records. With an album under their belt, the Nashville bunch amassed over five thousand monthly listeners on Spotify, the number increasing every month. “Crash My Car”, their latest single being among their most streamed, alongside hits “staring at the moon” and “Change My Mind”. The music video for “Crash My Car” features all four members, Konnor Dolberry, Jack Glenn, Garrett Goodrich, and Trevor Young.
The group tease new adventures on their Instagram, “new year, new light. boy is 2023 gonna be fun.”
Ruel
Following the success of the 2019 single “Painkiller,” Australian singer Ruel collaborated with celebrated artists such as Omar Apollo and JVKE, as well as supported Shawn Mendes on tour. After releasing a lieu of captivating singles in 2022, Ruel is on our radar for the upcoming year.
A commonality of all music fans is the struggle to step outside of the constant loop that is the playlist of your favorite songs. Acknowledgingly, there is no better feeling than falling head over heals for a new artist, and the rush of dopamine that comes with it. Off the Record Press encourages listeners of all genres to getoutside their comfort zone, and experience that feeling.
WORDS BY BRADY JAGER, REEGAN JOHNSON
COVER PHOTO BY CAMILLA FFRENCH
