2023 is already looking like a great year for music, with several big acts set to be making their comebacks by dropping new albums after years without a new release. After an uncertain few years following the pandemic, we can expect there’ll be tonnes of new — and live — music to enjoy this year.
Here are seven albums we can anticipate in 2023:
RAYE - My 21st Century Blues
Raye’s debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues, will be out on February 3rd as her first independent release since leaving Polydor Records. She revealed on Twitter in 2021 that the label had not allowed her to release her first record, despite being on a four-album deal since 2014. Since going independent, the singer recently reached number one on the Official UK Singles Chart with her single ‘Escapism’ featuring 070 Shake, after it trended on TikTok and saw some impressive streaming numbers. The new album was described by Raye in a tweet as her ‘healing journey’ and features a collaboration with Mahalia called ‘Five Star Hotels’.
Boygenius - TBA
Boygenius are one of the music industry’s most exciting supergroups, made up of Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus. Formed in 2018, they released a self-titled EP to critical acclaim, and have since performed together occasionally and even provided backing vocals for each other’s solo projects. The group’s last show together was in November 2021, the same year that Baker and Dacus released their latest studio albums, while Bridgers’ last album, Punisher, was released in 2020. It’s been rumoured that their next project could be released this year after the trio were spotted doing a photoshoot together in LA late last year.
Paramore - This Is Why
Paramore came back with a bang last September with the release of their punchy single ‘This Is Why’. They announced that their sixth album of the same name would be released on February 10th this year, their first release since After Laughter in 2017. The group have since released the second single from the album, ‘The News’, which has a punkier feel to it, with lyrics detailing the struggle of escaping the negativity of today’s news cycle. The album has been hinted to be more guitar-driven this time around, and inspired by bands like Bloc Party. Paramore have also announced a headline tour in support of the new album, which will be heading to the UK in April.
Gorillaz - Cracker Island
Gorillaz will be releasing their eighth studio album Cracker Island on February 24th, following the release of their latest LP, Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez in 2020. The upcoming album will feature collaborations with a range of artists, like Bad Bunny, Tame Impala and Stevie Nicks. The title track was released as the first single in June of last year, and featured bass guitar and vocals from Thundercat. Cracker Island was recorded between 2020 and 2022, with Damon Albarn saying the album has been complete since last May. The tracklist revealed that the record will have ten songs, with a bonus track for Apple Music users.
Frank Ocean - TBA
Frank Ocean hasn’t dropped an album since his critically acclaimed sophomore release Blonde in 2016, which followed Channel Orange in 2012. Fans have speculated that 2023 may be the year that his third studio album is released, as he is set to headline Coachella in April after his initial slot in 2020 was postponed when the festival was cancelled due to the pandemic. The singer also cleared his Instagram page recently by deleting all of his posts, which musicians often use to signify the start of a new era. However, nothing has been confirmed yet, so we’ll be patiently waiting until we hear from Ocean himself.
Lana Del Rey - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
Fans of Lana Del Rey were spoiled in 2021, with two albums of hers being released in the same year, both Chemtrails over the Country Club and Blue Banisters. Lana’s next release, Did
You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, will be coming out on March 10th. The album’s first single, of the same name, was released at the same time as the announcement, a dreamy ballad about not wanting to be forgotten — like the tunnel under Ocean Boulevard. Her upcoming ninth studio album will feature 16 tracks and collaborations with artists like Jon Batiste, Bleachers and Father John Misty.
Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
Also arriving on March 10th, along with Lana Del Rey, is Miley Cyrus’ eighth studio album Endless Summer Vacation. Cyrus described the album as a “love letter to Los Angeles”, with the first single ‘Flowers’ coming out on January 13th. Lyrics from the upcoming single have been teased, including: “I can buy myself flowers, I can love me better than you can”. Miley is known for her diverse music, with her most recent studio albums ranging from a country sound with Younger Now, to rock with Plastic Hearts. Though it’s unclear what genre the singer will be going for with her next release, it’ll definitely be one to listen out for.
