The first month of 2023 is behind us, but it left a slew of great music that’ll remain in our playlists for a long time. In no particular order, these 10 songs stood out from the rest.

hemlocke springs - "Stranger Danger"

North Carolina singer-songwriter hemlocke springs delivered a fantastic follow-up to their viral single "Girlfriend" with "Stranger Danger." The rising artist knows how to deliver some catchy tunes, and "Stranger Danger" is only accentuated by the artist's enchanting vocals.

Enter Shikari - "(pls) set me on fire"

Enter Shikari is ready for the release of album number seven with A Kiss for the Whole World, and the album's first single "(pls) set me on fire" turns things up with Latin-inspired grooves thanks to drummer Rob Rolfe. The band's new album is slated for an April 21 via So Recordings/Ambush Reality. Pre-orders can be made here.

eMolecule - "Mastermind"

Prog rock band eMolecule, which includes former Sound of Contact members Simon Collins and Kelly Nordstrom, delivers a diabolical number full of twists and turns with "Mastermind." The song comes from the band's forthcoming debut album The Architect, which drops on February 10 via Insideoutmusic. Pre-orders for the album can be made here.

Sleep Token - "The Summoning"

U.K. alternative metal band Sleep Token had one productive January with the release of four songs. Out of the four songs, "The Summoning" had more of a wow factor due to the song's groovy conclusion. The cut is slated to appear on Sleep Token's forthcoming studio album Take Me Back to Eden, which will be released this year via Spinefarm.

Loki's Folly - "Beaches and Peaches"

"I'm sitting on my beaches eating peaches, the government is corrupt" is probably not something you'd expect to hear from a trio of young siblings. Loki's Folly, which features sisters Annie (age 21, vocalist/guitarist) and Nissa (age 16, drummer/vocalist) and their brother Oskar (age 12, bass), showcase a concern for the world masked as a cheerful indie-punk tune with "Beaches and Peaches," which includes the relatable cries of "What's going on?" The song comes from the band’s debut album Sisu, which will be out on February 21 via Kitten Robot Records.

Laure Briard - "The Smell Of Your Hair"

Laure Briard's delectable earworm "The Smell Of Your Hair" has every right to be the theme for a rom-com. The psychedelic pop tune comes from the artist's forthcoming album Ne pas trop rester bleue, which arrives on February 10 via Midnight Special Records. Pre-orders for the album can be found here.

Phoneboy - "Ferrari"

New Jersey indie rock outfit Phoneboy claim to "never wanna be famous" in their single "Ferrari," but the song's catchy hooks can very well lead the group to superstardom. "Ferrari" comes from the band's forthcoming studio album Moving Out, which will arrive on March 24. Pre-orders for the album can be made here. Tickets for the band's forthcoming tour can be found here.

KRUELTY - "Burn The System"

Japanese metalcore band KRUELTY unveiled a straighforward heater with "Burn The System," which draws a strong influence from Swedish death metal. The song comes from KRUELTY's forthcoming album Untopia, which will arrive on March 17 via Profound Lore Records. Pre-orders for Untopia can be made here.

Yaeji - "For Granted"

2023 will be a big year for NYC electronic artist Yaeji, and their euphoric single "For Granted" is leading the charge with a momentous journey through experimental pop. "For Granted" stems from Yaeji's forthcoming debut album With A Hammer, which arrives seven years after the release of the artist's debut single. The album will be out April 7 on XL Recordings. Pre-orders can be made here.

Deathcrash - "Empty Heavy"

U.K. slowcore band Deathcrash unloaded a devastating number with "Empty Heavy," which simmers until reaching an eruptive conclusion. The song is the first single from the act's forthcoming album Less, which will be released on March 17th via untitled (recs). Pre-orders can be made here.