While 2023 may have been the year of Taylor Swift for many, according to KGNU Music Director Indra Raj, for the world of music, it was about so much more.
KGNU’s music department received more albums in 2023 than any other year. According to Raj, independent artists are churning out “at this moment, the best, most innovative music that we’ve ever heard, right now, and we should all be listening to it.”
On today’s A Public Affair, KGNU’s Alexis Kenyon interviews Raj about music we all may have missed from 2023.
Listen to the interview here:
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01_01_24_apaindra Alexis Kenyon
List of bands via order mentioned:
Indra’s top artists/albums for 2023: many badass women and an exceptional Denver-based band.
Kiltro – Denver-based band with a Chilean American vibe that’s both vampy and dreamlike.
Hania Rani – Known for her amazing instrumental compositions, Hania Rani hails from Eastern Europe.
Hanakiv – Also from Eastern Europe, Hanakiv specializes in experimental instrumental music, pushing genre boundaries.
Sofia Kourtesis – This Peruvian DJ and electronic producer brings a stunning album with a strong house influence. Listen here.
Laura Veirs – Her latest album, “Phone Orphans,” is described as dark and insular, offering a very intimate folk experience. Listen here.
Top Picks from KGNU DJs:
Jaimie Branch – Her album “Fly or Die Fly or Die Fly or Die” is innovative jazz.
Meshell Ndegeocello – Her eclectic mix of jazz and other genres made it to many on KGNU’s top lists this year.
Jalen Nganda – A breakout neo-soul artist with an incredible voice, Jalen Nganda’s performances have been turning heads.
Say She She – This band from Brooklyn mixes funk, R&B, and modern soul to create something truly unique.
Altin Gün – A Turkish psychedelic band whose album “Ask” offers a global sound that’s hard to find on any other station but you can hear on KGNU on the regs.
For a deeper dive into the music that shaped 2023 and to discover even more hidden gems, check them out here.
