When it comes to music, 2023 has been off to a scalding hot start.
2022 was a year for the record books with all of the great music that was released, and now that we’re a month into 2023, it seems as if artists don’t have any plans of taking their foot off the gas. And good news is, I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. For anyone who says country music is dead, just start paying a little attention to some of the new releases coming out each week and you’ll soon realize you are wrong.
With all that being said, there has already been a ton of great music released this January, and with so much of it constantly coming out, I know it can be difficult to keep up with all of the new music. To help you out, here are my 15 favorite songs released this January. Check them out below.
“Dawns” – Zach Bryan ft. Maggie Rogers
Bryan dropped this track featuring the talented Maggie Rogers after promising to do so if the Eagles beat the Giants in the NFL’s divisional playoff round earlier this month.
Hey Zach, what can we get if they win the Super Bowl in a couple weeks?
“Denial” – Jonathan Peyton
Whether you are familiar with his music yet or not, it’s likely that your favorite artists (Zach Bryan, Drayton Farley, among others) have long been singing the praises of Jonathan Peyton.
Known for his raw songwriting ability and breathtakingly beautiful harmonies alongside his wife, Abbey, Peyton is like a ticking time bomb waiting to rise to similar heights within the genre as his biggest admirers. “Denial” may just be what does it for him.
“Dreaming in the City” – Drew White – Headspace
“Dreaming in the City” is a clever ode to finding comfort in consistency, especially in a life where both can be hard to come by. A song that may take on even more meaning for artists and anyone else who moves around frequently or spends a lot of time on the road, White’s “Dreaming in the City” is a romanticized love song to all of the things that keep him up at night.
While it is my favorite track off of White’s spectacular debut project Headspace, “Dreaming in the City” is far from the only song worth checking out on this record. With seven eclectic songs generally characterized by clever lyricism, creative riffs, and catchy hooks that come together to form a unique style of pop and blues-infused alt-country, Headspace is what I’d imagine would happen if early 2000s Ryan Adams were to step in the studio with Marcus King today. And I highly recommend checking it out.
“For Your Love” – Michael Cleveland ft. Billy Strings and Jeff White
The best guitarist in country music teams up with legendary blind fiddle player Michael Cleveland, and fellow bluegrass musician Jeff White for a special single.
“Go Down, Appalachia” – Pony Bradshaw – North Georgia Rounder
With the recent release of his third album North Georgia Rounder under his belt, Pony Bradshaw continues to prove why he is one of the most underrated artists in country music.
“Goldmine” – JD Clayton – Long Way From Home
The debut full-length album for Arkansas’ JD Clayton, Long Way From Home has quickly put him on the radar for many who previously may not have been familiar with his music.
With a rapidly growing fan base that is sure to continue to skyrocket. JD Clayton is a name you need to know. And “Goldmine” is a great place to start.
“Greatest Story Ever Told” – Bobby Weir & the Wolf Bros ft. Tyler Childers
Tyler Childers teams up with the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir and his band the Wolf Bros for the collaboration we didn’t know we needed.
“Heartless Year” – Band of Heathens
Another great song from legendary Austin, TX outfit Band of Heathens, “Heartless Year” is a sobering tune about holding on and getting through the hard times.
If sad songs make you happy, this might just be your favorite of the month.
“Next Heartbreak – Slaid Cleaves
Written alongside high school pal and fellow musician Rod Picott, longtime Austin, TX songwriter Slaid Cleaves’ “Next Heartbreak” is another sad one about the inevitability of heartbreak in life, and how you need to appreciate and enjoy the good times between the bad.
“Norfolk Blues” – Drayton Farley
All the momentum is on Drayton Farley’s side, and he’s in for a big 2023. As we inch closer to the March 3rd release of Farley’s first full-production studio album Twenty on High, the anticipation for the record is officially snowballing.
Especially after the release of his latest single “Norfolk Blues.”
“One Two Step Away” – David Adam Byrnes
After years as a songwriter in Nashville’s corporate music scene, writing whatever was necessary to pay the bills, DAB had had enough. An Arkansas native, he relocated to Fort Worth, TX soon after leaving Nashville years ago, and the rest is history.
Having since found a honky tonk, 90’s style similar to Mike and the Moonpies or Randall King, “One Two Step Away” is the perfect intro into the special stuff DAB has released over the years.
“Run” – Mae Estes
Country music newcomer Mae Estes brings a refreshing breath of real country music to Nashville, and you don’t need to look any further than her latest single “Run” for proof.
“Sleep, My Mind, and You” – Palmer Anthony
With the capacity to produce fun, honky tonk drinking songs that don’t cross the line into country music’s overused cliches, as well as the ability to slow you down for a heartfelt done-me-wrong song in the truest form of country music, Anthony’s songwriting chops and accompany vocals run the gamut of everything you want in a country artist.
Written alongside the talented Kasey Tyndall, “Sleep, My Mind, and You” is a hard-hitting track exploring the internal conflict of a man at wit’s-end as his relationship falls apart and he struggles to make sense of it all.
And it may just be Anthony’s best release to date.
“Teenage Dixie” – Muscadine Bloodline
The title track off of Muscadine Bloodline’s upcoming record, expected to be released in full on February 24th, “Teenage Dixie” is a catchy track about a high school heartbreak.
A highly anticipated project, with several singles already released, Teenage Dixie truly has the potential to be one of the year’s best albums.
“Watching the Fire Burn” – Nicholas Jamerson
Few people are busier in country music right now than Nicholas Jamerson. “Watching the Fire Burn” is the most recent single from his next solo album Peace Mountain, due out on May 19th of this year.
But before then, Sundy Best, a Kentucky duo of Jamerson and Kristofer Lee Bentley, has their long-awaited comeback album Feel Good Country set to drop this week on February 3rd.
Throw plenty of shows both solo and with the band into the mix over the next several months, and you’ve got a very busy start to the year for Jamerson.
Not too bad, huh?
Let’s see what February has to offer.
