The music of March seemed endless as new albums arrived from Daisy Jones & the Six, Fall Out Boy, Miley Cyrus, and boygenius. Other notable news in the music scene came from Hozier, The Japanese House, and Ed Sheeran. This month, we dove into several mainstream albums, explored albums from new emerging artists, and spiced up our playlists with eclectic tunes from around the globe. Our “New Music Emerging Now: Moods of March” playlists cover everything from R&B to Singer/Songwriter and French Pop to Alternative. A few new favorite discoveries include Blak Emoji, Eremos, Taali, and Annael. Explore all of these artists and more in our March playlists below.
// MARCH SPOTIFY PLAYLIST // MARCH APPLE MUSIC PLAYLIST //
New Music: March Albums & EPs
boygenius-the record //
Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers, and Lucy Dacus start their debut album as boygenius with two sonically polarizing tracks. “Without You Without Them” is a minimalistic harmonic vocal intro showcasing the three women’s raw voices. The album, entitled the record, leads into “$20” with boisterous guitars and an emotional climbing crescendo. As listeners weave through the group’s three artistic styles combined into one entity, they revel in the push and pull of rock-driven tunes and stripped-back hushed desires. Other highlights of the record include the guitar-driven “Satanist” opening with Baker’s edgy vocals followed by “We’re In Love,” which holds a nod to Taylor Swift’s “This Love.” Every song on the twelve-track LP coalesces as perfectly together as the voices of the supergroup. Rolling Stone, DIY, NME, and Dork all boast 5-star reviews for the 2023 debut from boygenius.
Daisy Jones & The Six-AURORA //
Daisy Jones & The Six is an interview-style novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. The music-centered story, influenced partly by Fleetwood Mac, can also be compared to the film Almost Famous for music lovers. Daisy Jones & The Six finally comes to life with the Amazon Prime Video series starring Riley Keough and Sam Clafin. As the series unfolds, the songs on its soundtrack, AURORA, build emotional credibility and exposure. While this album may never touch the 70s classics, AURORA becomes a modern-day nostalgic masterpiece of its own. Songs like “More Fun to Miss,” “Look At Us Now,” and “The River” combine elements of longing, feminine influence, timeless 70s-sounding guitars, and band member banter. If this album hasn’t struck a chord with you, watch the series to see how each song unfolds and comes to life.
Fall Out Boy-So Much (For) Stardust //
Fall Out Boy returns with their eighth studio album, So Much (For) Stardust. The thirteen-track album may not emulate the angst of “A Little Less Sixteen Candles…” à la From Under the Cork Tree, but the Chicagoan band cohesively and succinctly generates a modern millennial gem. Leading with two stadium-charged singles led fans to believe this album was a return to form of sorts to earlier FOB days. So Much (For) Stardust does not disappoint, combining elements from their sound over the past two decades. The band delivers dance-worthy anthems, witty lyrics, and vibrant pop-rock tracks. Anyone who strayed from the Fall Out Boy path seems lured back under their spell for “Heaven, Iowa,” “Fake Out,” and “What A Time To Be Alive.”
Taali-taali //
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Taali soars high with her self-titled record this month. Taali, a veteran songsmith, took upon the challenge of crafting an album with the idea of removing autobiographical anecdotes. The album leads off with an instrumental strings piece, “Did We Die?” straight into “When the Dust Settles,” a minimal piano and vocal track that builds midway with a sense of urgency. Taali’s artistry shines through on the poppier floaty number “Anywhere” as she uses her voice to let the notes take flight. “Somewhere over Kansas” swoons listeners with stacked vocals, while “It Comes for You” adds an edgier side to the album with a poignant keyboard melody. Lyrically, the album explores “grief, wanderlust, self-discovery, and empowerment.” Taali exudes artistic flair and cohesiveness. This album is one for the decades.
Violaine-Rose Rouge-EP //
Chanson française artist Violaine discloses a lyrical journey on her recent Rose Rouge EP. “Toute Petite” is a soft, heartfelt ballad about dealing with negative self-dialogue. Her poetic French lines roll off the tongue on “Juillet” with lyrics like “de nos errances, ivresses dense, je n’ai pas de regret…même si mon cœur n’est pas étanche, je veux rêver…” The second half of the EP picks up with “Oxygène,” a poppy confession of love, and the seductive closing track, “La Partie.” “La Partie” combines infectious beats with Violaine’s sultry vocals, leading to a satisfying instrumental fadeout.
New Music: March Discoveries
Annael “J’accuse” //
French pop singer Annael caught us off guard with his self-aware single “J’accuse.” On “J’accuse,” Annael blends genres with elements of dance and pop and a stylistic aura similar to the likes of Stromae. The diction and elocution of this song are beautifully executed. “J’accuse” creates a sonic loop of transcending sounds that echo a summer music festival. The track digs deeper, however, on self-criticism as Annael shares on Instagram, “Chaque personne à un côté sombre qu’elle doit apprivoiser. C’est un challenge au quotidien, de vivre avec ses défauts et d’y faire face*.”
*Every person has a dark side that they have to tame. It’s an everyday challenge to live with your faults and to face them.
Blak Emoji “Last Night Lost” //
Electro-R&B artist and producer Blak Emoji hypnotizes fans with the remastered single “Last Night Lost.” The vibrating electro beats meshed with luscious falsetto vocals immediately grasp and enthrall listeners. Seductive lyrics creep into your head and resonate with the catchy beats and chorus. “Last Night Lost” is a sweet addition to any going-out playlist.
Caroline Larke “Horses” //
Caroline Larke introduces us to her single “Horses,” and we fell for every detail in this song. “Horses” is a stunner on the first listen, with vocals soaring over open space. The track’s lyricism, delivery, and musical progression resound with perfect execution. The folk-style acoustic song paints a picture of serenity and loyalty. Stylistic decisions on vocal elocution echo Billie Eilish in “When the Party’s Over.” “Horses” invites you to channel your inner zen and surrender to your full potential.
Christine and the Queens “To be honest” //
Christine and the Queens announced “To be honest” as the first single off his upcoming album, PARANOIA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE. “To be honest” is yet another masterful melange of sounds surrounded by the striking vocals of Christine and the Queens. The ever-present combination of mixing French and English lyrics and creating transcending sounds prevails in this lead single. The three-part LP is due out on June 9th, 2023.
Eremos “Ghost On the River” //
In mid-March, Athens, Georgia, rock band Eremos released the mesmerizing single “Ghost On the River.” The delivery on this track, from the vocals to the lyrics and the emotion behind it, speaks volumes to listeners. Written with minimal production and drawing inspiration from blues, indie folk, rock, and country, Eremos hits every note with “Ghost On the River.” “Ghost On the River” is a timeless song that will have you belting out the words right along with it. The alluring and unique vocals only strengthen as the track continues. A captivating guitar arrangement, emotion-evoking opening vocals, memorable singalong chorus, and a properly placed guitar solo make this song perpetually superb.
Lucky Iris “23” //
Lucky Iris is an alt-pop duo from Leeds, U.K. After a period of writing and developing their sound, the band is gearing up to release their new EP, ‘maybe i’m too much.’ “23” is the first serotonin-boosting single from the upcoming summer EP. The production on “23” takes listeners on a sonic nostalgia journey; it’s truly the “frisson” type experience that many music fans often search for in a song. From what we’ve heard, “23” represents the beginning of a new creative era for the young duo.
Sophia Patsalides “Beautiful Ghost” //
Female Cypriot artist Sophia Patsalides, a new music discovery on Groover, landed on our March playlist with “Beautiful Ghost.” The single has a captivating intro, and the vocals are phenomenal. The buildup in this song and the recurring loop from the opening easily make it a breathtaking earworm. Sophia’s pop and R&B style on “Beautiful Ghost” solidifies our interest in the new emerging artist.
March was a massive month for new releases, so check out the full “New Music Emerging Now: March Moods” playlists below.