Northern Attitude by Noah Kahan & Hozier

Taken from the third album by American singer-songwriter Noah Kahan, Northern Attitude with Hozier feels natural – his voice rich and smooth like chocolate. Whilst the original rendition was released at the tail end of 2022, this new version could easily have been the original. Hozier lends himself to the folk-inspired track, bringing the Irish charm in abundance.

Noah says, “This song wasn’t supposed to exist. I was singing about isolation, about loneliness, about trying to assess who you are and where your life is going, and about accepting that and opening yourself up to love either way. All that time in solitude can bring about clarity in oneself, and I believe this song is an exploration of that self-realization.”

What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish

Taken from the 2023 blockbuster movie, Barbie, What Was I Made For? dominated the internet for its painfully honest lyricism. Rooted in the unmistakable signature sound of Billie Eilish, the production features gentle piano keys, expansive orchestral strings, and ethereal melodies that captivated from the very start.

Rocketing to the tops of charts around the world and inspiring a myriad of TikTok videos on the female experience, What Was I Made For? has been one of the most-listened-to songs of 2023, reaching number-one in Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Daylight by David Kushner

Released earlier this year, Kushner wrote Daylight with Hayden Robert Hubers, Jeremy Fedryk, and Josh Bruce Williams. He described his inspiration for the song: “With Daylight, I aim to convey the paradoxical desire for something that is simultaneously harmful to oneself, using elements of light and darkness.”

The track went viral on TikTok after Kushner posted demo snippets and created a trend called “You look happier; what happened” leading up to its release – a trend that resulted in the song snippet being used in more than 230,000 clips.

Flowers by Miley Cyrus

Released as the lead single to Miley’s return to music, Endless Summer Vacation, Flowers started the year with a bang, receiving ounces of radio play and features across social media.

The feel-good track expresses an ex-lover’s acceptance of being independent after no longer feeling the need to be complete by relying on someone else. In the United States, the single debuted at number one and spent eight non-consecutive weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in addition to becoming Cyrus’ second number-one song on the chart since Wrecking Ball in 2013.

Is It Over Now? (Taylor’s Version) (From The Vault) by Taylor Swift

Taken from the recently re-recorded version of Taylor Swift’s 1989 album, Is It Over Now? has quickly cemented itself as a new fan favourite. As one of the vaulted tracks, hidden from public view for ten years, the song has already risen to become her third-most-streamed track from the Taylor’s Version edition.

Is It Over Now? drew comparisons from music critics to some of Swift’s previous works. Many noted its thematic continuity with Out of the Woods, a single from 1989.

Vampire by Olivia Rodrigo

The first single off GUTS, vampire is reminiscent of Rodrigo’s debut single driver’s license with its piano and buildup.

Starting with a thunderous guitar synth, the bridge steals the spotlight and if you’ve been following Olivia’s musical journey, you’ll agree that this comes as no surprise.

Vampire received widespread critical acclaim upon its release. The Guardian’s Laura Snapes gave the song a five-star rating and stated the pre-chorus “has a dreamy lightheadedness to it that’s quickly become a Rodrigo trademark”.