The Top 10 Artists of 2023

You know how this list would work, now let us get into the rules.

• Based on their songs, albums, performances, and compositions throughout 2023.
• Based on my opinion.
• Based on the number of releases, quality of releases, and influence.

Honorable Mentions

B.I

Danny Brown

SHINee

Queen Bee

10. Ninety One

How does one qualify Ninety One's year? They released many songs, and the best of them didn't appear on their album? They successfully formed a new agency, but they didn't recapture their glory days' success. Their fandom grew and they had a successful tour, but ended the year entering an indefinite hiatus that will at the minimum last for years. At least they made some good music, getting them onto this countdown.

9. Lankum

Lankum had their biggest year yet, with False Lankum selling well, and garnering critical acclaim. If you want some strong folk music, and a tense, apocalyptical sound, now is the time to join the Lankum bandwagon.

8. Olivia Rodrigo

After a fairly silent 2022, 2021's best and biggest rookie artist came back with a vengeance. Guts was an improvement over everything Olivia Rodrigo had done before, taking her personal sound and lyricism to its natural conclusion.

7. McKinley Dixon

McKinley Dixon may still be a relatively unknown name, but he remains on the cusp of a mainstream breakthrough. His album, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? was beloved (pun intended) by critics and fans alike, and even sold decently well. He has potential for a career in the vein of Kendrick Lamar, and could be a leader of the next generation of American rappers.

6. George Clanton

While he might not have had the same commercial success as the artists above him, George Clanton has grown into a mighty force to be reckoned with in the indie electronica/vaporwave scene. From his label, 100% Electronica's success as of late to his (excellent) album Ooh Rap I Ya, Clanton seems to have fostered a natural fandom, necessary for an artist's continued relevance.

5. Lana Del Rey

With Did You Know There Is A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, Lana Del Rey released her most famed album since NFR, garnered several key Grammy nominations, and released some instant fan favorites within a really short time. More than anything, 2023 saw Del Rey expand and grow her sonic influences while staying true to her sound.

4. Sufjan Stevens

Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens did release a ballet soundtrack early this year, but that is far from what got him on this list. His LP Javelin won both my Album of the Year and Song of the Year awards, garnered critical acclaim, and sold really well too. A more even schedule and he may have taken the top spot on this list too.

3. Yoshiki

Yoshiki is a little tricky to quantify. He only released one song as a soloist but was the key mastermind between many of the year's best groups and projects. He masterminded the J-Rock supergroup The Last Rockstars, composing and writing their material and leading them on a successful world tour. He also had his legendary rock outfit X Japan return with their first song in years, and debuted a new boy band with XY, creatively planning all these releases. I just hope he takes a rest soon.

2. PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress had the dream year for any artist. Her January single Boy's A Liar Pt. 2 went viral, and her sound as a result followed through across the world. Her album was critically acclaimed and sold quite well, and it also was enjoyable, pioneering arguably the best example of drums & bass pop.

1. Ali Sethi

All Ali Sethi had to do in 2023 was release safe and sound ghazals and he could be the most successful Pakistani artist since perhaps Nazia Hassan. Instead, he chose to opt for a more experimental route, taking ghazals and qawwalis to dark, sensual, and melodically frightening places. From his excellent early-year singles, a strong debut EP, and finally, his (incredible) first full-length album, Sethi had a dream 2023.