January has been a bumper month for new music discoveries. This month, I came across 63 tracks—from the folk sounds of Pentangle to newer acts like KNEECAP, some Polish rock via Ich Troje & Riverside, plus dedicated tracks recorded for fashion shows and an unexpected collaboration between Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp.
New music discoveries can happen anywhere—from a friend’s dinner party to a Maldivian resort, online playlists, fashion shows, and even at the Jeff Beck auction preview. As a reminder you can read up on my definition of ‘new’ music and my process on this blog post.
If you are in the mood for some new music then jump straight into the playlist, below, or skip to some of this month’s highlights.
6 Standout tracks from my January Music Discoveries
“Hit the North Part 1” – The Fall
This was a new one for me. It has an almost Clash-esque feel, with simulated horns and chants. Apparently, it’s one of Mark E. Smith’s most accessible songs, reinforcing his pride in Northern England. With lyrics like “Cattle prod kicks the freaks”, it’s still unmistakably The Fall—just one you can dance to.
“Grey Today” – Woody Simmons
his was playing over lunch at Constance Halaveli, sounding very Seventies—somewhere between Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Rickie Lee Jones. Woody Simmons is better known as a banjo player, but she released two albums, and this track appears on her 1977 debut, Oregon Mountains. With under 1,000 plays on Spotify, it feels like an overlooked gem.
Still in the Maldives, we got chatting to the Assistant Food & Beverage Manager, a Pole via Galway, Ireland. We ended up talking music, and he recommended a few bands—including Ich Troje.
“Stay With Me” – Deja-Move, Jantey
For two days, I couldn’t work out why Massive Attack’s “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got” was stuck in my head—until I heard “Stay With Me”. I must have heard it earlier in the week but not caught it. The Massive Attack track is a sample of William DeVaughn’s “Be Thankful for What You Got“, but I can’t see a direct connection between the two. Maybe they just feel right together. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
“Powiedz” – Ich Troje
This one has a definite Eurovision feel, but it’s a grower. Ich Troje is a Polish pop-rock band known for their theatrical performances, dramatic lyrics, and mix of pop, rock, and dance influences. Fronted by the flamboyant Michał Wiśniewski, they gained major popularity in the early 2000s, representing Poland at Eurovision (2003, 2006) with their eccentric, highly visual stage presence. Some of their stuff is a bit shouty, but this is a catchy number.
“Glory” – Gabriels
The standout Glastonbury performance of 2023 came from Gabriels. Their biggest track, “Blame”, is absolutely spine-tingling. Gabriels is a soulful, genre-blending trio from Los Angeles, fronted by the distinctive Jacob Lusk, whose gospel-influenced vocals drive their sound. Blending cinematic orchestration, vintage soul, and modern R&B, they feel both nostalgic and brand new. Definitely worth digging into.
“Stars” – Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp
I knew Johnny Depp played guitar, but I didn’t know he could sing. And, well, he can. Some of their tracks were playing at the Jeff Beck auction preview earlier this month.
The track is from their 2022 album, 18, which includes a cover of The Beach Boys’ classic “Caroline, No”.
Is there anything that catches your ear? Let me know in the comments!
Full Track List
| Track Name | Artist Name |
|---|---|
| Starburster | Fontaines D.C. |
| Each And Every One | Everything But The Girl |
| Parful | KNEECAP |
| Hit the North – Part 1 | The Fall |
| Light Flight | Pentangle |
| Nobody Loves You More | Kim Deal |
| Bags | Clairo |
| La ritournelle | Sébastien Tellier |
| Real Power | Gossip |
| Boys In the Better Land | Fontaines D.C. |
| Dusk Till Dawn | Ladyhawke |
| Glory | Gabriels |
| Sirius (Chicago Bulls Theme Song) | Borna Matosic |
| Relax My Eyes | ANOTR, Abel Balder |
| Always Get Through To You | Barry Can’t Swim |
| Twenty Four Hours | Joy Division |
| Morning Sun | Goldkimono |
| Act Like You Know | Fat Larry’s Band |
| Know Ya | Saco,Sparkle |
| Lady Jane – (Original Single Mono Version) | The Rolling Stones |
| Grey Today | Woody Simmons |
| Ma Cherry Bo | De-Phazz |
| One Hot Afternoon | Patrick Cowley |
| Lost on You | LP |
| Life Is Real | Ayọ |
| Circles | Rufus, Chaka Khan |
| Stay with Me | Deja-Move, Jantey |
| Powiedz | Ich Troje |
| Wypijmy Za To ! | Ich Troje |
| Nie Płacz Ewka | Perfect |
| We Got Used To Us | Riverside |
| Changes | Charles Bradley, The Budos Band |
| Bird of Paradise | Snowy White |
| Stars | Jeff Beck, Johnny Depp |
| Sanctuary | Tamino, Mitski |
| Enough | Nina Nesbitt |
| faith | Tarune |
| Nomad | Clairo |
| Take A Look | Level 42 |
| River (Composed for the CHANEL Spring-Summer 2025 Haute Couture Show) | Gustave Rudman |
| Ankles | Lucy Dacus |
| Softly Seen | CHLOE (Thévenin) |
| Walk On By | Lola Young |
| Woman of the World | Double |
