Juniper Staff Picks: Best of 2023

Juniper’s Songs of the Year

Step into 2024 with a curated collection from some members of the Juniper team. These tunes, handpicked for their timeless charm, blend into the ever-shifting soundscape of the new year.

1. There’s More - Bore Lored

ored Lord is a Bay Area producer who first reached my radar with her 2019 release "Transexual Rave Hymns," a collection of over-the-top pop edits. Her Lordship’s new (criminally under-covered) album "Name It" situates her knack for a catchy melody within stuttering UK club rhythms — apparently inspired by her frequent trips across the pond post-lockdown. The result is best exemplified on “There’s More,” a bouncy little track with some lovely synths, an enchanting hook, and a standout performance from her drum machine’s rimshot button.

I’ve never before had a song with only four words stuck in my head like this one. The whole album pulls off a your-parents-rave appeal without sounding cliché. It’s both earnest and fun. It’s the perfect sound for a full-length debut on Octo Octa’s and Eris Drew’s legendary T4T LUV NRG label. And, if you haven’t already,
you should check it out!

- Grady Moomaw

2. "Maria" – Greg Mendez

My selection for the best song of 2023 has to go to "Maria" by Greg Mendez. For the most part, 2023 has been a great year for new releases, particularly within the current happenings of contemporary folk and indie. There were many songs I could have sided with from this truly lovely album, but ultimately, "Maria" takes the cake for its steady simplicity and understated repetition. It really is just so pretty!

Perhaps feeling somewhat short-changed by the UK’s summer sunshine this year, I and many others were drawn to music of this kind. Here Mendez distills the perfect conditions for quiet introspection on a drizzly train journey home, a calming moment spent folding laundry, or getting stuck into wiping down the kitchen. Top-notch!

- Gus Teakle

3. "Pressure" – myst milano

This is a song I found late in the year but still managed to be one of my faves. This entire album is fantastic with milano combining club beats and heavy anthemic rapping. They manage to hypnotize the listener, invite them to dance, and compel them to yell along in the same song. "Pressure" itself is a standout track with its wobbly bass and breaks deeply familiar to UK listeners and evoking late nights in sweaty London basements.

- Gillian H

4. "My Love Mine All Mine" - Mitski

This is a love song to the self. How powerful are we that we can choose and bestow our love on whoever we want? This empowered me in ways I didn't know I needed. It reminds me that the love I have to give is a vehicle. I don't owe it to anyone, and those who receive it should feel honored, and vice versa. I cherish those who choose to spend their time and energy with me. The things we choose to worship and value in life are important and are how we truly leave our fingerprints on things after we leave this planet. Mitski captures all of this perfectly in a song that's barely 2 minutes long.

- Emma Demski

5. Mythological Beauty - Big Thief

I did a big dive into Big Thief after seeing them in April, and I was quickly captured by this song. While it technically came out in 2017, I only heard it for the first time in 2023 so we’ll count it! At first, it was on replay because I found the song’s melody to be very pretty. With time, I also grew quite attached to the lyrics as I realized that this song is largely about family dynamics and parents.

Adrienne Lenker, Big Thief’s frontwoman, guides listeners through memories and stories, portraying the perspective of both herself and her parents in the track. Lenker’s verses are wrapped in interesting lyrics such as “There is a child inside you who’s trying to raise the child in me”. This song makes me think, makes me feel comforted, and overall feels like a tight hug.

- Saloni Jaisingh