In 2023, KCPR grew significantly by introducing 20 new disc jockeys into our spring schedule. With the additional faces came a range of fresh sounds and creative spirits. Read on for the top songs, artists and albums we played this year!
Top Songs of the Year
- “Punch Drunk” by Couch Dog (133 spins)
- “Love is the Way” by Thee Sacred Souls (81 spins)
- “Echolalia” by Yves Tumor (80 spins)
- “Cowboy Nudes” by Geese (73 spins)
- “I Wanna Dance With You” by Royel Otis (59 spins)
- “Avalanche Of Love (feat. Sampa the Great)” by Witch (57 spins)
- “Weightless (Radio Edit)” by Arlo Parks (52 spins)
- “Quarry” by Wednesday (52 spins)
- “Swampy” by Dry Cleaning (49 spins)
- “Pumpkin Seeds (feat. Lupe Fiasco) (Clean)” by Aesop Rock & Blockhead (47 spins)
Ben Shane is a sophomore city and regional planning major but you may know him best as his DJ moniker, Johnny Utah. Shane said he enjoyed featuring “Echolalia” and “Weightless” during his sets because the tracks sound eccentric but showcase familiar elements.
“I think those songs in particular are up in the charts because they are pretty chill but sound way different than music people would usually relax to,” he said.
Shane was excited to see local band Couch Dog at the top of the chart, as well. Couch Dog’s “Punch Drunk” was released as a single in February 2023.
“I feel like Couch Dog really blew up with their song Punch Drunk, and in terms of structuring a live set on the radio, the song transitions well into a lot of other music,” he said. “It gives me hope that we’ll be seeing more local bands climbing the charts alongside Couch Dog.”
Top Artists of the Year
- Couch Dog (227 streams)
- Yves Tumor (214 streams)
- Unknown Mortal Orchestra (202 streams)
- La Femme (151 streams)
- Death Valley Girls (147 streams)
- boygenius (146 streams)
- White Reaper (140 streams)
- Paramore (138 streams)
- Hello Mary (131 streams)
- 100 gecs (123 streams)
KCPR’s Princess Lady, also known as Lulu David, strives for a sound that is anything but the ordinary, and this is strongly reflected in her favorite streamed artists of the year.
After David attended a Yves Tumor concert at the Fremont Theater in May, she fostered a great appreciation for their bold persona and experimental music choices. She said she enjoyed playing the Miami-born artist on her show alongside the Los Angeles band Death Valley Girls.
“I got to interview the lead singer [of Death Valley Girls], Bonnie, and she was super sweet and talked about how nature and celestial beings played into her music,” she said. “You can hear that through her music, so that’s why I ended up playing a lot of Death Valley Girls.”
Also, it was no surprise to David that the popular indie trio boygenius reached the chart. The public health sophomore praised boygenius for representing young queer people and speaking to their experiences.
Top Albums of the Year
- “V” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra (140 plays)
- “Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simple, Hot Between Worlds)” by Yves Tumor (134 plays)
- “Asking For A Ride” by White Reaper (128 plays)
- “Teatro Lucido” by La Femme (122 plays)
- “Strongs Dr.” by Strawberry Fuzz (120 plays)
- “Volcano” by Jungle (115 plays)
- “The Record” by boygenius (114 plays)
- “The Sale” by Julien Chang (109 plays)
- “The Land, The Water, The Sky” by Black Belt Eagle Scout (104 plays)
- “Miss Power” by Connie Constance (101 plays)
Haley Ellis’ top artist of the year was Jungle, with nearly 2,000 minutes spent listening to their discography and “Volcano” being her favorite release by the British electronic band.
As a KCPR DJ, Haybay covers the Afternoon Delight, which includes sounds varying between pop, folk and hip-hop. The journalism sophomore found “Volcano” to be the perfect album for her diverse sets.
“Something that I like about this album is that it’s kind of all over the place with their sound,” Ellis said. “It encompasses a bunch of different aspects like house music and there’s some rap in it too.”
The tracks that she recommends from the LP are “Us Against The World” and “Holding On.”
You can listen to KCPR’s top songs, artists and albums of 2023 on Spotify, @kcpr913. Until next year!
