Have you heard a song that sets the tone for 2023?

Plus, remembering hall of fame guitarist Jeff Beck

View this email online Jan. 14, 2023 by Lars Gotrich This week, we're looking for songs to guide us into the new year; plus, remembering Jeff Beck. Photo credit: Tonje Thielson I try to make room for musical encounters in the early weeks of January in hopes of finding a song that sets a tone for the year. In 2020, it was an archival Greek rebetika about the end of the world; in 2021, a guitar instrumental that confronted devastation with beauty; in 2022, a folk-punk rager that imagined "a world worth living in." In an effort to shake off the previous year’s baggage or at least expand upon lessons learned, this ritual hangs a heavy weight upon a single song to make sense of the future. No pressure!  Just a couple weeks into 2023, Lisel's "One At A Time" has already proven to be a sympathetic companion. I have loved Eliza Bagg's alien electro-pop as Lisel and her work as an opera singer, too — the former is often playful and experimental, the latter seeks new traditions. This new song finds ways to weave in both. She only sings four words (those in the title), but layers and loops them in an autotuned game of Chutes and Ladders spun on a Lazy Susan. In its simultaneous simplicity and complexity, the song works as a mindfulness mantra, but also recognizes the ever-shifting and often unstable forces in life as we attempt to, in fact, take one thing at a time. That’s useful to me as someone who needs to hold multiple truths at once to make sense of the world. Perhaps other new songs recently featured on #NowPlaying can also offer a window into 2023: Iris DeMent's hallelujah for the good work done by climate activists, Everything But the Girl's romantic desperation in dire times, Skrillex's bum-rushed energy, Shakira’s petty post-breakup triumph, The Hated's gratitude for the time spent as a scrappy punk band or maybe just King Krule mumbling "Even though nothing is true" until whatever it is becomes true. Have you heard a song — new or old — that sets the tone you think will shape your year? Newsletter continues after sponsor message More to read, watch and hear: How would you even search for a band whose name is a symbol? On All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen is joined by my colleagues Hazel Cills and Marissa Lorusso to puzzle at the duo simply called @ — yes, the asperand you use in your email address or to tag someone on social media. That’s not the only artist with a peculiar name on the show, which also features Decisive Pink, Fievel Is Glauque and M(h)aol. Forget any assumptions you might have about the music of Nashville singer Margo Price. Her latest album, Strays, is a potent, genre-spanning opus that leads the first New Music Friday episode of 2023, which also features albums by Belle & Sebastian, Seven Davis Jr. and Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets. Leikeli47 was an absolute star at NPR Music’s 15th anniversary concert back in November. The enigmatic rapper made time to share the spotlight with some special guests — from professional dancers to Louder Than A Riot co-host Sidney Madden, a professional fan and if you weren’t able to make it in person you can now watch a video of her set. A new children’s book illustrates how Roberta Flack's first piano came from a junkyard. Jeff Beck, who died on Tuesday at 78 years old after contracting bacterial meningitis, was a true titan of the electric guitar. In his hands, the instrument was as expressive as the human voice, and he played a crucial role in establishing what would become classic rock. "Beck was truly one of the last guitar heroes who came of age expanding the technical capabilities of the electric guitar," says Alt.Latino co-host Felix Contreras. Tiny Desk NPR Marc-André Hamelin is regarded as one of his generation’s most technically astounding pianists. His colossal breadth of repertoire is on display at the Tiny Desk, with a smart set of pieces that demonstrate his virtuosity and sense of humor. Also this week: For the final Tiny Desk we filmed in 2022, English singer-songwriter dodie and her band gave a playful, charming and deeply cathartic performance. One More Thing Tiny Desk seeks big talent. Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from WUFT 89.1 (edit station). Need a new playlist? Follow NPR Music on Spotify and Apple Music What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprmusic@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Books, Pop Culture, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to NPR Music emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy