Tag: Doechii

How Spotify’s Playlists Captured the Biggest Music Trends of 2023

November 29, 2023

With another year coming to a close, Spotify is back with your personalized Wrapped, our annual recap of your listening highlights from the past 12 months that includes your top songs, artists, and podcasts, as well as your most distinct streaming habits. But we’re also taking a step back and looking at 2023’s biggest music trends on Spotify.

Thanks to the in-the-know editors responsible for creating our editorial playlists as part of the Global Curation Groups, the most iconic musical moments of the year were reflected on Spotify. Whether it was blockbuster movie soundtracks that grabbed the world’s attention, viral social media moments that bubbled up to the mainstream, or classic genres finding new fans in Gen Z, our experts were on top of it all.

For the Record sat down with our editorial team and got the scoop. 

Peso Pluma and Música Mexicana go mainstream

RADAR US artist Peso Pluma made himself known to the world in March with his feature on Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola.” Fast-forward to now, and that song is one of the top-five most-streamed songs of 2023 globally—and is about to hit Spotify’s Billions Club. Meanwhile, the Música Mexicana genre at large has enjoyed a surge in popularity, dominating the global charts this summer.

Explore this trend on: Lo Mejor de La Reina 2023, Corridos Perrones, Corridos Tumbados, Today’s Top Hits

Folk rising

In 2023, a slew of indie artists emerged with folk-inspired albums including Mitski, Toro Y Moi, and boygenius. Plus, we heard new folk voices like Searows and 2024 Best New Artist Noah Kahan. 

Explore this trend on: Indie Twang, Juniper

Shoegaze returns courtesy of Gen Z

Shoegaze has been around since the late ’80s, but it experienced a resurgence in 2023 among Gen Z, who found new bands like Wisp as well as aughts stalwarts like Panchiko.

Over the past year, the genre has thrived within various Gen Z internet communities that have fostered pockets of interest and given birth to exciting new acts. Perhaps unknowingly, the emerging class of neo-shoegaze artists is contributing to genre diffusion, blending techniques from various music genres to create something fresh and unique.

Explore this trend on: Shoegaze Now, IRL Angel

Rema carries Afrobeats into Spotify’s Billions Club

Rema has been a hitmaker in Africa since 2019, but it was a collaboration with Selena Gomez on “Calm Down (Remix)” that shot him to international fame in 2023. The global smash earned the Afrobeats star a Grammy nomination, as well as a spot in our highly coveted Billions Club, making “Calm Down” the first African artist-led track to do so. 

Explore this trend on: African Heat, Billions Club, Today’s Top Hits

Taylor Swift’s eras on tour

Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour kicked off in March and was the live-music event of the year. Taylor not only picked songs from all 10 of her studio albums to perform in a stunning three-hour show, but she also set aside time each night for acoustic performances of two surprise songs. And according to Taylor’s rules, no two songs could be repeated unless she messed it up the first time. To capture this epic moment, we collected all of the surprise songs in a playlist, which was updated every weekend during the U.S. leg of her tour.

Explore this trend on: Surprise Song Era

Troye Sivan and Hyunjin’s IRL friendship

This past summer, Troye Sivan posted a TikTok that went viral about trying to find Hyunjin of Stray Kids. We joined in on the fun with a playlist and they eventually collabed on a remix of “Rush,” which also featured PinkPantheress.

Explore this trend on: what a moment

Peggy Gou takes house music to the top of the charts

House, one of the original genres of dance music, has grown in popularity since the pandemic. This summer, we saw massive house hits resonate with fans internationally, including Peggy Gou‘s “(It Goes Like) Nanana.” 

Other huge moments for house music include artists like Fred again.., Black Coffee, Chris Lake, and FISHER, who are breaking records around the world, and breakthrough opportunities for exciting artists like LP Giobbi, John Summit, and Dom Dolla

Explore this trend on: Umami, Housewerk presents…Best House of 2023, Summer House

It’s a Barbie world

Ahead of the Barbie release this summer, we saw “Barbiecore” aesthetics manifest in the pop culture zeitgeist. Once we got word that Barbie was going to feature a star-studded soundtrack with hits like Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, and Aqua’s “Barbie World” and Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night,” we brought all things Barbie to life on Spotify through the “pinkification” of several playlist covers, new editorial playlists, and partner playlists.

Explore this trend on: Hot Pink, Barbie Official Playlist

Hyper techno surges

There was an influx of high-BPM dance pop songs in general, and with it came a new wave of tracks that showcased a harder sound using classic techno and big room beats and basslines. We saw a surge in streams—especially from European Gen Zs—of techno-infused songs like Niklas Dee’s “Not Fair,” Creeds’ “Push Up,” and BENNETT’s “Vois sur ton chemin.”

Explore this trend on: rave, techno party

Jersey Club is everywhere 

Jersey Club production became ubiquitous not only in U.S. hip-hop but around the world. We also saw the genre’s influence find its way into K-Pop and thoughtful electronic music. Pioneers such as DJ Smallz 732, UNIIQU3, and Cookiee Kawaii were tapped to remix some of 2023’s biggest hits, and newcomers such as Kanii, keltiey, and Lay Bankz staked their claims as names to watch.

Explore this trend on: Jersey Club Heat presents…Best Jersey Club Songs of 2023

Tyla’s turns her viral moment into crossover success

South Africa’s Amapiano sound has been winning the hearts of electronic and dance fans after TikTok dances and DJ mixes helped it go viral in 2020. In 2023, RADAR Africa artist Tyla took her career to the next level, blending her R&B sound with Amapiano and South African dance genre Bacardi house on her hit song “Water.” After Spotify Africa’s partnership with the Giants of Africa Festival—a basketball event in Rwanda where Tyla’s viral dance was first seen—many posted their own versions of the dance challenge on social media, which led to “Water” skyrocketing around the world and earning a feature from Travis Scott on the remix.

Explore this trend on: RNB X, RADAR Africa, African Heat, RADAR Global 

Women run hip-hop  

Female rappers continued their reign in 2023, with top names like Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, Latto, Ice Spice, Kaliii, Doechii, and the year’s breakout star, Sexyy Red, making some of the most creative and worthwhile hip-hop this year. 

Explore this trend on: RapCaviar presents…Best Hip-Hop Songs of 2023, Feelin’ Myself 

Pop-punk’s greatest legends return

We witnessed the resurgence of pop-punk’s most iconic figures with mainstays like Fall Out Boy, Sum 41, Green Day, and Neck Deep returning in 2023 with a taste of new music. Additionally, blink-182 welcomed back Tom DeLonge and embarked on a global tour to celebrate their new album, ONE MORE TIME…. 

Explore this trend on: Pop Punk’s Not Dead

The nu-metal revival continues

Nu-metal and alternative metal have made triumphant returns this year, with a younger audience discovering and devouring the catalogs of bands like Deftones, Korn, Slipknot, and more. Additionally, we’re seeing a wave of new nu-metal songs from rising artists who are embracing the sound and paying homage to their predecessors.

Explore this trend on: new nü, ALLURE

Alt country crosses over

This trend in country music had a slow build that reached new heights with the release of RADAR US artist Zach Bryan’s American Heartbreak in 2022, and took off 2023 with hits like Dylan Gossett’s “Coal.” This acoustic, gritty sound was typically reserved for alternative country and folk playlists in the past, but it has fully moved into the mainstream with songs that have been fan favorites across our flagship playlists. 

Explore this trend on: Hot Country presents…Best Country Songs of 2023, Hot Hits USA, Today’s Top Hits, homegrown

Looking for more of the songs that have left their stamp on 2023? Check out our flagship playlist Today’s Top Hits. 

Spotify Head of Urban Music Carl Chery Invites Fans To Look Into the Stories of Hip-Hop’s Top Artists With ‘RapCaviar Presents’

March 24, 2023

Mark March 30 on your calendars. That’s when RapCaviar Presents arrives on Hulu. Based on Spotify’s flagship hip-hop playlist, RapCaviar, the compelling new documentary series tackles today’s most provocative issues through the lens of hip-hop. Centered around the visionaries and emerging stars who rule the charts and influence our culture, fans will get an up-close look into the lives of City Girls, Tyler, The Creator, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, Coi Leray, and more.

Featuring commentary from cultural tastemakers, media experts, and hip-hop historians, each of RapCaviar Presents’ six episodes examines a specific deep-rooted issue that affects hip-hop artists, their fans, and society at large. This includes explorations of mental health, women’s sexuality, the criminalization of rap, social media criticism, and the ultimate cost of viral fame. 

In addition to honest commentary on cultural topics, the show also gets personal, homing in on the artists’ tales of triumph, disruption, empowerment, and redemption. 

To celebrate its upcoming release, we threw a party in LA with Hulu, where Coi Leray, Saweetie, Freddie Gibbs, Mustard, Blxst and Ty Dolla $ign were all in attendance. Guests were invited to toast the series, enjoy a hip-hop-focused set from DJ Domo, and hop in our RapCaviar-themed photo booth.

Doechii, Our Newest US RADAR Artist, Brings a Piece of Florida to Her Fans

October 13, 2022

artist Doechii is posting in front of the camera

Doechii isn’t easy to define. The rapper describes her sound as “alternative,” but what truly sets her apart is her ability to create not just pop or R&B songs, but tracks from any genre. This unique ability has set the Tampa native on her path to stardom, and landed her the coveted position of Spotify’s newest RADAR US artist. 

Through our RADAR program, Spotify supports up-and-coming artists by helping amplify and connect their music with new audiences. Starting today, fans can watch an exclusive performance minivideo of Doechii singing a live rendition of “This Bitch Matters” and find Doechii as the face of the RADAR US playlist, with her song at the top.

Doechii started honing her musical skills at a young age and even attended a high school that specifically emphasized the arts. Her area of focus there was vocal technology and classical choral singing. She started releasing her own music in 2016 and then watched her fan base grow.

In 2021, Doechii released “Yucky Blucky Fruitcake,” which went viral on social media, bringing her a new set of fans and greater attention in the music industry. That same year, Doechii opened for SZA on the R&B singer’s Good Days tour. 

Fast-forward to 2022 and Doechii has propelled her career even further. She signed with Top Dawg Entertainment, the label that has produced household names such as Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, and the aforementioned SZA. “It’s great,” Doechii told For the Record. “My labelmates are incredible artists, and TDE is very supportive of my creative vision.” 

artist doechii with her hands on her forehead and chin making a screaming faceShortly after signing with TDE, Doechii released “Persuasive,” and in August, the rapper released her EP she/her/black bitch. Now she’s focused on preparing for an upcoming album and tour.

Streaming her music on Spotify isn’t the only way fans can interact with Doechii. Roblox players  have the chance to experience special curated moments with Doechii through Spotify Island, an otherworldly destination for audio that features our new, futuristic Planet Hip-Hop portal. It’s here you’ll find Doechii’s Swamp, which is covered in moss, flooded floors, and vines and is inspired by the artist’s Florida roots. 

“I like to bring the beauty of Florida’s swamps everywhere I go, including virtually,” shared Doechii. “I thought it would be amazing to give players a chance to experience a piece of my home in the game. It’s this futuristic swamp queendom that you wanna stay in forever; it’s what I’d like Florida to look like in 2050.” 

From creating provocative new music to exciting virtual reality experiences, Doechii is an artist to watch. We asked Doechii if she had any advice for fellow emerging artists following in her path, and she said: “Fall in love with the process, try doing things that scare you, and keep going.”

Hear more from Doechii as well as other up-and-coming artists in our RADAR US playlist:

Here’s Your First Look at Planet Hip-Hop, Spotify Island’s Latest Experience on Roblox

September 21, 2022

Earlier this year, we became the first music streaming brand to have a presence on Roblox with Spotify Island, an otherworldly digital destination for audio. K-Park soon followed as the first themed portal on Spotify Island, allowing fans to immerse themselves in a whimsical K-Pop wonderland.

Today we’re excited to introduce fans to Planet Hip-Hop, a futuristic universe dedicated to the world of hip-hop. Just like Spotify Island and K-Park, this is a meeting place created with the goal of bringing artists and fans closer together as they play, explore, and connect.

Generating 44 billion average monthly streams on Spotify globally, hip-hop was chosen as our second genre focus on Spotify Island for its dedicated fan following and unique set of elements that reach far beyond music and into fashion, beauty, and more. In the next couple of weeks, you’ll see these ideas come to life on Planet Hip-Hop through a series of special curated moments—the first being a collaboration with Doechii.

roblox avatar staring at a photo of doechii posing in her swamp

In the coming days, fans who want to interact with the hip-hop superstar can head over to Doechii’s Swamp, which was inspired by her Florida roots. Upon entering, players are first greeted by mysterious swampy moss, flooded floors, and vines. As players make their way closer to the swamp princess herself, they can “persuade” Doechii (inspired by her hit track “Persuasive”) to let them pass through by answering a series of questions. With the right responses, players will then be allowed to join her swamp and grow an alligator tail. 

Director Anthony P. Leslie Brings Frequency’s Free Studio to Life in a New Documentary

May 18, 2022

photo of anthony p leslie, director of spotify's free studio documentary

Last year, Spotify created Frequency, a global initiative and holistic destination to celebrate Black art, entertainment, creativity, culture, and community both on- and off-platform. Then, earlier in 2022, Frequency debuted The Free Studio, a short-term creator studio in Los Angeles, as a place to celebrate Black expression. Nine Black creators across multiple disciplines spanning music, podcast, and artistry came together to use the space’s recording studios, video backdrops, green screen areas, blank canvases, and more—finding a physical location to foster and grow their creativity. 

Richie Reseda, Indigo Mateo, and Vic Mensa of Abolition X along with Mike Brown, Shefon Taylor, Thomeography, Doechii, Larry June, and Sango are the nine creators whose work is making an impact on mainstream culture and who came together for a set of short but impactful days at the studio.

We invited these nine to The Free Studio to create with no boundaries. We asked from them nothing in exchange except the ability to document their creative process. We used that footage to create a short documentary, shot and directed by Anthony P. Leslie of Equator Productions. The documentary features firsthand creator experiences shot in various spaces that embody creative expression—The Free Studio’s recording spaces, dance studios, hallways, and beyond. It explores intimate podcast and recording sessions and the authentic content and community fostered by the Frequency initiative. 

“This is a creator studio for the freedom of Black Expression,” Anthony P. Leslie notes. “Free Black Expression for me is being UNAPOLOGETIC in all the unique ways WE are, dancing to the beat of our own drum, sharing our color without boundaries. The one thing all of these artists have in common is that their experiences show up in their work. With the theme that we (Black creators) are all a work in progress and using our art as a form of expression throughout our respective journeys, I am looking to show raw moments that illustrate why exploring one’s self contributes to one’s creativity.” 

You’ve created a beautiful tribute to the individuals taking part in The Free Studio. What was your approach to this documentary and highlighting the work happening at The Free Studio? 

So first and foremost, I think it’s super important to understand that to be able to create with no boundaries is one of the main responses that we received from all of the artists when we asked them about the benefits of The Free Studio. I truly believe in that. Because it’s hard, once you’re in the creative field, to not feel like everything that you are creating has to come to life as perfect as can be or with already set expectations. 

With this documentary, I set out to really get a better understanding of these artists and to see them working in their true life. I kind of wanted to be a fly on the wall, but I also wanted to be a part of it. So it’s a nice balance of me being intercut into their world and us as a team just watching them do their thing.

But ultimately, to be able to show these Black creators express themselves in their purest form is what I really wanted to get at. A lot of times Black people are stereotyped, but we are all different. It’s our unique, complex ways that really enable us to learn from each other—and I truly got to learn from all these artists. 

In being a part of this project, did you also get a chance to experience a little bit of that flexibility and freedom to experiment with the way you do documentary? 

Yes. I always want to work on more personal stuff that truly feels like it comes from the heart, and it was just super fluid with Spotify and the Frequency team. The biggest way I experimented with the creative freedom that we had at The Free Studio was by inserting myself within the documentary. So you get to meet these artists by way of me. What’s more personal than somebody actually making real relationships in real time? I was able to break the fourth wall to learn from these artists and work with them, in a way that was more my style. 

You’ll see I also used the fish-eye lens to focus in on the individual artists. It shows that there are these distinct worlds that each of these artists lived in and worked in. And with the fish-eye lens, you can see a glimpse of what their world looks like—their full world within The Free Studio. And then we get into more of those intimate moments, in many shots, as we break down the artist and their creative practice. 

We talked to Mike Brown about The Art of Letting Go and he mentioned that the two of you had a chance to collaborate on a podcast episode. What was that experience like for you?

We had a nice glass of wine and just talked. I love the atmosphere that he creates on his podcast because it’s just a space to let it out. You don’t feel judged, you don’t feel like you need to have the answer; you can just flow and be yourself and exist. That was super comforting. 

What do you hope viewers walk away with after seeing this documentary?

I really hope that people feel inspired to create the way they want to, stop worrying about external acknowledgment, and focus on the approval coming from within. Because you’ll create something and then the world will want to be a part of it. 

Can’t get enough of the work from The Free Studio? Check out Free Studio participants Indigo Mateo, Richie Reseda, and Vic Mensa’s Abolition X.