They say that genre is dead, and they’re kind of right. We are getting used to a world without pop tribalism, where emos, punks and pop kids all sit at the same lunch table, and where playlists are sorted by mood more than sound. Yet even in this era of sonic slowdown, new styles continue to sprout up from strange corners of the internet and globalised communities. From niche dance styles blowing up on Nigerian TikTok to e-girls making Auto-Tuned punk in their bedrooms, there are still plenty of weird new genres to go around – they’re just not as easily organised into HMV’s racks and dividers (ask your parents). In a foolhardy attempt at taxonomy that will infuriate both artists and fans – as is traditional – here we have identified five of the most exciting new genres ready to blow up in 2023.
Nigerian cruise
Nigeria is a global hit factory, dominating charts this year via Burna Boy’s fusionist afropop and Tems’ smooth alté soul. But in the “trenches” of Lagos, the poor outskirts of the city, a different sound is brewing. Cruise music, or freebeat, is a pointed rejection of the sleek grooves of afrobeats and trendy amapiano. Instead, scene leaders such as DJ Cora and DJ Stainless knock up chaotic grids of vocal drops, one-finger synths and tumbling log drums that hurtle along at techno speed – similar in vibe to the jerky rhythms of Tanzanian singeli or Shangaan electro. The style has been a hit with dancers at New Afrika Shrine, the Lagos club owned by Femi Kuti, and its palpable sense of humour is also winning fans on Nigerian TikTok. Ian McQuaid of the UK label Moves was instantly hooked when he came across the #cruise tag on TikTok; the four compilations he has released since May are bite-sized intros to the scene. Tracks such as the malevolent Kill Them All by DJ Stainless won’t be bothering the charts, but with superstars like Olamide catching on, as on cruise-tinged hit ZaZoo…