Essential Listening: The best new music releases in August 2023 (week 2)

The best new music releases in August 2023 with playlists for DnB and jungle, house and techno, indie and alt, and hip-hop and jazz.

Skiddle Staff

Date published: 14th Aug 2023

Now two weeks into the month, this is the second Essential Listening to help you find new music from August 2023.

But first, a little update.

Metal/reggae band Skindred just landed a number two album, narrowly missing the number one spot. And Olivia Rodrigo's new should be with us in September/ Finally, Fred again.. dropped adore u with Obongjayar.

Now, check out some of the best new music releases in August 2023 featuring Neck Deep, Daughtry, Fatboy Slim, K Motionz, DJ Zinc & Mozey, The Black Keys, Goddard, Jungle & Roots Manuva, and many more.

Have a listen below, follow the playlists, and secure tickets to see these artists live.

Essential Listening: House and Techno

I Need UUU - Todd Terry

Grammy-nominated house legend Todd Terry is back with yet another banger with stink-face-inducing funk and groove.

Decorated with slap bass, disco-style vocals, and bouncy keys, I Need UUU is a track that instantly gets you wiggling in your seat. Around a minute into the track, it switches from super summery, upbeat vibes to darker underground house sounds, stripping it back to a simple but effective bassline and percussion.

Still dropping pure heat at this stage in his career, Todd Terry continues to prove why and how he secured legend status.

Get tickets to see Todd Terry live here:

Locura Presents: TODD TERRY | Saturday 2nd September 2023 | Elysium in Liverpool

Buy tickets:

The Move Presents BCD with very special guest Todd Terry | Saturday 2nd December 2023 | The Underground in Stoke-on-Trent

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Indie and Alternative

Fire Of Mercy - Hot Chip ft Yune Pinku

Despite almost two and a half decades on the scene, Hot Chip is still churning out danceable electronic pop tunes with fantastic harmonies and introspective lyrics.

Fire Of Mercy is the band's first release since their 2022 album Freakout/Release. For this one, they enlisted the help of up-and-coming Malaysian-Irish producer and songwriter Yune Pinku.

An emotionally evocative track, there are lots of thought-provoking lyrics like “When you're spiralling, are you really heading down? Or is it time to turn your life around? Are you staring down the barrel of your own disbelief?”

Get tickets to see Hot Chip live here:

The Chemical Brothers (with Hot Chip & more) | Saturday 9th September 2023 | Alexandra Head At Cardiff Bay in Cardiff

Buy tickets:

Bugged Out! (w/ Hot Chip, Basement Jaxx & more) | Saturday 21st October 2023 | Drumsheds in London

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Drum & Bass and Jungle

Bad Gyalz - Nia Archives

Bradford-born jungle sensation Nia Archives is back with another hard-hitting, party-starting anthem that will have anyone with a sense of rhythm moving.

A track that represents the women that come to her shows, Bad Gyalz is about ignoring flirts at the rave to enjoy the tunes instead. Nia called the women who come to her shows "all baddies, absolute junglists," the exact vibe she encapsulated with this one.

While we should be focusing on the music, it's hard to ignore that video. Pure party vibes with a clear 90s influence, it’s not surprising to learn that the 23-year-old is also a visual artist.

Get tickets to see Nia Archives live here:

Sundown Festival (w/Nia & many more DnB artists), | Fri 1st - Sun 3rd September 2023 | Norfolk Showground in Norwich

Buy tickets:

Essential Listening: Hip-Hop and Jazz

beauty supply - Noname

Taken from Noname’s Sundial, her first full-length album since 2018’s Room 25 and her second overall, we’ll just say what everyone’s thinking: finally!

The rapper/poet takes inspiration from many greats including Nina Simone, Missy Elliott, Patty Smith, and Andre 3000 to pen lyrics about social injustice, and beauty supply is no different, detailing Eurocentric beauty standards and supporting black businesses.

But perhaps the most striking lyric in this piece of art with mellow keys and bouncy bass is “Cosplay a new identity, same enemy, me.”

Love hip-hop? You might like:

25 Years of 'The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill' | Friday 25th August 2023 | The Blues Kitchen in Manchester

Buy tickets:

Hip Hop 50 ft Big Daddy Kane, Onyx, Masta Ace, Ezlhi, Blade ++ | Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th August 2023 | O2 Forum Kentish Town in London

Buy tickets:

Follow our Essential Listening playlists featured above to discover the best new tracks released each week, as curated by the Skiddle team.

Check out our What's On Guide to discover more rowdy raves and sweaty gigs taking place over the coming weeks and months. For festivals, lifestyle events and more, head on over to our Things To Do page or be inspired by the event selections on our Inspire Me page.