WELCOME TO THE RANTS OF THE USUALLY SILENT HOST
Welcome to the final “New Music” EXPAND YOUR PLAYLIST, playlist… for 2023. With Expand Your Playlist returning in February, it was reborn because I missed giving this very small platform that we have to the musicians that are just on the verge of breaking through and to those who still make music independently from the ground up. Also, to those still making music after all these years. It started with giving those bands I’ve featured in the past the spotlight, to the door busting wide open to new bands, artists, and musicians from various genres and those who blend genres into new sounds, vibes, and those who create new sub-genres. It has been a great year in new indie-music and I look forward to 2024, in which I hope the playlists will continue as well as expanding into new content and outlets for Expand Your Playlist.

I would like to thank all of you who have supported me in this project. It has been a slow journey, but I am still moving forward. Although time was not on my side this year to fully give E.Y.P. its full attention and dedication that it deserves, I know that the platform is very close in reaching a wider audience and reaching those who are looking for the type of music recommendation we offer. Yes, there are many playlists and podcasts that explore and discover of new music and musicians, but there isn’t one like mine and all that I have planned for it. Am I rambling? I think so. Sorry, it’s the end of the year. Along with this playlist and our Christmas playlist, we have our End of the Year 8-Part Playlist a.k.a. “The RE-PLAYIST” coming soon. But for now, let’s open our ears and turn the headphones to a modest 9 as we present to you the 26th and final edition of “The Listening Station” Playlist for 2023.

From our return back in February from taking most of 2022 off, we returned with 5 playlist series covering genres like Rock, Pop, EDM, Cover Songs, Indie, and Alt genres and others more, featuring over 375 songs, over 21 hours of music. Thank you once again for your support in 2023 and I hope that 2024 is a bigger and better year in recommending and featuring new music to you and introducing you to new musicians, and of course in helping you, as always to… Expand Your Playlist!

Thank you!
Ed Gomez

If you are new to E.Y.P. or if you missed the music in previous released playlists, catch up on what you have missed with links to playlists in this music series as they are posted below at the end of this post. Start your journey to new music as we try to help you…. Expand Your Playlist!

Note: Gold color denotes first time bands on E.Y.P.

THE LISTENING STATION #26 – December 2023
Spotify – Instagram – Facebook – Twitter – Threads
16 Songs – 55:27
Genres: Pop, Rock, Indie, Alt, Alternative, Folk, Indie Rock

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Cm0SAUnFDfVXueoVZQiZh?si=2d72ff44371445a6

PLAYLIST BREAKDOWN

THE McCHARMLYS – “Awful Thing”

NEW TO E.Y.P.
Album: “The McCharmlys”
From: Santa Ana, CA
I.G.: @themccharmlys_
bio.site/themccharmlys

QUICK NOTES…
The McCharmlys bring back the 50’s – 60’s, Doo-Wop, Latino-infused Los Angeles Rock ‘n’ Roll style back into 2023. Their self-titled debut album “The McCharmlys” is out now from Nu-Tone Records.

GLASS SPELLS – “Confessions”

Album: “Shattered”
From: San Diego
I.G.: @glass_spells
linktr.ee/glassspells

QUICK COMMENTS…
Anthony Ramirez and Tania Costello make up this synth-pop duo from San Diego, California, blending modern and retro synth-pop sounds with an injection of Latino and Spanish influence. This is the Glass Spells.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Thrills” (2023)

BAKER GRACE – “Painkiller”

Album: N/A
From: Weehawken, NJ
I.G.: @bakergracemusic
linktr.ee/bakergracemusic

QUICK COMMENTS…
Featuring over 17 of her songs since 2015, we have watched her and her music grow throughout the years, making Baker Grace a “Staple Artist” on Expand Your Playlist. This is her latest single, the soulful, melodic, sultry, pop track, “Painkiller”.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Am I Talking To You” (2018)
“Day I Die” (2018)
“Wrong Kind Of People” (2019)
“Numb” (2019)
“Girl, I Know” (2019)
“Sad Summer” (2019)
“I Feel For You” (2021)
“Comfortable” (2023)
“Day N Night” (2023)
“American Dream Girl” (2023)

THE UTOPIATES – “Ups And Downs”

Album: “The Sun Also Rises”
From: London, UK
I.G.: @theutopiates
www.theutopiates.com

QUICK COMMENTS…
Born during the pandemic times and emerging in 2021, the London-based indie band, The Utopiates, released their debut album “The Sun Also Rises” in May 2023. The album in available now on V2 Records.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Best And Worst Days” (2023)

CRAWLERS – “Would You Come To My Funeral”

Album: N/A
From: Merseyside, England
I.G.: @crawlersband
crawlers.link.to/tmwstm

QUICK COMMENTS…
The indie rock band from Merseyside, Crawlers, return to E.Y.P. after debuting last month with their track, “That Time Of Year Always”, released in March 2023.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“That Time of Year Always” (2023)

DIAMANTE – “1987”

Album: N/A
From: N/A
I.G.: @thisisdiamante
ffm.to/diamante1987

QUICK COMMENTS…
Last time we featured Diamante and her music was back in 2020. After 3 years, we are happy to have her back and feature her new track “1987” which gives a retro-rock sound and vibe with strong vocals to this fun rock song!

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Serves You Right” (2020)

SOPHIE POWERS – “Better On Mute”

NEW TO E.Y.P.
Album: N/A
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I.G.: @sophiep0wers
sophiepowers.komi.io

QUICK COMMENTS…
One day this song just appeared on my Instagram feed and it has been stuck in my head since. “Better On Mute” is from this creative 19-year-old musician and fashion designer from Toronto, Canada, Sophie Powers. I have a feeling we will be hearing more from her in 2024 and beyond.

SOPHIE LLOYD ft. MARISA RODRIGUEZ – “Won’t You Come”

NEW TO E.Y.P.
Album: “Imposter Syndrome”
From: London, UK
I.G.: @sophieguitar_ / @marisasingsalot
direct.me/sophieguitar/

QUICK COMMENTS…
Even though she has been labeled a prolific guitarist on the internet, she is just a bad-ass guitarist, period! As well as playing guitar covers and new material on her YouTube channel, she has been in the band “Marisa and The Moths” (who is featured in this track) and is currently the guitarist in Machine Gun Kelly’s band on tour. Sophie Lloyd released her debut album “Imposter Syndrome” in November 2023. This track “Won’t You Come” features Marisa Rodriguez from “Marisa and The Moths”.

THE BEACHES – “Shower Beer”

Album: “Blame My Ex”
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I.G.: @thebeachesband
www.thebeachesband.com

QUICK COMMENTS…
The Beaches has been releasing music since 2014, but I am ashamed to admit that they just hit my radar in 2023, with the release of their hit song “Blame Brett” and their amazing album “Blame My Ex” in September 2023. Their album takes me back to the 90’s when I used to listen to albums from start to end, reading along to the liner notes and learning every song and having it imprint to my mental music playlist. At this point we have featured most of the songs on the album, so why not one more. Did I mention Album of the Year in our viewpoint? Just saying. This is “Shower Beer”. Good luck getting it out of your head after you listen to it.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Blame Brett” (2023)
“Everything Is Boring” (2023)
“Me & Me” (2023)
“If A Tree Falls” (2023)
“What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Paranoid” (2023)

GO BETTY GO – “We Talk A Lot”

Album: N/A
From: Los Angeles, CA
I.G.: @gobettygoofficial

QUICK COMMENTS…
One of L.A.’s premier Punk Rock bands, the ladies from Go Betty Go have been making music since 2000 through the good and most recently tough times health-wise but still persevering through and still creating more amazing music 23 years later. This is one of their latest releases in 2023, this is “We Talk A Lot”.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“By Your Side” (2015)
“Cemetery Stone” (2015)
“It Haunts You Now” (2015)
“Tartamudo” (2017)
“Keep Up” (2023)

FIDLAR – “Get Free”

Album: N/A
From: Los Angeles, CA
I.G.: @fidlar
www.fidlarmusic.net

QUICK COMMENTS…
We love new takes on old favorites. This is Fidlar‘s hauntingly hard version of “Get Free” originally performed by The Vines.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Centipede” (2023)
“Free Fallin’” (2023)

LEMON’S – “I Just Wanna Know”

Album: N/A
From: Memphis
I.G.: @musicbylemons
linktr.ee/musicbylemons

QUICK COMMENTS…
Memphis-based indie rock band, Lemon’s, return to E.Y.P. with their recent release, “I Just Wanna Know”.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Time For Yourself” (2023)

THE NIGHTMARES – “Cursed”

NEW TO E.Y.P.
Album: “Séance”
From: South Wales, UK
I.G.: @thenightmares666
linktr.ee/thenightmares

QUICK COMMENTS…
The Nightmares make their E.Y.P. debut with their song “Cursed” from their 2023 Album “Séance”, released in April on Equal Vision Records.

CUCO ft. CONEXIÓN DIVINA – “Dime”

Album: N/A
From: Los Angeles, CA (Conexión Divina)
I.G.: @cucopuffs / @conexiondivina
linktr.ee/conexiondivinaoficial

QUICK COMMENTS…
Cuco teams up with the Mexican American Latina trio Conexión Divina on the track “Dime”. They hail from various parts… Los Angeles, Dallas and Austin, Texas.

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Under The Sun” (2023)
“Planet Express” (2023)

GATLIN – “When You’re Breaking My Heart”

NEW TO E.Y.P.
Album: “I Sleep Fine Now”
From: Florida / Nashville, TN / Los Angeles, CA
I.G.: @gatlin
linktr.ee/gatlin

QUICK COMMENTS…
Gatlin debuts on E.Y.P. with her track “When You’re Breaking My Heart” from her 2023 Album, “I Sleep Fine Now” available now!

HIGHLAND KITES – “We Both Know It”

Album: N/A
From: Los Angeles, CA / Nashville, TN
I.G.: @highlandkites

QUICK COMMENTS…
And finally, we end 2023 on a melodic high note with the latest release by Highland Kites, another band we are proud to call an E.Y.P. Staple Band. They honor our playlist once again with another amazing song from the musical talents of Marissa Lamar and Neil Briggs. So far this year they have released memorable dreamy indie rock songs this year such as “Strength”, “Bombs”, “Still Trying”, and this song, “We Both Know it”, is no exception. I would like to thank Highland Kites for their support over the years. Below is a few of their tracks we have featured though out the years. Take a deep dive into the music of Highland Kites!

FEATURED & RECOMMENDED SONGS
“Nothing To Say” (2018)
“I Didn’t Belong” (2018)
“Not Your Hero” (2018)
“Acting” (2019)
“Two Halves” (2019)
“Break Through This” (2020)
“Fences” (2021)
“Strength” (2023)
“Bombs” (2023)
“Still Trying” (2023)

EXPAND YOUR PLAYLIST – Music Featured in 2023

EXPAND YOUR PLAYLIST: SEPTEMBER 2023 PLAYLIST

THE LISTENING STATION #25 – NOVEMBER 2023 PLAYLIST

If you are a musician or in a band, or you represent a band and would like us to feature their music on a future playlist of Expand Your Playlist, simply just send us a message on social media, we are on Twitter (X), Instagram, Threads, and Facebook under @eyplaylist, or E-Mail us at expandyourplaylist@yahoo.com. Please include a link to the music, preferably on Spotify. All other formats and links are also accepted.