Every week, we’re cutting through the noise with our playlist updates and putting you onto the essential listens.

If January is a time to retreat and reassess then now we’re seeing the fruits of that period of reflection. February has been red hot with new releases and mid way through the month we’re seeing early submissions for artists taking the title of ‘next up’. Strandz‘ Us Against The World’ is a 90s inspired trip that we’ve had in our rotation since minute one. Now, the London rapper has invited Digga D for a remix to make sure he’s one of the first names in our playlist in 2023. Elsewhere, newcomer Lemonade Shoelace is proving to be Ireland’s psychedelic frontrunner on ‘Hopscotch In The Sky’ as he drops a gem ahead of shows at SXSW in Texas. For those with a pop sweet tooth then Belfast’s Becky Mcniece is showing major players that you can make serious noise dropping independently.

Focus picks:

Theodor Black – HUH! Feat. Sheiva

Becky McNiece – Wasting Time

Lemonade Shoelace – Hopscotch In the Sky

Debbie – Is This Real Love? Feat. Lucky (Daye Remix)

Strandz – Us Against The World Feat. Digga D (Remix)

Qbanaa – Creative Perfection, Pt. 1

Catch all those singles and more in our best new music playlist:

Elsewhere on District: Christy Moore, Maverick Sabre and more performances announced for ‘Ireland For All’ Solidarity March