As the year comes fleetingly to its denouement, it’s pertinent to gaze upon the musicians who dominated the attention of news headlines, be it through their soaring achievements or stirring controversies. These musicians transcended the boundaries of their work, becoming the true cultural icons, and thus giving a sneak peek into the world as it stands and its posterity.

Taylor Swift

 

The Eras tour has driven Taylor Swift into her billionaire era, solidifying her status as arguably the most bankable name in the music industry. She remained an unstoppable, unmoveable force, commanding headlines throughout 2023, most notably by bagging the TIME’s Person of the Year accolade. Moreover, her ongoing legal battles surrounding her music catalogue highlighted the prevalent power dynamics within the music industry, always rigged against the artists.

Travis Scott

 

Despite the majestic fall from grace, Travis Scott’s ability to enchant the audience by pushing every sinew of his creative boundaries, as he did with his fourth studio album UTOPIA, remains unparalleled. After a long silence, Scott also broke silence on the unfortunate Astroworld disaster that claimed many lives. Scott was accused of going ahead with the show even after the tragedy struck.

Diljit Dosanjh

 

Diljit Dosanjh became a global phenomenon, transcending language and cultural barriers with his soul-stirring set at the renowned Coachella Fest – the first Indian artist to perform there. Dosanjh’s latest collaboration with global icon Sia is also winning hearts. His Born To Shine tour also proved to be a massive success, pulling up a record turn-out in cities like Melbourne and Auckland. Diljit remained in the news for all the right reasons this year.

Ali Sethi

 

Ali Sethi’s mesmerizing performances and soul-stirring collaborations captivated audiences worldwide. His last-year mega-hit Pasoori catapulted to global fame, transcending the sharply divided Indo-Pak border. He is one of the most loved artists among the South Asian diaspora, as testified by his sold-out World Tour this year. Sethi’s virtuosity in blending traditional Pakistani music and heritage with modern influences earned him critical acclaim, cementing his reputation as a cultural ambassador. 

AP Dhillon

 

AP Dhillon’s recent works might have not fired on all cylinders, but his previous singles have given him a unique and enduring identity. Dhillon’s lovestruck single With You gave everyone a perfect boyfriend prototype, and the docu-series ‘AP Dhillon: First of a Kind’ gave us a wonderful peek into the young artist’s journey to stardom.

Shakira

 

It’s been a tumultuous year for Shakira, who underwent a divorce from his long-time partner Gerard Pique and was charged with tax fraud by Spanish authorities. But amidst all the gloom, the Colombian pop sensation came up with an infectious revenge song that has everyone talking. She was also among the most searched celebrities on the internet this year, and lit up the Latin Grammy by bagging three awards.

Kanye West

 

Kanye West remained a perplexing figure throughout 2023 – not that it came as surprising. West’s highly anticipated album Vultures, in collaboration with Ty Dolla Sign, will hit the shelf this week. For a listening party of this album, featuring Kodak Black, Offset, Chris Brown and more, West was seen wearing Ku Klux Klan-style. Never change, stupid Kanye! His headline-grabbing public appearances and provocative, problematic, and downright dangerous statements on social issues kept alienating fans. At this point, the question worth asking is why this guy is still relevant. 

Shubh

 

For most of us, the introduction to Shubh’s oeuvre must have come via Instagram Reels. If there’s any award for the biggest musician on Reels, Shubh will win that unambiguously. Shubh’s distinctive style and experimental approach to the Punjabi composition brought a fresh, resplendent vibe to his music. The Canada-based singer was no stranger to controversies either, and his maiden tour to India was cancelled.