Best Dance Music Albums of 2023

The dance music industry has gained dozens of incredible new albums in 2023 – here are some of our favorites.

This year, dance music enthusiasts were blessed with an abundance of new music that will be loved for years to come. With the pandemic primarily behind us, artists have finally returned to their truest form of inhibited creation, producing fresh, emotion-evoking, hard-hitting tunes for a global audience. Although there has been an overflow of new singles to love and admire, what we hope to focus on now are the compilations that tell a vibrant story. To create an album is no easy feat, and can be one of the most trying yet rewarding experiences of a musician’s career. Without further ado, here is Exron Music’s list of the best dance music albums of 2023, in no particular order.

KEYS N KRATES: IN:TENSION

On November 10, legendary trap trio Keys N Krates released their third album IN:TENSION. In true Keys N Krates form, the thumping bass and soulful percussions that first brought the group to stardom shone through despite their divergence into other genres. The 12-track album includes an iconic feature from Grammy award-winning singer Ciara. The R&B singer was featured on the third track “Fantasy,” which combined the group’s House influences and their love for R&B and trap-influenced 808s in their music. Keys N Krates has never been afraid of experimenting with their sound. The group went from heavy basses to fusing with even more tribal House and funk elements in recent years. The album IN:TENSION explored more of the future of the House music genre while also paying homage to Keys N Krates’ other inspirations. 

Clozee: Microworlds

CloZee unveiled her third studio album, Microworlds, over the summer. Known for her lucid, entrancing style, CloZee’s latest compilation truly encapsulated her vision as a musician and producer. Each single explored a different “Microworld”, such as “Childhood”, “Tomboy”, and “Contemplation,” and altogether created a stunning story to be told. In conjunction with the album, the musician dropped a three-part music video series centering around a character contemplating different realities and existences, tying into the overall theme. Shortly after the release of the album, CloZee embarked on a massive 45-date tour. When speaking about the experience, she said: “One of my favorite parts of writing a new album is to tour with it and present the journey to an audience. When I play the songs live, new dimensions, new memories, and experiences are created, for the listeners and for myself. I can’t wait to connect with the fans through this new audio-visual adventure.” CloZee’s Microworlds just added to her increasingly impressive repertoire as a stand-out in the bass music scene.

Elderbrook: LITTLE LOVE

On March 31st, Elderbrook dropped his sophomore album ‘Little Love’ which explored parental love in all its multifaceted, complicated glory. 12 tracks long, Elderbrook opened up regarding this newfound emotion in a uniquely soulful and melodic take on progressive house music. “It became clear that the overarching theme was about the messages I’d want to share with my children as they grow older”, the London-based artist explained. “We all lived through such a bizarre and difficult few years during the pandemic but I was given the greatest gift and biggest responsibility of all in that time, and it seemed only fitting that my second album be a dedication to that, to them, my little loves.” “Just Like Us” and “I Need You” set the tone with two powerful synth-laden anthems, delivering heartfelt vocals about universal struggles that bring people together. These songs evoke the emotions Elderbrook feels as a parent and how overwhelming the experience has been. The album single “Howl” was written about his daughter, in which he said, “it’s inspired by those sleepless nights listening to your child cry as you try and console them – I wanted her to know then, and always, that I’d be there for her.” Elderbrook’s talent for eliciting fervor in an audience is exactly what has established him as such a standout talent in the scene.

KASKADE AND DEADMAU5: KX5

This year marked a monumental moment for dance music fans with the dream of a new duo project from industry giants Kaskade and Deadmau5. The icons joined together to create Kx5, a tribute to the major mark they’ve each made in the house music scene. In the past, the pair produced some of the most beloved tracks in the industry at large, like “Move for Me” and “I Remember.” A full 14 years later, Kaskade and deadmau5 reunited to formalize their long-running friendship into an official project – and solidified the movement with their debut album. From their decade and a half of studio and onstage experience, pure magic was created in each song. Kx5 is a 10-track album that showcases the best of both Kaskade and deadmau5 styles. It’s a blend of progressive house, techno, and melodic beats that take the listener on a journey through different emotions. The album features collaborations with artists like Elderbrook, Sofi Tukker, and Hayla, adding a unique touch. Kx5 took listeners on an adventure to a whole new world. The standout album single is “Escape” featuring Hayla, which was remixed by John Summit and has quickly reached global critical acclaim.

Skrillex: Don’t Get Too Close & Quest for fire

Skrillex set the world aflame at the beginning of 2023 when he unexpectedly dropped two separate new albums. These LPs marked his first long-format releases in nearly ten years, and left fans flustered in the very best way. Both albums fused elements of hip-hop, pop, and electronic music, but each had a very distinct voice. Skrillex reminded his following of his unique talent for dubstep and bass throughout the 27 new singles. He collaborated with some of the industry’s most beloved talent like Porter Robinson, Flowdan, Peekaboom, Aluna, Four Tet, and Fred Again.., and even some pop influence from Justin Bieber. For veteran ravers, this resurgence of sounds was reminiscent of when they first started their journey into electronic music. Skrillex’s albums captured this sentiment while also providing a refreshing take on dubstep. Quest for Fire paid homage to older fans by demonstrating that not all dubstep has to be aggressive or headbangers. Songs like “Hydrate,” “Inhale Exhale,” and “Rumble” offered a breath of fresh air in the scene and are sure to inspire a new wave of artists and producers to experiment similarly. On the other hand, Don’t Get Too Close appealed more to Skrillex’s newer audience of mainstream late adopters of EDM.

Mersiv: OUT OF BOUNDS

In October, Mersiv finally released his sophomore LP ‘Out of Bounds’ on Morflo Records after much anticipation from fans. The album explored sounds and genres beyond what his fans have come to expect, marking this release as unequivocally one of the best dance albums of the year. Unlike his wildly successful debut album, “Pretty Dark Loud,” this fresh offering blended elements of hip-hop, pop, and other genres to showcase the DJ’s vast range of talents and production capabilities. To support this genre-defying effort, Mersiv enlisted several highly regarded artists, including Wreckno on “Bounce”, INZO on “Metagalactic Bloom”, and Saint Sinner on “Dreamscape”. Each collaboration added Mersiv’s signature sound to each artist’s unique musical identifiers, creating musical magic. In addition to an arsenal of collaborations, the 14-track LP featured several solo tracks that honed in on Mersiv’s distinctive blend of heavy basslines and enthralling rhythms. Most notable is the title track, which truly highlights Mersiv’s artistic development. 

RL Grime: Play

RL Grime is an undisputed OG in the trap music space. Whenever this talented producer disappears, his fans know something major is coming. This was the case with his Play Album, released in September. The 24-track compilation features three disks, each with eight singles and rife with hot collaborations. In discussing the LP, RL told fans to expect a “revolutionary new format” for the artist as he reflected on his old music but also brought in new sounds – experimenting with his classic trap, deep house, drum & bass, future breaks, and even techno as the genre reaches the mainstream. The amount of energy in Play is unmatched and RL Grime once again made his proficiency in production known. After the release, RL expressed how grateful he was to push ‘Play’ after suffering from a lack of motivation to make music for some time. The DJ said this album allowed him to regain his confidence as a producer and as a person overall – and his fans were delighted to share in the momentous milestone of tunes.

Camelphat: SPIRITUAL MILK

Camelphat are increasingly impressive as a DJ and production duo. They have seamlessly proved their talent through multiple genres – spanning from progressive and melodic house to hard techno. In September, Dave Whelan and Mike Di Scala released their second full-length album, ‘Spiritual Milk’. With a euphoric and fulfilling atmosphere Camelphat brought listeners on a musical journey through all sixteen tracks. Featuring an array of collaborations with artists with London Grammar, Mathame, Kolsch, SOHN, Rhodes, Jake Bugg, and more, this album highlighted the musical evolution of the duo. In speaking on the ethereal compilation, Dave and Mike said: “‘Spiritual Milk’ is a listening album that takes your mind away from everyday life. The name itself has captured the overall essence of the album perfectly. Take the trip & enjoy the ride.”

Skream: SKREAMIZM 8

After a decade, multi-genre producer Skream released an eleven-track album in September, Skreamizm 8. The LP connected his past in dubstep and grime with the emergence of techno in the mainstream for an eclectic twist. Skream dropped his debut album, ‘Skream!,’ in 2006 before releasing ‘Outside The Box’ in 2010 and a variety of unreleased tracks over three separate records. After over a decade, the artist’s eleven-track project, ‘Skreamism 8,’ came out just months after dropping his first dubstep track in years. The album begins with “HIT,” immediately taking the listener into an alternate universe with chimes, an ominous tone, and bass that flows into the next track, “Funky Sailor,” with Trim’s chill vocals. “Thinking Of You” completes ‘Skreamizm 8,’ with prominent drums and piano, as well as spoken word from the artist himself – formally known as Oliver Dene Jones. This incredible producer has been tearing up electronic music for decades, shaping dubstep into how we know it today. Skreamizm 8 is just the latest installment in a career full of inspiring tunes.

Anyma: Genesys

After a tremendously long wait, internationally renowned producer Anyma finally unveiled his highly-anticipated debut album, Genesys in August. Born Matteo Milleri, Anyma has completely revolutionized electronic dance music as we know it with his avant-garde and cinematic production methods. Fans were ecstatic to finally have received the entirety of his first album release. ‘Genesys’ is a 14-track musical masterpiece that encompasses Anyma’s one-of-a-kind artistic persona throughout. Full of melodic techno synths, ethereal melodies, and stunning vocals, the entire album is nothing short of extraordinary from beginning to end. A few album tracks such as “Welcome To The Opera” featuring Grimes, “Syren” with Rebuke, “Consciousness”, and “Eternity” with Chris Avantgarde were previously released before the official album unveil, which further hyped up fans’ anticipation for the full-length album. These singles alone have amassed millions of plays on Spotify alone. Anyma fans recognize that all of his projects revolve around the mystical concepts of human consciousness and connection, the universe, and the ambiguity of the afterlife. The album’s title ‘Genesys’, comes from the definition of the Greek-originated word Genesis is “the origin or mode of formation of something.” As his debut album, the title symbolizes that this progressive initial project is only a concrete formation of what’s to come from Anyma in the future. Genesys is our pick for the best album of 2023.