15 Canadian artists share their favourite songs of 2023

Every year, the producers at CBC Music curate their year-end lists, summarizing the best songs and albums of the year. While these lists are representative of our tastes, we wanted to share that space with some of our favourite artists, too. 

We surveyed 15 musicians to see what their favourite Canadian song of the year was. Scroll down to see what they've selected as their top Canadian track. Whether it was a song that they wish they could've written or just something that truly touched their heart, here's what Vivek Shraya, Charlotte Cardin, the Beaches and more listened to on repeat. 

'Confetti,' Charlotte Cardin 

"The groove of the bassline, the delivery of the vocals and the pocket that she chose for the verses are all super dope. I'm a fan!" — Preston Pablo

'Name of God,' Mustafa 

"'Name of God' by Mustafa holds a special place in my heart. Mustafa has such gentle yet powerful vocals; I have truly never heard anything quite like it. His music feels like a hug and this song in particular moves me to tears every time I hear it. It is honest, vulnerable and beyond beautiful." — Charlotte Cardin

"Mustafa is always so lyrical and heartfelt. This song hit me deeply. It speaks to my soul and makes loss feel like something I am not alone in." — Jayli Wolf

'Pum Pum Poetry,' Pyne 

"As a huge fan of Alanna Stuart (Bonjay), I couldn't be more excited about her new project, Pyne. If the sexy single 'Pum Pum Poetry' — with a bold seven-minute-plus runtime — is any indication of the fire to come, sign me up!" — Vivek Shraya 

'Take My Hand,' Jeremy Dutcher 

"The gift that Jeremy brings through his music is profound, but the most potent thing about what he brings, and this is true for both [my partner Elizabeth] and I, is that he brings the power of his community with him everywhere he goes. We are all blessed by this, and by the beauty of this song." — Beverly Glenn-Copeland

'Snakelife,' Allison Russell 

"'Snakelife' by Allison Russell is one of my favourite songs of 2023 because I love her lyrics; I love concept albums. I love when artists create an album that shows many layers of themselves and reads almost like chapters of a book." — Aysanabee 

'Letting Go,' Aysanabee 

"'Letting Go' is a soulful meditation that goes beyond a breakup song; it's an anthem for accepting with grace the hard things we cannot change. 'Can't ask a tree not to grow/ Can't tell the summer not to go.' And that voice — a healer in and of itself." — Allison Russell 

'Wicked Gyal,' Bambii and Lady Lykez

"The production is slick and sexy, and the song is a banger. I'd dance to this anywhere." — Debby Friday

'I Wish You Cheated,' Alexander Stewart 

"I've been a fan of Alexander Stewart for years and I think he has such an incredible voice. This song concept was really well written and super relatable for a lot of people going through breakups that didn't necessarily end on a bad note. Alexander's voice carries any ballad and any lyric beautifully." — Lauren Spencer Smith 

'Air I Walk,' Zeus 

"I wish I could write a song like this. I listened to it 100 times in a row the day it came out. Just listened now. Still good." — Bahamas

'Reckoning (Blink Twice Session),' Arkells 

"What a track! If you need a good 'driving in the car and hit me with the good vibes' song, this is it. I love that this track is amped up with the horn section. This was my go-to pick-me-up tune this year and I can't wait to cover it live." — Shawnee Kish

'Break for You,' Valley 

"We both came up in Toronto at the same time, and we have been supporting one another and attending each other's shows for years. Their latest album, Lost In Translation, is full of alt-pop anthems. It's incredible to have been able to watch this band grow and thrive, and we're so lucky to be able to call them our friends. 'Break for You' is our fave track, and obviously is on our pre-show playlist. It is incredibly infectious and heartfelt — the perfect combination." — The Beaches

'Cigarette,' the Beaches 

"This chorus!? Truly mesmerized every time I hear [the Beaches' Jordan Miller] sing. She is an absolute icon and I love this song so much. We feel so unbelievably proud of our friends for making such a special album. The Beaches are the hardest working band in Canada right now and have put so much blood, sweat and tears into their artistry — knowing their story and to see it finally paying off really makes us so, so happy and inspired. 

"The album is perfection and a case study for bands, but a song like 'Cigarette' in particular feels like a Beaches classic to me and the perfect closer to the era. It's Jojo's vocal delivery, with such a unique and infectious melody, Kylie and Leandra's perfect Cure-esque riffs, Eliza's addictive drum parts and a perfect movie ending fade-out. It just gets me. This song is everything, please go listen to it!" — Valley's Rob Laska

'In A Moment Divine,' Freak Heat Waves feat. Cindy Lee 

"To listen to 'In a Moment Divine' is to experience alchemy at work. The drums, synths and Cindy Lee's vocals come together in a way that moves me to tears, but keeps me smiling because I'm in awe of how beautifully constructed the song is." — Jessy Lanza

'SheDoeNeed,' King Cruff and Stonebwoy feat. Jag.Huligin 

"King Cruff is one of our favourite artists to work with. He brings a fresh twist to Jamaican music without falling into the clichés. Plus, his song "SheDoeNeed" is a banger, paying respect to the queens." — Banx & Ranx