Gambit’s New Orleans new music playlist for January 2026 | Music | Gambit Weekly

There’s never a shortage of new music from New Orleans artists, and it can be hard to keep track of it all. So each month, Gambit is throwing together a Spotify playlist to collect the latest releases by local musicians.

Have a new single or album you’d like to tell us about? Email writer Jake Clapp at [email protected].

There has already been a surge of new releases from New Orleans musicians in 2026, and this month’s playlist is packed. January has seen plenty of singles, new EPs and albums along with previews of projects coming later this year — plus there are a few songs made for the Carnival season.

Bounce icon Big Freedia made a joyful noise last year with her first gospel project, “Pressing Onward.” To celebrate her birthday on Jan. 28, the Queen Diva released a remix of the track “Celebration,” with a guest verse by Queen Latifah and a hook by pop musician Dawn Richard. Speaking of Richard, she also appears on the track “Play” by Berlin producer S. Fidelity.

Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars caught a lot of attention in 2024 when they entered NPR Music’s Tiny Desk contest with a performance of their song “I’ve Got No More Tears Left to Cry,” which earned them a finalist position in the competition. The New Orleans group started this year by releasing the swaying rhythm-and-blues track as a double single alongside the song “Nine Cat Tails” — and they finally made it to the Tiny Desk for their own concert this week.

Harpist Cassie Watson Francillon early in the month released the compelling, genre-bending project “Bardo,” which features contributions by bassist Bryan Webre, saxophonist Gladney, drummer Julian Addison, trumpeters Aquiles Navarro and Jelani Bauman and tuba player Charles Lumar II.

Saxophonist Brad Walker collaborated with pianist Sam Kuslan, bassist Matt Booth and drummer Alfred Jordan for his latest album, “A Sliver of Catharsis,” which includes a lush take on Lord Huron’s “When the Night is Over.”

Mark Braud’s Colossus Brass Band released its first album of traditional-style New Orleans brass band music, “Sing On.” The group is aptly named and includes Braud on trumpet, trumpeters Gregg Stafford, Kevin Louis and Wendell Brunious, clarinetist Bruce Brackman, tenor saxophonist Roderick Paulin, trombonists Craig Klein and Freddie Lonzo, snare drummer Gerald French, bass drummer Cayetano “Tanio” Hingle and sousaphonist Kirk Joseph.

Rappers 504icygrl and PoppyH are joined by a host of collaborators, including Raj Smoove, Kr3wcial, ShaoGrove Coal, Denisia and Shaggadelic, for “Nola Secret Sesh: The Album,” a cannabis-focused project capturing the vibe of their Secret Sesh series of events. Take a listen to the hazy lead track “Mary.”

And January also saw new EPs and full-lengths from The Deslondes, Bonerama, ET Deaux, Azure Skyz and more.

There’s also a lot to look forward to in 2026. Rock band Oh Dang announced its sophomore album “Big Dogs,” out in March, with the irrepressible “OKC” (a song I can’t get enough of). Singer-songwriter Sari Jordan released the playful “Freak” ahead of their debut album, “Perfect Be the Enemy,” which will be released in the spring. And by the time you read this, indie pop musician Lyla George’s album “Soup for Lunch” may be out, but take a listen to the pensive single “anabel.”

Local musicians are also getting ready for Carnival, and there’s a few new seasonal tracks, including “Waiting for the Parade to Come” by Burris with Ashlin Parker, Renee Gros and Jordan Anderson and Flagboy Giz’s theme song for the refreshed Krewe of Oshun.

Take a listen to that and more in the Spotify playlist above. And keep scrolling for a couple of new music videos released in January as well as the Marigny Tapes’ session featuring Kr3wcial. The new webseries focused on New Orleans-based artists was created by photographer and videographer Noé Cugny, who previously produced the OnBeat Sessions for OffBeat Magazine, and along with Kr3wcial, there are so far videos with Avery Island and Sari Jordan.