Last but certainly not least in our Top 20 of 2023 series is the spellbinding vocalist and producer Fran Lobo. Having pulled off one of our favourite live shows of the year, all the way back in February at Dalston's intimate Servant Jazz Quarters, backed by a talented host of friends, including fellow TMR favourites Coby Sey, Lucinda Chua, Fran Lobo's ambitious sound and commitment to executing it live is something to be admired. Signed by the good people at Heavenly Recordings, Lobo's debut album Burning It Feels Like arrived just as the summer fizzled out. Consisting of 10 painstakingly crafted tracks including the smouldering 'Slowly', the combative 'Armour' and it's stunning closing ballad 'Tricks', the record is accomplished, timeless and, in our opinion, criminally underrated. We'll be paying close attention to Fran Lobo as we enter 2024 and beyond. -Holly Mullineaux