Basically Some of The Best Stuff of 2023

Written By Will DiNola

Merry Christmas ya’ll. My newsletter comes out on Mondays and this one happens to fall into your inbox the same time as Santa falling down your chimney.

If you’re taking the time to read this today, or any day for that matter, thank you!

The second newsletter post and we’re already diving into yearly traditions, starting with my end of year recap: full of the best music + movies from the year, as well as some yearly updates from what I’ve been up to. Plus, we’ll end on what I’ve got in store for 2024!

Best Musical Moments

Most end of year lists are essentially a ranking of recommendations. While I’ll have some recommendation lists later in my post, I’d like to do something a bit different for the main chunk of this post, which is picking specific moments from my year that I hope will allow you to reflect on how music made an impact on you this year too.

Slow-mo Groove in Killers of the Flower Moon

Still from Killers of the Flower Moon directed by Martin Scorsese

If you haven’t seen the movie already, you must. If it’s not the best movie from this year, it at least feels like the most necessary. It’s Martin Scorsese, after all!

It also happens to have the best score.

One of the films most memorable moments (of which there are many, since it’s over 3 hours long) is towards the beginning of the film. It’s a true story based on a book of the same name, which covers the systematic killing of the Osage, a Native American tribe that became uncharacteristically rich due to finding oil on their land. While Marty gets us caught up on our history at the film’s start, there’s a great grooving song from composer and musician Robbie Robertson that gives the exposition such movement and joy.

I’d recommend seeing the whole film, preferably in a theatre, but if you can’t here’s a link to the beginning of the film, including this moment.

Saying Goodbye To One of My Favorite Bands

Press photo of the band Palm.

If you don’t know Philadelphia-based, genre-less band Palm, then I’m sorry, because they are now OVER. After a 12 year run, they’ve sadly decided to call it quits.

However, YOU can still listen to all of their old material!

I was lucky enough to see them twice this year, once being at one of their farewell shows, in which they played a bunch of old cuts. The musical moment I’d direct you to here didn’t come out in 2023, but I did experience it live in 2023. It’s not a particular song of theirs, but a transition between songs from their debut album.

Do yourself a favor and listen to their song “Doggy Doctor” directly into the following track, “You Are What Eats You.” It’s a tense, dissonant buildup into a jittering, yet dialed in groove. More bands should aspire to this perfect of song construction for how their track listing unfolds.

They’re not for everyone, but if you’re a fan, you’ll be eating right out of the palm of Palm with that moment. RIP Palm. ❤️

A Music Video I Actually Like For Once

I’m not the biggest fan of music videos. I like movies. I like music. But I rarely connect to most music videos. Maybe I’ll write about why that is at some point, but for now you can just watch this comedy video I half-jokingly made about it.

It was a big surprise when this year I discovered a music video I not only liked, but was impressed by! It comes from the artist Evan J Cartwright and the video is for a song released on their very special album from last year. I only discovered it this year.

The video is simple, yet plays with your expectations in the best way. I won’t spoil it more than that, so you can watch it for yourself at the link above.

The Song I Had On Loop

I’d like to think of myself as an “album guy.” But let’s face it, sometimes you discover a song and for whatever reason you’re compelled to play it over and over again and listen to nothing else at all.

That happened to me with this track. I forget how I found it, but now it’s quintessential Will DiNola listening. That riff is so simple, yet so perfect.

Here’s your new ear worm.

Sometimes You Need To Revisit The Classics

Intermission seeing West Side Story (2021) with the New York Philharmonic

Earlier this year, my neighbor who works for the New York Philharmonic randomly had extra tickets to an event. She couldn’t go and offered them to me. Come to find out it’s the NYPhil playing the instrumental to Steven Spielberg’s 2021 remake of the beloved classic musical West Side Story.

Some people weren’t fans of Spielberg’s version… enough remakes, they said, the leads have no chemistry!, etc. I, however, loved it and think it’s generally an improvement of the 1961 film.

Regardless of which version you see, even your local high school production, you can’t deny that the melodies are timeless. There’s a reason certain pieces of media are considered classics.

It was a joy to revisit and especially in this fun live setting, where the composition and playing became that much more urgent, since it was being played right in front of us.

P.S. - See if you can spot Rachel Zegler, who plays Maria in the film and was in attendance, in the included photo.

Some Personal Updates

If you don’t follow me on socials or you forgot to check it out: I released my annual Christmas themed compilation earlier this month! This our eighth year doing it and this year we’ll be donating all of the proceeds to Anera who are in urgent need of funds to help those suffering in Palestine currently. If you purchase any other past year compilations, I’ll also donate that money as well. Catch my reggae cover of a Stevie Wonder classic!

Also, this year I released “do” an album of improvisational piano songs (also this newsletter’s namesake). As I dive into film scoring as a career, I thought releasing these songs might be a nice calling card for the melodies I can bring to the table when it comes to film scores.

List Zone!!

And now it’s time for the lightning round, where I give a couple list of my favorite pieces of media this year.

A still from Dad & Step-Dad, one of my favorite films of 2023

Favorite Movies

These are films that came out in 2023 which I loved and highly recommend you seek out if you haven’t already seen them. Each has my Letterboxd review linked if you’d like to learn more about my thoughts on it, or more about the movie in general. I’ve also included a little superlative to go with them.

Amber Mary Bain of the The Japanese House, who released a great record this year

Favorite Albums

These are all albums that came out in 2023 which I loved and highly recommend you seek out if you haven’t already heard them. Each has a link to the album if you’re interested in listening. I’ve also included a little superlative to go with them.

What’s In Store For 2024?

Behind the scenes photo from the shoot of These Are My Friends!

I’m currently hard at work scoring a second feature film. You can find more information and updates about its release here.

A film I co-wrote and act in called These Are My Friends! is also soon to be through the film festival circuit. You can find updates about that here.

I’ll also be diving into more film composing and I’m always up for a conversation in terms of collaborating! If you’re a filmmaker looking for a composer, please hit my line!

Thanks for reading! Happy New Year! See you in 2024.

will dinola (he/him) is a film composer, musician, and writer currently working in new york city

he is interested in people’s passions and pushing the art of film scoring to new horizons

he writes about his experience in a newsletter called “do”

Will DiNola
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