The 23s are a collaborative music project based in Sheffield, England and comprised of singer-songwriter and electronica musician Rob Cohen, singer-songwriter Rob Gurruchaga, and producer Tom Taylor. With a shared love for acts like David Bowie, Peter Gabriel, Blaqk Audio, Gary Numan, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen and Thomas Dolby, the enigmatic trio began working together remotely during the Covid lockdowns, writing song demos using analog synthesizers and synth guitars, which they shared across the internet.

Naming their project after Taylor’s Channel 23 Studio, they eventually gathered in person at the studio to choose their favorites out of the more than 100 demos they’d recorded, finally culling them down to 23 songs. They put their finishing touches and overdubs on the 23 tracks, and decided to release them one at a time, at the rate of one per month over a 23-month period, on the 23rd of each month. All 23 songs will ultimately be released in a full album at the end of the singles run, scheduled for December 23, 2024.

They launched their monthly parade of single releases a bit behind schedule on February 10, 2023 with “Never Be The Same” (which I reviewed), but from their second single on they’ve remained faithfully on schedule, diligently releasing each successive single on the 23rd of each month. I’ve really liked all their singles, and also the fact that no two sound alike. Their music style varies widely with each new release, with some songs having a strong electronic sound, while others are more rock or pop-oriented. Last August, I also reviewed their eighth single “My Kinda Girl”, a beautiful song I loved so much it ended up ranking #62 on my 100 Best Songs of 2023 list. 

The23s have created a cumulative Spotify playlist of all their songs, to which each successive new single is added each month as they’re released. To hear all their songs that will be included on the forthcoming 23-track album, click on this link:

Their latest and 18th single is “Youth“, a song about the passage of time inspired by the famous George Bernard Shaw quote “youth is wasted on the young” (although some have claimed that what he really said was “Youth is a wonderful thing. It is a shame it has to be wasted on children.”) But whatever the quote, the point of The 23s’ song is that youth is an unrealized gift that’s often taken for granted, and only fully appreciated much later in life. As someone who’s now old, I look back wistfully at my youth, and cringe at all the needless angst I experienced and energy I wasted fretting over trivial things, wishing I could go back and do some things over armed with the wisdom I have now.

The lyrics explore the bittersweet realization that comes with age, the fleeting nature of time, and the importance of cherishing each moment. “When I was younger, I thought all I knew was all there was to know. Now that I’m older, I realize that no one ever knows. She said ‘youth is wasted on the young’. Now that I’m older, I wish I was young like before.”

Musically, the song features a strong pulsating synth bass beat, upon which the guys have layered swirling orchestral synths, chugging percussion and a spine-tingling barrage of gnarly and wailing guitars, all of which create an exhilarating cinematic backdrop for Rob’s vibrant vocals. It’s another superb single from this talented musical trio.

Those who subscribe to their Bandcamp account, at a cost of only £5 a year, can buy the “Youth” single now before its released on streaming services, as well as a lot of free subscription tracks

The 23s Socials: Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

Find their music on Bandcamp / Spotify / Apple Music / Soundcloud / deezer / YouTube