Best of 2022: the WDET playlist

2022 was something of a revival in music. We witnessed the long-awaited return of artists like Beyoncé with ‘RENAISSANCE’ and Kendrick Lamar with ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.’ We welcomed artists like Allye Gaietto and Patrice Rushen back into our studios for more live performances than we’ve had since 2019. We even got to hear exclusive unreleased music from acts like BALANCE, Waajeed, Rebecca Goldberg and Sara Marie Barron.

WDET’s music hosts sifted through all this incredible work and carefully selected their top picks of the year, listed below. From Nick Austin’s soulful jams to Jon Moshier’s experimental soundscapes, there’s a wide range of music to explore here.

Plus, Tia Graham joined the CultureShift team as a co-host and producer in May, which means she got to share her first-ever Best Of playlist this year. Her picks were fun and upbeat and had the whole station dancing along.

Also making their Best Of debut was Sam Beaubien, WDET’s creative producer and leader of the acclaimed ensemble, Will Sessions. To share his picks, he was joined by Detroit DJs Meftah and Whodat, who introduced us to some groovy deep cuts and remixes.

Listen to the full playlist:

Want to jump to your favorite host? Click their name below:

• Amanda LeClaire, CultureShift
• Ann Delisi, Ann Delisi’s Essential Music
• Ed Love, Destination Jazz
• Jeff Milo, Milo Minute
• Jon Moshier, Modern Music
• Rob Reinhart, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music
• Ryan Patrick Hooper, CultureShift
• Sam Beaubien, Sam’s Jams
• Tia Graham, CultureShift
• Nick Austin, Soul Saturday

Nick Austin, Soul Saturday

Aired Dec. 5, 2022

Enough by Samm Henshaw

Why We Speak (feat. Q-Tip & Esperanza Spalding) by Robert Glasper

Love Again by Alex Isley & Jake Dine

Little Things by Moonchild

Please Don’t Walk Away by PJ Morton

I Wish I Knew (feat. Joni Inez) by Otis McDonald

Untouchable (feat. India Carney) by Anomalie

Alive by Sly Johnson

Simple (feat. Black Noi$e) by Apropos

Danceteria by Dez / Andrés

Feel Your Touch (feat. L’Renee) [Jimpster Remix] by Jon Dixon

Everything Comes in Waves (feat. STS) by Busty and the Bass

Ryan Patrick Hooper, CultureShift

Aired Dec. 6, 2022

Billions by Caroline Polachek

midnight sun by Nilüfer Yanya

Stuck In The Middle by Greentea Peng

Parasite by Obongjayar

If You Only Knew by Gabriels

It Hit Me by Charlotte Adigéry & Bolis Pupul

Lydia Wears A Cross by Julia Jacklin

Visions (Ela Minus Remix) by José González

There’s So Many People That Want To Be Loved by Sorry

Hot Penny Day by Dry Cleaning

LORD FORGIVE ME (feat. Fat Nwigwe) by Tobe Nwigwe, Pharrell Williams & EARTHGANG

White Science (feat. Zelooperz) by John FM

Figure Skating by Porij

Ann Delisi, Ann Delisi’s Essential Music

Aired Dec. 6, 2022

Tongo Barra by Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin

A Madman from Manhattan by Jack White

Gold Sounds 3am by Charlie Burg

Sugar and Spice by Jocelyn & Chris Arndt

Do You by Strange Heart

Love Is The Way by Thee Sacred Souls

Harvest Moon by Maya Delilah

Arms Around a Memory by Beth Orton

Be Cool (feat. Little Dragon) by Lil Silva

Last Dance by Montell Fish

Rob Reinhart, Rob Reinhart’s Essential Music

Aired Dec. 7, 2022

Shock (feat. Robert Myers) by Nick Behnan

BREAK MY SOUL by Beyoncé

TWO SHRiMPS (feat. Mac DeMarco) by DOMi & JD BECK

Upside Down by Allye Gaietto

the perfect pair by beabadoobee

REAL LOVE by Whitney

Bruises by Chris Bathgate

Nightshift by Bruce Springsteen

Part Of The Band by The 1975

Mr. Morale by Kendrick Lamar & Tanna Leone

If I Die Tomorrow by Jack White

Nice Work If You Can Get It by Sloan

Sam Beaubien, Sam’s Jams

Aired Dec. 8, 2022

Pay It Forward by Meftah

Tiers by Meftah

Don’t Know by Whodat & Sophiayah.e

Spaced Outta Place by Sundown

Arctic Vibration by Steve Crawford

What Would You Do? (feat. Andrés & Amp Fiddler) [Expansions NYC Dub Vocal] by Dames Brown, Josh Milan & Louie Vega

If I Were Kyle by Jon Dixon

Danceteria by Dez / Andrés

Good in the Bad by Ji Hoon Kang

Walk Cycle by The JuJu Exchange

Pressure by De’Sean Jones & Ideeyah

Connected (feat. Josh Milan) by Zo! & Tall Black Guy

Jon Moshier, Modern Music

Aired Dec. 9, 2022

Gettin’ to the Point by Panda Bear & Sonic Boom

The Overload by Yard Act

Angelica by Wet Leg

Om du vore en vakthund by Dungen

Fredag by Kropp

On the Edge by Automatic

Asteroid Witch by Ghost Power

Tripping at a Party by Los Bitchos

Holy Mackerel! by Cosmic Analog Ensemble

Silence Is Golden by The Beths

Canada by Rayon

flowers fading by Dear Nora

Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C.

Tia Graham, CultureShift

Aired Dec. 15, 2022

Frame by Monica Blaire

Tangerine (feat. Jadagrace & TJOnline) by grouptherapy.

Subdued by Sara Marie Barron

Shining Star by PawPaw Rod

Go by Baby Rose

City of Angels (feat. Mereba) by Nesta

girlfriend by hemlocke springs

Nowhere But Up by Phony Ppl

PULSE by MICHELLE

Boundaries by Jamila Woods

The Room (feat. Devin Tracy) by Flying Lotus

Red Room by Hiatus Kaiyote

High by ZBDT & Supercoolwicked

Amanda LeClaire, CultureShift

Aired Dec. 16, 2022

To hear Amanda’s playlist on its own, listen on her Spotify page.

Oysters In My Pocket by Royel Otis

I Was Neon by Julia Jacklin

The Mainline Song by Spiritualized

Ultraviolet (feat. Sleater-Kinney) by KAINA

Sun (Jitwam & EJT Remix) by Emma-Jean Thackray, Jitwam

The Sky Sings (Obas Nenor’s Extended Dub) [feat. Layla Moallem, Jasmin Moallem & KerenDun] by Sefi Zisling

Outskirts, Dreamlit by Pan-American

Phase 1 by Endel & Laraaji

Love Is The Tune by Mary Lattimore

Loba by Los Eclipses, Eva de Marce & Dan Solo

Carbon Dioxide by Fever Ray

Become The Lies by The Soft Moon

Glass (feat. King Woman) by Mareux

Jeff Milo, Milo Minute

Online exclusive

To hear Jeff’s playlist on its own, listen on his Spotify page.

To hear all of Jeff’s picks from the year, listen to his 10-hour playlist.

Heart About to Give Out by Of House

Miley by Carmel Liburdi

Morning Light by Twin Deer

Easy Chair by The Walking Beat

Oh No by Adam Padden

Old Days by pia

LYCHEE by stoop lee

Charlie Brown by Cashmere Washington

Bruises by Chris Bathgate

John Brannon (Remix) by Blank Tape Tax & Kate Derringer

I Can’t Feel (My Body) by Ally Evenson

Tender Terrible by Interior Geometry & Child Sleep

Night at the Rock & Roll History Museum by Danny VanZandt

Doug Out by E.M. Allen

Shoebox Island by Emily Rose

Flooded by James Linck

Backseat by Allye Gaietto

things we want to know by Vespre

How Could I? by Child Sleep

Drown by Emily Parrish

Ed Love, Destination Jazz

Online exclusive

See Ed’s Highly Recommended New CDs for 2022.