For Joseph Mount, mastermind behind the UK outfit Metronomy, The Posse EP Volume 2 represents a way of connecting with new music and new artists. It’s his way of championing newer performers and connecting with them. “The more I do stuff with other people, the more excited I get about doing my own music again…” explains Mount.  “For me it’s a way of separating myself from the last 20 years of what I’ve done. You want to be proud of it and then move on.” To prove it, today we’re sharing “Contact High (Feat. Miki & Faux Real).”

It’s been roughly twenty years since London-based Tunng crept onto the scene with their genre-defying and timeless “pagan folktronica” debut album — This Is… Tunng: Mothers Daughters and other Tales. To celebrate, the band will release their eighth studio album Love You All Over Again on Jan. 24, 2025 via Full Time Hobby. It’s a record brimming with crunchy textures, nods to renaissance folk, and (maybe) a dash of Simon & Garfunkel. Enjoy this first foray into the LP — “Didn’t Know Why.”

Las Palabras, or Words in English, is the Spanish-language solo project of punk-scene veteran and member of !!! (Chk Chk Chk) — Rafael Cohen.  Of his sophomore album Fe (Faith), Cohen says: “[it] deals with what it means to have faith, what it means to have doubts, and what it means to stay open to the idea that something untouchable and unknowable may exist”. 

We’ve got a new one from alt-country singer Margo Price! “Too Stoned To Cry” finds the singer sharing a mic and guitar duties with her friend Billy Strings. Price is a natural storyteller and this song illustrates why country music has always been a comfort to her, even in her darkest days. And it signals more to come as she prepares new music to be delivered in 2025. 

If you’re a skeptic about love, it’s time to take a listen to the collaborative work of songwriters and producers Baba Stiltz and Okay Kaya. The pair’s aloof, anti-folk hymn “I Believe In Love” is “about loneliness, longing, and safety,” Baba Stiltz explains. “[It’s about] the joyful silliness of coupling and the fear it inevitably can lead to.” Kaya adds: “I am very lucky to get to sing this banger of a song with Baba. He makes me believe in all the silly things.”

Here’s the latest anthemic ballad from Katie Crutchfield, the mastermind behind Waxahatchee. “Much Ado About Nothing” is the first new song she’s shared since releasing Tiger’s Blood earlier this year. And we’re grateful that she did because it’s a fan favorite the band has been playing throughout their recent tour. 

Ry Cuming, best known as RY X, was working on the song “You” when he realized he kept hearing ghostly smidgens of Hermanos Gutiérrez. But that audio imagery was only in his mind until he reached out to share the song with them. The duo loved what they heard and lept at the chance to collaborate, they even made the trek to Cuming’s Topanga Canyon studio to record. 

London-based duo Kit Sebastian were motivated by their desire to fuse Indonesian and Turkish music. While most of their work is tempered by harmony, “Bul Bul Bul” is grounded by the track’s rhythm. Most of their music is written in recording sessions, but their approach here is to explore the spontaneous combustion of textures that tend to arise during soundchecks when they are out on the road.

Let’s get right to Yola telling us about her new recording in her own words:  "From covering Soul II Soul for a reputable outlet, to my covers on tour and reworkings of my songs — the broad church of soul music through the ages has always been the narrative. This time I’m exploring my love of soul music through influences like Chaka Khan, Janet Jackson, Sade, Prince, Minnie Riperton, and various luminaries of rare groove and progressive R‘n’B. Layering programming and synths with organic instrumentation is at the core of the sonic landscape, and as usual I have metabolised these elements into a concoction very much of my own." 

Fresh from a headlining set at NorCal fest Portola, and SoCal’s CRSSD Festival earlier this summer, Four Tet shares his latest collaboration with the help of Ellie Goulding — “In My Dreams.” 

Bonobo (aka Simon Green) shares the record for most nominations (seven) in the Dance/Electronic recording category at the Grammys — alongside Madonna and The Chemical Brothers. On his latest single, “Expanders,” Green weaves his signature organic vocals and instrumentation into a yummy treat for those hankering for a heady throwdown in between album releases.  

“Garmonbozia” is the first single from audio pioneer Flying Lotus since 2022, but don’t think he hasn’t been busy since then. Recently, Steven D. Bingley-Ellison (or FlyLo) has expanded his palette by co-writing, directing, and scoring for the horror anthology V/H/S 99 as well as other ghoulish flicks.  This Twin Peaks inspired track follows a similarly spooky path, sounding as though it’s coated in a viscous syrup with the bassline dripping into a steady beat. P.S. We wish FlyLo a very happy birthday today. 

Jeremie Albino will release his debut album on Nov. 1 via Dan Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound. He’s the latest artist to sign with the prestigious label. The album’s title track, “Our Time In The Sun,” showcases an emotionally nuanced narrator pouring his soul into his music. Albino’s story began on a farm in rural Ontario. After wrangling vegetables at farmers markets in Toronto, he began busking on the city’s sidewalks before sharing stages with artists like Orville Peck, St. Paul & The Broken Bones, and JD McPherson (to name a few). 

West London-based singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya has been receiving well-deserved praise for her new full-length, My Method Actor, an organic and intimate recording. 

Singer Ella Raphael was weaned on Elvis, Edith Piaf, and (naturally) her namesake Ella Fitzgerald. On the hip-swaying “Tangled Love,” we hear her tempered vocals alongside a dab of nostalgic tropicália, Mediterranean riffs, and a sonic bed of vibraphone and lap-steel guitar. 

Ascending Australian nobility Royel Otis released a fantastic debut album earlier this year — PRATTS & PAIN. This week will give us a deluxe vinyl release of that very record. One of the many tracks we’ve enjoyed sharing is “Velvet,” a powerful and potent 2 minute song. Memorize it now, you will want to shout the lyrics along with them when they make their Morning Becomes Eclectic debut live on Oct. 15. 

Singer-songwriter Daniel Blake followed his heart, literally. As his girlfriend made a move to SoCal from Arizona, Blake came along and began working in construction… thinking he was leaving his musical pursuits behind. But he enjoyed the work, and the long drives provided ample time for melodies to develop and for songs to begin to write themselves. “Dreaming About It” is one of those songs and you’ll likely hear it as he and his full band kick-start School Night at Bardot for the very first show of the season(!).

Jerry Paper has collaborated with a bunch of artists we love including Weyes Blood and Tyler, The Creator. But after experiencing therapy and the radical growth that came out of it, their namesake Lucas Nathan decided they wanted to be a therapist.  “Everything Angel” is about that decision. Nathan says: “When I was in my early 20s I told myself that my only skill was music so I had to figure out how to make it work as a career. I spent the past almost-decade actualizing that, without seeing that I’d closed so many doors for my understanding of myself. So this song is about knowing that my life can expand beyond what I told myself it was when I was younger, and that unknowing is the stance to take towards any big journey.”

Last year (2023) was a banner one for Sabrina Teitelbaum, aka Blondshell. Her self-titled debut LP gained new fans and received critical acclaim — one of the songs from that album, “Joiner,” even earned a coveted spot on Barack Obama’s year-end playlist. Her band has been touring extensively, and this summer found them trotting around the globe on the festival circuit while putting together a sophomore album.   “What’s Fair” is a new pop-punk song that’s been lighting up their live sets as it grapples with the complexities of mother/daughter relationships.  

Five-time Grammy winning music icon Angélique Kidjo is in the spotlight with “Sunlight To My Soul.” It’s a piece written in collaboration with legendary songwriter Diane Warren penning the lyrics and Nigerian afrobeats producer Shizzi crafting African rhythms — and it’s buoyed by the warmth of the Soweto Gospel Choir.  P.S. Fun fact: Diane Warren has the distinction of being the most nominated songwriter in Oscar history(!)  Angélique Kidjo on MBE 2016Angélique Kidjo on MBE 2010Angélique Kidjo on MBE 2007Angélique Kidjo on MBE 2004Angélique Kidjoon MBE 1998

Recorded at their home studio in Los Angeles, New Release is the first studio album from YACHT (Young Americans Challenging High Technology) in five years. The title is funny, appropriate, and on-brand because (in addition to being a literal new music release) it also serves as a personal release due to the fact that it’s the first album they’ve dispensed on their own label, Paris by Night. “Wake Me Up” sounds like they need a nudge from their nap and is the last song on the album.   

You can hear the essence of  great jazz vocalists like Carmen McRae, Nina Simone, and Sarah Vaughan in the sound of NYC’s Afro-Boricuan group duendita. 

Inglewood-based Jean Dawson straddles multiple cultures and gives voice to fans who see themselves in his work. His distinctive sound has been noticed by artists like SZA and A$AP Rocky. Another notable collaborator is Lil Yachty, who you’ll hear on the track “Die For Me,” which will be featured on Dawson’s forthcoming album Glimmer of God out in October. 

LA artist and producer Roman Ariel boosts his confidence and builds his groove with “Got It.” The track features his friend XOOL, whom he coaxed into stepping out of his comfort zone and picking up the mic. Together, they tackle their battles against fear in the pursuit of their dreams. 

Dancer, choreographer, and a founding member of LA’s Syncopated Ladies Melinda Sullivan uses her feet to make music. On a new album aptly titled Big Foot, she teams up with famed pianist Larry Goldings and dances in her socks, sand, and even sneakers for a nuanced tone. Punctuating Goldings’ compositions with Sullivan’s tap dancing, “Do You Like” features the voice of Anna Goldings and makeshift percussion by legendary drummer Steve Gadd. 

Grit-rock five piece Been Stellar hit hard with their debut album (which doubles as a nod to their city) Scream from New York — a scathing, white-knuckled ride from start to finish. Let’s take the pressure off with the frenzy of  “Passing Judgment.” 

Melbourne’s Bananagun play their music in an unfettered, unrestrained, and bold way — harnessing the energy that abounds around them. Complex and beautiful, we share “Free Energy.” 

When introducing multi-instrumentalist Nate Mercereau from the stage every night on his New Blue Sun live tour,  André 3000 would say: "I call him a Magician, he plays guitar, but it almost never sounds like a guitar.” This statement can easily be applied to Mercereau’s forthcoming album Excellent Traveller, a sonic journal where everything you hear has come through the guitar — a palette of recordings made either live or in the studio — with Nate’s fingerprints all over.

Year of the Banana is art-pop duo Rubblebucket’s seventh studio album coming down the pike in mid-October. Today, we’re sharing the hip-moving, calorie-burning fun early single they call  “Moving Without Touching.” 

Afro-Appalachian folk artist Mon Rovîa wrote the song “crooked the road.” as a reminder to make a clear distinction between pain and his own identity. I was in love with my suffering, it became who I knew myself as,” explains Mon Rovîa. “Because of this I couldn’t see the hands that had been extended to lift me out. Ones that were longing to see me become who I was meant to be. For the listener I hope they find freedom, I hope they find strength to pull away from what brings [them] down. The song is for all of us who thought in our darkest moments, ‘this is who I am’.”

While working in the studio and writing new music, Lucius started discussing the loops they get stuck in, the rabbit holes the mind goes down, and the voices (usually not their own) that reaffirm where they fall short. They leaned into that theme, but wanted the track to have drive and uplift us so they turned to their friend Adam Granduciel (The War on Drugs) to rev up the song “Old Tape.” 

Best known as a founding member of Sonic Youth, it’s hard to believe that Thurston Moore has released his ninth solo album, Flow Critical Lucidity, out later this month. And if you are hunting for Easter eggs, you’ll be happy to know that the title of the album is pulled from the song “Sans Limites,” featuring the indelible voice of Lætitia Sadier of Stereolab. 

KCRW SoCal favorites Chicano Batman recently graced our studios with a career-spanning set at HQ. While they already released a new album this year, Notebook Fantasy, the band found the time to write and record a new song. 

As summer festivals wind down, we turn to ever prolific Afro-funky Ibibio Sound Machine and frontwoman Emo Williams delivering a heart-pounding, foot stomping, floor burning EP, The Black Notes. That comes on the heels of their album Pull The Rope, released earlier this year. What better way to celebrate than dropping the needle on the title track. 

Karl Blau came up in the Anacortes, Washington scene making music alongside artists like Laura Veirs and The Microphones before heading across the country to settle in Philly.  While putting the finishing touches on his new album, Vultures Of Love — slated for release Oct. 18 — Blau delivers “Pasadena,” an alt-country song inspired by a friend-breakup and the yearning to reconnect. 

Jana Mila pulls from a lot of different sources to write her songs, a poised and nuanced songwriter; it's the sound of Laurel Canyon folk or Nashville twang. A cross between Fleet Foxes and Kurt Vile, the Amsterdam-based singer steps into her own on her debut album Chameleon. 

When Eric Clapton says that Mk.gee “found things to do on the guitar that are like nobody else,” you tend to pay attention. Turn to the sonic architect’s debut album Two Star & The Dream Police, and start with “Are You Looking Up.” 

LA-based soul and funkster Nikka Costa invites you into her current heart and headspace and navigates you into joy on her new album, Dirty Disco. “I know I need it and figured we all do sometimes,” declares Costa. “It's up, it's dancy, it's happy, it's funky, it's positive, and it's not taking itself too seriously, which is how I want to feel most days!” 

20-year-old Riverside native Ivan Cornejo began taking mariachi classes at church and learned to play guitar through YouTube lessons. Launching his staggering headlining tour with a new album, Mirada, Cornejo folds his growing pains, both personal and as a rising star, into intimate songs. 

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Ellen Reid’s work spans opera, film scoring, avant-pop, and more. A new album, Big Majestic, collects work from Ellen Reid SOUNDWALK, a famed public art project reimagining urban parks as interactive soundscapes that not only travel through ambient, jazz, and minimalism, but has been featured in legendary places like New York’s Central Park, LA’s Griffith Park, as well as Tokyo’s Ueno Park. Let’s check out the heady sound of “Spiritual Sun,” featuring a star of the jazz scene, Shabaka Hutchings, on the shakuhachi flute. 

Titans of Malian music Amadou & Mariam have been making and shaping the African music landscape for nearly 50 years. To celebrate their illustrious career, they’re issuing a retrospective compilation of their greatest hits, plus a new track composed by nomadic artist and activist Manu Chao. “Mogolu,” meaning “people” in Bambara, echoes their commitment to world peace while inviting us to dance. 

Greatish Hits, a new compilation of classics culled from Father John Misty’s five prestigious albums, includes an appropriately-titled brand new song “I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All,” clocking in at eight whopping minutes. 

Channeling a fusion of ‘60s French pop, Brazilian tropicalia, and slinky reggae, Claude Fontaine’s new album La Mer echos a dreamy utopia-by-the-sea. Be prepared to sway to a samba beat on “Vaquiero.”

Beloved director, painter, furniture maker, music maker, and KCRW’s one-time weather reporter David Lynch teams up with his musical muse Chrystabell. Birthed from a vision during a late-night walk surrounded by forest, a bright light caught his eye above the treetops. That light recalled the mellifluous sound of Chrystabell’s voice and revealed a secret to him.  Cellophane Memories is a convergence of two otherworldly portals, the Texas-born singer’s throaty sound meets the eye of the Montana filmmaker’s flickering projector. Chrystabell says of their songs, “Many doors are left open to wonder, wander, and get turned around i

Known for his blazing affection for rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and R&B, JD McPherson is set to release his new album Nite Owls in late September. A ten-song set promises to veer off in a new direction with “Sunshine Getaway” leading the fore, with a glam T. Rex beat. 

Two-time Grammy-winning duo Gillian Welch & David Rawlings are stalwarts of American folk celebrating the 20th anniversary of their copious partnership with Woodland, an album recorded in their Nashville studio. The duo paint a pastoral setting on “Empty Trainload of Sky.” 

Singer-songwriter and producer Rosie Lowe takes us along on her musical mantra with “Gratitudes.” “I’m a big believer in saying daily gratitudes to help shift my mindset,” shares Lowe. “This is my ode to my morning ritual, and a reminder to myself in times when I’m stuck in my head that there’s so much to be grateful for. The beat for this song came about in Berlin with D’Monk — we made it on his MPC in 15 minutes just before leaving the studio.” 

We are ready to deliver a toasty swatch of percussive electronics for your mid-week groove. Producer Evan Shornstein, best known under his production moniker Photay, makes outdoor music under the spell of the elements. His new album Windswept (out Sept. 20) is meant to mimic the wind as a “powerful, deep, unpredictable, and at times overwhelming spirit” says Shornstein.  But first, let’s check out “Derecho,”  a term used for a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. 

Poland-born, London-based harpist Marysia Osu was guided by a dynamic and inspiring teacher who changed the course of her young life. Captivated by the elegance and emotive sound of her instrument, Osu leaned in on her classical training. As she progressed, her sound expanded using pedals to augment her sound. “seatime” is lifted from her debut album harp, beats & dreams, a soundtrack and celebration of self-acceptance and the harmony found within. 

In order to escape their soundtracking day jobs, the duo MEMORIALS started to bang out cosmic sonic journeys that navigated psychedelic rock, far-out folk, and some wild analogue electronics via their garden shed studio. The two multi-instrumentalists are wizards at juggling instruments on stage to sound like a five-piece band, and have managed to channel that energy into their forthcoming debut album Memorial Waterslides, due in October.  “Cut Like A Diamond” was written around a persistent bass line, shapeshifting drum grooves, and has become one of their favorite tracks to play live. 

For their new LP, X’s Cigarettes After Sex are playing some of the world’s most iconic venues including Madison Square Garden, London’s O2, and the hallowed stage of the Kia Forum in Inglewood for two sold-0ut nights in LA.  X’s is a little different from previous CAS albums. While those have primarily centered around a composite of different relationships, for X’s bandleader Greg Gonzalez captured the emotional arc of one important love affair that lasted four years. “Baby Blue Movie” is a down-tempo banger whose title references softcore adult films while the lyrics and melody feel like a warm embrace. 

As they ready their 10th full-length album Five Dice, All Threes for release on Sep. 20, Bright Eyes returns with their signature laser-focused lyrics on the early single “Bells and Whistles.” We’re looking forward to hearing the album’s guest performances from long-time friends Cat Power and The National’s Matt Berninger, but are happy to wait it out with this rollicking track which cruises from NY to LA, gnawing at Banksy, the Mets, music biz pitfalls, and arguably Kevin Costner’s greatest film. Do you dare to give it a whirl? 

LA-based singer-songwriter Mondo Cozmo creates a lean indie-rocking wall of sound on “Wild Horses.” It’s a track that exudes the promise of inimitable confidence throughout his forthcoming fourth album It’s PRINCIPLE! (due Aug. 30 via Last Gang Records).

From the first notes of their golden brass, mambo ensemble Orquesta Akokán have you hooked! You don’t need to be a dancer to feel like you are in Havana, sipping a Cuba Libre, when “Con Licencia” is piped out of the soundsystem. 

Pioneering disco diva and queer icon Sylvester once said, “I suppose everyone’s dream fantasy for living your life the way you want it is to go to the opera.” And it was a lifetime dream come true when the doors opened at the San Francisco War Memorial Opera House in 1979, as thousands of people lined up outside to catch one of the year’s hottest shows sold-0ut shows.  

If you have a new crush you’d like to get a little closer to, think about putting on Brooklyn-based Zsela’s debut album, Big For You. Rooted in intimacy, her honey-toned voice will melt even the coldest of  hearts when you hit play on “Not Your Angel.”   

Today, Pearl & The Oysters announce their upcoming album, Planet Pearl, which promises to be a hypnotic vision quest conjuring moonlight, tropical waters, exotic botany, and buzzing things in flight, set for release on September 20. 

Shapeshifting artist Toro Y Moi takes the plunge into rap-rock, Soundcloud rap, and Y2K emo on his eighth full length album, Hole Erth. But that’s not all: The album’s title comes from the counterculture publication Whole Earth Catalog, of the late ‘60s and early 70s,. The magazine carried the tagline “access to tools” and offered everything from how-to guides to cultural analysis and self-reliance tools. It spoke to everyone from hippies to technology-heads, which helped lay the groundwork for Silicon Valley’s ethos, and is attuned to TyM’s catalog. 

You may remember the band Quivers from our Global Beat Australia segment in 2021. Now they are getting ready to share a new album in August. “Oyster Cuts” is their tight title track and our first glimpse. You can feel the tension of grief and gratitude in their singing, encased by a looping riff, swirling synths, and the drive of percussion. 

Harmonics is the third collection of songs by Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, who opens the floor to an introspective approach to dance music on “Follow You.” But that’s not all you’ll find on the new album: There is a wide palette of sounds and collaborations, including a track with Eno Williams of Ibibio Sound Machine, Jungle’s Tom McFarland, UK Jazz artist Alabaster DePlume, to name a few. 

Let’s rewind to 1975: It’s a beautiful, warm Southern California night in August, where the stage is set for a remarkable evening with the multi-platinum-selling band America at the Hollywood Bowl, backed by a symphony orchestra conducted by the legendary Sir George Martin. It’s a big night for the band, a packed house full of fans, friends, and family, when they nervously launch into this never-before-heard version of “Ventura Highway” (Live). 

Singer-songwriter Fin Greenall, aka FINK, has been making audiences swoon for three decades. His eighth and latest album, Beauty In Your Wake, reunites the original power trio for electronic-inspired folk. An understated collaborator, FINK has co-written with some of our favorite artists, including Amy Winehouse, John Legend, and Bonobo, to name a few. 

You are about to hear history in the making as we mark the first recording binding the musical royalty of the Kuti Afrobeat kings and the premiere reggae Marley clan.  Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 unleashed the first song from their upcoming new album Heavier Yet (Lays The Crownless Head) with “Dey,” featuring four-time Grammy winner Damian Marley, an undulating raw energy of Afrobeat with the sensuous reggae cadence. Delve into a moment where African unity and art build a metaphoric bridge. 

Living legend and co-founder of the seminal band The Velvet Underground, John Cale is infuriated by the intentional, greedy destruction of our planet. Cale’s second album in just over a year, POPtical Illusion, features the irresistible track, “How We See The Light,” which touches on the end of a relationship, and a chance to learn and grow. 

Pamplona, Spain’s indie pop quartet Melenas released their third album Ahora in 2023, and their sonic palette further expanded in 2024 with a remix EP featuring a Peanut Butter Wolf reworking of “Bang” — and it is just that! 

2023 was a banner year for Ezra Collective, making them the first-ever jazz artist to land the coveted Mercury Music Prize, for their album Where I’m Meant To Be, AND they brought down the house when they made their debut on MBE. The prolific group isn’t wasting time and are set to release their third album Dance, No One’s Watching in late September.  Written while on tour in 2023, the album is an ode to the dance floors they experienced and ties in with some of the members’ roots in church. Drummer and bandleader Femi Koleoso notes, “Myself, Ife, and TJ all grew up in church, and it played a massive role in how we view the purpose of dancing. Dancing is bigger than just the club space. Dancing is a community thing, dancing is a spiritual thing, and ‘God Gave Me Feet For Dancing’ is like a window into that element of Ezra Collective for the five of us.”

Audio-visual duo Mermaid Chunky have exploded on the London music scene with their  wicked wit and sophisticated beats. Thanks to a stop at his local coffee shop in Brooklyn, DFA founder and LCD Soundsystem electro-deity James Murphy quickly Shazamed the track and rushed back to the office to start his investigation and sign them to the label. We are LOVING this summer’s banger, “Chaperone.” 

Rapper and producer Oddisee set high goals for his new EP, And Yet Still, tackling the world’s armed conflicts and our shared problems. "Not a day goes by without some grave injustice in the world,” states Oddisee “In between our guilt and gratefulness, we become desensitized or mobilized. As we fight for our beliefs, our day-to-day lives demand attention. We cry, cheer, mourn, and love — sometimes knowing it may be in vain and yet still, we carry on." You can hear a little hint of Marvin Gaye’s sound and approach to hardship on “World On Fire.” 

Multi-instrumentalist, singer, producer, and songwriter Jordan Rakei is well-loved by KCRW DJs, so you’ve probably heard some tracks from the new album, The Loop, on our airwaves.  A standout is “Trust,” about which Rakei says, “With this one, I was focused more on the feeling I wanted to convey, rather than a specific lyric. I’ve often felt like there’s an element of performance to my personality — I believe we’re only our true selves when we’re alone. So ‘Trust’ is about trying to embrace your true self more and performing less, trusting that being the ‘real you’ is the right thing.”

Ojai-based yoga aficionado and producer Earthtones — aka Serge Bandura — has deep love for cumbia and rhythms emanating from the African diaspora. “Limones” is a gifted folkloric-futuristic track nourished by a crunchy mix of electronic and house-style beats.  

Multi-faceted LA-based artist Kate Bollinger recently announced her forthcoming album, Songs From A Thousand Frames Of Mind, written during a period of disquiet and transition. The album is meant to sound like a mixtape — carefully crafted for your ears only.  The breathy “Any Day Now” was the one of the first songs written for the LP, recorded live, without headphones or a click track, and inspired by favorite songs from the ‘60s. 

This summer is filled with bouncy bangers, but if you’re looking for something a little mellower and sexier, pick up the latest from NxWorries, a project that melds Anderson.Paak’s bars and Kxwledge’s beats alongside A-List invitees H.E.R., Thundercat, and on “FromHere,” the inimitable Snoop Dogg and October London. 

Invincible UK out-rock trio Beak>, which includes Portishead’s Geoff Barrow, have released their fourth album,  >>>>, (that’s four beak symbols!), about which they say, "At its core, we always wanted it to be head music (music for the ‘heads’, not headphone music) – listened to as an album, not as individual songs. This is why we are releasing this album with no singles or promo tracks.” That said, we’ll introduce you to a track that gives heavy feels for its sinister-yet-cinematic hook, a touch of classic Nirvana and prog-rock, and durability as “Denim.” 

Take a hypnotic trip with Korean-Canadian, LA-based artist Luna Li, who after a split from her long-time partner, decided to leave her family and friends in Toronto for a fresh start in LA, where her creative juices turned to songwriting. A new album, When a Thought Grows Wings, is set for August release and features “Confusion Song.”   

You may have heard Lee Bob’s beautiful cover of Nina Simone’s 1968 classic “Peace of Mind,” but he’s also a singer who writes his own songs. You’ll find that cover on his new EP, Free, alongside an intimate collection of songs conceived on a rooftop in Bamako, Mali. We’re sharing the title track, on which you can hear a kaleidoscopic integration of different genres, from folk ballads to Malian polyrhythms. 

Danish-Japanese artist IDA KUDO draws inspiration from her ethnic roots to whirl electronic beats into theatrical drama ripe for the stage. “Okina Nami” means “big wave” in Japanese and is culled from her new EP, Proud. Experience feminine power as she sings, “Rising to the top, Okina Nami, power of a million voices roar. Your strength is strong enough to carry you to shore.”

Since the release of her landmark album I Am Shelby Lynne some 25 years ago, Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and musician Shelby Lynne has released many beautiful and heartfelt albums featuring her powerful vocals and astute storytelling. Today, we’re sharing a brand new summer anthem with you called “Over and Over,” a soulful reflection on heartbreak and loss. 

If you are a fan of the indie-folk Swedish singer-songwriter and guitarist José González, you will love this next track from Welch flamenco guitarist Billy Sharp, whose masterful picking is elevated by Latin rhythms and indie pop on “Rose Tint.” 

Some 20 years ago, My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, M. Ward, and Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis got together for a revue-style tour that made quick friends. Nicknamed Monsters of Folk by their then-tour manager, the supergroup reconvened five years later and set out to work on their self-titled album together. The eponymous record is being reissued  for its 15th anniversary and features a handful of unreleased tracks, including the trippy Springsteen-tinged sound of “Disappeared.” 

Manu Chao has been practicing more of a pared-down, uncluttered lifestyle that extends beyond material things into his emotional life, going forth with a pure heart and zero pretention.  “Viva Tu,” or “long may you live” in Spanish, was a rumba written for his neighbors. A collector of “little bits” that eventually piece together into song, this one looks us in the eye with its candid pace and beautiful refrain. Today, while Manu Chao celebrates others, we thank him for all the great music and his forthcoming album, on his 63rd birthday. 

This year, indie darlings Nada Surf mark the 30th anniversary of their debut single “The Plan”/“Telescope” with a new LP, Moon Mirror, to be released in September.  On “In Front of Me Now,” a thoughtful take on being here now, frontman Matthew Caws asked himself why he hasn’t been present, and gifts us with what sounds like a diary entry. 

Hailing from the coldest part of landlocked Canada, sister trio The Garrys named themselves after their father, Garry, and braid sibling harmonies into their signature “doom-wop,” garage-surf sound, which includes their brother on their latest track “Cakewalk.”

Lisbon-based Nathan Jenkins, the producer and songwriter working as Bullion, is an enduring cult fixture and has a new album called Affection. His brand of warm, shiny pop is as intoxicating as it gets on “World_train,” for which Bullion enlists a perfect collaborator, Charlotte Adigéry, to turn the track into a folky, meandering ditty. 

We’d cross as many ponds as needed to get to the sound of Indonesian retro funk-soul outfit Thee Marloes. Killer vocals, silky keys, airy flute, and a strong beat attract us to a vibe that is both familiar and fresh. Check out the cascading intro on “I Know” as they unveil the cracks within a love affair. 

The New York Times calls Carlos Niño “the spiritual force behind LA’s eclectic music scene,” and it’s true. A radiant being, he is also the co-producer and co-writer for André 3000’s New Blue Sun. But today, we’re focusing on his own new album, Placenta, a celebration of “the doulas, midwives, and birth workers who help bring life into this world.” The track was written around the birth of his second son, a whole 25 years after the birth of his first born Azul Niño and is also one of his regular artistic collaborators. Who knows, maybe 25 years from now, this little kid will work on dad’s music too. Let’s take a listen to “Love to All Doulas!.” 

When Brooklyn’s Big Crown Records was a nascent label, one of the first artists that founder El Michels Affair signed was The Shacks, and in fact, Shannon Wise was only 17 at the time and they had to wait until her 18th birthday to sign the contract. Along with Max Shrager the duo made a lot of music together, toured the world, were placed on impactful, global ad campaigns and released their debut album but, alas, the band broke up in 2020 before finishing their sophomore album even though they were very prolific and wrote many good songs. Thanks to the label, the new compilation Big Crown Vaults Vol. 2 offers unreleased tracks, including the very beautiful “Gentle.” 

Songwriter and storyteller Jensen McRae was born and raised in Los Angeles and thinks of herself as “one house down from the girl next door.” Her magic power is forging songs from the smallest overheard snippet or phrase that ignites a concept. Take the song “Massachusetts,” which began as a social post shared in real time before its completion. That in turn led to covers, interpretations, and even the track’s eventual title. 

We have a new song for you from the canyons of Southern California, courtesy of our old friends Beachwood Sparks, who are known to echo the cosmic fervor of The Byrds’ legendary sound. “Falling Forever” invokes a motley of melody threaded by harmonies and comes from their forthcoming album Across the River of Stars, produced by longtime fan and The Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson. 

No one knows how many incarnations our spirits have, but we do know we’ve got one shot at this life, so it’s important to live as authentically as possible and to realize when to quit. Amsterdam singer-songwriter VanWyck takes a crack at the idea of leaving the past behind and moving into a brighter future on “Towards The Sun,” an ode recorded in one take with the drummer playing percussion on an old suitcase. It’s from the forthcoming LP Dust Chaser, out late September. 

New York psych-pop quadrivium (a place where four4 things meet) Crumb have issued their third studio album, AMAMA, a sonic excursion riddled with frenetic drumwork and oodles of shape-shifting bits. Experimental by nature, “Side By Side” takes us on a wild ride. 

Lido Pimienta’s “He Venido Al Mar,” or “I’ve Come Down to the Sea” in English, was written for the protagonist in the film Calladita aka The Quiet Maid, a story of a hard- working Colombian migrant working for a wealthy family.  It’s a story that resonated with Lido Pimienta: 

Boston-based trio Tiny Habits formed at Berklee School of Music in 2022 and have just released their debut album, All For Something, written collectively and individually across a dozen songs that lean into an array of emotions and scenarios. Radiant harmonies and their collaborative way of working together ensures that “Wishes” embraces anyone experiencing a sense of loss. 

Dubbed as the “Diva of the People,” Gavin Turek has been feeling good and thinking it’s time to dust off her “Disco Boots,” stepping out into her signature dance-funk sound with a lot of, ahem, soul (sole?). You will find the track on her forthcoming follow-up to her debut album Madame Gold. 

Conor O’Brien is a poet who writes and records his musings into song as Villagers. This troubadour’s sixth album, That Golden Time, is chock full of dazzling melodies, pristine instrumentation, and inspiration from philosophers, poets, and playwrights. They all merge to become part of his fabric, abound on songs like “I Want What I Don’t Need.” 

Spanish indie artist Pedro Balaña, aka The Boy From The South, left his work in London finance to dive into music making in the studio. While composing on his trusty guitar — the only instrument he owns — Balaña learned by doing and improvised on whatever other instruments were available as the clock ticked away on valuable studio time. Let’s launch “Space Party,” a track that conjures early Beck and Talking Heads. 

Jakarta-born, LA-based singer-songwriter NIKI has a flirty new song to share, “Too Much Of A Good Thing.” It’s a perfect gift for your new crush and is our first peep into her forthcoming album, Buzz, to be delivered in August. 

After releasing Blue Skies in 2022, the Chicago trio known as Dehd decided to turn a writing session into a road trip and filled their van to the brim with recording equipment, camping out in an Earthship in New Mexico to work as long as their solar panels kept their electricity on. And then onto the next adventure — the quiet of the Puget Sound. Eating, breathing, sleeping and their purpose, writing, turned into their album Poetry. 

Last year while at SXSW, Liz Nistico — aka Revenge Wife — had a melodic dream that she translated into a song with collaborator NZCA Lines. The result is “Myth of a Salesman,” inspired by the Daft Punk song “Something About Us.”  Their new track takes place in Los Angeles and speaks about love, change, and being alright in the present moment — with the added bonus of a lovely flute solo by an artist we play, but have been sworn to secrecy to reveal (if we told you, well, we’d have to kill you). 

Some 30 years and soon-to-be 14 albums into their sonic journey, UK-based Tindersticks have a new collection of songs, Soft Tissue, set to drop in September. Their signature brooding melodies are still on track, as you hear on “Falling, The Light.” 

Austin-based Charley Crockett is on the short list for Artist of the Year at the Americana Music Association Award at Americana Fest in Nashville in September and he’s in great company. 

LA artist Jessica Pratt has been rounding up fans for a dozen years as a talented songwriter armed with an acoustic guitar and a soft-yet-penetrating voice. On her fourth album, Here in the Pitch, Pratt opted for “big panoramic sounds that make you think of the ocean and California” via nine songs that incorporate a range of instruments like the glockenspiel, timpani, baritone saxophone, and flute alongside her hypnotizing vocals. “Life Is” delivers a panoramic scope. 

Ok, we get it. LA has a lot of characters who are easy to poke fun at, and now they’ve got an anthem all their own. Written in our fair city by Australian electronic duo Flight Facilities, “Days of the Week” features cheeky lyrics by Aramis Johnson of Enumclaw.  “What started out as a joke during a three-hour studio session with Aramis of Enumclaw has turned into one of our guiltiest pleasures: A modern-day ode to Los Angeles and the people who make it shine,”  the band tells KCRW.

You may know Cor.Ece as the LA-based, Grammy-winning co-writer on Beyonce’s mind-boggling Renaissance album, but here he intersects with Brooklyn-based DJ, songwriter, and producer Bad Colours for a heart-thumping, propulsive beat on their new project, Been Here Before. The mix is powerful, laden with soulful house and disco, as exemplified on the album’s opening banger “Say Yea.” 

Ten Fold is the new album by nuanced singer Yaya Bey, and if you are looking for a chill vibe from an artist with something to say, you’re on the right track. Somewhere between the sound of Roberta Flack and Nina Simone, we tune into Yaya’s frequency on ‘the evidence.’

Cheo, a founding member of the Venezuelan trio Los Amigos Invisibles, has decided to revisit and re-record some of the songs he wrote for the group, now with his new band. “Suddenly, one morning I woke up and thought ‘I miss playing these songs, I don’t have to get on a plane to play it, they are my kids and I love them,’” Cheo confides. “So I started strumming the guitar remembering them; I thought it would be painful, but nope… Why would it be painful? They always made me smile.” 

The gorgeous new album My Black Country: The Songs of Alice Randall captures the work of one most illustrious of the handful of Black Country songwriters (let alone a woman) in Nashville. Randall’s catalog includes work with legendary artists like Trisha Yearwood and Johnny Cash but draws inspiration from the work of Ray Charles, Charley Pride, Lil Hardin Armstrong, and DeFord Bailey, to name a few. 

Have you heard about Yannis & The Yaw? Well, let us introduce you: They’re the intriguing collaboration of Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis and the late, great Afrobeat drummer Tony Allen. 

Tuvan throat singers Huun-Huur Tu, producer-composer Carmen Rizzo, and two-time Grammy-winner Dhani Harrison converge for their first-ever collaboration. Their new album is more than the sum of its parts, at the crossroads of different styles, rhythms, and languages through which they celebrate beauty, harmony, love, and kindness, all through the lens of vocals without words. “Dreamers In The Field,” a lilting and peaceful composition, is the title track. 

We’re excited to premiere a new song from heavy instrumental dream team Parlor Greens, who have the distinction of recording their debut album at Colemine Records’ brand new studio at  Portage Lounge in Loveland, Ohio. This trio celebrates their members with brilliant solos, as you’ll hear on the title track “In Green We Dream.” 

Soul singer Bette Smith’s musical adventure was born in the church pews and street corners of Brooklyn. Today, Bette Smith announces a brand new album filled with her signature mix of soul and gospel. “Goodthing,” the title track, hints at the crunchy sound of the ‘60s and ‘70s. 

Motherhood is a game-changer for any artist, but it can also open up a new sonic horizon. Monogem is a new mom to a son, and has spent the last year in her backyard under their lemon tree. Her new ballad “Lemon Tree” carries a lilting melody, coupled with organic production and soothing saxophone peeling back the layers of a heavy world. It reminds us of what Monogem already knows: to appreciate the little things (and little ones) in our daily lives. 

KCRW host Chris Douridas was heard declaring some fighting words about Suave Bruta, the debut album by French-Colombian double-bassist and singer Ëda Diaz: “I expect to go several tracks deep with airplay on this. My favorite album of 2024 so far. No skips.” That’s a big deal for a DJ who listens to A LOT of music on a daily basis. And we couldn’t agree more. Driven by an expansive cultural spectrum that incorporates a mix of woozy Latin American rhythms and romanticism akin to the writings of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the album makes it hard to choose just one song, but we’ve settled on “Dulce de Mar.” 

Composer, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist are among the descriptors for the artist known as Sly5thAve, who declared that his new album, Liberation, “exploded out of me. I couldn’t write it fast enough.” The result is layered with lush orchestral arrangements, innovative improvisation, and blessed with hip-hop production. Let’s turn to the title track, through which you can hear the meaning of the word. 

Brooklyn-based indie-popping Yot Club, the creation of Ryan Kaiser, has a new album, Rufus, filled with inner thoughts turned into melodies like “Human Nature,” a toe-tapping earworm fixated on the acceptance of someone you once knew who has now turned into a stranger. 

Not gonna lie, we are HUGE fans of the LA-based band of brothers The South Hill Experiment, born at the end of 2022 and named after their studio on South Hill St. in DTLA.  For their new EPSouth Hill & Friends, the band opens up their borders to get in the sandbox with some of their friends to play with new sounds. “Little Monk” features Karriem Riggins on drums. 

LA tongue-in-cheek rockers EELS gear up for their forthcoming fifteenth(!) studio album, EELS TIME!, early this summer. One thing you can count on is whimsical lyrics and an unmistakable sound. “Goldy” starts with a nod to The 5th Dimension’s Marilyn McCoo. 

A signature of Beth Gibbons' voice is that you recognize the artist immediately, ingrained in our hearts and minds as the sound of Portishead. Deep, lush, and profoundly engaging, Gibbons releases her debut album Lives Outgrown mid-May. Recorded over a period of ten years, this album may be her most personal output to date, digging into sustained reflection and change, as echoed on “Floating On A Moment.” 

For the last 20 years, The Avett Brothers anchored their status in the Americana/folk-rock arena with sophisticated sibling harmonies, ardent lyrics, and their own blend of country influences, to the delight of fans. After five years, they’re ready to release a new album, which is self-titled and produced by the esteemed Rick Rubin. 

Let’s check out the jazz-leaning, organic sound structures and beautiful arrangements of Apifera.. The quartet’s new work, “Theodor Marmalade,” takes a new approach to delve into and meld psychedelic rock with alternative jazz, and is their first attempt at incorporating lyrics into their sound. 

The Past Is Still Alive, is the next phase in Hurray for the Riff Raff’s progression as a raconteur.  Born in the Bronx and of Puerto Rican descent, Alynda Segarra molds their lyrics into snapshots that hold memories, process their trauma, and makes sense of loss.  The country-tinged “Alibi” comes in the form of a plea, one last effort to get through to someone you know you’re going to lose.

Always centered at night is the next pillar anchoring Moby’s extensive body of work. A constant collaborator, Moby’s next page includes some of his favorite vocalists, including the late Benjamin Zephaniah, serpentwithfeet, Gaidaa, and on “dark days,” the soul-infused, jazz-inflected vocals of Lady Blackbird. 

Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist Conor J O’Brien, best known for heading up Villagers, recently announced their sixth studio album, That Golden Time, dropping May 10. It’s an apt title for a warm and romantic recording that extends to his work style. After sketching out and composing the work, Conor invites his band of hand-picked musicians to sprinkle their magic dust. “You Lucky One” delves into the masks we wear. 

Today we celebrate the release of LA-based R&B singer (and KCRW’s Breakthrough Artist of 2023) Baby Rose’s new project Slow Burn, produced by the stellar outfit BADBADNOTGOOD. With a wide sonic realm rooted in psych-rock and alternative styles, we turn to a stand-out, “One Last Dance,” a vulnerable country ballad harkening back to the ‘70s.  

With her first album in ten years, Vida, Chilean rapper and singer Ana Tijoux unleashes her indestructible spirit and social conviction on the project. A wise friend once told her something that has resonated — that the best revenge against death is life itself.  “Vida is also a call to every single creator out there,” Tijoux says. “Singers, writers, sculptors, and performers, dancers, and painters – all of us. Our strength lies in sticking together. The only way to continue marching forward, preserve our sensitivity, and look fear in the eye is to rely on our collective identity.”  A collection of 15 tracks, Vida is bejeweled by guest contributions from artists ile, Talib Kweli, and De La Soul’s Plug 1. We gravitate towards the wry distortion of “Niñx.”

Whether they’re your nemesis or closest ally, today is National Sibling Day. In honor of that, we’re getting down with Infinity Song, a band of four brothers and sisters based in NYC. Homeschooled musically and academically by their parents alongside their five other siblings, the band’s folks extended their love to found the Boys & Girls Choirs of Detroit.  Jay-Z signed Infinity Song to his Roc Nation label in 2016, and wisely advised them not to conform to the label’s artistic culture and instead have the label catch up to them, which led to their 2020 album debut. Metamorphosis, their new EP, contains the tongue-in-cheek track “Hater’s Anthem.” 

The Marías are busy putting the finishing touches on their eagerly-awaited sophomore album Submarine, out at the end of May, exploring solitude and the complexities of our emotions. While we wait, let’s enjoy the amuse bouche that is “Run Your Mouth.”  On the release of “Run Your Mouth,” María shares, “This was one of the first songs Josh and I wrote on Submarine. I was conflict avoidant at the time, and whenever someone wanted to talk about something serious, I’d run and hide. I learned that was a protective mechanism and I didn’t have the capacity to open up. There’s no other song on the album like it, hope you dance to this one.”  

“Bean Fields,” the latest track from Shannon & The Clams’ forthcoming album The Moon Is In The Wrong Place (out in May), is a celebration of life honoring Shannon Shaw’s fiancé, Joe Haener, who lost his life in a car accident at his family’s farm in Oregon. Their buoyant retro sound reminds us to live every moment to its fullest and cherish those we hold close to our hearts. 

Four-time Grammy Award-winning six-string wiz Gary Clark Jr. continues to expand his inventive palette on his first new album in five years, JPEG RAW. An eclectic mix, “Maktub” is rich with flourishes of African highlife and Sahara blues. 

Sam Beam, the heart and soul behind Iron & Wine, wrote a shiny new song that hearkens back to the call-and-response duets of the past made famous by artists like Johnny and June, George and Tammy, Dolly and Kenny — and now, Sam and Fiona on “All In Good Time.” 

Portland-based Blitzen Trapper created a new album with the help of bandleader Eric Earley’s innermost thoughts: his dreams. “In 2022 I kept a dream journal for about seven months, in which I chronicled my nocturnal journeys; this song is the result. Each verse is from a different dream that I recorded during that period,” explains Earley. “Like all dreams, they present as riddles, both personal and cosmic, from teenage preachers to the devil himself, digital avatars and heaven's janitor–and a big old ‘Hello!’ to them all.”

Welcome to a new week. We’re kicking it off with an optimistic, meditative instrumental moody piece by Melbourne’s four-piece Mildlife. These cats don’t have a designated leader; instead they band together via their love of ‘70s psychedelic and cosmic sounds. Let’s blast off with nine minutes of bliss via the title track to their third studio album, Chorus. 

This week we celebrate the undiscovered musical talent (under 21) in the greater LA area culled from a couple of hundred submissions to KCRW’s Young Creators Project. We drew five finalists, and Yorba Linda’s Kaiden Surti may be the youngest of the group. Kaiden, now in 8th grade, began playing the tabla at 5 years old, inspired by his grandparents. Kaiden says:  “I love expressing my Indian voice through tabla and American voice through violin. I combine these with keyboard, guitar, piano, and midi to create a unique perspective through the universal language of music.” While he enjoys outdoor activities, you can hear the time spent whittling his craft. Get ready to levitate with “We Beat Together.” 

This week we celebrate the undiscovered musical talent (under 21) in the greater LA area culled from a couple of hundred submissions to KCRW’s Young Creators Project. We whittled it down to five finalists, and if we told you that this song was written and performed by older, seasoned artists, you’d agree.  But we’re talking about The Lemonfrogs, an outfit from the Valley who were actually thrown together by the “Join the Band” program at school. It’s kismet! An indie/pop rock outfit made up of  guitars, bass, and drums, these four teenage girls create gorgeous harmonies and have a keen sense when it comes to lyrics. Here’s the song they submitted, called “Naive.” 

This week we celebrate the undiscovered musical talent (under 21) in the greater LA area culled from a couple of hundred submissions to KCRW’s Young Creators Project. We narrowed it down to five finalists, from whom we turn the spotlight on 19-year-old jazz pianist, percussionist, and composer Veritus Miller. Based in the Crenshaw District, Miller hails from a musical family and assembled an array of first-rate musicians to showcase some serious chops. A self-proclaimed nerd at heart, he likes to take a breather by watching anime and reading manga. Let’s check out “Days With You Are Beautiful,” an undulating, joyful composition that will make you fall in love with jazz. 

This week we celebrate the undiscovered musical talent (under 21) in the greater LA area culled from a couple of hundred submissions to KCRW’s Young Creators Project. We whittled it down to five finalists, and are kicking off the week with Slideshow. This quartet of musicians seem to have it all. They sling a direct hit on abusive relationships with “By The Way,” a provocative yet punchy rocker that a seasoned band would be happy to have in their arsenal. 

One of our favorite Finnish crooners, Bobby Oroza declares his love for the ladies who grew up in the Latin barrios, wards, quarters, and districts around the world with “Queen of the Barrio.”

Canadian-born, Kansas-based artist Heidi Lynne Gluck is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist with a knack for nuance. Known for her ‘70s-style folk rock, Heidi employs the warm glow of a Wurlitzer on “Severance (Remix).”

When you think of sibling harmony, some artists that come to mind include The Bee Gees, First Aid Kit, The Avett Brothers, and The Jacksons. But there’s another factor that we tend to think about less — the non-verbal synergy that’s part of the equation, too. Which brings us to the instrumental duo Hermanos Gutierrez, whose intertwined guitar lines are a trademark of their sound. In the case of “Low Sun,” we get into the darker side of their music. 

We’ve got the scoop behind Mt. Joy’s “Highway Queen” to share with you today. Apparently, frontman Matt Quinn, was on tour when the song came to him — which was great because that allowed the band to work it out in front of an audience and to see the reaction to it.

Today’s Top Tune is thrilled to offer an exclusive that you won’t find on any other platform, anywhere else! It’s from the esteemed composer Laura Karpman, who nabbed an Oscar nod for her score to American Fiction. A recent MBE Guest DJ and guest on The Business, Laura surprised us with a sublime piece. 

When The Secret Sisters got their start over a decade ago, Ray LaMontange was the first artist to invite them on tour. That spark turned into a close bond and led to a collaboration. “All The Ways” was recorded near their hometown area of Muscle Shoals, Alabama at the legendary FAME studios — the heartbeat of the Muscle Shoals Sound — and may have inspired a more soulful sound for The Secret Sisters.

On Weird Faith, the latest album from Nashville-based Madi Diaz, you’ll hear “Everything Almost,” on which the artist openly shares her fears and anxieties through an upbeat tone. "The song is about my constant wondering within a relationship,” Diaz explains. “How much should I be saying things out loud, or am I saying too much out loud? What should I keep for myself? What’s mine that could become ours, that should become ours? What dreams are just mine that I could share with you, only to discover they’re your dreams too? It's an investigation of the depth of how far this thing could go."  

Vienna-born electronic composer and producer John Tejada has had his hand in many projects — most notably with Reggie Watts as Wajatta — and has queued up a newer one with vocalist-songwriter March Adstrum as the duo Optometry. To honor their late art director, Simone Ling, they named their new EP (dropping March 22) in her memory, Parallel Distortion. Kicking off the EP is “Wrong Thing,” capturing their guitar prowess. 

Christine and the Queens has the distinction of being the first-ever duet on an MGMT album.  “Dancing In Babylon” is a power ballad of epic scope and signals an unexpected sound for MGMT as well. Chris shares a peek into how it came together, saying, “When they reached out for this power ballad, I was honored and also excited to dive into their dream, because I have the same all-encompassing approach with my work. I loved the backstory of the lyrics as well, and I work my lower register here more than usual. I felt invited into their cool movie, and I’m glad to be now a part of the galaxy. Let's work on more love in the love galaxy.”

Somewhere between Beth Gibbons, Billie Holiday, and Hope Sandoval lies the voice of NYC-based School Night alum Odetta Hartman — well, at least she does on “Dr. No,” a transformative re-working of “Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child,” originally made famous by her iconic namesake Odetta. But check out the rest of her album, Swansongs, which will feature a range of sound when it drops on March 22. 

Belgium-Japanese electro-pop duo Aili recently dropped their debut LP Nandakke? to the delight of KCRW DJ Travis Holcombe, who has been sprinkling different tracks on FREAKS ONLY. One that really caught the ears of food lovers (like us) is the playful and bouncy “Takoyaki,” about a delectable Japanese dish.  

Exactly one week ago, MBE was awarded the distinction of world premiering of The Undercover Dream Lovers’ latest track, “Run Away.” The psychedelic indie rock project from Matt Koenig and his four-piece band take us on a romantic uplifting journey. 

We are counting down the days to the new album Hyperdrama from Justice, dropping April 26. Their brand of dark techno has flashes of disco/funk and electronica with sweeping cinematic arrangement, exemplified to the max on “Generator.” We’ll see how it plays in real life when they take it to Coachella!  

Taking their name from the Asian ointment Tiger Balm, Balming Tiger are an alternative K-pop collective made up of rappers, singers, writers, producers, and directors formed in Seoul in 2018 and who just released their debut album late last year. Their aim is to reflect and represent the younger generation, and that’s exactly what they do when you experience “Buriburi!” 

Here’s an anthem that is so personal, it pulls the curtain on a desire or a premonition of making it big. Born and bred in the Los Angeles basin, Loren Kramar writes and sings about what it would be like to receive a star for his work on the iconic “Hollywood Blvd.” 

Leyla McCalla is a woman of many talents, especially when it comes to mastering the cello, tenor banjo, and guitar as a multilingual singer and songwriter. McCalla is also a founding member of Our Native Daughters (with Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, and Allison Russell), as well as an alum of the Grammy Award-winning group The Carolina Chocolate Drops. 

Ok, before we listen to Today’s Top Tune, I’d like you to relax your shoulders, take a deep breath, let it out, another deep breath, and out again. Now you are ready to take in the mystical, magical sound of South Asian vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and composer ganavya doraiswamy, who has worked with a host of luminaries including Quincy Jones, Wayne Shorter, and Esperanza Spalding. With a studio album pending, let’s dig into her ethereal sound on “el kebda, let it go.” 

Confessional songwriter Cordelia has a background in theater as well as music, handy skills which taught her how to create magic on stage. The title track from her EP, Little Life is written in a similar style as a journal entry. “This might not be something I would release but this just happened,” Cordelia explains. “Capturing these moments in time, sometimes they’re incredibly fleeting. Then you perform them and you’re put back in that headspace, going back in time. It’s like life flashing before your eyes.” 

Shoegazers Slowdive stopped by KCRW’s Annenberg Performance Studio late in 2023 to perform a career-spanning set and had an insightful conversation with our own Andrea Domanick about life, death, technology, and going viral on TikTok. We are excited to share a live version of “Kisses” from their album everything is alive, a recording that ranked No. 3 on KCRW’s Best Albums of 2023. 

Faye Webster definitely has a signature sound and her ears are pretty big too, as she has enjoyed watching the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. "Going to the symphony was almost like therapy for me," she says. "I was quite literally underdressed at the symphony because I would just decide at the last moment that that's what I wanted to do." Hence the title of her new album, Underdressed at the Symphony. Recorded at Sonic Ranch Studios in Texas with her longtime band, “But Not Kiss” is simply stunning in scope. 

Jeffrey Cain wears many hats: He’s a founding member of the iconic rock band Remy Zero, a writer and multi-instrumentalist for Australian psych legends The Church, and has his own debut solo project in the wings under the moniker Iris Doe. Backed by former bandmates, Cain digs into new but familiar territory and gives us a sneak preview of the work on the first song we hear from his new album,“Tears Ignite Again,” which Cain refers to as “a meditation on modern existence, its chaos and the eventual restoration of beauty.”

Citing her debut album, Goose, singer-songwriter Mol Sullivan perceives it as a “long exposure photograph” that spotlights the different songwriting styles she’s cultivated over the past 15 years. The Cincinnati-based musician also reflects on her own sobriety and wrestles with unlearning patterns of behavior that no longer serve her, sketched out on the title track “Goose.” 

Inspired by their travels, the pulse of nightlife, and building a community, Cakes Da Killa’s forthcoming (March 22) new album, Black Sheep, sees the underground powerhouse reuniting with longtime collaborator Sam Katz. Their labor of love is divided by Cakes writing every bar and Katz handling beats.“Cakewalk”packs a punch in a very short time. 

Today is an auspicious day: It marks the 84th revolution around the sun for the Motown living legend, Rock & Roll and Songwriters Hall of Fame iconic singer-songwriter, the legendary Smokey Robinson, who wrote so many enduring hits (about 4,000). Robinson is back with his first solo album in five years, and his 26th full-length to date. Let’s celebrate his 60+ year storied career with his gift to us, the title track from GASMS. Long may you wave, Smokey Robinson!

Let’s tune in to an exciting new indie rock trio, Friko, who channel their raw energy into a frenzy on “Get Numb To It!” Garnering the distinction of being among Pitchfork’s 50 Most Anticipated Albums in 2024, their debut full-length Where we’ve been, Where we go from here is out now, they are a welcome addition to Chicago’s long lineage of innovative sound. 

Sunna Margrét first started making music when she collaborated with renowned composer Ólafur Arnalds, who was a guiding force on her electro-pop path. An Icelandic musician and visual artist now based in Switzerland, Margrét makes music to quench her love of dancing. “Come With Me” is drenched in synth-pop inspired by the likes of New Order and Depeche Mode. 

It’s Valentine’s Day and we are celebrating all kinds of love with a song to swoon to from the aptly-titled four-piece Porij, who, like their namesake, share the comfort and warmth that “My Only Love” can provide. And we can’t wait to get our hands on their debut album Teething, out late April.

It’s New Music Tuesday for Karate Boogaloo, who drop their track “The Early Bird Catches” today! The Melbourne-based quartet put together pictorial instrumentals leaning toward a rainbow of moods and head-nodding grooves. The guys started out as playground buddies inspired by the sound of Booker T & The MG’s and The Meters and eventually locked in their band, leading up to their forthcoming studio album Hold Your Horses out in May. 

Bryce Connolly, the artist known as Mindchatter, established himself with a genre-defying sound that melds his gripping lyrics to beats. An example of that is “Brain Pills,” which Connolly points to as being“about my experience being prescribed ADHD meds from a psychiatrist over an app. The whole process is extremely goofy. I was diagnosed by a woman wearing a hoodie… I’m pretty sure I was older than her, too. Anyways, it seems like this has become the new normal because a lot of people are relating to the song.”

The Siberian Indigenous group Otyken — a word for sacred land that is used by warriors to lay down their arms and talk it out — use traditional instruments to create modern musical arrangements. The band was formed by producer, songwriter, and manager Andrey Medonos as a way to preserve their folklore and traditions before they become extinct. We came across “Belief” recently and are excited to share this unusual seductive sound with you. 

One of our favorite bands based in Melbourne, Hiatus Kaiyote returns with their first new music in two years. They recently treated fans to a livestream of their first live show of the year from The Evelyn, one of the first venues in their hometown that took a chance on a nascent group. “Everything’s Beautiful” leans into life’s possibilities through luscious guitar licks, heart-pounding bass lines, and of course, the dynamic vocals only Nai Palm can lay down. 

Co-founder of the influential, genre-defying duo Thievery Corporation, Eric Hilton has spent decades piecing together divergent styles into a singular or cohesive sound both with his band and on his own. On February 23, Hilton’s new solo album Sound Vagabond will transport us like an audio postcard to places real or imagined. “This record started modestly, with some basic ideas, but after writing the first eight tracks, I knew I had a travelog” says Hilton. While not intended as GPS, you’ll be able to float to distant lands when you hear “Closer.” 

Coming from lovely Hawthorne, Cali, Thee Heart Tones are made up of rising teenage stars just out of high school who bring their innocence and open hearts to their blend of Chicano Soul. An instant classic professing eternal love, “Forever & Ever” is fresh game if you’re thinking about a special dedication on Valentine’s Day. 

Tonight, we are proud to feature singer Brittany Davis, who will make their debut at KCRW Presents: School Night in Hollywood. This artist pulls you in to see their world through sound. Their full-length debut, aptly titled Image Issues, is an album that blurs the boundaries between genre and job, playing every instrument and every vocal part on the album, set to drop on March 1. 

Known as the jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, José James kicked off 2024 with an MBE premiere of “Saturday Night (Need You Now).” Now up for grabs as Today’s Top Tune, dig in for this smooth jam written in tribute to some of James’ musical heroes, including Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson. Mark your calendar, the full length 1978 drops on April 5. 

German octet Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band power their new track “Grilled” with some serious muscle provided by two(!) drummers. Whether it’s funk from Africa or America, their approach to steel pan pleasure is intoxicating. We’re excited by the premise of their self-titled LP BRSB, set for release on March 8, as the band will unveil a slew of hip hop covers alongside alluring originals.  

A giant in the classical minimalist movement, Philip Glass revisits some of his most loved pieces on his latest compilation, Solo.  Today, on his 87th birthday, we witness the music from the very piano which helped create some of his most prominent works as he absorbed the energy of the city in his NYC apartment. ‘Opening” is a widely revered composition from the 1982 album Glassworks. 

Colombian band Diamante Eléctrico debuts a shift in their sound via the new track “Porcelana,” an upbeat rendering of melancholy from the four time Latin Grammy winners. 

Taking cues from some of the great funkmeisters — Bootsy Collins, Rick James, and Sylvester (to name a few) — LA’s Tolliver pulls up a relentless track called “Booyabaze.” It’s a hearty “funk you” to “scammers and the champagne popping celebration of excess, pride, and gettin’ what’s yours.”

Five-time Grammy Award-winning vocal powerhouse Brittany Howard has a new solo album coming, WHAT NOW, her sophomore release following the highly-acclaimed debut Jamie.   Staying in the personal realm, “Prove It To You” unleashes forthright lyrics with an urgent dance beat. 

LA-based singer-songwriter Pete Yorn follows his acting debut on Martin Scorcese’s Killers of the Flower Moon with a new song. “Someday, Someday” pulls Yorn into a roots-rock mix reminiscent of a Nick Drake song while humbly showcasing his prowess on acoustic guitar. 

Soul-stirring ensemble Thee Sinseers drop their new single today, “Can’t Do That To Her,” and you can get your copy via Today’s Top Tune! But that’s not all… they’ve announced a new album, Sinseerly Yours, coming in March. Led by East LA favorite Joey Quinones, their staccato vocal harmonies, horns, drums, and acoustic instrumentation are set to melt your heart.

Are you ready for new Chicano Batman? Today, we are honored to host the world premiere of “Fly” from the band’s much-anticipated new album, Notebook Fantasy, out late March. Their fifth full length LP — and their first since 2020 — promises Chicano Batman’s undeniable signature sound that will get your fists pumping and feet dancing. So let’s get ready to “Fly” with one of LA’s finest!

A seasoned singer-songwriter on the LA music scene, Leslie Stevens returns with a collection of new songs for her self-titled third solo album set for release late February. Stevens spreads her wings with her new band on the latest release, sliding from her folk roots into new territory as you’ll hear on “Big Time, Sucka.” 

Raised by activist parents, Toussaint Morrison was named after the man that led the first successful slave uprising that led to the independent Black republic of Haiti. And at the age of 4, Morrison began playing with toy instruments alongside his grandad, a jazz trumpeter. 

New Jersey’s rock stalwarts Real Estate are set to release their sixth full-length album, Daniel, on Feb. 23, the outcome of a nine-day spree at RCA Studio A in Nashville. 

Kansas City-based Katie Crutchfield, best known as Waxahatchee, recently announced a new album Tigers Blood, dropping on March 22, plus a major North American tour this spring. 

Slow-burning rocker Kurt Vile released an EP, Back to Moon Beach, late last year that clocks in at just under an hour. But as a prolific artist, it’s a way of sharing his relentless well of non-album tracks — a collection sourced from various sessions over the last four years, including a Wilco cover. A favorite is the melancholy “Another Great Year for the Roses.” 

It’s no coincidence that Lebanese musician Ibrahim Maalouf snagged a Grammy nom for Best Global Music Performance this year with a track from his latest album, Capacity to Love. “Todos Colores,” or “All Colors” in English, transcends borders through Maalouf’s four-valve trumpeting and contributions from New Orleans royalty Tank & The Bangas’ rapidfire delivery, plus Cuban Cimafunk’s devilish rap in Spanish. 

Let’s check in with one of the winners of KCRW’s Young Creators Project 2022, Taty, a 19-year-old singer/songwriter who just released her first solo EP, Out Of My Hands, at the very end of 2023. Currently studying film composition at NYU, Taty still makes time to write, produce, and mix her intimate, pensive songs, like “Work It Out.”

Based in Madrid, psych-Krautrock band TUTUPATU share the first track from their forthcoming debut album, IV. To get in the right headspace to record, the band secured an underground location and set up a private studio, locking themselves in for a 72-hour recording session with their 32 tracks rolling non-stop. Lights dimmed, volume to 11 birthed “Tangerina,” one of the five tracks to be released on Valentine’s Day. 

“I’m cousin to the world,” confesses Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy. “I don’t feel like I’m a blood relation, but maybe I’m a cousin by marriage,” which is probably the idea that lead to the title of Wilco’s latest studio album, Cousins. One of KCRW’s all time favorite bands, they have visited our studios a handful of times, and we’re excited that they return to our airwaves tomorrow for a full set of classic tracks and songs from their new album, including this beaute, “Meant To Be.” 

Visionary artist Yussef Dayes released his debut solo studio album Black Classical Music in 2023. It’s a stunning collection of 19 compositions, anchored by Dayes’ on drums, Rocco Palladino on bass, plus a bevy of talented musicians. We gravitate toward the rich title track, featuring tasty solos by Venna on saxophone and Charlie Stacey on keys/synths. Prepare to fall in love with today’s jazz! 

Having released a stand out album in 2023, Chronicles of a Diamond, Black Pumas are on the short list with a Grammy nomination in the Best Rock Performance category, and were among KCRW’s Top 30 Most Played Albums and Songs of 2023. We can’t predict the future, but we can share a soulful track called “Ice Cream (Pay Phone)” with its hypnotic flavors mixed with rhythm and rhyme. 

In honor of Dry January, let’s turn to a song about sobriety, written by Eric Hirshberg and featuring an artist close to our hearts, Aloe Blacc. “I Love Not Drinking” celebrates the joys of life sans alcohol, yet it’s not a song about addiction or getting clean. Take a moment to listen to beats created entirely from bartender sounds, clinking glasses, cocktail shakers, and the sound of ice cubes! 

British soulstress Alice Russell is back with a gorgeous new track, “Rain.” It’s her first release in over a decade and seems very personal. A song about reflection is apropos as we start a new year. 

Let’s check in with one of our 2022 finalists from our Young Creators Project, Nathan Horowitz, a high school student here in Los Angeles. Under the moniker Ruler of Program, he began his musical pursuits while taking an audio production class in middle school. Now, at 15, Horowitz has released his sophomore album “Environments.” We are keeping an eye on this artist’s uplifting electronic evolution as we listen to “Breathless.” 

Guitar guru Charlie Hunter teams up with the singer Victoria Victoria for resilience and redemption after a dose of  personal existential angst in the form of a pop-punk anthem on “Peanut M&M’s. 

As we close out 2023, a year of many ups and downs, we turn to a trio of LA royals. On “Facing The Sideways Rain,” multi-instrumentalist Nate Mercereau teams up with saxophonist Kamasi Washington and percussionist Carlos Niño, fresh off their involvement with André 3000’s excellent album New Blue Sun. 

A favorite Inland Empire outfit, Brainstory have been putting the finishing touches on their sophomore full-length album with producer and labelmate El Michels Affair, due out in 2024.  While we wait with bated breath, let’s take a taste of what’s to come as we drop the needle on “Nobody But You.” 

The highly-talented Inara George has collaborated with Dave Grohl and Van Dyke Parks, has had Jackson Browne write a song for her, and is one half of the duo The Bird and the Bee (along with nine-time Grammy-winning songwriter Greg Kurstin). The daughter of Little Feat’s Lowell George, Inara is no stranger to the music world and specifically the  sonic tapestry that makes up Los Angeles. It’s no surprise, then, that components of her community arise in her work. “Ventura Blvd.” has a personal narrative from a rare native. 

Grammy-winning Cuban-Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Cuba didn’t have the tradition of Christmas while growing up back home in Cuba, but it’s nonetheless a holiday close to his heart since he and his wife decided to get married on the day back in 1995. 

Not gonna lie, we just freaking love pioneering producer, DJ, and composer DJ Shadow and have been spinning his projects for years. Shadow’s eighth studio album, Action Adventure, continues the artist’s evolution through a swath of 14 mostly instrumental tracks, with a couple of exceptions including the synth-heavy flow called “You Played Me.”  Get into the mind of DJ Shadow: Action Adventure KCRW interview from October 2023.

Sibling duo William G. Hardy and Olivia Hardy formed Wasia Project in 2019, sharing their mixed British-Asian perspective alongside their outstanding classical chops for quiet-yet-sweeping DIY sensibilities. 2023 has been a banner year for them as emerging artists on the rise, and they’ve announced their first UK tour for 2024. We hope they get to jump the pond so we can experience their song “Remember When,” lush with bold and poignant lyrics.  

Eddington Again is an artist that spent some time on KCRW’s Top 30 charts this year, and whose album Naomi9 made Travis Holcombe’s Top 10 albums with the song “Cake Code,” among his very favorites this year. Check out more of our DJ picks at Best Of 2023. 

2019 started out as a year full of optimism for Zach Condon, best known by his moniker Beirut. But after suffering from persistent throat issues, Condon was unsure of his musical future. 

You might have come across a sweet viral hit recently called  “If I Were A Fish” by corook featuring their partner Olivia Barton, which has been turned into a children’s book. The Nashville based singer/songwriter has recently shared a new five-song EP, Big Sad, capturing several epiphanies she’s experienced in the last couple of years. There are songs about insecurity, avoidance, and being embarrassingly serious, but on “Sonic,” Barton leans into love instead of away from it. 

The final song written and produced by Peter Gabriel for his new album i/o, “Live and Let Live” is also the last song on the recording. A perfect way to end the album, the song is about forgiveness, tolerance, and optimism. As we head toward the end of 2023, we turn to the Bright-Side Mix by Mark “Spike” Stent, the English producer who has worked with everyone from Beyonce to Yeah Yeah Yeahs. 

This one sounds like a classic that has been around for decades and to which you’re sure you know all the words, but it’s actually an infectious new track from UK/Jamaican artist Liam Bailey. “Dance With Me” has the sway of tenderhearted early reggae, but that’s the golden touch musician/producer Leon Michels brings to the mix. 

While they are not related, Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig create beautifully kindred harmonies together as the indie-pop duo Lucius, and were hand-picked to grace the stage at the Hollywood Bowl when Brandi Carlile brought Joni Mitchell out to join them.  The first new music since their 2022 album Second Nature, “Stranger Danger” is written in response to the idea that “humans have imagined a backup plan — a ‘savior’ to forgive us, to save us, to lean on… for ourselves, if and when things go wrong, but who/what/where is the backup plan for Mother Earth?”

A progressive collective of jazz and hip-hop heads hailing from Virginia, Butcher Brown says their new album Solar Music, “has something for everyone under the sun.”  Assimilating a rich collection of bending sonic influences, take a sip of “No Way Around It.” 

An LA treasure, Mia Doi Todd can be heard on André 3000’s recent album New Blue Sun, but she’s also released a beautiful new single, “Island in the Storm” along with her band. 

Birthed in Mexico in 2017, Reyna Tropical explores “intuition, transition, connection, and continuation — a celebration of spiritual survival pulsing with the beat of all things tropical.”

Yard Act, the art-rocking quartet from Leeds, gave us their sophomore album Where’s My Utopia? earlier in the year, co-produced by the band and Gorillaz’ Remi Kabaka Jr. 

Two critically acclaimed and KCRW favorite artists are joining forces. The French band Phoenix teams with the falsetto lending tenor of Mexican neo psych-rock Zoé frontman León Larregui for a sleek and sophisticated Spanish/English mix on “Artefact.” Voilà, it’s buenisimo! 

Areli Castro aka KiNG MALA recently shared her new EP Spilt Milk and revealed “it is a project full of songs I have loved for years now. A culmination of two years of writing, and experimenting, and gathering all the things I’ve loved into one project. It’s the vault, it's all the secrets I’ve kept for so long.” Take a listen to the soft vulnerability of “i only smoke to feel bad” to know that it is true.

A deft vocalist with a sensual sound, LA-based Carly Bond — who’s music is heard under the moniker Meernaa — is not only a songwriter but is also a sound engineer and partner at Altamira Sound studios. Meernaa’s sophomore album So Far So Good was released earlier this year, and on it you’ll find “As Many Birds Flying;” one of the songs performed as she recently made her debut at School Night to the delight of the crowd. 

It’s Friday and we’re heading into the home stretch for 2023, so let’s kick-start December with a banger from Quantic. For his disco-leaning ten-song album Dancing While Falling, recorded in his Brooklyn studio, Quantic lets rhythm meet-and-mingle with soul on “Stand Up.” 

Jazz vocalist, pianist, and composer Sarah McKenzie teams up with Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, cellist Jacques Morelenbaum, and drummer Peter Erskine (known for his work with Weather Report) on her new album Without You, spotlighting her performance at The Blue Note jazz club in Rio where she met Jacques and Romero. The album shines a light on a batch of Antonio Carlos Jobim songs and a few original compositions, including her song  “Quoi, Quoi, Quoi.”

Conjuring a classic yesteryear sound, the formidable whistler Molly Lewis had an equally formidable 2023: She was featured on the soundtrack to Barbie, lent her talents to fashion houses including Gucci and Hermes, and supported Weyes Blood on tour. 

Today we are celebrating songwriter and guitar wizard Christone “Kingfish” Ingram’s latest Grammy nomination, this time in the Contemporary Blues category, for his stunningly recorded new double live album Live In London. A career-defining release, the record culls from his Grammy Award-winning record 662 and his Grammy-nominated debut Kingfish. We choose the head-melting vocals and tasty soulful undulations of “She Calls Me Kingfish.” 

A prolific electronic pioneer based in Los Angeles, and half of the duo Wajatta with Reggie Watts, John Tejada just released his 15th solo album, Resound. The record marks a new direction in Tejada’s sound, taking a noisier, lofi route to express his emotion. This sonic destination weaves screens of feedback and dirty, delayed textures with classic analog drum machines. A tight 36 minutes of essential tracks, “Simulacrum” is the lead single serving as a prelude to the compositions that follow. 

Meet CELEBS, a sibling trio hailing from a town of less than 300 on the northern tip of the West Fjords of Iceland. In the dead of winter, after an intense discussion about their love of live music back in 2019, they made a pact to start a party band. Their aim was to offer a place of refuge from everyday worries and forget your troubles at the door; once inside, fans surrender to the experience of euphoria and fun. They’ve stayed true to their aim. 

A pioneer in New Classical music, Hauschka, whose score won him an Oscar for All Quiet On The Western Front this year, doesn’t restrict his solo experimental work to the confines of piano keys, but rather plays within its frame and strings. You can hear how playful yet heady his sound is on “Invention” from his recently-released album Philanthropy.  

You may be familiar with Marketa Irglova from her work with Glen Hansard in the film Once, or from their collaboration as the Academy Award-winning duo The Swell Season. Over a decade ago, Marketa relocated to Iceland and now calls it home.

Shaina Hayes grew up in the Gaspé region of Quebec, where her parents encouraged her to take on a music career — so for her, rebellion came in the form of a degree in agricultural science. But she also took part in the music scene of Montreal while attending school there, singing in country and blues cover bands and studying jazz. 

With their big guitar sound, Britain’s Bombay Bicycle Club are on tour spreading joy by playing songs from their new album, My Big Day, throughout Europe as they prepare to return stateside. 

Derwin Dicker, the human behind Gold Panda, released his fourth full-length album late last year, titled The Work. Not only does the title reflect his heady mix, but it captures the six years it took to make the recording and the work it took to get him there — the vital inner work he’s done on himself to make life better. Featured on the album, “Swimmer” is a whimsical track that's been freshly remixed by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.

A founding member of The B-52’s, Cindy Wilson is synonymous with the New Wave movement that redefined the sound of the ‘70s and ‘80s. This time around, Wilson brings her distinctive voice and emotive power to her new solo album Realms. “Midnight” has its finger on the pulse of dance music. 

They’re formidable and they are funky; they are the French duo Souleance. Their new album Beautiful is just that from top to bottom. And they’re not alone, traversing the world with sonic stops all over. On “Feliz,” or Spanish for “happy,” the microphone is in the hands of Joao Selva for an idyllic, carnival-inspired bop. 

Dynamic pop/hip-hop duo Charlie Vettuno’s passion for music took hold as kids in their high school garage, where the two brothers began tapping into their sonic journey. Their distinctive style offers quick-fire verses over high energy house music on “Ase.” 

Everybody wants a little piece of LA-based rapper and singer PawPaw Rod right now, thanks to his cool mix of rap and ‘60s soul. That includes fellow Angelenos Neil Frances, who enlist him on their song “High.” A new EP, the aptly-titled This Must Be A PawPaw Rod EP, just dropped and includes the timeless sound of what might be an instant classic on “Love On You.” 

B-52’s Kate Pierson says it best: “It seems that Halloween is everyone’s favorite holiday, yet there are only a handful of Halloween songs!” Ain’t that the truth.. Pierson is correcting this *ahem* grave mistake with what she describes as, “a VERY spirited song written by me and with the supernatural artist Sia and the soulful producer Sam Dixon.” “Every Day Is Halloween” is a haunting tune about a woman who is dying to be seen proving that ghouls just wanna have fun.  Check out Sia on MBE in 2007 and B-52’s make their debut on MBE in 2008.

With his trademark floating flutes, reggaeton rhythm, and Bomba Estéreo frontwoman Li Saumet lending vocals, El Búho’s sexy song launches our Halloweekend of revelry with “Brujeria,” Spanish for “Witchcraft.” 

Nashville-based singer/songwriter Jobi Riccio has a long fascination with what she calls “the bleeding heart sad country song,” which draws us into the emotive power of the genre. 

SoCal artist Zooey Celeste, a new artist for your radar, has a new album produced by Nick Hakim, and will be sharing his dark, ethereal sound when he hits the stage at KCRW’s School Night in Hollywood, tonight.  Celeste tells us that the down-tempo sound of “Cosmic Being” “lived as a voice memo for years and then I brought it to Nick. Iit became another example of his taking something very small and intimate and giving it this huge amphitheater sound.” 

Belfast-born DJ and producer David Holmes has made an impact on over 30 film and TV soundtracks and has lorded over thousands of dance floors, not to mention produced recordings for artists including Primal Scream and Orbital. No wonder his last solo album came out in 2008. But don’t fret, that’s about to change in November when his new full-length Blind On A Galloping Horse strides in. But before we go there, let’s check out “Necessary Genius” (Feat. Raven Violet) to hear who made the cut. 

Ready to party? Yesssss indeed! Let’s take in the hypnotic sound of Wajatta, for whom we all come together to celebrate the duo of comedian/musician Reggie Watts and John Tejada, a vanguard of West Coast techno. “Waiting For The Get Down” feels like a Friday night on steroids. 

Let’s dive into the inner world of Luke Temple’s alter ego Art Feynman, who excels at eccentric music making with his shapeshifting and fluid tones as he inhabits the minds of his characters. An art rocker and popper, we are loving “Early Signs of Rhythm” for its worldbeat and Talking Heads/ Tom Tom Club vibes. 

The xx’s Romy hadn’t really considered herself a solo artist, though she wrote songs for others, until she slowly gained the confidence to go out on her own. Mid Air, Romy’s debut album, finds her working with three-time Grammy winning electronic producer Stuart Price, talented DJ Fred again, and xx bandmate Jamie xx for a frothy, ebullient mix. “loveher” celebrates the early stages of a new intimate relationship with a woman in an exceptional way. 

Shara Nova, the mastermind behind My Brightest Diamond, serves up elegantly crafted songs with mathematical precision and emotional heft. That’s what you’ll hear when My Brightest Diamond takes the tiny stage as part of KCRW’s School Night at Bardot tonight. One song we hope to hear is “Black Sheep,” because it  struts in like modern cabaret. Be sure to wait for the last bit at the very end to wipe away any Monday blues. 

Revered producer and musician Danger Mouse has joined forces with renowned New York rapper Jemini to dust off off Born Again, an album recorded back in 2004 that was tucked away in a vault hasn’t seen the light of day since. After dropping their lauded debut Ghetto Pop Life in 2003, the duo quickly began laboring over its follow-up, but the recording was shelved indefinitely — til now. We are partial to the fun-loving bounce on “Brooklyn Bazquiat.” 

Supernatural Thing is a curious title for M.Ward’s latest studio album, so we’ll let him explain: “The title comes from an early thought as a kid that radio traveled the same airwaves as messages from supernatural things — and music, especially remembered music, is somehow tied up in this exchange,” says Ward. 

Hailing from London’s creative epicenter, Rozi Plain stitches a cosmic sonic quilt on “Painted The Room.” A member of This Is The Kit, Plain’s fifth album Prize is a January sleeper to check out ASAP. 

SoCal-based singer, songwriter, producer, and multi instrumentalist Venus pulls inspiration from myriad sounds and is busy tinkering on an upcoming EP in her home studio. Easy and breezy, “Things Change” gently ushers us into a new direction. 

You might not realize that singer Jenny Owen Youngs has written a ton of songs for other people, including Panic! At The Disco, Pitbull, and Brett Dennen, to name a few. Her new album Avalanche dropped last week and includes several collaborators including S. Carey, Madi Diaz, and The Antlers’ Peter Silberman, who helped co-write  “It’s Later Than You Think,” which warns about lost time scrolling. 

English chanteuse Corinne Bailey Rae made her world wide live radio debut on MBE when we kicked off 2006 with a week’s worth of broadcasts from the BBC in London, and returned to the big show a few months later when she touched down in Southern California before becoming a superstar. While not prolific, Corinne’s albums are a treat from top to bottom. Her newly-minted fourth album Black Rainbows took years to make and is inspired by the artwork and objects collected by Theaster Gates at the Stony Island Arts Bank in Chicago.

Unstoppable South London native Raye has penned songs for Beyonce and John Legend, opened for Kali Uchis and SZA this summer, and is a part of British Vogue's 'The Vogue 25,” honoring the women defining Britain in 2023. An industry disrupter, Raye’s debut album My 21st Century Blues took a decade to make and is a deeply personal account of her painful experiences in the music industry. “Worth It” is an empowering pop gem. 

Margaret Glaspy began writing music as a teenager in Northern California and soon began to sculpt songs that were sensitive yet concise. Her third album, Echo The Diamond, strips away at artifice to expose life in real terms instead of looking for a happy ending. We are keen on “Get Back.”  “That song speaks to many things that have accumulated over the last few years for me, including grief and loss and finding myself again through all of it,” says Glaspy. “Playing that song sets me free.” 

Ever wonder what a pilot does when they are not flying? Michael Gold, former keyboardist for Poolside, makes music as Mirror Tree when he’s not in the cockpit of a 737. Teaming up with his former bandmate Filip Nikolic to develop his stylings and Mirror Tree’s debut LP, the result is a sound in the orbit of Supertramp and King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard. “Let It Go” is a simple yet provocative song featuring voice, piano, and a simple bass line glued together out of loops of cassette tape. 

Check out singer, poet, activist, and multi-instrumentalist Allison Russell’s “Stay Right Here,”a disco ball delight accompanied by her Rainbow Coalition ensemble and none other than Wendy & Lisa from Prince’s The Revolution. During the recording session, Wendy surveyed the scene and said, “Lisa and I have been doing this for over 30 years… Never once have we seen a studio full of dames — thank you Allison!” It’s a burner. 

Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens owns his super power of emotionally cutting through the crap to deliver sweeping choral bursts and lyrical poetry over the course of his 25 year career. His forthcoming album Javelin, comprised of ten stunning tracks, is out October 6 and was created by himself in his home studio. “So You Are Tired” is our first glimpse. 

Multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Yussef Dayes has a new track out, and it’s a VERY special lullaby. Dayes says, “‘The Light’ celebrates the birth of my daughter Bahia. Born in February 2020, just before the whirlwind of COVID, a beautiful light came into my life. 2020 turned out to be one of the most special times in my life. Becoming a father to my beautiful princess Bahia, being able to take time from touring and nurture my family at home was something I’ll cherish forever.” You’ll be able to hear the rest of the album, Black Classical Music, when it drops tomorrow. 

Ready for your Tuesday banger? Let’s go with Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs & Moullinex and the new wave synths, ‘80s New Beat drums, and delicate vocal line that is “So Alive.” Get your post-Labor Day week kick-started with this dynamic track. 

DJ and producer TOKiMONSTA is back with an elevated sound that includes labelmate Rochelle Jordan. This bold combo tackles the fragility of now, providing somber lyrics masked by dance floor beats to create magic on “Eats The Tail” (Feat. Rochelle Jordan). 

Three-time Grammy winner, author, and powerhouse Lucinda Williams shows her grit on “Rock N Roll Heart.” In the last three years, Lucinda has lived through a tornado that damaged her home in Nashville, COVID lockdown, and a stroke that left her having to learn to walk again and that took away the ability to play guitar. But in 2023, Lucinda has turned 70, released her album Stories From a Rock n Roll Heart, and revealed herself in her new memoir, Don’t Tell Anybody The Secrets I Told You. You can hear the strength and power Lucinda takes from making music on “Rock N Roll Heart.” Delight in The Boss a.k.a. Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa on backing vocals. 

While Clementine Creevy, a.k.a. Cherry Glazerr, puts on the finishing touches to her newest rock album, I Don’t Want You Anymore, out Sept. 29, we have a little ditty we think you’ll love. 

You’ll need to close your eyes and revel in this one: Washington DC native Baby Rose steps up to the mic on Morning Becomes Eclectic and slays us with her live rendition of “Stop The Bleeding,” which is yours for the taking. Check out the full performance and interview out now at kcrw.com/music. 

We can’t wait to get our hands on Wilco’s new album, Cousin, at the end of September. Produced by Welsh artist Cate Le Bon, this recording marks the first time the band have handed the reins to a producer outside their inner circle. Le Bon expands their sound by opening up a cannon of new instruments to play, from cheap Japanese guitars to a New Wave-style drum machine. Let’s check out the first track, “Evicted” — the story of being locked out of someone’s heart. 

It’s August, it’s hot, it’s muggy, and we’re all melting. Thank goodness for Mayer Hawthorne’s carefree melody “The Pool,” a refreshing tonic to the heat written and entirely produced by the artist. 

If it’s a sonic party you seek, look no further than Brooklyn party purveyor and producer Sammy Bananas — and the instrumental tone of “Boca Grande,” in which he unleashes a fervent unrelenting groove and sexy sax.The one-time busker refined his saxophone chops on the streets of Mass Ave. in Cambridge, and named every song on his Massave EP for a business that once stood there. Open wide for “Boca Grande,” named after a burrito joint.

Today we’re sharing a track from London post-punk electro-crew MADMADMAD’s double A-side single “Do You,” recorded in the band’s experimental warehouse testing ground. MADMADMAD offer this insight: "It's about being yourself without asking permission. It's a hypnotic, dance floor-ready anthem that makes you want to let the goof out, in a playful invitation to dance your troubles away, like Archie Bell beaming from darker space. A deranged sonic ride with an irresistible feel-good factor." 

Mr. Pauer, purveyor of his own brand of electropico, dazzles us with a new track featuring Barcelona’s clarinet master, Oriol Mares. “Viento y Marea” translates to English as “Wind and Tide,” and is a sweet instrumental piece on a bed of layered organic sounds. 

All the way from Perth, Australia, the sonic architect known as Ta-Ku delivers a riveting roll on “WAY OUT,” a song that marks his return to music after a seven-year hiatus, and extracts the journey that lead him to the upcoming album, Songs To Come Home To. The new collection of songs will bring together an array of artists, including Questlove, Milan King, and Matt McWaters, featured here on “WAY OUT.” 

Back in 1977, Wreckless Eric had a mega-hit with “Whole Wide World,” a love song of epic proportion that has been covered by a wide range of countless artists who have also benefited from the recording — from The Monkees to Cage The Elephant — and was even featured in an ad during the 2022 Super Bowl. 

Ambassador of her family’s Mexican culture, Estevie is on the front lines when it comes to merging cumbia with Mexican regional music. A first-generation American raised in Beaumont, CA, Estevie brings the head on the sound of ‘miami,’ the latest output from Ricky Reed’s label Nice Life Recording Company. 

West Coast rockers Sonny and the Sunsets display their garage vintage-style through  a forthcoming album, Self Awareness Through Macrame, named after a course his mother developed to teach at Bolinas Community Center back in the ‘70s that no one signed up for. The new album drops in late August and the band is slated to support WITCH (We Intend To Create Havoc) on the West Coast leg of their tour. So if you are going to that show, be sure to get there early to catch “Pink Cake” live. 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Chris Pierce is a gentle giant who makes powerful music that lifts the unsung to rise together — much like his hero, Neil Young, who handpicked Pierce to open on his July tour. Showcasing Pierce’s thoughtful songwriting, “Meet Me at the Bottom” helps heal divisiveness to a place of common ground. 

KCRW DJs are hyped on Silver,  the forthcoming sophomore studio album from Say She She dropping late September. Their stellar harmonies always have us swooning, and that’s certainly the case for Silver’s gorgeous “Astral Plane,” out today. 

Trippy electronic LA trio Supreme Beings of Leisure are ready to light up your summer with a Madonna-esque earworm called “My Ibiza,” remixed by Dave Aude. 

Raised in Window Rock, Ariz. — the capital of the Navajo Nation — the artist known as Hataałii takes his moniker from the Navajo term “hatalii,” which translates to “singer.” His new album was  influenced by the late author Cormac McCarthy, whom he credits for showing him, in his words, “that the desert was more than just a void, but rather it was filled with spirit and that the people who truly live in the desert see things differently.”  Take a listen to the gritty sound of “Midnight Soldier,” a mix of garage rock and the psychedelic stylings of The Doors.  

Check out the stylings of console king and multi-instrumentalist Simon Mavin as he unleashes his debut EP. You know him from his work as co-writer and co-producer for the acclaimed Australian band Hiatus Kaiyote; now Mavin stretches out on his own. A sultry mix that recalls the work of Stevie Wonder, “Good Hair Day” makes you feel like you’re indeed having a good one!

You may have heard the avant-garde music of The Penguin Cafe Orchestra lead by English guitarist Simon Jeffes back in the 80’s. Their sound lives on via Penguin Cafe thanks to Jeffes’ son, Arthur. You can hear the thread of optimism that binds the two on a new track that started with a little groove on piano and ukulele to birth the Caribbean/South American vibe of “Find Your Feet.” 

After eleven years, rap fiend Killer Mike has dropped his first solo full-length and most hard-hitting, autobiographical work to date.  An integrated intro into the artist, the 14 tracks that make up MICHAEL feature a ton of friends including Young Thug, Ty Dolla $ign, and EL-P but on “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS” Killer Mike collaborates with former mentor André 3000 and features Future and Eryn Allen Kane. 

Beloved LA producer, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter Jonathan Wilson will release his latest album in September, and we’ve got an early listen to “Charlie Parker” to share as a treat.  In the words of the maestro, “‘Charlie Parker’ is one of my favorite songs on Eat the Worm. It’s a fantastical and fictitious flight of fancy and fantasy,” says Wilson of the song, which draws from experiences in Boston in the 1980s, North Carolina in the early 1990s, and an early 2000s-era European jazz festival. “It also touches on the ups and downs of my life over the past decade as a touring musician, and more. It's filled with strings, horns, fuzzy guitars, tubular bells, and a few bebop elements as well, hence the name. In a way, ‘Charlie Parker’ encompasses what the new record is all about: adventure, fidelity, and fun. We’ve created another amazingly trippy AI video to accompany it, and I think it captures the mood of the tune perfectly.” And if you want to hear more about the legendary saxophonist, Charlie “Bird” Parker, we’ve got you! 

A self-proclaimed music maker, photo taker, and part-time explorer, Gothenburg-based Amparo translates her feelings and stories into sounds. Minimal vocals act as a hybrid instrument floating over ambient dance beats. Light a candle and get comfy as we get into the club edit of “Transient State.” 

If you are into jazz vocalese and Steely Dan, take a sonic pivot to this collaboration between multi-Grammy Award-winning virtuosic vocalist Kurt Elling and innovative guitarist/producer Charlie Hunter as they knit the past and present on “Freeman Square.” 2021’s SuperBlue, the first album from their series together, earned both artists a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. With any luck, their September release, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree, will see them win! 

Nashville-based singer-songwriter Sunny War says there are two siders to her: One is self-destructive, and the other tries to work to keep things in balance. That’s the insight into War’s fourth album, Anarchist Gospel. A resilient artist, innovative guitarist, and hawkish writer, Sunny War battles her demons on “Whole.” 

LA-based artist Ceci Bastida sets her sights on what we all worry about, hope to have more of, and constantly work towards — that is: moola, scratch, or cabbage, no matter what you call it, it all comes down to “Dinero” (Feat. Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez). 

You may hear traces of Abba or Toto while listening to “Run Run Run,” the latest offering from Swiss five-piece Sirens of Lesbos, who channel classic rock from the ‘70s and ‘80s.  Nostalgic yet modern, put this one on and feel free to let the warmth and optimism in. 

LA’s pride and joy Neil Frances have teamed up with another LA artist we love, hip-hop bruiser St. Panther, who mixes up their flow in collaboration with the disco duo. “Head Straight'' was written during their first session together, and is the first gem from their soon-to-be-announced sophomore album.

Let’s flow in the new direction of Afrobeat brought to us by Nigerian-born and London-based artist Obongjayar, who thinks everyone is on edge all the time and offers a little respite from it all on “Just Cool.” 

Listen to the heat sparked by the burning love Arlo Parks emotes on “Devotion,” from the ‘90s alt-tinged new album My Soft Machine. Sharing the idea behind her song, Parks says that, “‘Devotion’ to me is a song about feeling so in love it’s almost like being ripped apart — there’s an intensity, a wildness, and a tenderness. This is one of my favorite songs I’ve ever made. It draws from the bands that made me fall in love with music, from Deftones to Yo La Tengo to Smashing Pumpkins to My Bloody Valentine." 

Mark your calendars for July 7, when PJ Harvey delivers her tenth studio album, I Inside the Old Year Dying. A commanding poet, visual artist, musician, and songwriter, Harvey’s work is utterly striking in scope and imagination. According to Harvey, the new songs offer “a resting space, a solace, a comfort, a balm — which feels timely for the times we’re in.” It’s a natural lead-in to her song “A Child’s Question, August.”   

Seattle-based soul innovator and multi-instrumentalist Brittany Davis is a non-binary, blind artist we’ve recently become acquainted with. “So Fly,” explains Davis, “is a playful but potent perspective on how I’ve learned to see myself through sound. You could say it’s my sonic reflection. This song, with its disco throwback vibes, fills up the empty places within my soul. And reminds me to remember the full-body beauty and vitality that I possess.” 

The award-winning director of the 1992 period drama “Orlando,” Sally Potter, has created her first studio album, Pink Bikini. A semi-autobiographical batch of songs reminiscing on her youth in ‘60s London, Potter narrates a striking scene as a teenager on the title track. 

For a sense of deeply lush and atmospheric electronic sound, look no further than Oregon-based duo Rocket Empire. Their newly-minted album Todas Partes translates to “Everywhere” in Spanish, and given the titles of the songs, they really mean it. “Lima,” the opening track named for the capital of Peru, sets the stage for your exploration. RIYL: William Orbit. 

Kara Jackson has an intimate, distinctive sound. Nourished by country folk, Black feminist poets, and a Southern sensibility, their talent was unlocked by a sharpened musicality on piano and guitar, and earned the prestigious National Youth Poet Laureate in 2019. ‘pawnshop’ showcases the work of an astute Chicago-based Black queer polymath. RIYL Joan Armatrading. 

When it comes to R&B, Kool & The Gang, is the longest running group in history and most sampled in their genre. “Celebration” is a No. 1 hit immortalized in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Questlove calls them “America’s First Hip Hop Band.” Led by founding members Robert "Kool" Bell and George "Funky" Brown, the group is celebrating their 60th anniversary next year and is set to release a new album — their 34th — on July 14. You can hear their signature sound on their latest, “Let’s Party.” 

Born and raised in Los Angeles, teenage trio Forsythia blend a heady mix of indie-pop hooks with dabs of shoegaze on their debut single “Pretty Lungs.” Each member contributes their A-game to a different aspect of music making: Eli shoots their videos, Nami designs merch, and Riley’s stage presence ups their game. Forsythia “aspire to create an environment where young people feel confident in sharing their art and expressing their creativity.” We can get behind that.

Seventeen-year-old Brayden Nguyen is a junior in high school, focusing on music with an emphasis on songwriting, but his musical prowess extends beyond his years. Piano lessons started at age 5, followed by drums, keys, and guitar. His passion to create songs from his life experiences is what keeps him focused. Nguyen is a young creator to be watched. Let’s check out the sophisticated sound of “Take Me Away.” 

When you watch The Treedome’s video for “Beauty of It,” the first thing you notice is the pure joy of playing together. They say their music is “soft but colorful,” and it’s true. Behold: a tasty trumpet solo, an enthusiastic drummer, a bass player smiling from ear to ear, and their lead singer pouring her feelings into song.

Energized by a trip to Costa Rica during which he jammed with local musicians after sunset, pianist John Carroll Kirby fills us in on his adventure on the Calypso-influenced song “Oropendola.”

Behold the debut single from Indonesian trio Thee Marloes, “Midnight Hotline,” an intoxicating mix that sways gracefully on the dance floor and is sticky enough to have you singing the chorus. 

Five-time Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ recently made his Stagecoach debut and is back on the road zig-zagging across the US this spring and summer. An engaging artist with a mellifluous tone, Mo’ serves up strong positive vibes on “Taking Me Higher.”

Boyle Heights high school teacher and LA native singer/songwriter, Cassandra Violet, is back with her first new work in a couple of years. 

Take an imaginary cosmic journey into deep space with Canadian instrumental band Astrocolor. Their new album, Moonlighting, was executive produced by Khruangbin’s long-time collaborator, Steve Christensen, giving this instrumental band their certification of approval. A dizzying blend of jazz, psychedelia, and electronics explode on “Star Swing.”

A constant in the Om Records repertoire, Charlie Tate expands his legacy with new work from his project The Jazzual Suspects. Tate began his musical journey in the ‘90s working with breakbeat pioneers, and has released more than 13 full length recordings under different monikers and countless remixes for the likes of Bob Marley, Kaskade, and many more. Get acquainted with The Jazzual Suspects electro-jazzy mix on “Blue Vaka.” And may the fourth be with you, today and every day!

Ethereal artist vōx and Japanese experimentalist Salyu intertwine their voices, each in their native tongues, connecting East and West to dabble in ideas of distance and longing on “I Would.” 

Today sees Avalon Emerson & The Charm dropping their self-titled debut album.  “Karaoke Song” muses on the fluid nature of intimacy. 

Five-time Grammy Award winner, Country Music Hall of Famer, and all around good guy Marty Stuart is back with his first album in six years, Altitude. Stuart may be “Sitting Alone” on this track, but he’ll be busy this summer hitting the road with Chris Stapleton and making a pit stop at Stagecoach this coming weekend. 

79.5 is so dedicated to their sound that they named their band after an imaginary eclectic radio station that you might have heard growing up in NYC, blending everything from 70’s underground disco to acid jazz. If you’re looking for something sweet with a beat, turn to “Our Hearts Didn’t Go That Way” (Feat. Durand Jones). 

Mesmerizing and hypnotic, Chula Vista/Tijuana queer artist Jackie Mendoza found her voice when she began playing the ukulele and singing in school musicals. “Pedacitos,” or “little pieces/bits” in Spanish, pays tribute to loss. 

A godfather of improvisational creativity, Lonnie Holley transcends struggle and hardship by making art and music. Holley takes a thoughtful approach to music making, building his songs like sculptures. He flows through stream-of-consciousness lyrics on “Kindness Will Follow Your Tears,” featuring none other than Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver. 

Gifted Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith has released 16 albums to date, and shares songwriting credits on albums by Rod Stewart, k.d. lang, and Emmylou Harris, to name a few. 

Blurring the lines of jazz, hip hop, and experimental rock, the artist known as Rarelyalways delivers a dazzling debut album titled WORK. Erupting out of the London jazz scene, there is mystery in the poetry of “MSG.” 

Bogotá-based band and Latin Grammy-winners Diamante Eléctrico are hitting their stride with a new album, Leche De Tigre, Spanish for “Tigermilk,” recorded in Mexico City where the band reunited to work on new songs. We share “Persona Favorita,” a standout track from their seventh album Mira Lo Que Me Hiciste Hacer (Deluxe Edition) released last year, featuring Argentine artist Conociendo Rusia. It might become your new favorite song. 

Optometry is a brand spanking new LA-based duo composed of electro genius John Tejada and stunning singer March Adstrum. Adstrum’s hypnotic voice and guitar spark Tejada’s machinations on their debut track “Chameleon,” with a full-length album coming in March.