Today's Top Tune
319 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★ - 523 ratingsA free weekday download of standout songs, including advance releases, exclusive live tracks recorded at KCRW, remixes, and an introduction to new artists on our radar.
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Episodes
David Holmes: ‘It's Over, If We Run Out of Love’ (Feat. Raven Violet)
March 08, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutesYou may recognize the work of David Holmes from watching “Killing Eve” or his many other compositions for film and TV. This time, we lure you in with his latest solo work “It’s Over, If We Run Out of Love,” a fizzy, heart wrenching anthem.
Laibach: ‘Ich will ein Deutscher sein’
March 07, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesSlovenian avant-gardists Laibach reboot the writings of one of the most significant German playwrights, Heiner Müller, into a theatrical production of his work. Epic in scope, “Ich wil ein Deutscher sein” translates to “I Want to Be a German.”
Thao: ‘Temple’
March 04, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesSolo artist Thao (formerly of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down) gets ready to strap on her guitar and hit the road on tour this spring. Let’s enjoy the driving title track from the deluxe album version of “Temple.”
Baba Ali: ‘Black + Blue’
March 03, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesLondon duo Baba Ali are stylistic omnivores who pack a dynamic and progressive sonic punch on their single “Black + Blue.” Get up and get ready to get sweaty!
Adekunle Gold: ‘Mercy’
March 02, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesAfropop icon Adekunle Gold showcases the beauty of the Black experience via R&B and traditional African rhythms on his new album “Catch Me If You Can,” which features a diverse array of artists including Ty Dolla $ign, Lucky Daye, and others. Catch Gold front and center on “Mercy.”
Jay-Jay Johanson: ‘Cheetah’
March 01, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutesIf you like the way Chet Baker sang, you’re gonna love the Swedish crooner Jay-Jay Johanson, whose cool jazz sound recalls late night sets sipping cocktails in smoky clubs.
Didon: ‘Beside You’
February 28, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesTunisian-American electro duo Meriem Ben Amor and Carmen Rizzo make up a new project called Didon. “Beside You” creeps in with hypnotic vocals and dirty beats.
Skinshape: ‘Sua Alma’ Remix (Feat. D'Alma)
February 25, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesThe original version of Skinshape’s “Sua Alma,” featuring Portuguese, London-based singer D’Alma, is an upbeat Afro-tinged song, but when Manny Talvez and Alae get their hands on the track, they take down the tempo to give it umami.
Betty Davis: ‘Come Take Me’
February 24, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesMulti-talented music influencer, pioneering star of rock and funk, and fashion icon Betty Davis left this mortal coil a couple of weeks ago. Davis penned work that signed The Commodores to Motown, and her brand of raw and revealing punk-funk inspired generations of artists from Prince to Erykah Badu. She was even married to Miles Davis and influenced his album “Bitches Brew.” But at one point, Marc Bolan of T. Rex encouraged her to write for herself, and she took the advice to heart. “Come T...
Warpaint: ‘Champion’
February 23, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesHallelujah! Warpaint is back with their first album in six years! After pursuing individual projects, the LA outfit is finally drawn back together to materialize their auditory ideas. “Radiate Like This” was created in separate makeshift studios due to pandemic restrictions, but is one of their most articulated and beautiful albums to date. Get a first taste with “Champion.”
Maths Time Joy: ‘Change’ (Feat. Rich)
February 22, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesProducer-remixer-songwriter Maths Times Joy invites New York-based vocalist Rich to lend his sound to a six-song EP. Cathartic and bracing, the title track “Change” unravels their chemistry.
Hamid Al Shaeri: ‘Ayonha’
February 21, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesLibyan-Egyptian Hamid Al Shaeri was supposed to become a pilot, but his destiny was to fill the airwaves with music. By the early ‘80s, Al Shaeri was a household name with a signature sound, despite the initial underwhelming reaction to his first album “Ayonha,” which later received accolades as the title track became popular across generations.
Lady Wray: ‘Come On In’
February 18, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesAt 15, Nicole Wray auditioned for Missy Elliot in her mother’s Virginia home and got signed on the spot. Fast forward a couple of decades, and we know her as Lady Wray, an arresting artist with a compelling sound birthed from early years singing in church. “Come On In” is one of those songs that welcomes you in.
Samm Henshaw: ‘Enough’
February 17, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesWe are in love with British-Nigerian soul singer Samm Henshaw, who is poised for a breakout year with his debut album “Untidy Soul.” His timeless sound recalls the greats while holding on to his own signature style. “Enough” is a song we’ve gravitated towards.
Widowspeak: ‘Everything Is Simple’
February 16, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesWhen we start something new, we look at the full potential of the situation and all of the possibilities, whether it’s a relationship or a new job. But as time goes on, the experience is rounded out. Widowspeak tackle this idea with their song “Everything Is Simple” — until it’s not.
Farees: ‘Mercury / Orgullosamente’
February 15, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesThe revolution continues on the dance floor for neo-funk producer and multi-instrumentalist Farees. Having worked with artists like Calexico and Leo Nocentelli of The Meters, the Tuareg artist lives to create sonic art.
Snail Mail: ‘Valentine’
February 14, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesIndie ingenue Lindsey Jordan a.k.a. Snail Mail’s sophomore album “Valentine” runs the gamut of love from romance to heartbreak but you decide where the arrow of love leans on the title track on Cupid’s favorite day.
Sly5thAve & Roberto Verástegui: ‘Tie Break’
February 11, 2022 08:00 - 6 minutes“Tie Break” is the fruit from the collaborative project between producer and multi-instrumentalist Sly5thAve and pianist and composer Roberto Verástegui. Together, the pair put forth their intricate jazz ideas and effusive musings on a full length.
Maylee Todd: ‘Show Me’
February 10, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesMaylee Todd spent a lot of time in VR throughout the pandemic, which led to ideas on a utopian technology. Her avatar, “Maloo,” turned into a concept album with “Show Me” as a standout science fiction lullaby.
King Garbage: ‘Busy On A Saturday Night’
February 09, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesGrammy-nominated producers Zach Cooper and Vic Dimotsis, best known as King Garbage, have been quietly affecting different genres working with artists like The Weeknd, SZA, and Billy Porter. The duo offer classic jazz stylings on “Busy On A Saturday Night,” a smooth and smoky approach doesn’t mean that it’s predictable. Check it out.
Say She She: ‘Forget Me Not’
February 08, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesWhen KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole shared Say She She’s new single, he told us (and we are quoting) “this is the funkiest sh!t I’ve heard in a while!” And we all agree that the Brooklyn-based, all-female disco-delic soul band is impressive. We are excited to share “Forget Me Not” on release day.
Bareto: ‘Cumbia Circular’ (Feat. Maria Cardona)
February 07, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutesPeru’s psychedelic cumbia purveyors Bareto take you by the hand and lead you to the dance floor on “Cumbia Circular,” featuring vocalist Maria Cardona.
Biggabush: ‘Black Swan Revival’ (Feat. Farda P & Jackie Walters)
February 04, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutesMidi-maestro Biggabush, known as co-founder of dub/dance outfit Rockers Hi-Fi, rewinds the clock by revisiting his 2004 release “Biggabush Free” to rebuild songs and include new ones, like a recently unearthed demo from 1997, “Black Swan Revival,” featuring Farda P and Jackie Walters.
Mondo Cozmo: ‘Meant For Livin’
February 03, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesReady to rattle your cage? Rock n’ roller Mondo Cozmo, a.k.a. Josh Ostrander, is back recalling early Dylan on “Meant For Livin,’” and says “This is the first song that I wrote when the pandemic hit, with the lyrics reading as a practical guide for successful living."
Jana Horn: ‘Optimism’
February 02, 2022 08:00 - 1 minuteTexas fiction writer and teacher Jana Horn turned her prose into song on her solo album debut, “Optimism.” Backed by members of Knife on the Water, the title track is minimalist in nature but packed with feels.
Combo Chimbita: ‘Memoria’
February 01, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesPulling from lore and ancestral mythologies, Combo Chimbita come to us with choppy rhythms, powerful grooves, and tantalizing beats on the serpentine song “Memoria.”
Arca: ‘La Infinita’
January 31, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesNon-binary creator Arca inhabits her own musical world, having worked with some of the most distinguished and intriguing musical minds around, including Bjork, FKA Twigs, and Kanye West. An influencer in fashion that found freedom on dance floors, her work is unexpected and glorious as we share an instrumental work called “La Infinita.”
Dirtwire with Chancha Via Circuito: ‘El Sultan’
January 28, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesJust a couple of weeks ago, KCRW DJ Jeremy Sole played a new collaboration between Dirtwire — known for their work as part of the West Coast underground electronic bass music scene — and Argentine producer Chancha Via Circuito. The result is “El Sultan,” a whirling piece unifying South American rhythms and a sprinkling of magic dust that leaves us in the ecstasy of a trance state.
Los Days: ‘Floating Against The Night Sky’
January 27, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesSan Francisco skateboard pioneer-turned-musician Tommy Guerrero and LA-based multi-instrumentalist Josh Lippi are Los Days. Together, the duo set out to the high desert with a limited collection of instruments and gear to write and record an album’s worth of music. “Floating Against The Night Sky” captures the sound of their surroundings with a spaghetti western feel.
The Undercover Dream Lovers: ‘Come A Little Closer’
January 26, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesLA-based indie artist The Undercover Dream Lovers delivers the catchy “Come A Little Closer,” weaving the sound of some of his favorite artists like Tame Impala and Daft Punk together.
Rokia Koné & Jacknife Lee: ‘Kurunba’
January 25, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesHere’s a great example of the power music has to raise awareness… A member of the feminist supergroup Les Amazones d’Afrique, Rokia Koné, and uber-producer Jacknife Lee co-create an album with purpose. On their song “Kurunba,” Koné denounces the customs of exclusion and diminishment faced by women after having raised their husband’s children in patriarchal society.
Dope Lemon: ‘Rose Pink Cadillac’ (Radio Edit)
January 24, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesDope Lemon, the saucy moniker created by Angus Stone — one half of the Australian sibling duo Angus & Julia Stone — saunters in with “Rose Pink Cadillac,” a breezy track that feels like sunshine.
Mamas Gun: ‘Looking For Moses’
January 21, 2022 08:00 - 5 minutesNamed after Erykah Badu’s sophomore album, London’s Mamas Gun are soul titans in the making. Their song “Looking For Moses” was written on the day Bill Withers passed, and pays tribute to the legendary singer.
MICHELLE: ‘Expiration Date’
January 20, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesR&B fans rejoice as NYC collective MICHELLE use their music as a platform to empower listeners through enticing harmonies and a catchy melody on “Expiration Date.”
Jelly Cleaver: ‘Black Line’ (Radio Edit)
January 19, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesCompelling songwriter, guitarist, social activist, and producer Jelly Cleaver has been unifying the London Jazz and DIY indie scene with her own mix of slinky, emotive sizzle, as heard on “Black Line.”
David Byrne and Yo La Tengo: ‘Who Has Seen The Wind’
January 18, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesDeath Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard has been hard at work on “Ocean Child,” his curated tribute compilation to the songs of Yoko Ono, featuring a wide range of guests including We Are KING, Sharon Van Etten, and Sudan Archives. Today we turn our ears to one of the record’s standout collaborations with David Byrne and Yo La Tengo as they conquer “Who Has Seen The Wind.”
Young Prisms: ‘Honeydew’
January 17, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesAfter almost a decade, Young Prisms return with a slew of new fuzzy guitar songs this spring. Dripping with shoegaze emo, “Honeydew” will quench your yearning for a dreamstate.
RÜFÜS DU SOL: ‘On My Knees’ (Radio Edit)
January 14, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesTapping into industrial sounds in the electronic arena, RÜFÜS DU SOL take a darker, more driven tone on their track “On My Knees” that is no less danceable for it.
IDLES: ‘When The Lights Come On’
January 13, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesBristolian five piece IDLES launch a motoric, menacing sound on “When The Lights Come On,” which frontman and lyricist Joe Talbot calls “a poem of light and sound exploring the cold light of day.”
Pauli The PSM: ‘Gemini’
January 12, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesYou may know Pauli The PSM (a.k.a. Pauli Lovejoy) as Music Director for Harry Styles, or as the drummer for Gorillaz, but he’s recently teamed up with NASA (yes, that NASA!) to create ambient compositions exploring the cosmos with astrology-themed songs, including the spacey sound of “Gemini.”
Lucius: ‘Next To Normal’
January 11, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesToday we’re excited to feature a song that drops from the luscious ladies of Lucius, whose boppy “Next To Normal” is culled from from a forthcoming new album “Second Nature.”
Robin Guthrie: ‘The Faraway’
January 10, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesThis new year, Cocteau Twins founder and sound sculptor Robin Guthrie celebrates his 60th year on the planet with a new EP titled “Springtime” that captures his signature sound and awakens renewal, as heard on “The Faraway.”
Wajatta: ‘Something More Than This’
January 07, 2022 08:00 - 3 minutesSmashup duo Wajatta (Reggie Watts and John Tejada) showcase their evolution in sound with new music. We hear them getting deeper into the groove and lyrics on “Something More Than This.”
Dijon: ‘Talk Down’
January 06, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutesLA-based artist Dijon gets in close for “Talk Down” as he tells the tale of a bickering couple over a careening breakbeat.
Lucas/Heaven: ‘Every City Has A Rhythm’
January 05, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesDuring the day, you’ll find Lucas Gorham toiling away as a librarian in the Los Angeles school system, but he’s also a thriving music maker known as Lucas/Heaven. Lucas/Heaven proves to be a gifted lyricist, having penned “Every City Has A Rhythm,” a song that tackles gentrification and recalls artists like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. Be sure to check out his (free!) show at Zebulon alongside local favorites Harriet Brown and Tolliver on Jan. 6.
Superchunk: ‘Endless Summer’
January 04, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesAround this time of year, we start to long for warmer weather, which is why we asked Superchunk to share “Endless Summer,” a track replete with sweet harmonies from Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley of Teenage Fanclub.
Woolfy: ‘Shooting Stars’
January 03, 2022 08:00 - 4 minutesWelcome to 2022! We charge out of the gate with “Shooting Stars,” a song that shimmers with hope and makes the impossible possible, by SoCal indie-disco troubadour Woolfy.
Hermanos Gutiérrez: ‘Amor Profundo’
December 24, 2021 08:00 - 2 minutesSiblings Alejandro and Stephan are best known as Hermanos Gutiérrez, an instrumental guitar duo that gifted us with “Amor Profundo,” a ballad that exemplifies how we feel about YOU!
Silvana Estrada: ‘La Corriente’
December 23, 2021 08:00 - 3 minutesAs we eagerly await the debut album by Mexican indie artist Silvana Estrada, we turn to “La Corriente,” a song that doubles as a love song, but also full of desire to discover what lays ahead on life’s path.
William Orbit: ‘Diso’
December 15, 2021 08:00 - 7 minutesMulti Grammy Award-winning artist and electronic music pioneer William Orbit has been the guiding light behind many albums we all love, ranging from Blur to U2. His first solo album in seven years, “Starbeam,” is the apogee converging his love of experimentation with intricately layered sonics. We wish William Orbit the happiest of birthdays in the stratosphere by sharing “Diso.”