Today's Top Tune

Taking their cues from ‘90s shamble-pop greats like Yo La Tengo and The Pastels, the Norwegian trio Twirlies makes a swoon-worthy debut with “Think That I’m In Love.” Classic indiepop sounds for the twenty-first century? Yes please.

Longtime friends FINNEAS and Ashe have a habit of casual collabs that create hits. Think: “Moral of the Story” (2019) and “Till Forever Falls Apart” (2021). Now they’ve made it official by adopting a new moniker (The Favors) and hitting us with their golden-age-of-Laurel-Canyon-esque new single “The Little Mess You Made.” And that’s not all, The Favors have a debut LP set for release on Sept. 19.

KCRW Young Creator’s Project alum Raine is back with Backseat, a new EP due in Sept of this year. “To You” is a gentle and open love letter to friendship; a space where Raine explores all of its pure joys and growing pains.

Hooray, Mac DeMarco has a new album on the horizon! Guitar is set to drop on Aug 22 via his own record label, Mock Media. Get a taste of what lies ahead by tuning into “Home.” The song was recorded in DeMarco’s LA studio and it’s a snapshot of where he is today… Well, it’s the closest thing to a snapshot that he can get on paper. Watch Mac DeMarco work it all out in real time when he headlines The Greek Theatre for three consecutive nights beginning on Aug. 29.

Michael Collins (aka Drugdealer) has once again teamed up with his longtime pal Natalie Laura Mering (aka Weyes Blood). Their latest is “Real Thing” — a track which took them two years to make and refine. It was worth the wait. “Real Thing” is a keepsake that highlights the deep connection between two major talents. And you can keep it forever by downloading it now.

You may recognize Tony and Grammy winner Renée Elise Goldsberry from her role as Angelica Schuyler in the filmed version of Hamilton. And while the Broadway musical celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, Goldsberry is stepping out with her own debut album, Who I Really Am. It’s a deeply personal collection of songs that showcase her range as a performer, songwriter, and storyteller. Check out the belting blues of “Staring” for starters.

Born and bred in Western Kentucky, S.G. Goodman is an old soul of a storyteller whose work points to ancient traditions and lost ways of life. Her new album, Planting by the Signs, is her first in three years — and most likely her best work yet. Over eleven songs, Goodman puts forth the notion that the only way forward for any of us is together. Her devotion to the natural world comes to the fore on songs like “Snapping Turtle.”

London’s Night Tapes are set to release their hotly-anticipated debut album, portals//polarities, on September 26. While we wait, they’ve given us “Pacifico,” a trip hop-flavored number inspired by a friend’s journey to Oaxaca. It’s a state of mind that we all need to reach. (Crate-diggers may also recognize the Billy Cobham sample from Souls of Mischief’s “93 ’Til Infinity.”)

Colombian chanteuse Lido Pimienta broke out in 2020 with her third album, Miss Colombia. And now she’s returned with a masterful new release, La Belleza, which ups the creative ante even further. Pimienta co-produced the album with Owen Pallett, who arranged the album’s nine movements for a 60-piece orchestra. Check out “¿Quién Tiene La Luz? (El Perdón)”, which Pimienta sings from beneath a veil of heartbreak and loss, with an opening section that brings to mind a Gregorian chant.

Erick The Architect is a man with a résumé: his recent collaborators include Jungle, L’Imperatrice, George Clinton, James Blake, and Channel Tres, among many others. But now he’s stepped out on his own again with the third installment of his ARCSTRUMENTALS series. The EP has a perfect top-down summertime sound, flavored with house and R&B influences, including the tasty “All That I Need” (feat. Haile Supreme).

During the pandemic, Silvana Estrada found herself home alone and broken-hearted. She was also facing some serious insomnia so she picked up her guitar and went to work. “Como Un Pájaro” (“Like A Bird”) is one of the songs that emerged from this period. And now that Estrada is playing live again, it’s become a fan favorite. Get it now as a free download, let it live forever in your digital collection.

AI can’t feel the beat, but Mocky can. That’s why this groovy single uses live instrumentation and analog recording to celebrate the power of the human voice. “Music Will Explain” is the title track from a forthcoming LP which has many songs dedicated to exploring this theme. Grab Music Will Explain (Choir Music Vol. 1) on June 27 (via Stones Throw), and see Mocky and friends do it live at Zebulon on Tuesday, July 1.

Brooklyn-based artist and producer url just dropped this indie-pop love song that’s built from English and French vocal samples. It’s the sonic equivalent of a developing love story, and it’s just the thing to soundtrack daydreams about your latest crush.

Yaya Bey’s “raisins” is all about the bravery required to pursue a career as an artist; dreaming big and keeping the faith through the more sobering realities of the job. Find this song on Bey’s forthcoming album do it afraid, out this Friday, June 20. Catch Yaya Bey live in LA on Saturday, Sept. 27 at Lodge Room.

LA band Sparks always delights us with their sophisticated-yet-playful songwriting. The duo of brothers Ron and Russell Mael have been at it since the early 1970s and they just dropped their 28th studio album, MAD!. “Running Up A Tab At The Hotel For The Fab” is one of the typically witty offerings from that album, and you can download it for free right now. Also be sure to mark your calendar for their LA show at the Greek on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Earcandy, the debut album by Japanese-British singer and producer Miso Extra, is an infectious mix of K-Pop, UK Garage, tongue-in-cheek sensibility, and sultry, ear-catching textures. Experience this magical combo for yourself by tuning into “Pop.”

Formed in 2010, Baltimore’s Turnstile are a band that always moves forward boldly and collectively — despite what their name might suggest. Their freshly released album LOOK OUT FOR ME is a whirlwind of fourteen genre-defying songs that sounds a good bit like The Police.

“Under The Mandarin Moon,” or as Pearl & The Oysters say “Sous la lune mandarine,” is the latest example of the group’s musical superpower: exploring a difficult subject over a wistful, Bossa-nova-tinged tune. This song is the LA band’s abstract attempt at describing the dreadful night when the Eaton fire broke out… an event which directly affected the band and friends from their tight-knit community. Commune with them in person at Lodge Room on Thursday, Jul. 10.

Grammy Award-winning duo NxWorries (Anderson .Paak and Knxwledge) have returned with the dance floor ready banger “Everybody Get’s Down.” Already a steady presence on KCRW’s Top 30 chart, grab it now as a free download and memorize it before they kick off their North American tour this fall — their final stop is the Hollywood Palladium on Oct. 19.

Genre-hopping Swiss outfit L’Eclair are the sonic equivalent of the pastry they’re named after. And to make things even sweeter, they’re teaming up with their “delightfully weird” labelmate Gelli Haha to tap into some heavy, raw funk on “Run.”