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.

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...

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...

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...

“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...

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,...

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...

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, turning our focus today on Great Big Cow . These guys mainly grew up and went to high school together, meeting in the school’s jazz combo in Los Angeles. Now in college, they say the Valley and Laurel Canyon will always be their home. Laurel Canyon makes sense, since you can hear the influence of ‘70s...

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...

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...

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.