Hey! Did you know that there’s an entire aspect of KCRW music discovery that you might be missing out on? Fear not, because our 5 Songs to Hear This Week newsletter is now a weekly feature on our website. Watch this space for rundowns of the five songs that you need in your life immediately, curated by KCRW Music staff. Don’t want to wait for your latest taste of fresh tunes? Sign up for the Tuesday newsletter here, and have ‘em delivered directly to your inbox.
[Editor’s note: It’s Best Of szn here at KCRW and Alejandro Cohen (formerly of dublab) is our new Music Director(!) To help y’all get to know Ale a little better as we round up the bounty of ‘24, we asked for 5 local band recs from the esteemed Mr. Cohen. So prepare to dive deep y’all, like, spelunking deep. Words (as always) by the inimitable Adria Kloke.]
Julia Holter – “Evening Mood”
Go Pure Moods-mode with this soft-lens, sonic dreamscape from LA mainstay Julia Holter. This track is a balm: a soothing blend of instrumental and electronic sounds channeling gauzy goddesses that’s right up there with the likes of Enya, Agnes Obel, Vangelis, and Moondog. Click play and submit to Holter’s whisper-light vocals shrouded in reverb; achieve peak relaxation as the track gives way to an extended interlude with diaphanous keys and an unidentifiable solo wind instrument (oboe? clarinet? Hit that reply button if you can confirm). We can confirm that the divine synths in the song’s conclusion complete the rapture.
untitled (halo) – “blunt subconscious”
‘Tis the season for alt-rock. Get into it with this shoegaze-y single from untitled (halo), a united front comprised of three artists making music “inspired by and for the hazy culture of Southern California.” This track, the lead single from the trio’s recent headbanger EP, summons a distinctly teenage kind of love-ache through wild-fuzz guitars, a percussive dance-the-pain-away BPM, and telephone-line vocals that sound like how brooding feels. And please direct your full attention to the song’s ending: the final lyrics (because of course they are), “I think I’d rather die.” 🖤🖤
Sharada Shashidhar – “By The Land”
The world of experimental jazz welcomes its latest innovator in LA-based vocalist and composer Sharada Shashidhar. Drawing on Indian classical influences, and tapping into “the energy exchange between all living things” — Shashidhar’s undulating vocals perform a complex improvisation around jazz drums, glittering synths, and meandering bass. And be sure to listen all the way through, the song’s final act is an ecstatic experience in and of itself.
Suzanne Kraft – “What You Do To Me”
Tap into this vintage-hued, devotional track from Diego Herrera who makes music as a producer and DJ under the moniker Suzanne Kraft. “What You Do To Me” is effortlessly cool, featuring languid guitar strums worthy of a trip to Margaritaville coupled with an arresting layer of electronic keys. And the vocals bring home the image of a confident serenade, with Herrera never straying too far from his speaking register — suggesting a cheeky-sweet delivery over a dinner table or across a living room.
Moniquea – “Red Light (Feat. XL Middleton)”
Need to move that body? Do it under the “Red Light.” High on attitude, funk, and rhymes that delight, this feel-good dancefloor track from singer and DJ Moniquea is your midweek relief. Click play for a head-boppin’ BPM and groovy sonic flourishes sure to make you smile through your shimmy. Pro-tip: Catch LA-native Moniquea on her regular show, Jammin’ Croquettes, on dublab… or live on the decks! Follow her on the ‘gram for flyers about your next favorite local dance party.