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.
Obongjayar – “Just My Luck”
Ever had something not go your way? Soothe your disappointment with this bright and bouncy single about accepting what you got rather than longing for a fantasy. Nigerian-born, London-based artist Obongjayar offers a smooth and soft-filtered falsetto accompanied by bright keys over perky percussion. It’s a delightful musical package set against an equally smile-inducing video. Pro-tip: If artistic swimming was your favorite event in this year’s summer Olympics, don’t miss this one.
Eddie Chacon – “Empire (Feat. John Carroll Kirby)”
There’s nothing we love more than tracing an artist through decades of releases, so queue up this uplifting new track from Eddie Chacon to do just that. First hitting the scene as half of Charles & Eddie in the 1990s, Chacon is gearing up for his second release under Stones Throw Records. Lay Low, out January 31st, is produced by KCRW Music-mainstay Nick Hakim, so you can expect great things… but to hear something great right now — i.e. a jazz and R&B infused song about the hidden fragility of what may seem solid — just click play.
More: Eddie Chacon + John Carroll Kirby: KCRW Live from HQ
Cutouts – “Cowgirl (Feat. Tomberlin)”
Here’s your chance to get in on the ground level with a rising star in the indie electronica space. Cutouts presents mysteriously — their artist bio space is filled with a poetic story of a knight in peril — but they’ve also been releasing provocative electronic tracks for nearly a decade and playing bass with KCRW darlings Nation of Language since 2022. This bedroom-beats style single, released in collaboration with Kentucky-based singer-songwriter Tomberlin, features languid and sensual production that deftly mixes its varied sounds. The result is a sexy slow-burn for your fall moods playlist.
More: Nation of Language: KCRW Live From The Village Studios
Sophie Thatcher – “Pivot & Scrape”
Sophie Thatcher is an all-around creative — already known to the public for her acting in the much-lauded Showtime series Yellowjackets. In this undulating, dark-magic-esque single she brings a wizened sensibility that belies her 24 years. “Pivot & Scrape,” the title track from her forthcoming EP of the same name, was (self)reportedly inspired by a series of dreams in which the artist threw her body through a pane of glass. Lucky for us, she emerged scrape free.
The Bluetones – “Drive Thru”
Ok, maybe the only thing we like better than tracing an artist over decades is when their new release comes after a loooong hiatus — especially when the track slaps. Enter The Bluetones, the British four-top founded in 1993 now resurfaced to serve up a fresh helping of their full-bodied, cool-headed rock. In their words, “[this single comes] after a 14 year hiatus from writing and recording (due to one thing or another).” We’re happy to hear it, lads. Listen on for their triumphant return.