5 Songs to Hear This Week: 070 Shake, Sinkane, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson

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070 Shake branches out. Photo by Machine Operated

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 Friday newsletter here, and always be the first to know. 


070 Shake – "Black Dress” 

Drama is high and tones are low in this dark-romance track from rapper and singer 070 Shake. The New Jersey native and established boo of Lily-Rose Depp has carved out an intriguing and mysterious image to match her evolving musical style. Originally part of the 070 hip-hop collective, the artist plays with a vocal style more akin to pop — be it dark, moody, goth pop — in this sexy-slow single.


Sinkane – “Everything is Everything (Feat. Tru Osborne)”

Get your big-big voice ready for this devotional-style power track from Sudanese-American musician and bandleader Sinkane, who brings his delectable custom blend of funk, free jazz, rock and Sudanese pop into perfect harmony with vocals from relative newcomer (but immensely talented) Tru Osborne. Backed by a chorus worthy of their own stage and supported by a stunning arrangement of strings, organs, drums (n’ bass), this epic track will have you philosophizing with the best of them.


King Creosote – “Blue Marbled Elm Trees”

With such limited time on this blue marble we call Earth… who’s got time to complain? Not King Creosote — aka Kenny Anderson, the prolific Scottish singer-songwriter behind this gorgeous and inspiring ode to enjoying life, day by simple day. This layered alt-folk song is the  latest offering in a heft stack of independent releases: the Fife-based artist has released over 40 albums to date. Cheers to that mate!


Elke – “The Golden Age”

There’s a lot to be said for a good cover: the way it brings together two distinct fan groups over one item, how it pays homage to the source artist and material, and how it can tickle both your sense of nostalgia and newness at the same time. From where we sit, this strippped-down stunner from alto-songstress Elke covering Beck’s “The Golden Age” fulfills every promise. We’re Beck heads, but even if you’re not, this song is simply undeniable. From gentle strums to echoing slide guitars and Elke’s unmistakable, Nico-esque speak-sing voice — this one’s pure gold.


Miguel Atwood-Ferguson – “Apotheosis”

LA’s own Miguel Atwood-Ferguson is one-in-a-million: as a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, producer, director — he’s a true man of music, contributing to creative works in as many ways as there are musical notes. But what he hasn’t done before is… release an album. And here it is, the first single from his debut, Les Jardins Mystiques, a multi-volume affair which begins its release today. A composition of classical instruments arranged in a playful and exuberant manner, this track is one for all the symphony heads out there. 

Get all-in on Ferguson’s story with his deep dive interview on Press Play.