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.
Ceci Bastida – “D$NERO”
Heads up and boots on: Tijuana-born, LA-based artist Ceci Bastida has returned with a window-rattling new track. An implosive blend of traditional guitar, reggaeton beats, and eyes-on-me vocals, this spicy single is fueled by unmistakable fire. And that tracks: a collaboration with artist-activists Quetzal Flores and Martha Gonzalez, this single demands and holds your attention through mesmerizing bass and relatable lyricism centered on the relentless quest to secure one’s bag.
NEIL FRANCES – “Head Straight (Feat. St. Panther)”
Get your head straight and the vibe right with this laid back groover from alt-pop producer duo NEIL FRANCES and featuring KCRW fave, SoCal multi-talent St. Panther. Riding a vintage preset-style beat and gleaming keyboards with a message of well-earned confidence, this track’s the ultimate tonal reset you need to shed the proverbial workweek and get into a good time.
Junior Mesa – “You Are Alright”
Man, Junior Mesa gets us right in the feels every time. Last time the prodigious SoCal artist was featured in this round up was for the gut-wrenchingly sweet and surprising “Caroline,” and this follow-up single is a further triumph in vulnerability, expression of hope through pain, and inventiveness of sound. Through lyrics and video, Mesa seemingly lays bare a personal story of addiction, devotion, and the ties that bind us, good and bad. Content heads up: alcoholism.
Kiltro – “Guanaco”
Gray LA days got ya down? Deeply in need of some color and flavor? Tap into this saucy track from Kiltro. Chilean-American frontman Chris Bowers-Castillo channels his love of the good-life vibes he encountered on a self-discovery stint in Valparaíso, Chile through this shimmering, hip-movin’ indie electro track. Rich with elements both traditional and ultra-contemporary, and hitting that perfect sweet spot between laid-back and energized, this track is easy to play, and even easier to repeat.
Babel – “Closer”
Find your inner seaside escape with this old-and-new-world mishmash track from Finnish duo Babel. The charmingly vintage effect of an accordion-esque base track unexpectedly blends in nicely with decidedly dancey percussion and singer Karin Mäkiranta’s whipped-icing layered vocals. The final product is indie Euro alt-pop goodness which, paired with a DIY-edged music video featuring aging vacationers and berobed dance moves, is sure to make you smile.