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.
Little Simz – “Gorilla”
Let’s kick things off with a big fat chune. Pristine and prescient North London rapper Little Simz turns it out with a perfect blend of hip-hop tools: poetry slam-style bass, big ol’ brass, callouts and tributes, and casual-cool delivery of chef’s kiss rhymes that’ll have you triple-taking. Around playful production that oscillates between spare and mega-massive, Simz switches between rhyme structures like she’s deciding between sneakers or boots, denim or leather, puffer or trench. Hell yeah.
The Undercover Dream Lovers – “For Nothing”
Stuck in a rut? Feeling unsatisfied with the ol’ grind? The Undercover Dream Lovers get it — and this track is therapy. Musically, it’s a satisfying indie-pop offering, understated even through bright synths and rockin 'guitars, guided by sanguine filtered vocals. Don’t miss the music video, which features frontman Matt Koenig leading the office revolution you’ve been dreaming of between TPS reports. Fans of Tame Impala, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, and L'Imperatrice take note — The U.C.D.L. are ones to watch.
Ralphie Choo & Rusowsky – “GATA”
What’s more universally loved than our fine furry feline friends? Nunca. Hence, the inspiration for this collab track is good vibes only. Ralphie Choo and Rusowsky are both leaders in the Madrid music scene, toying with winky-face rap bars and pitched-up vocal distortions over reggaeton beats. With a video that leans hard into meme-culture and a bite-sized runtime (just 2:10), this track feels truly built for the scroll — in the best way. Meow!
The Clientele – “Claire’s Not Real”
Would you believe that this track was released just this week? In a musical landscape dominated by electronic influences, it feels great to return to analog musical form thanks to this loungey, ‘60s-style pop floater from London three-piece The Clientele. Feeling like it was commissioned for a Wes Anderson film, and in fact inspired by a moment of reckoning in the face of Spanish wildfires, this track is your score for a contemplative Sunday morning drive.
Ariana Delawari – “Cloak of Lies”
Here’s your introduction to an artist born a multi-hyphenate. LA’s own Ariana Delawari is a musician, filmmaker, actress, photographer, and Ted Talk giver, among, we’re sure, other aspirations. On “Cloak of Lies,” she filters activism through personal pain and loss in the face of the Taliban’s control over her family’s homeland of Afghanistan. Despite the heady subject matter, the track is accessible, proffering alt-folk stylings peppered with electronic flourishes. Pay close attention to the lyrics and you’ll find Delwari’s maxim extra meaningful: We are more than this.