5 Songs to Hear This Week: Ravyn Lenae, spill tab, Gold Panda, and more

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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.

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Ravyn Lenae – “Where I'm From (Feat. Mereba)”

This glimmering track from 23-year-old Chicago singer Ravyn Lenae is softer than a lamb’s ear and steady like the rain. Minimal production leaves plenty of room for layers of airy, controlled vocals to dance in the digitally-rendered moonlight on display within the intriguing video. The contribution from another neo-soul queen, Mereba, ensures that this soothing track will have you feeling 😍. The uniformly excellent full-length Hypnos is out now!


Lady Legs – “Wasted Emotion”

All hail instruments! Lady Legs are the analog indie four-piece band you’ve been missing. These boys from Auburn, Alabama are serving up harmonious, jam-worthy tunes reflective of that mid-aughts liminal space between indie-rock and indie-pop. Add a pinch of surf and a dash of ‘90s alt… you’ve got yourself a marvelous musical meal.


Surprise Chef – “Spring's Theme” 

Producers, storytellers, and main character-types take notice — Surprise Chef are here to provide the perfect score for your piece, your project, or your generalized wandering. The instrumental quartet out of Melbourne craft perfectly peculiar and clear-eyed compositions like this track, which they describe as "tender, folk-funk contemplation." We’re nodding!


spill tab – “Splinter”  

Straight outta LA, Spill Tab is the coolest BFF you wish you had in high school. On this latest release, out just last week, the singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist showcases her almost preternatural frontwoman abilities. What results is reminiscent of early 2000s bedroom pop, with the mega-energy of an end-credits smash. 


Gold Panda – “I've Felt Better (Than I Do Now)” 

Ready to dance this summer? We got da chune. Only a few days old, this evolving dance single from reliable UK producer Gold Panda re-invents itself several times over. The challenging and inspiring structure of this one proves to be just the thing for inciting the dancefloor metamorphosis we all deserve. The BPM is on lock — just click play and let go.