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.
St. Vincent – “Broken Man”
It’s been a treat to witness St. Vincent’s artistic journey and growth over the years. Her latest single “Broken Man” is a guitar-heavy, industrial St. Vincent we haven’t heard in a while. “Broken Man” is the first cut from her new self-produced album, All Born Screaming, which serves as the follow-up to her 2021 release, Daddy's Home. The album features collaborations with notable artists like Dave Grohl, Cate Le Bon, and more. All Born Screaming is due out April 26.
More: Daddy’s Home: St. Vincent breaks down the ‘70s, familial trauma, and four songs that move her
Kim Gordon – “BYE BYE”
Is it trap? Is it rap? It’s both… kinda! Dark, grungy, and heavy, “BYE BYE” comes off of Kim Gordon’s forthcoming album The Collective, and comes with one heck of a to-do list for the weekend: “Sleeping pills, sneakers, boots.” The kids on TikTok have already caught on. Will you? Catch her on MBE for a Guest DJ set with Anne Litt on Friday, March 8, the same day The Collective comes out.
Sofia Kourtesis – “Cecilia”
Immerse yourself in the rich layers of Sofia Kourtesis' “Cecilia.” Ethereal vocals, piano riffs, woven Latin beats, and samples showcase Kourtesis' ability to bring songs to life (and the dancefloor). Her newest album Madres holds profound significance to Kourtesis as a tribute to both her mother and the surgeon who played a pivotal role in her triumphant battle against metastatic lung cancer. No stranger to adversity, Kourtesis faced discrimination as a queer person in her native Peru and was expelled from school at the age of 17 for kissing another girl. Yet, from the depths of loss and despair following the death of her father last year, Madres emerged as one of the standout dance albums of 2023.
Glass Beams – “Mahal”
With the title track from the upcoming EP Mahal, set to release on March 22 via Ninja Tune, Glass Beams invite us on a journey into their psychedelic Eastern sounds. The Melbourne trio, who you might remember from KCRW’s Global Beat Australia, have steadily gained recognition for their mesmerizing, wavy riffs and enchanting melodies. Mahal promises a wealth of exploration, characterized by what they themselves define as "Eastern-inspired Western music" — a sonic landscape both dynamic and delightfully unpredictable.
More: Global Beat Australia: Imbi x Slim Set, Glass Beams, and KYE with Sampa the Great
Daniel Brouns – “Lizard Killer”
The first few bars of this wistful track from under-the-radar LA artist Daniel Brouns may have you thinking your playback is accidentally set on .5 speed. But the slowness here is an artistic choice that soon reveals itself, a sense of restraint that compliments the vulnerability of Brouns’ rich, lean-in vocal style, personal archives, and tender lyricism. Go even deeper: Brouns’ forthcoming full-length, Stock Music For The Cosmos, is out in May — produced and recorded by Kenny Becker of LA scene stalwarts GOON.
More: 5 Songs to Hear This Week: Wednesday, Plaid, GOON (Wajatta takeover)
