KCRW’s Top 30: Little Simz, David Byrne, The Cure

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Little Simz.

Little Simz. Photo by Thibaut Grevet.

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Before we dig into the week’s Top 30 chart breakdown, we must acknowledge Sly Stone and Brian Wilson — two artists who dramatically reshaped the course of popular music in the 20th century. They died within days of each other during the week of June 9, 2025, and in memoriam spins of their various projects accounted for roughly 100 plays among all of KCRW’s 20+ DJs. Their respective cultural impacts are immeasurable, but that number speaks volumes. 

This is, however, a new music chart so Mercury Prize-winning UK rapper Little Simz takes no. 1 for Lotus, her sixth studio album and first collab with producer Miles Clinton James (Kokoroko). Debuting at no. 2 is former Talking Heads frontman David Byrne's "Everybody Laughs (Feat. The Ghost Train Orchestra.” The Cure's transportative remix collection, Mixes of a Lost World, debuts at no. 3 on the strength of its contributions from Four Tet, Mura Masa, Orbital, and more. Baltimore hardcore punks Turnstile hold steady at no. 4, and Pulp’s More leaps into the top five from its prior spot at no. 15 the previous week. 

New and Notable: 

Superstar producer Mark Ronson teams with British songstress Raye for the new single "Suzanne" (no. 6)... reminding us of his previous partnership with the late Amy Winehouse. Plus, legendary gospel singer Mavis Staples’ cover of Frank Ocean's "Godspeed” grabs enough immediate attention for a debut in the top 10.

Top 30 Chart: 6.15.2025

1 Little Simz “Lotus”
2 David Byrne “Everybody Laughs (Feat. Ghost Train Orchestra)” [Single]
3 The Cure “Mixes Of A Lost World”
4 Turnstile “LOOK OUT FOR ME” [Single]
5 Pulp “More”
6 Mark Ronson & RAYE “Suzanne” [Single]
7 Sofia Kourtesis “Unidos (Feat. Daphni)” [Single]
8 Hannah Cohen “Earthstar Mountain”
9 Panda Bear “Defense”/“Virginia Tech” [Single]
10 Mavis Staples “Godspeed” [Single]
11 Wet Leg “CPR” [Single]
12 Sudan Archives “DEAD” [Single]
13 Stereolab “Instant Holograms on Metal Film”
14 King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard “Phantom Island”
15 Pachyman “Another Place”
16 El Michels Affair “Anticipate”
17 Obongjayar “Paradise Now”
18 Men I Trust “Equus Caballus”
19 Gelli Haha “Normalize” [Single]
20 Bob Moses “Waiting on the World” [Single]
21 Myd “So High” [Single]
22 Tom Rowlands “We Are Nothing / All Night” [Single]
23 NxWorries “Everybody Gets Down” [Single]
24 Latroit “Gabrielle (Feat. Nick Clow)” [Single]
25 Ty Segall “Possession”
26 Big Thief “Incomprehensible” [Single]
27 Foxwarren “2”
28 Tune-Yards  “Better Dreaming”
29 Juan Wauters “Manejando por Pando” [Single]
30 Brian Eno & Beatie Wolfe “Luminal”