Today's Top Tune

French house duo Braxe + Falcon unite with their compatriots Phoenix as UFOs. Think of it as six friends coming together to create one positively dreamy song. Like they say, “I don’t believe in miracles but I do believe in UFOs.” So do we, especially when they sound this cool.

MacArthur Fellow and triple Grammy winner Cécile McLorin Salvant breaks the boundaries of jazz and “I Am A Volcano” comes our way from her recent LP Oh Snap. Originally recorded at home alone with no plans for release, the dozen songs on that record traverse the spectrum — including a surprising rendition of “Brick House” by The Commodores(!). But we’re especially fond of this intimate-yet-adventurous ditty.

Grammy-nominee Shaboozey’s meteoric rise to fame came via his mega-hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Now he’s tapped singer Kevin Powers, the first signee to his own label American Dogwood, for this rousing country-anthem-in-the-making.  “Move On” is an infectious duet from this boss x protégé pair.

Badass bassist Thundercat just dropped two new tracks — “Children of the Baked Potato” with Remi Wolf and “I Wish I Didn’t Waste Your Time,” the latter of which  you can grab right now as a free download. Dig in for Thundercat’s singular falsetto and a relaxed, but still positively thumping bassline.

Fatal Optimist, the latest album from veteran songwriter Madi Diaz, packs a punch. After a gut-wrenching breakup with the person she thought she’d marry, Diaz turned away from everyone and everything she knew and put herself on an island where she could heal. The solitude allowed her to really focus on the process and you’ll hear the results all over “Ambivalence.” Don’t miss her set at Highland Park Ebell on Thursday, Nov. 20. 

(Anti-)

London-based, Nigerian singer-songwriter-producer Steven Bamidele just released his sophomore album, The CRASH!. It is a deeply personal and soulful meditation on the weight we place on relationships, the cost of growth, and our existential search for direction.“Take Cover” captures the thrill of breaking away from it all. 

(Tru Thoughts) 

Ready to strut? Let’s do it together and in time to Wanda Felicia’s latest ditty.  Her debut album, Now Is The Time… drops in a few short weeks and “Stuck On You” is a vibrant, runway-ready teaser that radiates celebratory energy. 

(Timmion Records)

English singer Merz has departed the bucolic Mojave Desert to return to his homeland. To mark the occasion, Merz wrote and recorded “Juniper.” The track pays homage to the British Isles-native plant, and its historical use in purification ceremonies and rituals. “I [believe] in the revitalizing, restorative power of nature,” Merz explains. “And the transformative agency and joy of collective action, and a loathing of apathy. That’s why I’m singing this song. That’s why I wrote Juniper.” 

Martha’s Vineyard-based songwriter Willy Mason is an introspective lyricist with a knack for soulful, indie/folk-rock-leaning melodies. “Sailing” chronicles his journey to find light in a dark world, incorporating all of his songwriting strengths into a tune that’s equal parts gentle and moving. P.S. If you’re headed to Wolf Alice at The Wiltern on Oct. 13, be sure to get there early for Willy’s opening set.

We love it when a plan comes together. Today’s Morning Becomes Eclectic guests Polo & Pan are also giving us Today’s Top Tune. As the Fall weather creeps ever so slightly into LA, P&P remind us that “Summer Is Almost Over.” Download it here.

Pssst, catch ‘em live TONIGHT at The Kia Forum!

(Hamburger Records / Ekler)