Today's Top Tune

Longtime KCRW favorite Thao's new single is a song for NOW, a protest anthem written for - as she says - "political rallies, grass roots organizing events—anything that can help us emotionally prepare to activate and to stay politically engaged at all levels, but especially at the local level." The song is called "Sick of the Times' and features guest appearances by Tune-Yards and The Linda Lindas, and it's Today's Top Tune.

My Precious Bunny is the solo project of Lily Wolter of the brother sister indie rock duo Penelope Isles. Originally from The Isle of Man, an island situated midway between the Irish and English coasts, Wolter delivers a debut album that exhilarates - caught between joy and melancholy. Our favorite is "I Go Up, You Go Down" and it's Today's Top Tune.

Angela Autumn grew up in the Appalachian hills of Western Pennsylvania. Her distinctive half yodel, half hillbilly growl graces her latest single, a surefooted banjo stomp of goodness. The song heralds the coming of her sophomore release, Believer, due on 9/11. It's called Mountain Stream and it's Today's Top Tune.

Tomoyuki Katsurada is a founding member of the now defunct Japanese rock band Kikagaku Moyo His latest is a dreamy collaboration with Scottish guitarist Jonny Nash, founder of Melody as Truth, an Amsterdam based record label that specializes in ambient projects. Today's Top Tune is one from their stellar new album At the Emerald Pool, and it's Today's Top Tune.

KCRW favorite Uche Yara is Austrian born, and Berlin-based. Her electrifying new single explores the constant tension between control and surrender, between dominance and submissiveness. BODYSCANNER thrives on that duality and it's Today's Top Tune.

Born in North Carolina, and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Jordan Patterson conjures the emotional intensity and conversational tone of 90s Ani Difranco. Her voice commands an audience, and her song "Cinderella" is Today's Top Tune.

The Seattle based duo Chinese American Bear is Lingbo Ann Tong and Bryce Barsten. Lingbo is Chinese by birth, and Bryce grew up on a llama farm. Together, they build Mandarin and English lyrics into their kaleidoscopic brand of alt pop. We're loving this hypnotic piece from their latest album Dim Sum & Then Some. It's called Chant and it's Today's Top Tune.

Allie Teilz' origin story starts in Phoenix, Arizona, where she worked at a record store at 13, and booked local shows with her favorite artists by the age of 15. A celebrated career as a DJ followed, and now, with her own music, she continues to explore her fondness for disco and glam rock. Her whole history is evident on her new single "17" and it's Today's Top Tune. Teilz on KCRW.

Poolside is Jeffrey Paradise, who over the past 15 years - four albums and dozens of collaborations later - has defined a sound that has launched a genre: Daytime Disco. Poolside's latest is a big swing called "Bedroom Eyes," and it features the voice of UK singer-songwriter, and platinum-selling artist Stevie Appleton. This shimmering Summer single explores the depth of a single look that could be love at first sight, and it's Today's Top Tune.

KCRW has a long tradition of championing the best music from around the world, especially new hybrids, exhilarating blends of old + new, genre-hopping, culture bending experiments that reveal musical epiphanies. Today's Top Tune is a stellar example. South African singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla joins Cameroonian artist Blick Bassy on the song Ndinje, a song that states proudly, "This is Who I Am".