Today's Top Tune

It’s Valentine’s Day and we are celebrating all kinds of love with a song to swoon to from the aptly-titled four-piece Porij, who, like their namesake, share the comfort and warmth that “My Only Love” can provide. And we can’t wait to get our hands on their debut album Teething, out late April.

It’s New Music Tuesday for Karate Boogaloo , who drop their track “The Early Bird Catches” today! The Melbourne-based quartet put together pictorial instrumentals leaning toward a rainbow of moods and head-nodding grooves. The guys started out as playground buddies inspired by the sound of Booker T & The MG’s and The Meters and eventually locked in their band, leading up to their forthcoming studio album Hold Your Horses out in May.

Bryce Connolly, the artist known as Mindchatter, established himself with a genre-defying sound that melds his gripping lyrics to beats. An example of that is “Brain Pills,” which Connolly points to as being“about my experience being prescribed ADHD meds from a psychiatrist over an app. The whole process is extremely goofy. I was diagnosed by a woman wearing a hoodie… I’m pretty sure I was older than her, too. Anyways, it seems like this has become the new normal because a lot of people are relating to the song.”

The Siberian Indigenous group Otyken — a word for sacred land that is used by warriors to lay down their arms and talk it out — use traditional instruments to create modern musical arrangements. The band was formed by producer, songwriter, and manager Andrey Medonos as a way to preserve their folklore and traditions before they become extinct. We came across “Belief” recently and are excited to share this unusual seductive sound with you.

One of our favorite bands based in Melbourne, Hiatus Kaiyote returns with their first new music in two years. They recently treated fans to a livestream of their first live show of the year from The Evelyn , one of the first venues in their hometown that took a chance on a nascent group. “Everything’s Beautiful” leans into life’s possibilities through luscious guitar licks, heart-pounding bass lines, and of course, the dynamic vocals only Nai Palm can lay down.

Co-founder of the influential, genre-defying duo Thievery Corporation, Eric Hilton has spent decades piecing together divergent styles into a singular or cohesive sound both with his band and on his own. On February 23, Hilton’s new solo album Sound Vagabond will transport us like an audio postcard to places real or imagined. “This record started modestly, with some basic ideas, but after writing the first eight tracks, I knew I had a travelog” says Hilton. While not intended as GPS, you’ll be able to float to distant lands when you hear “Closer.”

Coming from lovely Hawthorne, Cali, Thee Heart Tones are made up of rising teenage stars just out of high school who bring their innocence and open hearts to their blend of Chicano Soul. An instant classic professing eternal love, “Forever & Ever” is fresh game if you’re thinking about a special dedication on Valentine’s Day.

Tonight, we are proud to feature singer Brittany Davis , who will make their debut at KCRW Presents: School Night in Hollywood. This artist pulls you in to see their world through sound. Their full-length debut, aptly titled Image Issues, is an album that blurs the boundaries between genre and job, playing every instrument and every vocal part on the album, set to drop on March 1.

Known as the jazz singer for the hip-hop generation, José James kicked off 2024 with an MBE premiere of “Saturday Night (Need You Now).” Now up for grabs as Today’s Top Tune, dig in for this smooth jam written in tribute to some of James’ musical heroes, including Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, and Michael Jackson. Mark your calendar, the full length 1978 drops on April 5.

German octet Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band power their new track “Grilled” with some serious muscle provided by two(!) drummers. Whether it’s funk from Africa or America, their approach to steel pan pleasure is intoxicating. We’re excited by the premise of their self-titled LP BRSB, set for release on March 8, as the band will unveil a slew of hip hop covers alongside alluring originals.