Today's Top Tune

A pioneer in New Classical music, Hauschka , whose score won him an Oscar for All Quiet On The Western Front this year, doesn’t restrict his solo experimental work to the confines of piano keys, but rather plays within its frame and strings. You can hear how playful yet heady his sound is on “Invention” from his recently-released album Philanthropy.

You may be familiar with Marketa Irglova from her work with Glen Hansard in the film Once, or from their collaboration as the Academy Award-winning duo The Swell Season. Over a decade ago, Marketa relocated to Iceland and now calls it home.

A young and talented singer/songwriter, KÁRI, began studying classical piano at the age of seven and branched out to jazz and improvisation by the time he turned 10. After graduating from Reykjavik College of Music and attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Kari became an award-winning artist with an uncanny sense of melody and style, incorporating pop elements and arranging every instrument on his tracks. “Something Better” brings the heat on a cold day.

Shaina Hayes grew up in the Gaspé region of Quebec, where her parents encouraged her to take on a music career — so for her, rebellion came in the form of a degree in agricultural science. But she also took part in the music scene of Montreal while attending school there, singing in country and blues cover bands and studying jazz.

With their big guitar sound, Britain’s Bombay Bicycle Club are on tour spreading joy by playing songs from their new album, My Big Day, throughout Europe as they prepare to return stateside.

Buzzy band Brigitte Calls Me Baby ’s frontman grew up in Southeast Texas listening to Roy Orbison records at his grandparents’ place next door, only to return home to hear the New Wave bands his parents liked listening to. When you catch “Impressively Average,” you can hear how it all resonated in the band’s newfound sound.

Derwin Dicker, the human behind Gold Panda , released his fourth full-length album late last year, titled The Work. Not only does the title reflect his heady mix, but it captures the six years it took to make the recording and the work it took to get him there — the vital inner work he’s done on himself to make life better. Featured on the album, “Swimmer” is a whimsical track that's been freshly remixed by Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith.

Hailing from Auckland, the soul-tronic collective Leisure usher in a new season with their album Leisurevision, planted around the calming and harmonious color green, synonymous with growth, renewal, and rebirth. “Back In Love” is for all the new parents out there, who are exploring/experiencing the ups and downs of modern parenthood with their partner.

A founding member of The B-52’s, Cindy Wilson is synonymous with the New Wave movement that redefined the sound of the ‘70s and ‘80s. This time around, Wilson brings her distinctive voice and emotive power to her new solo album Realms. “Midnight” has its finger on the pulse of dance music.

Adam Dorn, better known as Mocean Worker , lays down a thick bass line on his tenth LP, BOOMBOX, which he calls “a love letter to the bass.” Though his career began with the instrument, Dorn shied away from showcasing his virtuosic bass chops on his first eight albums, instead focusing on hyper-detailed mini-sampling, digital production, and synthesizers. That’s no longer the case on BOOMBOX, where Mocean Worker balls out on “Shammy Davis Jr’s.”