KCRW's 5 Songs To Hear This Week

NEIL FRANCES

NEIL FRANCES (the duo, not to be confused with Neal Francis the man) makes alt-psych-pop-rock music that could be missing from your playlist rotation… and it’s time to fix that. Not out of place among Tame Impala, Nick Hakim, and Yellow Days; NEIL FRANCES tracks are as chill as they are trippy, a smooth ride driven by relaxed falsetto and layers of electro-riffs that reverb into a fluid oblivion. This latest track features their frequent collaborator PawPaw Rod, who’s garnering attention in his own right for deeply excellent kickback beats. If this high note strikes your fancy, check out NEIL FRANCES: KCRW Live From Apogee Studio.

High Notes (Feat. PawPaw Rod)

Nao Yoshioka

Punchy and bright, this brass-laden single from Japanese singer-songwriter Nao Yoshioka is practically a pep talk: “Hold up, don’t worry about it / Don’t try to impress everybody / Show up, don’t worry about it / be the best you can, yes you can!” The message in this track is pure and good like fresh-cut grass. The jazzy arrangements are just as refreshing. Having honed her skills for soul music in NYC, Nao Yoshioka is already four albums deep. We have a feeling this unapologetic track will break through onto your punch-up playlist for the summer ahead.

Unapologetically Me (Feat. Takuya Kuroda)

Youniss

Introducing Youniss, a true artist in the confrontational post-punk space. Meaning, he’s here to get your attention. Featuring a not-so-subtle combination of psych-noise sounds, speaker-busting vocals, and too-real poetic lyricism — Youniss processes the reality of living Black life in his native Belgium on his debut EP, Do We Try Beyond The Edge?. This track and its surreal video put it all on raw display, with metaphorical imagery set to drums and synthesizers building up a sense of sonic doom. Escape into this one and feel it all.

Escaper

Arooj Aftab

From raw pain to raw beauty, this track from celebrated vocalist Arooj Aftab is a sonic balm for your soul. Sensual instrumentation and a metronomic song structure support Aftab’s stunning vocals. Singing in Urdu, her voice is arranged equally with notes from a harp, a coupling that makes sense both musically and spiritually. A native Pakistani who developed her talents in the US, Aftab composes for film, but it’s her otherworldly singing that’s making her a star in jazz-fusion and beyond. In 2022, she became the first Pakistani artist to win a Grammy award and the very next year she became the first to perform at the ceremony.

Raat Ki Rani

Dhani Harrison, Carmen Rizzo, and Huun-Huur-Tu

Speaking of film scores, we love a lengthy piece that can serve as the score for your main-character self-reflection journey. By which we mean, put this track on in headphones, go for a nature walk, and see what’s revealed. Featuring slow-burn piano, longing strings, and third-eye-opening throat singing, this six-minute single and its gorgeous eternal landscape video are worthy of infinite repeats. A collaboration between several accomplished artists — including the son of Beatle George Harrison and a producer for Seal and Coldplay — this track’s your mediation goal managed. Want more? The super group’s EP Dreamers in the Field is out now.

Boidus