Let’s check out the jazz-leaning, organic sound structures and beautiful arrangements of Apifera.. The quartet’s new work, “Theodor Marmalade,” takes a new approach to delve into and meld psychedelic rock with alternative jazz, and is their first attempt at incorporating lyrics into their sound. 

The Past Is Still Alive, is the next phase in Hurray for the Riff Raff’s progression as a raconteur. 

Born in the Bronx and of Puerto Rican descent, Alynda Segarra molds their lyrics into snapshots that hold memories, process their trauma, and makes sense of loss.  The country-tinged “Alibi” comes in the form of a plea, one last effort to get through to someone you know you’re going to lose.

Always centered at night is the next pillar anchoring Moby’s extensive body of work. A constant collaborator, Moby’s next page includes some of his favorite vocalists, including the late Benjamin Zephaniah, serpentwithfeet, Gaidaa, and on “dark days,” the soul-infused, jazz-inflected vocals of Lady Blackbird. 

Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist Conor J O’Brien, best known for heading up Villagers, recently announced their sixth studio album, That Golden Time, dropping May 10. It’s an apt title for a warm and romantic recording that extends to his work style. After sketching out and composing the work, Conor invites his band of hand-picked musicians to sprinkle their magic dust. “You Lucky One” delves into the masks we wear. 

Today we celebrate the release of LA-based R&B singer (and KCRW’s Breakthrough Artist of 2023) Baby Rose’s new project Slow Burn, produced by the stellar outfit BADBADNOTGOOD. With a wide sonic realm rooted in psych-rock and alternative styles, we turn to a stand-out, “One Last Dance,” a vulnerable country ballad harkening back to the ‘70s.  

With her first album in ten years, Vida, Chilean rapper and singer Ana Tijoux unleashes her indestructible spirit and social conviction on the project. A wise friend once told her something that has resonated — that the best revenge against death is life itself. 

“Vida is also a call to every single creator out there,” Tijoux says. “Singers, writers, sculptors, and performers, dancers, and painters – all of us. Our strength lies in sticking together. The only way to continue marching forward, preserve our sensitivity, and look fear in the eye is to rely on our collective identity.” 

A collection of 15 tracks, Vida is bejeweled by guest contributions from artists ile, Talib Kweli, and De La Soul’s Plug 1. We gravitate towards the wry distortion of “Niñx.”

Whether they’re your nemesis or closest ally, today is National Sibling Day. In honor of that, we’re getting down with Infinity Song, a band of four brothers and sisters based in NYC. Homeschooled musically and academically by their parents alongside their five other siblings, the band’s folks extended their love to found the Boys & Girls Choirs of Detroit. 

Jay-Z signed Infinity Song to his Roc Nation label in 2016, and wisely advised them not to conform to the label’s artistic culture and instead have the label catch up to them, which led to their 2020 album debut. Metamorphosis, their new EP, contains the tongue-in-cheek track “Hater’s Anthem.” 

The Marías are busy putting the finishing touches on their eagerly-awaited sophomore album Submarine, out at the end of May, exploring solitude and the complexities of our emotions. While we wait, let’s enjoy the amuse bouche that is “Run Your Mouth.” 

On the release of “Run Your Mouth,” María shares, “This was one of the first songs Josh and I wrote on Submarine. I was conflict avoidant at the time, and whenever someone wanted to talk about something serious, I’d run and hide. I learned that was a protective mechanism and I didn’t have the capacity to open up. There’s no other song on the album like it, hope you dance to this one.”

“Bean Fields,” the latest track from Shannon & The Clams’ forthcoming album The Moon Is In The Wrong Place (out in May), is a celebration of life honoring Shannon Shaw’s fiancé, Joe Haener, who lost his life in a car accident at his family’s farm in Oregon. Their buoyant retro sound reminds us to live every moment to its fullest and cherish those we hold close to our hearts. 

Four-time Grammy Award-winning six-string wiz Gary Clark Jr. continues to expand his inventive palette on his first new album in five years, JPEG RAW. An eclectic mix, “Maktub” is rich with flourishes of African highlife and Sahara blues.