The DJs at public radio stations listen to a lot of songs every day. Download five of their recent favorites, including songs from The Milk Carton Kids, Cayucas, Chance the Rapper, Miranda Dodson and Katie Mullins.

The Milk Carton Kids.

Courtesy of the artist

Cayucas' Zach Yudin.

Ericka Clevenger / Secretly Canadian

Chance the Rapper.

Courtesy of the artist

Miranda Dodson.

Courtesy of the artist

The Milk Carton Kids.

Courtesy of the artist

Cayucas' Zach Yudin.

Ericka Clevenger / Secretly Canadian

Chance the Rapper.

Courtesy of the artist

Miranda Dodson.

Courtesy of the artist

Katie Mullins.

Courtesy of the artist

Brooklyn songwriter Katie Mullins has a fan in WNYC's John Schaefer.

Courtesy of the artist

Miranda Dodson's moving song "Try Again" was inspired by her multiple miscarriages.

Courtesy of the artist

Every so often, we ask a panel of public radio's music experts to share their favorite new songs. This week, we feature picks from KCRW's Anne Litt, WNYC's Soundcheck host John Schaefer, FolkAlley.com's Kim Ruehl, KUTX's David Brown and our own Frannie Kelley, one of the hosts of NPR Music Radio's Microphone Check.

The music ranges from a wrenching confessional to unapologetic braggadocio, with a little mbira thrown in. If you like what you hear, go ahead and download them. They're yours to keep.

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Filed in:

• NPR Music Essentials
• Music
• Home Page Top Stories