News & Politics

4 Recent DC Albums We Can’t Stop Listening To

Broke Royals, KP Skywalka, and more.

Photo-illustration by Jennifer Albarracin Moya.

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Broke Royals

The latest from this dreamy DC band hits that sweet spot of polished but not slick. Their sophisticated songs have enough layers to keep you listening.

 

I Tried to Tell You

KP Skywalka

Pitchfork recently named it the best rap album of 2025, bringing new attention to the DC artist.

 

Gustav Mahler Symphony No. 7

National Symphony Orchestra

This captures the power and emotion of Gianandrea Noseda’s NSO. The enveloping sound of the recording is as engrossing as the performance.

 

Up and Down

Brad Linde

The local saxophonist recorded this thoughtful album with a trio of Chicagoans, focusing on compositions by the jazz greats Eric Dolphy and Lee Konitz.



This article appears in the February 2026 issue of Washingtonian.

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Politics and Culture Editor

Rob Brunner grew up in DC and moved back in 2017 to join Washingtonian. Previously, he was an editor and writer at Fast Company and other publications. He lives with his family in Chevy Chase DC.