Syd’s Beard Is a Soulful Reminder That Authenticity Never Goes Out of Style
LOS ANGELES, CA- There are artists you discover because they’re everywhere, and then there are artists you discover at exactly the right moment. For me, Syd has always been the latter. The first time I saw her perform was with The Internet at UCLA’s…
Nia Archives’ Emotional Junglist Is a Pulse-Raising Ride Through Modern Jungle
LOS ANGELES, CA- Nia Archives first landed on my radar through her collaboration with Jorja Smith, a pairing that immediately showcased how effortlessly she can balance emotionally vulnerable songwriting with propulsive jungle rhythms. So when Emotional Junglist arrived, led by the infectious “There Goes…
Pond’s “Skyworks” Soars With ’80s-Inspired Energy Ahead of Terrestrials
LOS ANGELES, CA- The Australian psych-rock veterans of Pond returned last week with a propulsive, ’80s-inspired studio album, Terrestrials. Its fourth single, “Skyworks,” heralded the album’s release the day before it dropped, offering a big, bright sound that begs to be heard with your…
Better Late Than Never: Zac Farro’s Operator Finally Found Me
LOS ANGELES, CA- One of my favorite things about music is that it doesn’t expire. Sure, albums have release dates, but they don’t have expiration dates. In fact, some of my favorite discoveries have come months…. or even years… after a record first hit…
Ella Clayton’s “Could It Be You?” Blends Folk, Soul, and Rock Into a Stirring Modern Folk Statement
LOS ANGELES, CA- Ella Clayton’s Could It Be You? is her second studio album. She moves comfortably between folk, soul, and rock, never forcing the genre shifts across the tracklist. Her voice is the anchor, warm and assured, capable of handling intimacy and grit…
Pastel Blank’s “Radiator” Turns Anxiety Into Art-Rock Gold on Unmade in Minutes
LOS ANGELES, CA- Montreal’s indie scene has never lacked for bands willing to get weird, but Pastel Blank seem especially comfortable living in that strange little space where anxiety, humor, and danceable art-rock all collide. Led by songwriter and vocalist Angus Watt, the project…
VIAL’s “Infected” Channels Punk Fury and Social Frustration on the New Album HELLHOUND
LOS ANGELES, CA- Sometimes you just need music that lets you be angry for a few minutes. That was my immediate reaction after hearing Minneapolis punk trio VIAL’s track “Infected,” a bruising cut from their album HELLHOUND. Some bands write songs you analyze. Others…
GENA Debut The Pleasure Is Yours Review: Liv.e and Karriem Riggins Craft a Neo-Soul Masterclass
LOS ANGELES, CA- GENA (the newly formed duo of Liv.e and Karriem Riggins) have officially arrived with their debut album The Pleasure Is Yours, out now via Lex Records. And for those of us who’ve been following Riggins’ work for years, this collaboration feels less…
Inside The Swamp: Inner Wave, Sobriety, and the Long Road Home
LOS ANGELES, CA- On a weekday evening, I found myself driving through a quiet residential pocket of Inglewood. Wide streets. Parked cars. The calm familiarity of a neighborhood settling in for the night. The address I had been given didn’t lead to a commercial…
Leigh-Anne Finds Her Voice on “Goodbye Goodmorning” and Debut Album My Ego Told Me To
LOS ANGELES, CA- When the press release for “Goodbye Goodmorning” landed in my inbox and I hit play, I was not expecting to be pulled in that quickly. But from the opening bars, Leigh-Anne had me. There is something immediately arresting about the sonics….
