Kevin Bronson on November 13th, 2015

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Dear self-absorbed masses — especially you, adjusting the Fedora in your reflection in the storefront window — Tony Davia has a chorus for you: “Hey statue boy / forget the boys / and smell the roses.” It’s an impressive first volley from Nightair, the young Orange County quartet of singer-guitarist Davia, guitarist-keyboardist Brandon Miranda, bassist Lucas Connor and drummer Lauren Potts. “The Roses” is the lead track on the foursome’s debut EP, which they will release next week. The band — two of them 19, two 22 — teased with the song “Clouds (I’m Alright);” last month they posted the song to Bandcamp and donated the early proceeds to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. It’s a muscular affirmation about the travails of “teenagism,” as notable for its lyrical heft as it is its sturdy rhythms. Scratchy post-punker “The Roses” and its prickly guitar parts will appeal anybody who likes the Strokes or the indie bands of the Aughts; the EP, made with producer Jon O’Brien and which is being released via Secret Chief Culture, covers more sonic territory. It’s a worthy exploration.

||| Download: “The Roses”

||| Also: Watch the video for “Clouds”