Kevin Bronson on October 18th, 2024

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Press play to hear Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 312), featuring songs from Father John Misty, Cold Cave, Deb Never, Jazzie Young, Jordana, Magic Wands, Darker Lighter, SPELLES, Foreign Air, Isabel Dumaa, Model Child, Katrina Weissman, Joh Chase, Holden Miller and more.

Go here to catch up on Buzz Bands LA’s recent playlists.

Note: Anita Wills contributed to today’s roundup.

■ Darker Lighter, “Hanging On” — Darker Lighter is the new solo venture of songwriter Salar Rajabnik, who will release the project’s debut album, “Darker Lighter,” on March 28. The first single “Hanging On” (the video by Joey Martinez captures Rajabnik playing all the instruments on the song) feels comfortably jangling and spacious; Rajabnik (who released a solo album in 2017 under his own name) made the album with Grammy-nominated producer/engineer/mixer Robert Adam Stevenson (Paul McCartney, Queens Of The Stone Age, The Kills, Jeff Beck). Another single is on the way soon.

■ Magic Wands, “Armour” — Just past the 15th anniversary of their breakout song “Black Magic” and a year after the release of their fifth full-length, “Switch,” the duo of Chris and Dexy Valentine are back with a new Magic Wands single. “Armour” is a variation on the duo’s entrancing dark dream-pop. Dexy explains: “Last year, we released a new album called ‘Switch,’ which was a departure from our previous sound and style. It was less pop, more experimental and introspective. The new music we’re writing is in the same direction, but a bit more minimal and uptempo.”

■ Cold Cave, “Everlasting” — Friendly reminder that Cold Cave’s new album, “Passion Depression,” is out now. Live Nov. 2 at the Belasco.

■ SPELLES, “Devil in This House” — The first release from SPELLES (Kathryn Baar and Luc Laurent) since their 2023 debut album “Diving Into the Arms of the Divine,” “Devil in This House” serves up some seasonally appropriate haunted doo-wop.

■ Ed Vallance, “King of Salts” — The follow-up to “Seventeen,” “King of Salt” is the latest taste of Ed Vallance’s new album “Swim,” out Nov. 14.

■ Katrina Weissman, “Phantom Thumb” — Katrina Weissman’s new single “Phantom Thumb” is an unhurried indie-rock song with a twangy guitar riff that carries Weissman’s soothing vocals. Her new EP, “AFter Everything (2023),” will be out in January.

■ Deb Never, “Not in Love” — Deb Never has been a “Momentary Sweetheart” ever since rising to prominence as a Brockhampton collaborator and releasing the EPs “Where Have All The Flowers Gone?” (2021) and “Thank You For Attending” (2023). Recently signed to Giant Music and with an album coming next year, she this week unveiled a new single, “Not in Love,” co-written and co-produced with Jennifer Decilveo (Miley Cyrus, Bat For Lashes, Angelique Kidjo).

■ Tilli, “Dreamy” — Fresh off re-imagining the Troggs’ “Wild Thing,” Tilli is back with an original, “Dreamy.” The song was produced by Alain Johannes (Queens Of The Stone Age, PJ Harvey, Them Crooked Vultures, et al).

■ Father John Misty, “She Cleans Up” — “She Cleans Up” is the latest single from “Mahashmashana” (out Nov. 22), Josh Tillman’s sixth full-length as Father John Misty.

■ Jordana, “Ravergirl” — The force of the 1980s is strong with “Ravergirl,” the latest single from Jordana’s new album, “Lively Premonition” (out today). See also: “Anything for You” and “Like a Dog.”

■ Foreign Air, “Save Us” — The follow-up to last month’s “Awkward Bones,” “Save Us” is the latest from the duo of Jesse Clasen and Jacob Michael, who released their debut Foreign Air album in 2022. “The track speaks to the overwhelming feelings of disconnection, loss, and the quiet implosion of modern life, with haunting lyrics that reflect on a universal search for meaning in uncertain times,” they say of the new single. “From the desperation of asking, ‘Who will save us?’ to the stark imagery of a fractured world—where the atom is split, money is gone, and silence replaces connection. It is an anthem for those grappling with the chaos of today’s world.”

■ Jazzie Young, “Lux” — Co-written and produced with John Velasquez, “Lux” is the latest luxuriously dreamy single from Jazzie Young.

■ Roger Weeks, “Caught In The Chaos” — New Hampshire native Roger Weeks’ new single “Caught In The Chaos” is a sentimental track with a simple message: “The world might be ending and I wanna be there for you.” You can watch the new music video here and catch Roger Weeks set Oct. 22 at Hotel Cafe and Oct. 30 at The Troubadour.

■ Frances Whitney, “You Left Me for Jesus” — “You Left me for Jesus” is a deeply personal guitar ballad by former professional volleyball player turned singer-songwriter Frances Whitney. Her debut EP “Old Hobbies” will be available Nov. 15 via 604 Records. Live Jan. 16 at the Moroccan Lounge.

■ Sam Blasucci, “No Magic” — Sam Blasucci (who’s one-half of the duo Mapache) will release his sophomore full-length, “Real Life Thing,” on Nov. 1. As with previous singles “Flower” and “Witching Hour,” there’s some sparkle in “No Magic.”

■ Joh Chase, Valley Queen & Brittany Ann Tranbaugh, “Gossamer Thread” — Talent triangulates on the folk-rock gem “Gossamer Thread,” which finds Joh Chase (see the album “Solo,” released this spring), Natalie Carol of Valley Queen and Philadelphia’s Brittany Ann Tranbaugh teaming up to evoke a little Jenny Lewis. Joh Chase opens for Kate Nash and Skating Polly on Nov. 2 at the Teragram Ballroom.

■ Holden Miller, “Eaten By Flowers” — The follow-up to “Eggshell,” “Eaten by Flowers” is a quirky pop song with a floral metaphor. It will appear on Miller’s new EP, “Holden Miller v. The State Of California” out Nov. 15.

■ Sherayah, “Pseudo Propheta” — Just the third single from Sheraya, “Pseudo Propheta” is a captivating folk-rocker “the dark side of ambition — where a wounded soul transforms into a monster in the dark.”

■ King Pari, “Eggface (I’m Not Screamin’ For Nothin’)” — Friendly reminder King Pari’s debut album “There It Goes” drops today. The last lead-up single, “Eggface (I’m Not Screamin’ For Nothin’),” is a smooth mix of funky instrumentals and soothing R&B vocals.

■ MIEU, “Get Closer” — MIEU, the solo project of S. Moon (Shelley Zhao) and producer Chris Western (Christopher James), check in with a silky-smooth pop number, “Get Closer.”

■ Walter The Producer, “Little Lies” — Produced by Grant Boutin, “Little Lies” is a danceable single with an undertone of gloominess from solo artist Walter the Producer. Watch the video here.

■ MOONtransmissions, “Chemical Smiles” — Desert rockers MOONtransmissions — the duo of songwriter-drummer Chelsea Dawn and producer Dan Silver — return with their first release in three years, “Chemical Smiles.”

■ Isabel Dumaa, “Quarter Life Crisis” — “Quarter Life Crisis” is the brightest of the bright folk-pop on Isabel Dumaa’s debut EP, “Just My Nature,” out today. Live Oct. 26 at the Echo.

■ Model Child, Cherish You” — Danny Parker made us a “Sports” fan earlier this year with the release of the sophomore Model Child album, “Get There!” The singer-songwriter is staying busy; “Cherish You” is from “Tilt,” coming Nov. 22.

■ Bondo, “Paul Gross” — Friendly reminder that Bondo’s new album, “Harmonica,” is out today, perfect for those who matriculate toward slowcare, post-rock and spaced-out emo. Live tonight at Zebulon.

■ Widows Gold, “Another You” — With a haunting guitar riff and bittersweet lyrics, “Another You” is a song about processing grief and finally finding joy amidst the pain. It’s a deeply personal turn from Madeline Star and Ben Sauer of Widows Gold: “And I’m so sorry / For living in another dream / There could never be another you.”

■ Chelsea Wolfe, “Place In The Sun (Unbound)” — Out Nov. 15, “Unbound” is an EP of acoustic version of songs from Wolfe’s latest album, “She Reaches Out To She Reaches Out To She.” Watch the video for “Place In the Sun (Unbound)” here.

■ Sarah Hollins, “Libra” — Here’s one for the October babies; “Libra,” co-written and produced by Erik Kertes, is the latest single from singer-songwriter Sarah Hollins.

■ Powder Pink & Sweet, “Apocalypse” — L.A. dream-poppers Powder Pink & Sweet check in with an astral cover of Cigarettes After Sex’s “Apocalypse.” It’s a fitting finale to this week’s mix.