Kevin Bronson on May 15th, 2026

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Author’s note: Like our previous playlist, this mix (principally for releases during the week ending May 15) is arriving late. I’m still playing catch-up, more on the way.

We have no idea whether size matters, but Greatest Hits … This Week (Vol. 387) is definitely XXL. Press play to hear new tracks from Lola Blue, Towa Bird, Thee Sinseers, Queen Anne, Maya J’an, After Louise, The Garden, Vinyl Williams, Soft Palms, Lindsey Troy, Sister Gemini, Night Talks, Memory Spells & Jordan Whitlock, Primitive Ring, NORMANS and whole lot more.

Previous Buzz Bands LA playlists, with liner notes, here.

Anita Mills contributed to this roundup.

■ Sister Gemini, “Madeline” — The latest L.A. band to excavate the sounds of ’90s and find some precious metal, Sister Gemini will release their debut album “Screaming, Crying, Laughing, Sighing” on June 12. Songwriter Remy Jean Gassmann waxes bittersweet on “Madeline” (watch the video), a song about a love triangle. It follows the singles “Frankshow” and “One Room Apartment” cuts released from the LP.

■ Towa Bird, “All Gone” (feat. Kathleen Hanna) — Friendly reminder that Towa Bird’s sophomore album, “Gentleman,” arrived today, full of sharp guitar work and the swagger that comes along with it. Home to singles such as “Gentleman,” “Dirty Habit” and “Your Girl,” the LP also boasts “All Gone,” a feature with riot grrrl pioneer Kathleen Hanna (Bikini Kill/Le Tigre) that is decidedly more than just a cameo.

■ Queen Anne, “Baby Girl (likes to lie)” — Singer-songwriter Katie Silverman and writer/producer Sandy Chila team up to create the indie-pop duo Queen Anne. Silverman says about their new stand-alone single “Baby Girl (likes to lie)”: “The most important thing to know about “Baby Girl” is that the lyrics aren’t literally true. I actually hate lying, and my mother knows everything about me.”

■ Thee Sinseers, “Did Ya Know?” — If you’re feeling a little love-starved, or just need a mood elevator, watch the video for Thee Sinseers new single, “Did Ya Know?” The song introduces the East L.A. band’s new album, “Love Stories,” out Sept. 18. Live Oct. 17 at the Wiltern.

■ Dua Saleh, “Firestorm” — Friendly reminder that Dua Saleh’s new album “Of Earth and Wires” is now available. “Firestorm” is a neo-soul track featuring the Trans Chorus of Los Angeles. Saleh says of the track produced by Justin Vernon, following “Cállate”: “I wrote ‘Firestorm’ while in bed, reflecting on the massive fires that took place in LA in Jan of 2025. It mirrors the juxtaposition between L.A. residents living in a city infatuated with glitz and glam, but later watching communities lament as the city burned down in swarms/heaps.” Watch the music video here. Live Oct. 10 at The Lodge Room.

■ Maya J’an, “Depends” — Featuring an ode to her hometown of Pasadena (“Cul-de-sac”) and five more billowing-voiced confessionals, Maya J’an’s new EP “Blindfaith County” arrived today. It’s her first major release under her new artist name; born Maya Brown, she previously released music as Maya B. Whatever the name, it’s a dose of ethereal pop.

■ Soft Palms, “Radio” — June 12 will bring the release of “In Echo,” the new album from Long Beach duo Soft Palms (Julia Kugel and Scott Montoya). The early singles, including “Nervous As Hell,” certainly live up to the album’s title, in a bewitching way. Live May 28 at the Woodbridge.

■ Starflyer 59, “I’m Disappointed” — Starflyer’s heavy music, oft characterized as shoegaze, has rarely ventured into punk territory. But 18 albums in (and the last one being lullaby versions of past tracks), Jason Martin can where he wants as far we’re concerned. So here’s a ripper: “I’m Disappointed,” the first taste of the EP “Disappointed,” out in July.

■ Night Talks, “People Pleaser” — Night Talks (Soraya Sebghati, Jacob Butler and Joshua Arteaga) get a little funky on their first single of 2026, “People Pleaser” (video). Written with producer Eric Palmquist, it’s a song, Sebghati says, “about overcoming your tendencies to put everyone else first, and not wasting time with a person who makes you bend for them constantly.”

■ Paycheque, “Temporary Love” — Paycheque’s newest single “Temporary Love” is an homage to Japanese city-pop. The band says of the track that follows “Generic Actress”: “Jane Penny from TOPS came over to our house and graciously contributed some flute and background vocals to this song, and that really helped tie it together. This song is about embracing impermanence.” Their self-titled full-length debut drops June 12 via Mansions and Millions. Watch the very 80s music video here. Live August 21 at El Cid.

■ Common People, “Blue Eyes” — L.A. rockers Common People released their latest EP, “Games,” in April, but ahead of some summertime festival appearances they are already back with a fuzzy, propulsive new single. Like the EP, “Blue Eyes” was produced by Brad Shultz of Cage the Elephant.

■ After Louise, “Angels” — Synths, beats and vocals bouncing every which way, and in the best way, “Angel” is the third single from Sofia Carrillo’s new solo project After Louise. The Instagram video snippets of her looping are gold, by the way. After Louise will release an EP on June 12.

■ Lola Blue, “Seventeen” — Today brought the release of fuzzy/airy/pretty “Pinky Promise,” the new EP from songwriter Lola Koepke’s solo project Lola Blue. Featuring singles such as “Heartbeat” and “I Don’t Know How to Leave,” the six-song released was made in collaboration with Day Wave’s Jackson Phillips.

■ Luke Armstrong, “Heavenbound” — Beirut-reared Luke Armstrong follows his debut single “2000” with “Heavenbound,” produced by Daniel James via Paid Vacation Records. Armstrong says about the bass heavy, easy going track with r&b vocals: “I’m processing how my efforts to change my life and the lives around me repeatedly seem ineffective while watching the world burn and not feeling like I can do enough about it.” Watch the music video here, directed by Armstrong.

■ Harmony Tividad, “Mulholland Drive” — Harmony Tividad’s “Mulholland Drive” is a flowing atmospheric alt-pop track with intimate vocal, following “I’m Still Learning How To Leave You.” Her new album “Lifetime” drops June 26th via KRO Records. Watch the music video here, starring Robert Nixon as Elvis.

■ Nymphlord, “Deep Cut” — Today brought the release of “Shedding Velvet,” the debut album from Nymphlord (Tia Rabinovitz). Out via Lauren Records, the LP sparkles with skittish charms and sharp wit. “You tell me that I’m not like the other girls / And that might be meaningful if I weren’t this vain already,” Nymphlord quips on “Deep Cut,” one of the LP’s highlights along with “Paper or Plastic?” and “Emptiness.” Live May 27 at Zebulon.

■ Allah-Las, “Ultramarine” — Ahead of a big spring/summer tour, Allah-Las have returned with a new single, “Ultramarine,” which nails it as a synesthetic exercise. Like the quartet’s two singles released last year, it’s an instrumental; find an appropriate vista swathed in blue, or just imagine one. Live June 4 at the Observatory, June 5 at Pappy & Harriet’s and Dec. 12 and Dec. 13 at the Lodge Room.

■ Holy Sun Opera House, “The Attic” — So we’ve reached the approximate “halftime” of this week’s playlist, so it’s a good time to remind you that the immersive debut album from Holy Sun Opera House, “The Holy Sun Opera House,” is out today. In case you missed “Voice of Gob”: The project is headed by drummer/soprano Krissy Barker and composer dl Salo, backed by a choir, and the music draws from darkwave/synthpop and modern classical … maybe it’s “new (dark) age,” perhaps? “The Attic” goes long and deep. Get mystic with it. Live May 29 at El Cid.

■ Vinyl Williams, “Crystal Helix” — Only a year ago, Vinyl Williams released a double-LP that was the next best thing to a free ride on a billionaire’s spaceship. Already, L.A.’s prince of psychedelia is back with another full-length, “Star Harmony” (out today). Loose your inner lavalamp. Live June 19 at Farm House Collective in Riverside, supported by HOTT MT.

■ LANDROID, “Stay” — After a seven-year hiatus, duo Landroid gears up to release their sophomore album “Constellation” on June 12. “Stay” is an epic and emotive soundscape featuring dual vocals, following “Autonomous.”

■ Memory Spells & Jordan Whitlock, “Take My Hand” — Late to the party on this but happy we found it: “This Is What It Feels Like” (released in April) is a collaborative album by Memory Spells (Matt Bauer) and Jordan Whitlock, written remotely by sending files between L.A. and San Diego, with the parties only meeting face-to-face when they were halfway done. It’s at turns breathtaking and haunting, mixing electronics with strings and woodwinds. A true long-player, “Take My Hand” is mere taste.

■ The Garden, “5 Mile Ponytail” — Brothers Wyatt and Fletcher Shears, raising hell and pushing boundaries for 15 years now, have announced the July 10 arrival of their eighth full-length, “Bootleg.” Watch the video for the new single “5 Mile Ponytail.”

■ NORMANS, “Mexico Unlimited” — NORMANS introduced the title track to their sophomore album “Faust Demonica” in April. This week, the post-punk outfit is back with the opening track, “Mexico Unlimited,” a dark rocker narrated by the booming baritone of Matthew Reid. Live June 4 at the Echoplex.

■ Primitive Ring, “Callous Man” — Here’s a riffy reminder that L.A. psych-rock trio Primitive Ring (Bert Hoover, Charles Moothart and Jon Madoff) today released their debut album. “Primitive Ring” is a delirious thrashy fuzz-fest, so strap in for their residency on June 9, June 16, June 23 and June 30 at Zebulon.

■ Lindsey Troy, “See You on the Other Side” — “See You on the Other Side” is the fourth solo single from Lindsey Troy (ex-Deap Vally), who shared a lot of background in a recent interview with SPIN. Live May 24 at the Arroyo Secodelic festival.

■ Reflective Detectives, “Understand It” — The follow-up to “Sugar,” the simmering rocker “Understand It” is the latest from Reflective Detectives, the solo project of Ryan Gabrinetti.

■ Gal Musette, “As Sammy” — Grace Freeman’s tender new single as Gal Musette is titled “As Sammy” and draws, she says, from “a collection of stories my grandpa Sam shared with me from his life, ranging from his early childhood to his final years. He was an incredible man and this song doesn’t touch the surface of the full and prolific life he lived but it felt good to make.” Live May 30 at the Hotel Café, with Obed Ray.

■ Pluralone, “Ranting and Raving” — “Ranting and Raving” is the third single from Pluralone’s “A Drop in the Ocean” (out June 12), the fourth LP from the solo project of Josh Klinghoffer. “It’s always good to examine your reactions,” the songwriter says. “At one time, I’m sure I could’ve been accused of ranting and raving from time to time. I might not do that as much anymore, but the impulse is still there. I hope to always keep an eye on why. This is a reminder.”

■ MMJ, “Nobody Knows” — A hazy folk-gaze walkabout through the mind (or Death Valley, if you watch Jordan Hare’s video), “Nobody Knows” is the debut single from MMJ, the solo project of Megan James of Purity Ring.

■ Paper Pools, “25 Years” — “‘25 Years’ was written during my wife’s high-risk pregnancy — a period filled with quiet fear and constant uncertainty. Beneath everything was the question: will everything be okay? The song begins in that vulnerability, but it gradually shifts into something steadier,” songwriter Allen Orr says of the third single from Paper Pools’ new album, “Everything” (out May 29). “The phrase ‘25 years’ became a kind of mantra for me. It’s the stretch of time when a child is still becoming themselves — when your presence, your guidance, your example truly matter. Instead of thinking in terms of fear, I started thinking in terms of commitment. I have these years with them. That’s the promise.”

■ Kit Major, “Miss Ego” — Kit Major follows “Punk Rock Boyfriend” with the title-track of her upcoming EP “Miss Ego,” dropping June 12 via Futureless Records. Major sings confidently over an infectious guitar riff. Major says: “”Miss Ego” is a sleek and cheeky song about how much space a girl can take up in relationships, on stage, and her place in the world.” Watch Kit Major’s unique work out routine in the music video here.

■ IAMEVE, “Cold Bones” — Out today, “Legacy,” the new LP from Tiff Randol’s solo project IAMEVE, offers immersive, ethereal synth-pop as a soundtrack for healing and transformation.

■ David Serby, “Flight Path” — “Broken Heart in a Honky Tonk,” the new album from veteran roots-rocker David Serby, comes in for a landing on May 29. Speaking of which, “Flight Path” is the new single, written from the POV who lives beneath the flight path of Long Beach Municipal Airport.

■ Sophia Lynn, “Bittersweet” — “We were growing up too fast,” confesses Sophia Lynn, an 18-year-old from Huntington Beach, on her debut single “Bittersweet,” which was released just short of her high school graduation.

■ Vaughn, “Bad Love” — Vaughn is the solo project of singer-songwriter Tyre Smith, whose smooth vocals are backed by pop production on the slick new song, “Bad Love.” It’s his debut single.

■ Lori Garrote, “Be Free” — Singer-songwriter Lori Garrote made her mark in the music scene in her native South Florida before matriculating to L.A. She has teamed up with veteran producer Ed Stasium to make an aptly titled EP, “Resilience,” and “Be Free” is the first of its four taut rockers. Live May 16 at the Viper Room.

■ Tomsy, “This Can’t Be Happening” — Tom McGeoch, aka Tomsy, is an alt-pop artist who has been releasing singles since 2022. “This Can’t Be Happening” is a funky bass heavy song featuring piano and smooth vocals. Live ” target=”_blank”>June 6 at Bar Lubsitch.

■ Julez and the Rollerz, “I Need Love” — What is it you need? Oh, that. “I Need Love” is the latest rocker from the new Julez and the Rollerz album, “Dirty Little Rock ‘N’ Roller,” out June 28 on Lolipop Records. Live June 28 at Zebulon.

■ Cherry Bomb, “You Oughta Know” — Our playlist-ending cover song this week comes courtesy of Mandy Lee’s solo project Cherry Bomb, which gets (really) footloose with Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know.”