“The Vail” is the first project released by 21-year-old Los Angeles native Jonathan Dilin, a multi-faceted 13-minute collection that showcases his abilities at rhyming and singing – but also producing, crafting four of the five tracks under the pseudonym JDefeats. His sound is rooted in post-R&B, murky and propulsive synth-driven 808 beats that recall a […]
First as a duo and now as a three-piece, the Dead Ships have been busting eardrums and busting up the blues for more than two years now. Their debut album of garage-rock, “Electric Ahab,” sounded like a mission statement – press the accelerator all the way to the floor and don’t let up – and […]
Here’s one for anybody who owns a substantial portion, or maybe even a little bit, of the Flying Nun Records catalog. Artifacts (rendered “a r t i f a c t s”) is the music of 23-year-old Domonic Renee, who hails from Santa Fe Springs, is pursuing his obsession for the noisier guitar bands of […]
What happens when three pedigreed songwriters/producers get together on a whim? Fun, apparently. Distant Cousins are the collision of Ami Kozak, Dov Rosenblatt and Duvid Swirsky, who’ve announced their presence with the release of their first single, the bluesy stomp “Raise It Up.” Kozak, a composer for advertising and TV, and Rosenblatt (formerly of the […]
As Daniel Ahearn & the Jones, Ahearn and Mindy Jones traded in the serenely beautiful acoustic folk characterized by generations of boy/girl duets. But shifting landscapes and creative urges moved the duo into new territory as they work on their full-length debut “Sirens” (due in 2014) with producer Mocky. Hence, the new “Electric Love” EP, […]
Bassist Matt Maust and his remarkable visuals star (if there is a star) in Cold War Kids’ new video for the song “Water & Power.” Maust, whose collages-on-a-bender and graphic illustrations have graced the band’s (and other artists’) CD and album artwork over the years, does a number on his own room as the video, […]
Subtly dropping a new track on Monday via Facebook, Active Child – Pat Grossi – gave his fans a taste of his forthcoming EP titled “Rapor” (pronounced “rah-poor”) with “She Cut Me.” Although only an instrumental cut barely over two minutes, it’s another slice of atmospheric music where the harp strings tug on the heart strings […]
In one life, Yohei Shikano was a stage/guitar technician for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Yoko Ono. In another, he’s the driving force behind My Hawaii, an L.A.-based five-piece exploring an eclectic, occasionally whimsical take on vintage pop. The Japan-born Shikano and core members Justin Deming, Miles Senzaki, Jens Kuross and Daniel Seeff […]
If anyone’s been to Madi Diaz’s residency at the Bootleg this month, the sonic shift in the singer-songwriter’s sound may have come as a surprise. Sure, Diaz has flirted with bubblegum pop before, but her alt-country and folk roots remained the core of the charm on her previous records. However, new songs such as “Stay […]
Symbiosis Events has just announced a lineup for September’s Symbiosis Gathering that includes Sound Tribe Sector 9 and Sphongle, the much-anticipated U.S. debut of Iamamiwhoami, smooth electro-pop outfit Poliça, U.K. duo Mount Kimbie, Hudson Mohawke and Lunice of TNGHT, the celestial R&B of Active Child, avant-cabaret troupe Vau de Vire Society and the eclectic bass […]
