SASAMI brings genuine likability and charisma on her latest video for "Not the Time." Shot in 16mm throughout different pockets of Pasadena and Highland Park, the rising singer-songwriter cruises around with a french horn on her side as she makes friends with a colorful cast of characters. The direction she takes from a visual standpoint adds a welcome levity to the otherwise heartrending track, where she calls defeat to a thorny relationship over some lush, shoegaze-informed clusters of guitar distortion.

"Not the Time" was featured on her recently-released 7” split single, Not the Time / Callous. Catch her perform at The Echo before the hype catches up on her January on 4 at The Echo. Juan Rodríguez

The last time we heard of Pure Mids was late last year when they released their cascading, jangle-pop single "Maybe It’s Alright." The trio of Will Gonzalez, Steve Martinez, and Daniel Jurado are back with new single "Don’t Quit," where they sculpt a sleek, new wave sound that complements rather than offsets their past EP, Optimistic-ism. They shake off the heartache at a quick pace, as its punchy rhythm section takes charge over an oscillating keyboard line that loops around a softly-layered guitar progression.

"Don’t Quit" is available now on all streaming platforms. Juan Rodríguez

Ruby Throated spin around with regretful acknowledgment on "My Worst." The positively brainy new single by the progressive pop four-piece sounds as flummoxed as the song’s conflicted subject, where their fractured time signatures give an air of distress to someone whose hopeless endeavor to make things better makes them fall deeper and deeper. Led by Jocelyn Raulston’s playful vocals, the band introduce oft-kilter meters over eclectic jazz elements – it serves to mention that all band members come from academic musical backgrounds – with an otherwise agile simplicity. But nothing about "My Worst" sounds too studious or elaborate, as they let their free-spirited groove guide them with a joyful release. 

"My Worst" is the first single off of Ruby Throated’s forthcoming EP, Breakfast Table Omen, which will be self-released on January 4. Juan Rodríguez

Fawns of Love celebrate the beautiful ties that keep us connected on "Mournful Eyes." The married duo of Jenny and Joseph Andreotti’s latest single expresses an almost subconscious antipathy in our lack of human connection, and how the possibility to change that mindset is always within our grasp. The darkly poppy track sounds like a long lost coldwave hit, where Jenny’s beatific vocals echo over a soft blanket of transfixing synth lines. On the accompanying video, a series of visually inventive animated images create a dark lit mood fit for a dance floor projection. 

"Mournful Eyes" is the second single off of Fawns of Love’s forthcoming sophomore release, Permanent, which comes out on January 18 via Test Pattern Records. Juan Rodríguez

Maiah Manser began her musical journey in Seattle, Washington, but fortunately for us at The Deli, and you, the people, she has settled here in Los Angeles. “Yards” is Manser’s newest single, and boy does she have a lot to say. A final triumphant ‘f-you’ to the ex, “I don’t need you to survive” and “sorry that I’m not sorry” is just a taste of bittersweet goodbyes to the one who clearly didn’t deserve her. I want “Yards” played during my next breakup if I ever drastically and dramatically quit my job during a car chase while I am cooking breakfast, and definitely during a slow-motion shot of me flipping my hair to a random stranger (thank you, next). Funny how certain songs can make you feel uplifted and powerful with just one listen, and that is exactly what Maiah Manser did with this single. This pop-tastic jam will leave you hitting repeat until your next relationship. 

Feel free to hover over that replay button until 8 pm tonight because Manser will be playing at The Hi Hat with Lily Waters and Precious Kid, so don’t miss out on this bombshell of a performance. Kayla Hay

Earlier this year, Young Jesus graced us with their breakthrough second effort The Whole Thing is Just There. Equal parts complicated and tuneful, the post-rock meets indie rock four-piece delivered a grand, sweeping statement that handles its broad tonal shifts with admirable confidence. It kind of snuck up on the release docket during the month of October, though thankfully, the passage of time has only revealed the album’s intricate treasures. From the heady, spiraling transitions of "Saganism vs. Buddhism" to the dissonant chords progressions of "Bell," the band is sure to thrill audiences with their forthcoming homecoming performance at the Moroccan Lounge on December 15. 

The Whole Thing is Just There is out now on Saddle Creek. Juan Rodríguez

Photo Credit: Kelsey Hart

BYSTS specialize in noisy squall with a sweet touch on their latest EP, Dreamland. The Los Angeles-via-Utah duo of Bryan Holbrook and Stefanie Marlow draw on some familiar influences, from The Jesus and Mary Chain’s elegant fuzz to Taste-era The Telescopes, pushing forth a swirling array of layered distortion that both thrills and numbs the senses. There’s a  keen toughness present on this all-too-brief release, three smoldering tracks where the duo delivers their bluesy noise with amped-up precision and lush vocal harmonies. 

Dreamland EP is out now on all streaming platforms. 

John Cudlip, otherwise known as Launder, recently dropped his newest single, “Powder,” an intoxicating mash-up of shoegazing instruments and poetic lyrics that mold the ebb and flow of this talented artist. Launder’s musical performance throws you into a passion-induced trance of 90’s indie and 00’s punk rock, which instills a certain type of emotion that is established immediately when the song begins. Indie rock has become a genre that mainstream media has recently been catching wind of and shaping into their own relatable and recognizable sound. Fortunately for us, Launder’s exclusive voice and stimulating musical performance throw the radio craze for a whirlwind, lighting up any occasion; including your dinner, wedding rehearsal, reunion, Thanksgiving, happy hour and evenings alone with a bottle of wine. Launder’s ability to highlight a single emotion through lyrics and then pair it with a powerhouse musical ensemble sets an indescribable mood that one can only understand with headphones on loud and lights off. “Powder” is mood defying, unapologetically original, strangely familiar, and refreshingly exclusive. Kayla Hay

Sawyer Fox faces his sorrows on "One of These Days." The Long Beach native’s debut single sounds exceptionally surefooted for a first effort, a capoed song with a waltz-like embrace which breezes by with a melancholic temperament. There are shades of the late Elliott Smith in his candid vocal delivery as well as Aimee Mann’s minor-key compositions, especially in how he expresses a bittersweet yearning for stability and identity with an otherwise optimistic tone. He could’ve done just fine with his elegant bare-bones arrangement, except that he further embellishes "Days" with a resplendent piano line that suggests his talents are broader than in first sight. Fox is onto something special here, and I can’t wait to hear what comes next. Juan Rodríguez

Convey struggle to retain their inner footing on "Inside Out." The funk-inflected new single by the revival rock quartet expresses the steps we take to begin to rely on ourselves, and how we rely on others to take command of our true feelings. But the band sounds the opposite of lost from a performance aspect, given how they deliver a swinging heavy guitar groove over Ben Cohen’s commanding vocals. 

"Inside Out" is the second single off of Convey’s forthcoming debult LP City of Skin and Bone, which is due out in early 2019 on Revival Recordings. Juan Rodríguez

Something about saying the words "West Coast" immediately invites a welcome setting. Even when it has such a broad descriptor, it also requires no further explanation, even to an Angeleno like myself who sometimes takes the natural pleasantries this city offers for granted. That’s a feeling Silverlake-via San Diego musician Richard, who goes by Total Recluse, wants to evoke on "West Coast."  The dreamy, psych-pop informed single – which has a homespun quality to the recording – unfolds like a memory that is filled with wistful longing. It also has a timeless quality that seems ripe for any season, especially as the winter approaches.

"West Coast" is the lead single off of Total Recluse’s latest EP, Coastal Lows, which is out now via his official soundcloud page. Juan Rodríguez

Photo credit: Joanna Suhl

Nobody But You recount a memorable meet cute on "Echo Park Bar." With their mix of R&B and pop, the self-described emo-pop quintet delivers a soulful, good-natured take on the classic bar pickup that strikes a dim-lit mood with its mellow richness. The sultry track does have a jam-like quality despite its songwriting focus, which doesn’t come as a surprise given that singer-songwriter Michael Escañuelas and drummer Ryan Ohanessian first laid the foundation of the band by spending hours perfecting their craft in their practice space.

"Echo Park Bar" is the band’s debut single, a first taste before they release their forthcoming EP in early 2019. – Juan Rodríguez