(In) Body is a duo of newcomers with the undertandings of seasoned academics. Ryan Amador and Daniel Weidlein are taking more of a pop approach with their collaborative partnership after having followed paths of distinction: Amador won the ASCAP Robert Allen Award in 2013, while Weidlein has seen some charting success as a jazz session musician. But with this project they put forth a soulful embrace of synth-based arrangements and vocal harmonies that are emotionally charged and anything but scholarly.

Helped by lead single "Safe In Your Heart", the duo are playing a record release show at El Cid on March 25 to promote their upcoming debut EP, Becom(in)g. 

"I’m gonna take you far from here", vocalist Gregory Mahdesian sings with confidence on "Remedy", a track that perfectly exemplifies Swerve’s impartial affection for thick, grungy riffs and jangly Brit rock. In their world, it’s as if there’s no seperation between the two, where even if both sounds were stylistically different they both shared a passion for gut-level immediacy. 

Swerve will be playing songs from their debut EP tonight at Harvard & Stone, where they also promise to preview an upcoming single. Is there a full-length announcement coming soon? You’ll have to make it there to find out. 

San Diego trio The Soaks play sparkly power pop with a new wave slant, best evinced on their fast-paced, relentlessly hooky "TV Life". Its simple, hyperactive music video shows footage of the band members in true live form while poking a little fun at themselves, propping up a persistent rhythmic backbone to their energetic, trashy sound. 

"TV Life" can be found on their latest seven-song EP Loser, released through Postmark Records. And for a show that’ll get you wildly bobbing your head from the get go stop by Harvard and Stone on March 31.

Engaging in indie rock melodies with grungy guitars, Ramonda Hammer are the latest to bring back a nineties alternative rock aesthetic with its clean riffs and antipodal dynamics. Fronted by the soft, though passionate vocal delivery of Devin Davis, the four-piece somehow keep things grounded with a honeyed melody that never becomes either too scruffy or drenched in an excess of reverb. The band has just released a video for “Goddamn Idiot”, which takes a comical slant by taking cues from defunct trash reality TV show Cheaters. The satirical nature of the video is more on the lighthearted side, though it doesn’t in any way limit their songwriting smarts; instead, we get a band so confident in their abilities that any major contrast to their sound only helps to enhance their still-nascent careers with a lively shot of personality.

Make sure to catch Ramonda Hammer at the Hi Hat on March 14. 

Beneath heroic guitar dynamics and somewhat lax vocals, "Doug" is a song that shows a lot of heart. The new track by Worn-Tin, lead by Warner Hiatt, is a lo-fi anthem that does take its dear time to unfold, eschewing any choruses altogether to deliver a streamlined jam coupled by a lively, sustained hook that will leave you humming once it’s over. Now accompanied by a wistful video that takes one back to those days of shooting footage on VHS camcorders, "Doug" further emphasizes Hiatt’s playful antics as he mingles with friends on what seems like an ideal summer roap trip.

"Doug" is the first single off of his just-released full length Thanatophobia, an album inspired by a near-death experience he had with two close friends after the car they were on flipped and almost caused a devastating effect on their lives. Nevertheless, "Doug" is gushing with joy, portraying a songwriter who’s relishing life’s simple pleasures; to be fully alive and to drum up vibration in the moment. 

You can catch Worn-Tin play at the Bootleg alongside Kississippi and Bobby T. on March 26. – Juan Rodríguez

Ruthless EBM duo Youth Code convey a truly visceral experience that has to be seen live to be believed, as they’ve earned their place in the last few years as one of most prominent acts in the current industrial music landscape. Following their breakthrough A Place to Stand EP, the duo of Sara Taylor and Ryan George have teamed up with producer Rhys Fulber (Front Line assembly / Fear Factory) to produce their second full-length Commitment to Complications. The first reveal off of Commitment, "Transitions", is a blistering scorcher with clanging drum machines and pummeling synth textures that’s unboundedly aggressive. 

Commitment to Complications is due out on April 8 via Dais Records.

Recent Deli LA Readers’ Poll nominee, and self-proclaimed forlorn folkster, Paul Bergmann keeps true to his clever allieration with another rambling, sentimental jam. His latest lyric video, "Drunk (Alone, and New)", actually portrays him at his most lively as opposed to his more brooding, country-tinged work with backing band the Fair Moans, jumping around with careless ease as a string of candid, florid observations accompany the song’s upbeat tempo. For someone who seems fairly solemn, it seems like Bergmann’s state of mind in "Drunk" is one of happy intoxication. 

Paul Bergmann is playing at the Hi Hat on March 1.

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In second place, much sought-after singer-songwriter Miya Folick also counted on the support of her fervent fans, thus collecting over 450 votes to earn her the most votes in the always-challenging indie rock category. Miya has been earning accolades from many a major blog, and we’re elated to have seen her evolve into a full-fledged breakthrough artist since we first wrote about her early last year. Have a listen to her knockout new single "Oceans", a heartstring puller that should be a highlight once she performs it at the Echo on February 25th alongside headliners Palehound.

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Newhall’s singer songwriter Soren Bryce made it to the third place of this chart. Her soulful songs, at times just featuring her and a guitar, at others built on sparse arrangements of electronic instruments, speak to the heart. Her 2015 self-titled debut EP has found many fans, gathering hundreds of thousands plays on Spotify. 

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In fourth place we have a witch-house outfit that, with their highly creative mesh of chopped audio effects and playful samples, are creating a tenebrous sound that is truly of their own making: GRYPT. The trio recently released their most ambitious statement yet, entitled Thy Flesh Consumed, which you can currently purchase as either a digital or limited cassette through their official bandcamp page.

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Another talented female songwriter made it into the top of this chart – so new we had trouble finding her website and aren’t able to find any embeddable music! Michaella (click on her name to listen) accompanies her beautiful voice with a ukulele: when two thing work so beautifully together, less is always more.

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Trailing not too behind is power pop band No Win, who are thankfully not only keeping those Badfinger guitar hooks alive but also wrote a killer self-titled EP that should be precedent for a knockout full-length debut (hopefully soon!) that will have me singing along all day long. You can listen to No Win (released Summer 2015) here. 

Breezy jangle heads Golden Daze are celebrating the release of their self-titled debut. The little over half an hour collection shimmers with finely-tuned pop songs with a classic rock bent, ambling about with a touch of lingering radiance. Golden Daze is out now through Autumn Tone records, and make sure to catch their record release show at Non Plus Ultra on Saturday, February 27. You can stream the entire record on their official bandcamp page. 

Self-described dream-grunge Echo Park Psychic Love, led by singer-songwriter Laura Peters, have been a performing a month-long residency at Harvard & Stone, where they’re sure to delight with their blues-tinged, rollicking guitar jams. Make sure to catch them tonight, and have a listen to "The Weekend" below. 

I find quite apropos that we’re getting such a sublime track about contemplating courtship on this pre-Valentine’s day weekend. The latest by Los Angeles Police Department, "Hard", the nom de plume of Ryan Pollie, was written in a period where Pollie was ruminating on what it means to be in love,especially when things are starting to get serious: how can it possibly be going so well, and when will it all turn bad. He’s addressing a very legitimate fear, though as he asserts himself in the song’s chamber arrangements, the best (and only way) to get through it is to try to set aside the psychological anguish and focus on what’s going well. 

A feeling of abject despair comes from somewhere deep in "All Washed Up", the latest single from trio Some Gifts. Lead singer Vic Lzar’s guttural cry is a clear indication that things might not be going so well, all while sporting a thick, seething riff that erupts with increasing force. But there’s also a melodic edge to their no-frills delivery, a pop song in disguise that hits with just the right amount of grit. 

"All Washed Up" will be featured on their debut album Win Instantly, which is scheduled for an official digital release on March 12th. And if this highly-caffeinated power punch is your cup of tea, then don’t miss their record release show at Casey’s Irish Pub – it promises to be a good one.