Indie music reining from Los Angeles seems to be in abundance nowadays, but with so many musicians trying to make it big in a place full of ‘stars’ seems near impossible now. So what can musicians do to stand out? Ask Ghost Lit Kingdom. The quintet has a way with words, and their incredibly dynamic style of ‘indie’ music is quickly catching fans by storm. Redefining the genre with an innovative mix of folk, pop, hip-hop, jazz, electric and alternative, Ghost Lit Kingdom has escalated to a new type of genre.

Their newest single, "You Don’t Know Me", is a masterful ballad that leaves listeners with goose bumps and an overwhelming feeling of losing self-control. “My body wants no part of me, steady as it goes.. .you don’t know me”, sings lead singer Ela Kitapci, a constant struggle to try and figure out what we are capable of doing in this world while trying to figure yourself out, too. Many adult teens growing up find complications in trying to define who they are, and the lyrics send the message that sometimes you don’t necessarily have to. This is the first single of many to come this year, and their growing fan base is sure to follow them on their journey to musical success. – Kayla Hay

“Bedside,” the first single from three-piece FLORALS’ upcoming debut album Kin of Mine, relaxes and rankles. The vocals and harp(?) are all dreamy fairytale, but the beat is grounded, bookended by a hard-driving cyber-pulse and a staccato grind that suggest something more menacing. The song’s subject requests some guidance, seeking freedom; leaving a bedside, whether hospital or sexual, is never easy. It can be helped by “Bedside’s” sweeping chorus. Keep an eye out for Kin of Mine, releasing this summer. – Brian J K Regan

Italian-born composer Mauro Remiddi first made his mark under his moniker Porcelain Raft with Strange Weekend, quickly becoming one of better known musicians associated with the chillwave scene. A few years have passed and Remiddi is back with his latest single "All in my Head", off his upcoming EP Half Awake, which he’s putting out on his own new label Volcanic Field. The track doesn’t completely discard the dreamy elements of past albums, though this time around there’s an emphasis on minimal synths, which are paired against a metronomic keyboard pulse with the appearance of some guitar distortion just as it begins to ascend into an atmospheric finish.

"All in my Head", which was recorded on his own studio in Highland Park, will be released digitally and as a limited edition cassette tape which comes with a handmade linoleum print made by Remiddi himself. Half Awake is out on June 2nd. 

Twenty year-old singer-songwriter Alexa Melo held a major label deal from the age of 14, but refused to settle for any direction they tried to put her on. Finally parting ways last year, she’s teamed with producer Christian James Hand, best known for his work with rambling pop squad The Mowglis. Melo’s debut single, “Still Right Here,” represents the partnership well: she’s got a dark pop vibe, but more dusty southwestern guitars than trendy cold electronica. Her organic sound is only polished by Hand’s familiarity with making catchy sense out of a rollicking band’s madness, and he succeeds at balancing Melo’s passion with a controlled edginess. Think original Charli XCX goes cowgirl, or Florence and the Machine with a twang. The whole situation lends a lot of potential to Melo’s forthcoming self-titled LP, out on June 2nd.

Stream “Still Right Here” below and check her out at downtown venue The Smell on 5/8. – Brian J.K. Regan

It doesn’t take much effort to figure out a power pop band when you see one. The name just has to click, and with The Wild Young Hearts, you immediately know what you’re going to get: rugged guitar riffs, plenty to hooks, and a seemingly unending cheerfulness. The tracks off the trio’s latest full length, Feel Good, flow from one song to the next with a proper dosage of intensity, vintage-inspired rock n’ roll anthems that will never become obsolete. There’s a good amount of disaffected ballads, of course, an empowered sensitivity that couteracts those amped-up moments of release. 

“The Ocean and The Sea,” Bird Dog’s lead single on their debut album Hello Latigo, grabs you with its reverent calling, drawing to mind the vocal harmonies of the Avett Brothers (but as if the Avetts were playing arenas these days). The song builds, driving an imaginary tempo-change, tossing in woodblock hits and a bass line as it moves from the beginning’s tranquil birdsong to a chugging guitar bridge that heads, presumably, to the ocean and the sea. Check it out if you’re into sweeping grand folk like the Kings of Leon but still down-to-earth.

You can catch them at 3Clubs in Hollywood on April 22nd or the Hotel Cafe on May 1st. – Brian J.K. Regan

“How did I miss this lesson when I was young?” The most beautiful string of words put together in Miya Folick’s new single, "Talking With Strangers." Of course, that is only my personal opinion, though the lyrics throughout the whole song end up wrapping you up in personal memories and elastic emotions. Miya, a new and upcoming artist in the Los Angeles area, has started a musical journey of relaxing vibes and spirituality that consumes your body into an all-natural mood setter. Miya’s voice in "Talking With Strangers" defines a time in your life when you need help to push through. Her lyrics are uplifting while the piano, bass and drums create a stress free environment that involves deep breathing and focus. At 25 years old, Miya has truly found a calling in the music industry. Her grunge and folk style is a refreshing quality of music that demands to be heard and also felt. – Kayla Hay

Instead of lingering on one sound, I, Us, & We explore different facets of their jeweled dream pop. “Lanterns,” with its cavernous chorus and shuffling beat, kicks off the band’s debut EP Mono, but it also isn’t a perfect predictor for what comes next. The ringing synths in “Sunday” practically sound cheery by comparison, and album highlight “Alive” draws you in with a moody vibe similar to “Lanterns,” but with a pleading chorus that, even without pining for you in particular, might convince you to sing along.

Check out the track "Alive", streaming below – Brian J.K. Regan

Cody Crump magnifies the dread of the everyday with his new single "Just Another Day", a joyous, fuzzed-out anthem that could’ve easily taken a different color if it weren’t for his alluring falsetto vocals. It’s an interesting change of pace for the folk balladeer, who now opts to bury his sultry voice with a smattering of distortion even if his crooner-like sensiblity remains intact. Crump is playing a free show tomorrow night at Dirty Laundry, in which he’ll play songs off his upcoming EP Death [May 5].

There is something oddly familiar about Layne Putnam and I can’t quite put my finger on it. Perhaps it’s because she just did what every teenager dreams of doing, uprooting from home and moving to the bustling city of Los Angeles. Though it doesn’t end there, this 19 year-old bombshell released her newest single on April 1st off her EP Warrior, "Somebody". An indie punk rock jam with an 80’s pop feel, it tells the story of leaving her hometown for the big city to follow her dreams. The video does a great job at highlighting the sharp guitar and drumbeats while adding powerful visuals to tie the two together. A new sensation to the dark indie pop world, Layne is hoping to positively impact her audience on her upcoming U.S. tour. Layne’s Spring tour dates can be found on her official website, Facebook and Tumblr. – Kayla Hay

Alt country band Seneca & The River have just signed with up-and-coming folk-based label Pop Cautious for the release of their self-titled debut. Featuring the lush and winding "Hold Me Up", the band’s sparse compositions simulate the drifting ebb of a calm wind alongside Seneca Pettee’s sly country twang. 

You can catch them at Sadie Kitchen and Lounge on Wednesday, April 15 as part of their weekly Sadie Sessions event. Attendees will be able to obtain a copy of the EP prior to its April 24 release date. 

A calm, sedate frame of mind is imbued in Dinosaur Parade, a folk quartet from four different parts of the world who now proudly call Los Angeles their home. They first met when lead guitarist James Ruvalcaba, the band’s only LA native, was seeking a number of musicians to form an "indie project" without any clear notion of how it would sound. He enlisted Americans Brittany Riffe-Ries and Anthony Prochaska (from West Virginia and Texas, respectively) and England native Michael Hardman on lead vocals, though their breezy, easygoing songs suggest Southern California informed their overall approach to songwriting. "Driving out/I’m leaving town", sings Hardman on lead single "El Camino Road", a strummy, gentle number accompanied with clucking pelican sounds and beach waves that demonstrates a candid naturalism. 

Dinosaur Parade will be releasing their debut EP, Reading Clouds, on April 7, which they’ll be celebrating with a release party at Hotel Cafe on April 17.