VUM, the duo of Jennifer Pearl and Christopher Badger, have released a new single, “Back to Sleep,” in anticipation of their forthcoming full length album titled, Blood Horses. This track leans more towards their trance-inducing darkwave side. The droning, repetitive arpeggiated bass line that runs throughout the entire track acts like one of those black and white hypnotic swirls, subliminally calling upon your higher senses. All the while, Pearl’s vocals woo like a deadly siren calling you deeper into their mystical universe. “Back to Sleep” is the perfect track to tease the full album. Much like previous releases, VUM manages to create music that can be left on repeat without realizing you’ve been lost in it for hours. See them live tonight as they join 9 other ‘Bands to Watch’ for 2013 at the Echo as part of the Origami Vinyl-curated FOMO Fest, which I’ve recently been told translates to “Fear of Missing Out.” I recommend purchasing tickets online ahead of time, as this is sure to be a packed out event. – Jacqueline Caruso

Layered harmonies bathed in reverb, aggressive percussion, intricate guitar work and the unique vocal stylings of lead singer John Velasquez, prove that these OC boys are about to take LA by storm. “The Way I See”, the title track off their latest EP, is a swirling combination of funk-driven, math-inspired Indie Rock with a pop sensibility. Peep the video below for a look inside their world. Check them out live tonight as they headline the Constellation Room supported by FutureFix, Warships and The Push. – Jacqueline Caruso

December saw the release of The New Kinetics second album, In Stereo, produced by John Vanderslice at Tiny Telephone studio in San Francisco. The band’s 60’s-influenced rock-and-roll blew off the roof of the Casbah in San Diego at the CD release party on December 2. The record was put out independently by the band on vinyl, and it’s a wonderful thing. Highlights are: “Be Mine,” “Tear Down Your Idols,” and "Reverie", the last of which placed #1 on Aural Gravy Records’ Best Local Songs of 2012 list. – David Milano

Adult Film is the current project of crooner and guitarist, Adrian Rodriguez, drummist Trevor Hunnicutt, bass and vocalist Ozzy Carmona, and keyboardist Chris Holguin. Individually, each Los Angeleno is currently involved with other musical ventures, which played to their advantage during the collaborative process, as Adult Film succeeded in creating a solitary sound consisting of their distinctive experiences, musical stylings, and influential derivatives from artists such as Weezer, Radiohead, and the groove of transcendental 60s harmonies. Together, the quartet has produced a variation of tracks, which manage to harmonize the simple, yet complicated principals of human nature and daily survival as they stand within today’s social boundaries and affairs of the heart. "Love Prescription" does well to evoke the overall tone of the bass ladened tracks, walking the audience through the trials of a dissolving relationship accompanied by Spanish influenced guitar riffs and distant vocals. Albeit it head-phone friendly music, one will never truly appreciate Adult Film unless having seen the group perform live. Stage presence is no stranger to any of the band’s members, and though they each command attention to their particular instrument, they masterfully come together to deliver an energetic and bewitching performance. An official live EP along with documentation is in the works for January 2013 with a tour to follow. – Anais Barajas

More than a year and a half has passed since the release of Baywood’s debut EP Seasons, but the band was busy in 2012 playing at LA venues like the Satellite and the Bootleg and working on their full-length. The LP will finally see the light sometime in 2013, and if Seasons is any indication, the new album will be filled with heart-warming folk sounds and bright harmonies. The two members of Baywood, Joe Ginsberg and Jarrad Kritzstein, have a long history of making music. Ginsberg has a jazz studies degree from USC and was a member of Colorado pop rock band Single File. Since moving to LA he has juggled his time playing for artists like Chuck Ragan and Audra Mae. Kritzstein has also spent time playing in a handful of other bands in addition to producing for Zak Waters, Rachel Furner, and Megan Washington. The collaboration between Ginsberg and Kritzstein has now generated a winsome sound reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest with a jolt of LA’s sunshine. Listening to their songs brings to mind the warm folk sound of Fleet Foxes mixed with the elegance of Modest Mouse. No matter the emotion, Baywood has a knack for making every song sound like a celebration. With a foundation like that, 2013 can only deliver good things for the band. – Karla Hernández 

Harvard & Stone will be serving up a super-sized menu this January. It’s fitting for a month with five Tuesdays; each one carefully curated to feature some of the best local bands in the lo-fi, garage, surf and punk oeuvres. The headliner for each night will be newbies, Cotillon, who have very recently released their first EP, Votive Flower. A potpourri, if you will, of delicate pop melodies straight from the heart, poured out over gritty guitar riffs, and an almost early Beatles-esque frenzy. The heartbroken longings of frontman, Jordan Corso, are tinged with the kind of teenage angst fit for the soundtrack of a John Hughes movie. They will be joined by acts such as Colleen Green, The Abigails, Dirt Dress, Cosmonauts, and Criminal Hygeine, with DJ sets from the likes of Este Haim. Check out the facebook invite for all the specifics – and if you’re looking for an extra incentive, each night is Free. That’s right, everyone’s favorite price. – Jacqueline Caruso

The multi-talented guitarist and vocalist Sean Aylward of Hello Echo, has created this short, sweet, and impressive claymation, stop-motion video for the song, “Why are we Waiting?” With a sound reminiscent of a more laid-back Fleet Foxes, this video is a perfectly endearing masterpiece for our short attention spans. – Jacqueline Caruso

Hello Echo "Why are we Waiting?" Official Video from Hello Echo on Vimeo.

PAPA, the duo of Darren Weiss and Daniel Presant, will be gracing The Bootleg stage every Monday this January with special guests each week presented by KROQ. Their music fits nicely into that feel-good pop/rock oeuvre that Grouplove brought to the mainstream. The handclaps, tambourine shakes, and glockenspiel chimes mix with overdriven borderline surfy guitar riffs to give you the feeling that you are getting cooler with each listen. Their latest single, “Put Me Work,” is an ultra-upbeat anthem that blends the tonal pallet of Arcade Fire – banging on pianos and well-timed shouts – with the laid-back vocal stylings of Brandon Flowers. An epic combination that comes at you in an aggressive, yet inviting way. Their music brings you in to a communal experience. I’m certain every night of this Residency will be a sweaty dance party that forces you check your worries at the door. Don’t miss it, as this will most likely be your last chance to get this close to any stage they’ll be playing in the months to come. – Jacqueline Caruso

While Zaptra may technically be considered an electronic act, his music is filled with beauty and emotion that makes it more human than machine. Playing live tonight at The Airliner, which is home to the famed Low End Theory, Zaptra’s set traverses the full spectrum of dynamics – from dirty dance beats, to melodic dreamscapes. If you’re looking for inspiration and the unexpected, then don’t miss this Angeleno’s offering tonight. Below is a video that gives you a taste of the high-energy, one man show Zaptra creates. – Jacqueline Caruso

zaptra – the rise of the new dawn (nikon d90 music video) from horgeSR on Vimeo.

If you are a fan of the Fullerton-based Indie Label Burger Records, and you should be, then your dreams are about to come true. They have just announced the lineup for 2013’s Burgerama at the Observatory in Santa Ana. Everyone from Ariel Pink to Nick Waterhouse will be showcased at this two day event March 22 and 23. At $20 per day, this will not only fill the void for the Coachella-fatigued, but one-up it by keeping your bank account in the black. Plus, the VIP passes get you a t-shirt, cassette, and a button. Put this one on your calendars, and purchase tickets starting tomorrow, 12/21. Below is a Burger-created set of 170 songs to whet your appetite. – Jacqueline Caruso

Hypnotic and trance-inducing, the latest video from newbies to know, The Reflections, for their song, “Disconnected,” takes you on the subway ride of your dreams. The duo, comprised of Darian Zahedi and Jon Safley, have created a magical world that bridges the laid-back spirit of the west coast with the tangible energy of New York City. Just as the video depicts, beneath the tough exterior of the city streets, there is something bright, beautiful and electric. Let yourself get lost inside this song. Be on the lookout for their full length debut expected early 2013. You can see them live tonight at Harvard & Stone for the final night of the Magic Wands Residency. – Jacqueline Caruso

After collaborating with a number of impressive electronic producers, obtaining several guest vocal positions, and releasing a series of acoustic covers through Bandcamp and Soundcloud, Los Angeles based song bird, Steph Thompson, has created her first full-length debut, "Would You Stay", currently out on iTunes via Mush Records. Recording under the moniker Steffaloo, the album reflects one lover’s longing for the affection’s of another; a longing which would unfortunately seem to never be reciprocated at the same level as it was rendered. Steffaloo’s ethereal harmonies and distant vocals will completely engulf any listener in the nostalgic ambiance of bedroom recordings. The union of subtle hooks and unforeseen dictions are both beautiful and haunting, highlighting such songs as title track "Would You Stay" and " I’m Sorry". With her first solo album gaining so much momentum in the music community and a new electronic collection to be released sometime next year, it would appear that the question, "Would You Stay" would seem inappropriate. Judging by her past, present, and future accomplishments, it would seem that Steffaloo will not be going anywhere, anytime soon. – Anais Barajas