With the release of his sophomore album, "Euphoria," Devon Williams has not had a chance to spend too much time at home in Los Angeles. This fall has seen him touring across the U.S. with Wet Illustrated, gigging in London and opening for Tennis on the West Coast. The latter brought him to LA for a hometown show on December 7th at the Satellite, where he was welcomed with unexpected fanfare. Playing with his 4-piece band, Williams performed a shimmering 9-song set of indie pop tunes, with more than half being from the new album. However, what neither Williams or the crowd expected was an annex orchestra of kazoos and bells in the audience. A few enthusiastic friends of Williams added to the show’s excitement with their instrumentation. Just like on the record, Williams voice spiked with energy in a very charming way on sunny songs like ‘Right Direction’ and ‘Your Sympathy.’ The songs were illuminated with twinkling keys and bright intertwining guitars. His voice was thin in a comforting way, which was a surprising match for his hard-witted lyrics and onstage banter. In between songs, Williams made snappy comments to counter small technical difficulties and cracked jokes about his drummer being Canadian. It was an easy way to relieve the tensions of an opening slot and the band seemed to have fun on stage. The band did a good job at connecting the dots between the upbeat songs and the more reflective, psychedelic-driven tracks.

The show lined up well with the release of William’s second single ‘Revelations.’ The song is the first track on "Euphoria", and opens with a lovely set of "ba ba bum bum bums" and an enchanting guitar line. Williams sings with utter delight, and the layering in instrumentation makes the listener want to sing out with him. Woodwinds and strings tinker in the background like a blossoming garden. The digital release of the single is accompanied with a remix of ‘Tower of Thought.’ The song is remixed by New York’s Violens, who turn the track into an electro blend of hyper keys and dark percussion. For the first minute, the only vocal elements are Williams’ haunting wails. In its original state, ‘Tower of Thought’ is delicate and moves at a slow daze. In the remix, the momentum is sped up tremendously with the aesthetic of a UK club scene. The ending is a bit deceiving as the instrumentation seems to suddenly drop off the map, but then kicks back in and slowly fades out. Violens take the word remix to heart and give the song an incredible new life. The ‘Revelations’ single and "Euphoria" CD/LP are out now via Slumberland Records. – Karla Hernández

Devon Williams – Revelations by Slumberland Records

Although the Los Angeles-based Stone Darling have already acquired an ever-growing fan base in the City of Angels by releasing 7” singles and hosting a summer residency at the iconic Satellite, it wasn’t until last week that the songstresses released their debut self-titled EP. Led by singer/songwriter Paige Stark, the all-female rock outfit pulls from the legendary doo-wop girl-group sound of the ‘50s and ‘60s, cashing in on an extraordinary talent to harmonize. The quartet pairs this with twangy guitar riffs, creating lovelorn ballads meant to be heard in the Midwest. You can stream the full EP here. – Katrina Nattress

I’m in the group of people that believes that you can make music out of anything. I was certain that the opus I composed on pots and pans was a masterpiece. While that’s debatable, the talent that young electronic artist Robert DeLong has is not. He uses everything from his voice to a Midi keyboard to video game remote controls to maneuver his way through his one man live shows. From the two minute preview of his live shows, it looks like a swirling mess of bodies and synth lines. His latest work is currently under construction for a new album, but one of the songs, "Happy", has been getting some coverage from KROQ. It’s an inescapably fun tune that is effervescent and well…happy. It’s nice to step away from the downer tunes once and awhile and just have some fun. Keep an eye on him. He’s sure to be popping up in your radar very soon. Starting January 9th, DeLong will host a residency at Los Globos in Silver Lake. – Taylor Lampela

Robert DeLong – Happy

Spirited pop rockers Future Dancing are wrapping up 2011 with a free Monday-night residency at the Bootleg Bar. At the forefront of this 5-piece is brother/sister duo Brandon and Maggie Kaiser, who offer a mix of youthful vocals. The group released an album earlier this year entitled "You Were Already Great Long Before You Met Me", full of uplifting lyrics and a bright instrumentation of keyboard, guitar, drums, bass, glockenspiel and trumpets. Future Dancing’s endearing energy and sharp guitars on tracks like "Save the City" call to mind groups like Tokyo Police Club and the Bravery. Two shows remain in Future Dancing’s residency at the Bootleg Bar, and the band will be joined by Say Yes or Else, Escalator Hill and Sleeping Bags on the 19th, and Sunken Ships and Cody the Band on the 26th. A toy drive will also be taking place at the shows, benefiting the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. – Karla Hernández

Meiko whips up a tasty-looking batch of her world famous Turkey Balls in her charming visual for “Stuck on You” from her Spring 2012 release, The Bright Side. Set in a cute little kitchen, she’s clad in a frilly apron, and smiles at the camera as if her lover was right there watching the entire process. The recipe for Meiko’s Famous Turkey Balls (vegetarian version included as well) can be found on her website. Meiko is not only being generous with her recipe secrets, right before Christmas, she will perform at two benefit shows along with other local musicians. On December 16th, she’ll play the "10th Annual HoHoTel Holiday Benefit Show", aiding the Los Angeles Fire Department’s "Spark of Love" Holiday Toy Drive. Also, on December. 19th she’ll play the "Songs For Kids Benefit Show", raising money for the Song For Kids Foundation. – Nicole Dawley

As a gift for the Holidays, Los Angeles experimental musician DAMEDAS (also known as Felipe Delgadio) has released a FREE 6-track EP called Imagination’s Limitations Through a Telescope. Unlike his previous release, Flamenco Futuro, which was infused with layers of gypsy-African Ju Ju-zen sounds and alternating Spanish-to English vocals, Imagination’s Limitations Through a Telescope explores the darker side of loop music, in what Delgadio describes as “winter mood.” Through the simple use of synthesizers and drum machines, he creates complex musical space between uncharted experimental sounds that left us feeling like natives in a strange, galactic land of wonder, where stargazing permeates more than just the visual senses. – Tuesday Phillips

I’ll be honest – the idea that a past mythology elevates one’s personal predilection of something current to the status of “idyllic” is preposterous. There’s been quite a lot of talk about graceful singer songwriter Jonathan Wilson, whose soothing autumnal vibe has been grossly linked to the seventies Laurel Canyon state of mind. But like any sacred place that gets overly habituated, that modest rustic refuge overlooking the congested Los Angeles landscape eventually lost its authenticity once artists were lured by hedonism and big paychecks – I mean, didn’t the disdained Studio 54 disco scene suffer the same exact fate? Coming up with such descriptions does a great disservice to Wilson’s scrupulously arranged compositions. Yes, he may have earned his stripes as a wandering soul (whose life trajectory seems written by an empirical biographer), but that same sense of mystery is what’s most alluring. Without a doubt, Wilson is a talented musician, whose rationale is richly detailed with naturalist wit and tender phrasing against inviting warm guitar strums and the occasional overdriven blues lick. His latest release, Gentle Spirit, is a serene (and necessary for those who want to delve into rock music in its purest form) aural experience coming from an artist who is refreshingly out of touch with our times. I may be tad hard on the basis of Wilson’s romanticized persona, but I’m sure he would agree with the sentiment. 

Gentle Spirit by jonathanwilson

The Los Angeles-based psychedelic outfit Secret Alphabet put out an album, played some shows, and then they kind of just disappeared earlier this year, leaving us all twiddling our thumbs. To be fair, the band did notify its fans on its site that it would be on hiatus until October, but the month came and went with no sign of the experimental droners. In mid-November, the quartet finally broke its silence, announcing plans to record a second (and possibly last) album. If Secret Alphabet can release something as colorful and melodic as its debut, it will be a good year for the four-piece. I look forward to seeing what 2012 has in store for these guys. – Katrina Nattress

If you’re looking for a new artist to listen to that just appeared on the radar, check out Harriet, the new band fronted by Alex Casnoff, a member of Dawes and Papa. He’s ventured out into his own songwriting territory and does so confidently. The single from their debut EP, Tell the Right Story, is called ‘I Slept With All Your Mothers," which instantly creates many interesting scenes on first thought. It’s a break-up song, but it definitely takes an unexpected trajectory with the idea of sleeping with all of their mothers. The song sounds upbeat and quite triumphant, full of heavy guitar lines and choral echoes that contrast nicely with Casnoff’s slightly edgy voice. It’s a great song, full of passion, which you can hear in Casnoff’s voice especially towards the end. With this amount of dedication, it looks like Harriet will be around for awhile. – Taylor Lampela

Harriet "I Slept With All Your Mothers" by HarrietMusic

Even though Jhené Aiko’s mixtape, Sailing Soul(s), was released earlier this year, it’s still getting tons of great response from fans old and new as if it were released yesterday. Maybe it’s because the Los Angeles singer-songwriter is loyal to bringing back R&B (with a little taste of Hip-Hop) in all its 90s glory. Though the buzz is new, Aiko is actually a veteran in the music game. About 12 years ago, at 12 years old, she was signed to The Ultimate Group (T.U.G.)-Epic Records along with mega Pop-R&B group B2K, headed by Chris Stokes. After a few changes in management, the label could not find a place for her on their roster, so she decided to take a break and persue education instead. While on her very extended hiatus from music she found love and had a beautiful baby girl. Now she is back with Sailing Soul(s) and gearing up to release her new album, Souled Out. – Nicole Dawley

With fuzzy female vocals and an indie pop sound that recalls the crooning melodies of the ’60s and ’70s, Neverever is one of those bands that just needs to be listened to on vinyl. You can almost hear the pop and hiss of vinyl on the band’s newest single, "Wedding Day." The song starts with a bright bass line, but soon becomes saturated in vintage sounds with whirling and distorted guitars. The song is a preview of Neverever’s upcoming EP, entitled "Shake-A-Baby," which is set to be released on January 17 via Slumberland Records. In the same manner as "Wedding Day," the band promises that the 5-song EP will follow themes about young love and a resistance to growing up. In preparation of the release of "Shake-A-Baby," Neverever will be the resident band at the Echo every Monday night in December. Joining them throughout the month will be other Los Angeles favorites, including Cold Showers, Residual Echoes, Dunes and Sea Lions. – Karla Hernández

Neverever – Wedding Day by Slumberland Records

You can only name your band after a prestigious university if you make smart choices, and that’s precisely what LA based band Princeton does. Led by the identical twin team of Matt and Jesse Kivel, Princeton is set to release their sophomore effort Remembrance of Things To Come in February of next year. "To The Alps," a song available to listen to on their Facebook page off the new album, alone contains layered drums, xylophone synths and a plodding bassline along with one (or both?) of the brothers’ baritone voice ringing clearly over the top. It’s lush pop that never feels too heavy in its execution or delivery. For this album, the brothers teamed up with the seven-piece Los Angeles New Music Ensemble to help create the orchestral feeling of the album. They combine a love for classical composition and electronic dance music that fuses together seamlessly. It’s looking to be an expansive work that should not be missed. Remembrance of Things To Come will be available on February 21, 2012 on Hit City. Also, they’ll be playing a Monday night residency at the Bootleg Bar in January starting on the 2nd of the month. – Taylor Lampela