Though Wyatt Blair‘s new EP For The First Time has come out just weeks before the start of a new decade, it has a power pop sound which smacks heavily of sound from decades long since passed. A track like "Boys Night Out" has a touch of Springsteen with a guitar riff that sounds like "Rosalita" and pounding toms from "Candy’s Room". "Cherry Rose" has hints of Pat Benatar and Ratt in its cross between glam metal and early Eighties new wave. And "Fear To Fight" picks up the speed with a bit of proto-punk from bands like The Cars. Even though Blair takes a lot from the music of the previous generation, there’s plenty on For The First Time to please listeners in the generations of today. Take a listen to "Boys Night Out" below. – Will Sisskind

On the cusp of the new year, the temperature’s starting to drop, but indie pop music maker Bay Ledges (a.k.a Zach Hurd) is here to warm things up with his new single "Dive". The theme of the track seems straightforward, evoking images of the ocean at sunset with waves of stripped-down but lush sound. Even though the year’s almost done, "Dive" marks Hurd’s first release in 2019, following a whopping four singles last year. Hurd has more songs in the works for next year, but for right now, take a listen to "Dive" below. – Will Sisskind

On December 16th, Shannon Lay will perform her final show of her residency at Zebulon, with Ty Segall joining her on the bill. Lay released her first Sub Pop album August this past summer, but to add to her discography with the label, she’s just released the singles "Blue" and "We Mend" for the Sub Pop Singles club. "Blue" spins the often-sad connotation of the word into something more hopeful and romantic, with Lay’s lyric "I will love you ’til my hair turns blue" setting the theme for the song. "Blue" and "We Mend" share a mellow, folksy vibe, with something more intense brewing underneath. Lay already has big plans for 2020, with a European tour set for February. Take a listen to "Blue" and "We Mend" below. – Will Sisskind

Celeste Tauchar of talker has received plenty of press in the past year, what with her releasing her debut EP Horror Films back in February and wowing audiences show after show. Not looking to slack off before the end of the year, Tauchar has released her new single "Learning The Feeling", as well as the intense music video for the track. It is the follow-up to her previous music video for "Keep Me Safe", a slow burner in which Tauchar sang about waiting for truth. "Learning The Feeling" symbolizes that moment, as Tauchar’s voice explodes with energy in the chorus, letting everything that had bubbled within her over the past year boil over. Take a look at the video for yourself below. – Will Sisskind

Lindsay Kay produces thought-out and graceful musical art pieces tied to her multi-faceted personality. In her new video for "Clean & Fair", the single from Kay’s 2018 album For the Feminine, By the Feminine, the feminist singer-songwriter sings of reclaiming female personal space and identity. Much of the political turmoil and anger from women during the 2016 election influenced Kay’s songwriting, and as we go into a new decade, her words continue to ring relevant even today. But you would not know of the chaos that formed "Clean & Fair", for the song is nothing more than Kay’s crystalline voice over a somber piano. Nonetheless, that’s all the song really needs; it’s a beautiful piece of work. Take a look at the music video for "Clean & Fair" below. – Will Sisskind

Winter‘s music has always sparkled with dream pop shimmer, but despite the title of the band’s new EP Hazy, the sound waves away the smoke and mirrors of production to introduce something more raw and unrefined. Samira Winter sings on five lo-fi tracks recorded in her Echo Park bedroom, all influenced by the likes of Sparklehorse and Elliot Smith. The stripped-down format creates a more vulnerable platform for Winter to share tracks full of unobscured emotion such as "I Feel" and "Bad News". But even with the more rough production value, the shimmer remains the same. Take a listen to Hazy below. – Will Sisskind

Indie pop artist Emlyn dropped her debut single this past weekend, a chopped-and-screwed emotional track called "Had Me At Hello". The track — inspired by the Nashville-born artist’s destructive past relationship — describes Emlyn’s personality, which she describes as dynamic. "Had Me At Hello" doubles down on sonically representing that range, with its muted intensity and loudness even in its quieter moments. Dark and grungy, but accessible to a wide audience, "Had Me At Hello" will introduce Emlyn to a mass of new listeners in the new year. – Will Sisskind

Lexi Aviles, the soulful leader behind Love You Later, recently dropped her latest single, “Said That You’d Be There.” Filling the room with brooding dream pop, Aviles reflects over what it’s like to trust people who simply cant be trusted over a lavish electronic vibe. Her intoxicating approach appeals to a wide audience of listeners, gathering those from all spectrums of music genres including house, 80’s and 90’s pop, disco, and new wave. The relatability of her lyrics makes me feel less alone during that anxiety filled hour right before a first date: “I spent longer on my hair, cause you said that you’d be there.” An EP is set to be released in February in 2020. – Kayla Hay

 On his new single, "Change," singer-songwriter Tasso Smith is mad as hell about the current state of affairs. More specifically: medical industry D.C. lobbyists and the dehumanization that humans are imposed upon due to greed and corporate interest. It’s a complex issue that Smith, who goes by the moniker Thom Sawyr, addresses with poignant simplicity over an alternative meets Americana-styled production. "We’ve been lost for so long/How much before we break and hurt someone," Smith questions, offering an anthemic plea that urges for just a little bit more compassion. 

"Change" follows Smith’s debut single "Wishing on the Wind," both of which he’ll feature on a still-unannounced EP.  For more information on touring dates, including a December date he’s yet to reveal, visit his official website. – Juan Rodríguez

Some artist names perfectly illustrate how the music sounds like. The fizzy synth textures and warm, sun-dappled production flourishes of Michael Jakucs, who goes by Sunwarper, provide a place of comfort and reflection. It’s a slight, yet significant departure for Jakucs, whose new single "Heidsee" puts a new emphasis on live instruments, sampling, and field recordings—a stylistic change from the atmospheric soundscapes of his former project, Selles. He does take a more beat-driven approach, but it’s no less ruminative, capturing floaty, yet involving, fluctuations that offer a sense of renewed life to his ever-evolving downtempo music.

"Heidsee" is the first single off his upcoming debut full-length Idolon, which is due on all streaming platforms on January 10, 2020. – Juan Rodríguez

Los Angeles can be a hard place to fit in. In a city that is so sprawling, you’d think that there wouldn’t be any preconceived ideas of what it is to fit a certain "type." On "Oh California," Joy Weather’s latest single, singer-songwriter Brian Ishiba isn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet. "Cus even though I have my doubts/I’m planning on sticking around," Ishiba reflects with a tinge of regret over a scuzzy guitar riff, a sentiment that came to him while he was living in Japan. Ishiba and bandmates Ed Baida (bass) and Joey Grabmeier (drums) share an unbridled love for the place they call home, demonstrated with effusive joy on the accompanying video. The trio galivant like locals sharing a travelogue of their everyday adventures, ultimately convincing us to give the places we may initially dismiss a second look. 

"Oh California" is featured on Joy Weather’s still-unannounced forthcoming LP, which promises to tackle themes like reconciliation and personal growth. Check out the video premiere below. – Juan Rodríguez

On the video for their new single, "Reminders," Mega Low gives a different spin to the performance-based music video. At first, it seems ordinary enough: the Costa Mesa four-piece get ready to record another take inside a studio booth, led by the guidance of an unattached recording engineer. That is until we find what’s troubling said engineer, which leads to an eye-opening experience that causes him to pay attention. And as he should, given that the Spencer Askin-led band delivers a mini rock suite that nods to classic rock royalty like Queen and The Beatles with a modern stylistic approach.

Check out the David M. Helman video below, who’s worked in the past with artists like The Weeknd, Glass Animals, and Khalid. And if you want to see them live, they’re playing a local release show on November 25 at The Wayfarer. – Juan Rodríguez