Stepping into any of Rosie Tucker’s songs is always an experience. It’s like going inside the singer-songwriter’s internal monologue and watching the events, usually anxiety-ridden, unfold right before your eyes. "Ambrosia," her latest single, is a bit messy in its message—she worries about getting older, listens to John Coltrane, and stares at her fruit salad—all while she waits for her object of affection’s text reply. It’s funny to hear her open up with such candor, but also bittersweet, an open admission that amplifies an otherwise patient guitar strum. 

"Ambrosia" follows Tucker’s debut full-length Never Not Never Not Never Not. The stand-alone single comes on the heels of her West Coast tour supporting Soccer Mommy, which precedes her upcoming month-long residency at Bootleg Theater in November. – Juan Rodríguez

On "Headcase," power-pop trio Blame Baby realize that our younger years aren’t that different from our adult life. "Memory of memories at full assault/Revealed in reverie identities true and false," vocalist Jesse Johnson sings over a chugging guitar line, a thought that came from a conversation he had with his younger sister. Despite the anxiety he feels, the band’s jovial debut single pulses with an anthemic energy that aims for the rafters.

Listen to "Headcase" below. – Juan Rodríguez

Before moving to Los Angeles, multi-instrumentalist Brendan Dyer had begun to take a homespun approach to the music that spoke to him from his hometown of Bristol, Connecticut. Dyer’s new single under his new project with his live band MILLY, "Crazy Horse," solidifies his experimental urges while deepening his songwriting focus. The track’s slow, reverb-drenched rhythm befits his increasing lethargy, the direct aftermath of disappointment, finding some solace in the gleaming chord arrangements he plays—before he builds it up into a fuzzed-out, searing conclusion. It sounds simple in construction, but there’s a lot of details Dyer tucks in within its steady, programmed drum beat, whether it’s subtle touches of the piano or wistful bursts of slide guitar.

With two official singles under their belts, MILLY is joining seminal shoegazers Swervedriver on their entire tour in October and November—including a stop at Teragram Ballroom on November 6. Juan Rodríguez

Andrea Silva’s latest single, "Criminals," feels like you’re eavesdropping into two good friends having an honest conversation. Silva, who goes by Loyal Lobos, recounts a series of past experiences —and how these have shaped their present lives. "You were also there in the morning/ When I saw everything dark," she admits, playing a dreamy, cascading guitar melody set to swelling ambiance—an element that gives the song a strong feeling of nostalgia.

"Criminals" is the first reveal off a series of sessions Silva recorded with singer-songwriter Evan Voytas and famed songwriter/producer Terry Geiger. She’s currently in the middle of a West Coast tour supporting Girl Ultra, including a stop at the Regent Theater on September 17. Juan Rodríguez

 In every relationship, that feeling of "newness" eventually fades. It’s a feeling that KidEyes think about on their new single "Take Me Back in Time," a joyful, all-embracing anthem where they let go of their fears and begin to accept that true love develops over time. The theme of stability also applies to the duo of Ben Epand and Greg Cahn, both of which approach their new creative endeavor without any premeditated expectations—and all they can do is celebrate the moment. 

"Tame Me Back in Time" is featured on KidEyes’ self-titled debut EP, which is due out on October 4. Throughout October, the duo is also hosting a month-long residency at the Hi-Hat in Eagle Rock. – Juan Rodríguez

On "Paralyze the Dead," Stereo Match push themselves to follow their instincts. Following their dance-oriented debut single, "Worship You," the indie-pop quartet retain their groove, albeit, with a funkier and bouncier pop sheen. With Young the Giant’s Eric Cannata on production duties, the band inspires others to overcome their fears and to put your true self out there. It’s a timeless message that—matched with their joyous spirit and slick hooks—always goes down easy. 

"Paralyze the Dead" is featured of Stereo Match’s forthcoming LP, HUMAN, due out later this year. – Juan Rodríguez

Nadoyel’s lush, violin-driven compositions heighten the senses with lulling tranquility. On a surface level, you’d think that the trio of Celia Eydeland, Jacqui Miranda, and Zachary Paul’s use of space and atmosphere falls into some blanket term like "dream-pop"—except that they’re taking a more experimental approach that sounds riskier and more unique. On "Providence," a highlight in their debut EP, Tav, Paul’s blissful, cascading arrangements (he’s classically trained) softly glide over Miranda’s icy, slow strums—as Eydeland yearns for loving transcendence while sounding just as, well, transcendent. But even if "Providence" has more of an ambient touch, there’s a power in its simple elegance—elaborate yet effortless, all while retaining a pop undercurrent. 

Listen to "Providence" below, and hear the rest of Tav on their official bandcamp page. – Juan Rodríguez

I found myself singing along to the chorus the very first time I listened to Spooky Mansion’s “Real Jerk," the new single from the Bay Area transplants who have found asylum in L.A. For the video’s release, the soulful garage-rock five-piece partnered with French artist Bleu Garou, pairing intricate and comical cartoons with a story of misplaced feelings in a world filled with irrational choices. “Misunderstood/ What we meant when we said taking a break, I thought we could be free,” vocalist Grayson Converse sings, which sounds like a sentence taken straight from the Friends episode “The One Where Ross And Rachel Take A Break."

Spooky Mansion releases their debut album, That’s Me! on October 28th, so stay tuned. Kayla Hay

It’d been three years since Kayla Cohen (a.k.a Itasca) released 2016’s Open to Chance, a sublime offering where the singer-songwriter sought to connect with the nature, and beings, that surrounds her with finger-picked acoustic melodies and lilting country ballads. There was a good reason for her absence—wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of L.A., Cohen went on a six-month creative retreat to rural New Mexico in hopes of finding something new and meaningful. One of her findings is documented on her new single, "Bess’s Dance," a gentle jazz-folk fusion that conjures images of her days living in an old adobe house. 

"Bess’s Dance" is the first reveal off Itasca’s fourth LP, Spring, which is due out on November 1 via Paradise of Bachelors. Juan Rodríguez

It may seem as if Wyatt Blair unlocked his hook-filled guitar pop from a time vault. But upon first listen, the tireless singer-songwriter’s latest single, "Cherry Rose," sounds very much akin to this city’s late-seventies power-pop roots—its crunchy guitars and compressed drum sound could be easily mistaken as a Bomp/Elektra Records long-lost gem. On his forthcoming EP, For the First Time, Blair promises to dig into some personal themes, but "Cherry Rose" serves as a distraction before things get bleak. From beginning to its gradual fade-out, the escapist anthem is pure, gleeful fun.

For the First Time follows Blair’s pair of two full-lengths, Inspirational Strawberries and Smoke & Mirrors. It is out on December 8 via Lolipop Records. Juan Rodríguez

A roundhouse kick to the face would be an appropriate approach to how Hana Vu’s newest single, “At The Party,” hits. This 19-year-old powerhouse from L.A. has been a self-proclaimed singer songwriter from the age of 13, and luckily for us (and for her), was given a record deal last year. Saturated with strong bass and synth notes, it will make any short drive, walk to the market, and quick coffee shop stop before the night begins memorable. “At The Party” creates a fun, disco pop vibe to your end of summer playlist, pairing a dark and twisted visual representation of uncertainty with stimulating lyrics and cadence to elevate any mood.

On October, Hana Vu will bring a double EP she named Nicole Kidman / Anne Hathaway. She begins her tour in Vancouver in September, but you can catch her at the Lodge Room in L.A. on October 2nd. – Kayla Hay

A light flickers and goes out. The room goes dark, a single match is sparked once, then again, lighting the room long enough for the record to play another song. “Sinner” by Leslie Stevens begins to play as her soft, comforting voice fills the room. And that is exactly how I pictured the start of the next independent film I watch. Stevens beautifully recaptures an early Dolly Parton blended with Janis Joplin, seducing her audience and guiding us down an old town road. “There is bad in the best of us” is a lyric that we all need to hear, read and then hear again, a true lyricist that will rip your heart open and mend it back before the end of the song—and “Sinner” does exactly that. Leslie Stevens is resurrecting a lost art. Keep an eye out for her come August 23rd, when she releases her newest LP. – Kayla Hay