Big Sis is the new project of Nathan Paris-Hernandez, a songwriter who’s assembled a loose collective of musicians that include members of other well known local acts like L.A. Witch and Pastilla. On their latest single, "Way Back", the band exhibits a more robust and nuanced version of melody, noise and rock that resonates with a nonchalant, yet rough-around-the edges beauty. But there’s also some intricately knotty guitars in display, honing in a slackened mood with its loungy grooves and psychedelia undertones.

"Way Back" is featured on Big Sis’ upcoming self-titled effort, which will be out digitally and on cassette via ¡DAME! on October 21. You can catch them at Redwood Bar & Grill tomorrow, October 6, alongside Globelamp and Pipe Dreams. The band is also playing a record release show at ¡DAME! Studio on the day of its release. – Juan Rodríguez

Longstanding power pop locals Weezer announced that they’ll be performing at the El Rey Theatre on November 3rd for Rhonda’s Kiss, an organization which helps cancer patients in need.

Proceeds from the concert event with Weezer will benefit the Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute and further the mission of Rhonda’s Kiss, supporting programs to assist cancer patients in need, and helping those who receive a cancer diagnosis make ends meet during treatment.

Tickets are on sale now via RhondasKiss.org. GA tickets are $60, Mezzanine VIP are $250, and Balcony VIP are $450. All donations and tickets purchased for the concert are tax deductible.

The haunting discord of Katie Gately’s new single, “Lift”, has everyone up in arms. With over 400 different layers, this ex sound producer for film has created an aesthetic ode to her own childhood that everyone can relate too. Gately mentions in an interview with Complete Music Update that her favorite childhood sounds were ‘fireworks, high-pitched screams, claps, smacks and stomps’, noises I am sure we all can relate to and remember. So soak in the nostalgic sound of an eccentric childhood dream in Gately’s Colors come October 14th. Your memories will be glad you did. – Kayla Hay

Steady constancy is not a means of creation for Michael Anthony Espinach. The Long Beach-based multi-instrumentalist likes to find new approaches that stimulate him, different forms of expression that are starkly honesty even if they could impart some obvious discomfort. His musical project, BREATHERRR, is about taking chances with undaunted persistence – it’s meant to fit no obvious genre, a technique that wholly feeds into his unpredictable streak. What once was an industrial-inspired-project with art rock elements has now transitioned into a sound that’s more embracing but no less challenging. “Plume”, the third track off of his third full-length Almond Noir, is one of the first times where Espinach places himself front and center, a candid piece of free-flowing poetry that is exceptionally suitable for the song’s glitch and thrumming electronic elements.

Almond Noir has a set release date of November 11 on all major music platforms. You can catch him on November 3 at Prospector Long Beach. – Juan Rodríguez

Led by Shelbi Bennett’s soulful delivery, San Diego alt country band The Midnight Pine are set to release their latest self-titled record on October 7. Prior to its release, the band are playing a show at the Satellite on October 5.

Listen to their most recent single, "Vice", below.

Lacei make their introduction with a cooing embrace on "Cold Moon", a song that finds a nexus point between folk, pop and electronica. It sounds like a weighty combination if you list them all together, but the duo of Jessica Lombardozzi and Viktor Ahlgren bring it all together effortlessly by weaving over a pleasant strum that turns into a driving, drum n’ bass-inspired chorus. This is the moment when Lombardozzi lays out her pastel-toned vocals, a quality that gives this project its distinctive character.

The duo is performing at The Study on October 21st. – Juan Rodríguez

Folk pop quartet The Brevet find beauty by keeping a steady balance of bombast and subtlety. The Orange County quartet’s latest single, "Meet Me in the Night", has something of a cinematic quality that’s both tender and heroic, bolstered by a twangy arrangement that builds into a chest-swelling chorus with an elegant, radio-ready sensibility. It makes more sense when you read how songwriter Michael Jones was inspired by old western films, an element that truly broadens their harmonic Americana sound. 

"Meet Me in the Night" is off the band’s recent EP Embers: Chapter 2, which can be currently streamed on all major music platforms. They’ll be celebrating the release of their EP with a hometown show on September 22 at Hotel Cafe. – Juan Rodríguez

Indie rock quartet Heartwood first graced us close to half a year ago with "Can’t You", a promising single that had a vivid anthemic quality with its prominent harmonies and noodling guitars. Their latest single, "Peace of Mind", is a serious step up for a band that is embracing a no-frills form of guitar rock that both ehtuses and invigorates. Lead by Michael Armstrong’s superb vocal range, the track propels forward a hyper-melodic guitar hook that steers its way to a memorable chorus that is all the more augmented by the band’s radiant harmonic phrasing. 

Heartwood are currently working on releasing their first set of recorded material. – Juan Rodríguez

NEW LANGUAGE are bringing back the performance-based music video with "Wake Up", a visceral new cut that demonstrates the band’s bracing melodic sense and passionate playing. Originally conceived by Tyler Demorest and Matt Cohen, they both enlisted Tony Hajjar (At The Drive-In/Sparta) to produce their upcoming debut full-length.

The band is currently in the midst of a nationwide tour supporting The Used. – Juan Rodríguez

If you’re one of those who believes that the summer is simply a state of mind, then look no further than Low Hum. The solo project of Collin Desha, who was a member of notable local act Vanaprasta/Sun Drug, Low Hum adopts vintage-sounding synths to an otherwise low-slung groove that turns more and more anthemic as it rolls along. This feeling is captured perfectly on his first single "Sunburns", a fitting ode to his love for the ocean that seems to exist in a perpetual reverie.

"Sunburns" is out now on all digital formats via Hit City U.S.A. – Juan Rodríguez

Ray & Remora were born two decades apart. As any Gen X born, or millenial who feels two old to identify with the term (raises hand!), can attest, Dan Crane (Ray) sees the early nineties as an essential part of his musical upbringing. Amanda Walker (Remora), on the other hand, is a good two decades younger than him. Nevertheless, they both brought their minds together to write a full album featuring a who’s who of nineties indie rock royalty. 

After accomplishing this with very good success, the duo are now close to releasing their first full-length of recorded material, Startle It Up. And yes, those nineties influences do carry into their originals as well. One of their most recent singles, "The Happening", is a more gleaming fuzz rocker that offsets their more melodic inclinations with a sleeker pop accesibility.

Ray & Remora is releasing Startle It Up on September16. – Juan Rodríguez

A lot has changed since FYF started back in 2004. It’s safe to say that FYF now directly competes with some the country’s most popular festivals, and yet its carefully-picked lineups are second to none in terms of quality and fan appreciation. I can’t think of another festival that dares to put Grace Jones as one of the top headliners, and also manages to get Saves the Day to jam out to Stay What You Are so we can relive our teen years.

It also never fails to feature some of LA’s most sought-after artists. So even if there’s a shortage of lesser-known independent artists this time around (a need that’s more than satiated with festivals like Echo Park Rising and Eagle Rock Music Festival), the festival will still feature a good number of stellar artists who we’ve seen flourish from local favorites to notable international acts.

Below are some of our top local undercard picks for FYF 2016:

1. Chelsea Wolfe: Performing at an appropriately-timed 11pm slot on Saturday night, the darkly seductive singer-songwriter will provide her doom-laden folk anthems to anyone who likes that perfect symmetry of pitch-black ambiance and intense, feral passion. Having seen her evolution throughout the years has been a delight, especially last year’s Abyss, a breakthrough effort that is testament to her tireless work ethic and unrelenting talent.

2. Julia Holter: Julia Holter is a fiercely independent artist who continues to surprise with every new project. Last year’s Have you in a Wilderness was vastly celebrated, both in the States and abroad, another eye-opening creation that showcases her compositional prowess and nuanced intimacy.

3. Boogie: The Compton-based rapper has released two mixtapes, one of which included last year’s sleeper hit “Oh My”, and yet he still remains an enigmatic character. Having recently signed to Interscope Records, it’s safe to say that Anthony Dixsom’s last days as an under appreciated artist are numbered. Expect a rousing set at the newly-minted Club tent, which will serve as an appropriate training ground to test some of his new material.

4. Kelela: This is the second FYF appearance from the experimental singer-songwriter, who’s soulfully-tinged R&B remains unfairly overlooked behind artists like FKA Twigs and Banks. The fact that she’ll be performing in between artists like Ty Segall and Wolf Parade on Saturday night demonstrates her crossover appeal, coming from an artist who’s really come into her own performing her alluringly provocative songs on stage.

5. Ty Segall & the Muggers: We’ve seen Ty before, (many, many times, actually), but this year he’s bringing The Muggers along to perform this year’s wildly idiosyncratic release, Emotional Mugger. At FYF, some things will never change.