Back in April of last year, the eclectic and commanding jazz heads of Echo Pearl Varsity won our Artist of the Month poll, a designation given to those local acts that sit high and esteemed in the hearts of local music appreciators. The jazz-fusion post-rock hybrid group is led by principle songwriter Sam Luna, who has momentarily shifted his focus onto his solo endeavors, recorded under the moniker Wonka Vision. Presently, much won’t be found online, but that’s why we’re pleased to share the premiere song and video from Wonka Vision’s debut solo album, titled "Application."

Luna directed, edited and starred in the sci-fi Netflix series Black Mirror-inspired video, based on the overuse of internet and cellphones, and how digital technology is essentially numbing society. "[Cellphones are] disrupting our daily lives, taking up useful hours and all together just rotting our brains," says Luna. "Through the digital world we refrain from human experiences, which cause us to be less social, more self-conscious and more depressed."

The ending of the video goes further to display this point, with one of characters caring more about her online persona than reality, which is how Luna feels most people are in the current age. He even titled the whole DIY album, which is due out February 23, as White Mirror.

Numb out to "Application" below and be on the lookout for the White Mirror drop later this month.

 *photo by Hanna Stevens

With sounds and lyrical content as indicative as their moniker implies, The Complex Dialect blend jazz, blues, hip-hop and rock in the makings of their progressive tunes. Their atmospheres are indeed complex, yet, incredibly easy to get lost in. For a band comprised of eight members that makes total sense, as each contributing element help make The Complex Dialect one of the more dynamic newer acts to hit the scene. Their debut album Change shows that.

With Change, the band has tried to symbolize the problems and solutions in our current state of the world. Each song hones in on subjects fraught but true with society (like police brutality and capitalistic slavery), meant to spark internal and external debate and reflection through music. The Complex Dialect contend their intention is to hearten the dispirited, stating that "We look for non-conventional solutions to conventional problems. We strive to be the change we want to see in the world."

Feel the change and listen to one of the album’s tracks "Look For A Friend For The End Of The World" below.

 *pictured: Haley Johnsen and Kingsley

Women deserve the most appreciation ever, to be quite honest, and the kind that goes much farther than just wearing a button or posting a picture of a femme you find attractive on a Wednesday. The type of adoration and appreciation women need, especially in a time where it’s becoming more and more widely realized that women are frequently abused and mistreated, is the type that Women Crush Music provides.

Founded by Ashley Kervabon, Women Crush Music is a showcase that started in early 2017 with the mission of encouraging, inspiring and exhibiting local femme singers and songwriters. Now in over 10 cities, it relaunched at the beginning of 2018 as a nonprofit, with a staff spanning from the west to east coast. Portland, its flagship city, will be the only locale chapter to host showcases every month at its new venue home the White Eagle, while the other cities will have showcases six times a year. 

“There is such a need for what we are doing here at #WomenCrush, and how quickly we’ve grown in the last 6 months really goes to show that," says Kervabon."

"By relaunching as a non-profit organization we believe we will be better able to fulfill our mission at #WomenCrush Music, which will always be to support women artists in whatever we way can. I am hopeful that we will continue to expand in the states, Canada, Mexico and then intercontinentally and I am excited to continue empowering women in music and for all of our future plans.”

Women Crush Music’s first show of the year features Kingsley, Haley Johnsen, Emily Aldridge, Hayley Lynn, Isabeau Waia’u Walker, Jessa Campbell,  Maiah Wynne, Shae Altered, and Tara Velarde.

 Though they live in two different states, the collaborative efforts of San Antonio, Texas’s Erick "Progeny" Frias and local Rob Castro as hERON are undeniably some of the best in modern trip-hop around. Long distance relationships don’t often work out but for these two, it’s proven successful. A listen to their self-titled debut album marks such.

With Frias blasting the beats and sometimes guitar, and Castro handling the brooding air of bass lines and keys every once in awhile, the textures they create are both introspective and groovy. Their debut album offers tracks for every vibe, from the laid back mellow moods of the short album opener "Chillmode" to the bluesy boho riffs on "EvilFortress" and the slightly country western twang to "Melt Away." The duo create plenty of soundscapes, complicated and simplistic at the same time, and there’s something new to appreciate about it with every listen.

Give hERON’s self-titled record a few run-throughs below.

Portland is losing another one to the brighter skies of Los Angeles, and that one happens to be chaotic pop songstress Coco Columbia.

Since her debut in 2014, Coco Columbia quickly won over hearts with her perfectly crafted concoction of dreamy indie, jazz and electronic pop. It’s why she was voted one of our top artists back in 2015 and has continued to end up on numerous lists as considerably one of the more eclectic artists in town. 

Those that have grown used to catching Coco Columbia’s sets locally will be a bit blue at the news that tonight, she and her current band are playing their last Portland show before her big relocation to LA. Playing alongside Coco at Mississippi Studios will be one of the Deli Portland’s other "best" acts LiquidLight and Childspeak, coming up from Eugene. There’s no doubt that she’ll be back for more sets in the future, but be sure to come out to get enough of her poppy jazz fix to tide you over.

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of smooth and silky electro-R&B sounds, and that’s exactly what Telecommuter is dishing out with his debut single and video for "Can’t Get Back to Sleep." 

Telecommuter is the solo project of composer and producer Alexander Margitich, who also holds a Berklee College of Music background in contemporary composition and production, as well as quite a bit of choral singing and improvisational jazz guitar training. Margitich’s background has translated itself seamlessly into the electronic arrangements he’s been working with recently. "Can’t Get Back to Sleep" is laid over a slow tempo, moody electro beat, as Margitich gives a mellow and slightly sultry delivery of his vocals. The track was inspired by a fit of jet lag and insomnia that struck him on a family trip, the experience contributing to much of the song’s moodiness. 

For the video, Margitich collaborated with his wife, fashion designer and photographer Lina Michal. Together they visually matched the mercurial air of the song with the abstract and ambient carnival shots. 

"Can’t Get Back to Sleep" is the only Telecommuter track you can find online, but there’s a chance to hear the rest of what he’s been working on during his debut show on 1.11 at the Turn Turn Turn with Prolly Knot, Indigoe and SunSon. Watch the video for "Can’t Get Back to Sleep" below.

There’s a certain vibe that comes to mind when people think of the West Coast, aesthetically and sonically. For many people in other parts of the country, the West Coast is basically just southern California; what’s produced is thought to be heavily influenced by endless sunshine, palm trees and warm beaches. But despite being tucked away in this northwest corner there’s still pretty good representation of what the West Coast sounds like, particularly with The Flavr Blue.

Since 2011, The Flavr Blue has mixed electronic influence with a mellow R&B manner of vocals. They’ve got quite a few releases under their belt, but one of the bangers of the year was the trio’s early summer track “Top Down,” a song perfect for that evening turn up.

Considering the fact that New Year’s Eve is the biggest turn up of the year, head over to Q Nightclub to see The Flavr Blue do a DJ set. VIP tables for the night are sold out, but there’s still admission tickets if you’re trying to roll through. 

 *photo credit: Jordan Inglee

Big bands are the best for massive celebrations. The energy they bring to the stage and to the crowd is integral for bringing vibrancy to any party, if they’re good at what they do, which is why it makes total sense that Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme are hosting two New Year’s Eve celebration shows. Both of them are even sold out.

Eldridge Gravy & the Court Supreme run deep with their band members and hopefully all 10+ of them will be present as they takeover the Tractor Tavern on 12.30 and 12.31. Unfortunately, those who wish to spend New Year’s Eve with the supergroup and Bread & Butter, the lively supporting for the NYE’s set, won’t have much luck. The biggest weekend of the year, since we’re all so excited to see it off, is sold out. 

Try your hand at experiencing some of the exuberance from the sidewalk but either way, it’ll be guaranteed drunk fun.

 *photo by Dawn Riddle

Portland felt #blessed in its own little way when Explode Into Colors reunited last year. There’ve been bursts of excitement on their end by way of a couple shows here and there since their reunion, but the next two nights are where the real party is going to be at.

The New Year’s Eve weekend is going to be lit with two nights of colorful sets by them, as presented by XRAY.fm, but the supporting acts of each night are sure to provide some turn up as well. The bill for the 12.30 show includes the experimental cumbia of Sávila and grooves spun by Daniela Karina. NYE itself is tinged with r&b and hip hop, with soulful vocals and dancing from vocal and producer collaborators Maarquii + Jvnitor and a guaranteed sultry set from songstress Blossom.

Tickets are still available, so add one or both of these shows to your NYE itenerary. 

It’s pretty much a general consensus among everyone who paid attention to the excess of crap that happened this year that 2017 can’t fuck right off. Seeing as New Year’s Eve celebrations are a big deal in Portland there’s plenty of opportunity to say that sayonara we all seek, but for New Year’s Eve eve? There will be some "heavy music for heavy times," as advertised. 

At the Kenton Club on 12.30, the purveyors of such heaviness range in their sonic density without fail, each elevating their sounds from a foundation of psych. Eugene’s Sacred Trees involve hypnotic swirls of sound hazed by unrefined airs of lo-fi garage, while Robots of the Ancient World offer straight up stoner rock. Menin gets a little bit harsher will doom laden riffs, and Ethereal Sea embody facets of each, melding stoner, doom, psych and garage into a pretty powerful force.

Get the pregame started a night early.

 Helvetia has been a Pacific Northwest gem for some years now. At times experimental, Helvetia’s chill take on alternative and indie has been one thoroughly enjoyed since the band’s inception back in the mid-2000s, though none of their sounds would have come to light if it weren’t for the dissolution of another prevalent group. Helvetia came from Duster drummer Jason Albertini after the band broke up and tonight, he and the rest of Helvetia will be doing a little bit of a tribute to their catalyst act.

Though they’ve only a couple releases under their belt, Duster’s slowcore sound was a fairly important part of the late 90s. Helvetia’s set tonight, which will include participation from original Duster member Dove Amber, will include some of Duster’s tracks, though it’s not entirely confirmed which ones made the cover set cut.

Playing along with Helvetia will be Floating Room‘s moody shoegaze and the goth-pop of Deathlist. 

 The day after the Christmas is like a hangover from joy; hours upon hours spent entranced in a material or substance induced high can grow exhausting after awhile. If the cheerful spirits and gift-caused joy were a bit too much to handle yesterday, there’s a bill of the most furious punk to help quell that overdose on annoyed happiness. 

Prepare to have your face melted later tonight, as newer "weirdo-punk" outfit Xurs take over the High Dive along with the gruff vocality of New Bloom and Meridian‘s noisiness. It’s the best way to gain back all the energy that was sucked out of your soul by too much family time and mass food consumption yesterday. For under $10, it’s a small price to pay to feel again.