There’s not much information about elusive electro pop artist Garrett Borns, aka BØRNS, at the moment, besides his love of taking selfies and taking snapshots that look like old polaroids. They’re both well-documented on his Instagram page, though what he’s giving attention to this week is the release of his debut EP Candy. Backed up by major label powerhouse Interscope, his latest single, "10,000 Emerald Pools", should soon make him a household name – the track has a beach bum vibe, as Borns confesses that he’s falling deeply (yes, literally, as the title suggests) for someone. There’s plans for him to tour this fall, with dates coming up shortly. 

The new single by alt-shoegaze act Draag, "Lavender Hole", takes inspiration straight from the American response to U.K.’s form of shoegaze in the early nineties. It forges that same blissed-out, atmospheric wash with some college rock sportsmanship, meaning that the entire production emphasizes agreeable fuzz and clarity over chaotic dissonance. The track is featured on their latest recorded effort, Tracii Lords, which follows their self titled LP. The band will be performing at Bootleg HiFi this coming Tuesday, November 21st.

Black Belt Karate is certainly not lacking in musical credit, as they boast an impressive list of past musical endeavors. Ryan Hanifl, the lead singer and songwriter, has composed music featured in various television shows and national commercials. Jason Achilles Mezilis plays guitar for both Owl and Clock – with Chris Wyse and Vivian Campbell, respectively. Harry Anthony Ostrem plays bass for Dizzy Reed (Guns N’ Roses) and Ryan Brown drums for Zappa Plays Zappa and SexTapes with Chris Pitman (Guns N’ Roses). With solid separate backgrounds, Black Belt Karate feels more like a supergroup than anything else. "Transformer", their new track, has an indie pop California ease cut with NY garage punk influences. They are nostalgic and new at the same time – with a humor and quirk reminiscent of 90’s indie rock giants Cake and Weezer, but with an edgier Queens of the Stone Age sound. The video is a clever take on a police lineup, with Hanifl, Mezilis, Ostrem and Brown acting as the usual suspects. Their charm is apparent and infectious, proving any recognition they receive is both well-earned and deserved. – Jennifer Mergott

In the simplest terms, Roses can be described as eighties-leaning nostalgics with a penchant for dramatic flourishes that bristle with a somber tone. Their latest EP, Dreamlover, is filled with lush soundscapes reminiscent of The Wake, tempered synth-leaning ballads with textured keyboards that ache as much as they delight. For the entirety of this month, The Deli LA will be presenting their month-long residency every Sunday night. It kicks off this Sunday, November 9th, in which they’ll be joined by Dunes, Michael Vidal, and a DJ set with Bethany Consentino of Best Coast. Stream the upbeat, gleaming pop jam "It’s Over", and head to the Bootleg this Sunday night for a fun-packed night. 

We’ve all been there. No two people love each other equally, which is the theme trio Busy Living explore on their latest track "Let You Down". "I don’t want to let you down/ but it’s gonna happen", goes Mike Moonves’s sprightly chorus as a smattering of propulsive synths wash over the track’s anthemic pull. Produced by Spoon’s Jim Eno, "Let You Down" is a slight departure from their more streamlined guitar pop. It’s a joyful moment marked with some sadness, and they bring a potent reason to celebrate the beauty of oneself when the love we invest on so fully may go unrequited. 

After listening to Snoh Aalegra’s sultry voice, I took away a version of the song that changed how I heard it. ”I’m in a nightmare having a dream…I find good things in bad versions of me.” Collecting all the images of self-doubt I have of myself, her latest track "Bad Things" put them away in the back of my mind while making me realize that the bad things I find within myself just make up who I am. Of course, the way Aalegra chooses to portray her imagery of it is noticeably more spellbinding and more pleasurable on the ears. Alas, Producer Rich ‘No I.D.’ Daily laid out the tracks to this single, mixing R&B and soul with hip hop to create a blended rendition of what sounds like the daughter of Alicia Keys and Kat Dahlia. Aalegra is due to be signed with Sony later next year, and with that in her future, there really is no stopping this bombshell. – Kayla Hay

Athens, Georgia native, LA-based Green Gerry first began as the bedroom project of Gerry Green. Gerry oversaw the entire project by himself until he assembled a group after the release of his second album, King Baby. His translucent lo-fi has since captured the attention of major indie label Mom + Pop, who approached Gerry to re-record one of the tracks off that album under their offshoot singles label Mermaid Ave. Since then, Gerry has recorded a second single, "Mumbo Jumbo", a slack psychedelic track that displays Gerry’s pop sensibilities whilst honing in some slightly warped guitar work. 

You can catch Green Gerry at the Bootleg tomorrow, October 29th as part of the monthly Blind Date new music series. 

Michael Nicastro and Matthew Lieberman, the genre ambiguous duo known as Magic Bronson, are releasing their first full length album, Wildlife, on November 4th. The album, a follow up to their May 2013 EP, Nor’easter, is filled with the band’s fresh mix of hip hop and indie rock. "Fences", the lead single off Wildlife, is a heartfelt homage to family. The corresponding video is comprised of sunny shots of their LA lives and vintage family moments. With lines like, "So take a look around you, these people founded you", "Fences" is not only an intimate portrayal of Nicastro and Lieberman’s lives, but also an invitation to re-examine our own. – Jennifer Mergott

The Luxembourg Signal is something of a new beginning for its band members, since three thirds of the band was part of Sarah Records signees Aberdeen. There’s a legacy attached to their name, but this latest project is anything but – though their stylized, danceable indie pop holds many parallels to the former, the tracks off their latest full-length, When You Motor Away, are thoughtfully crafted and hold a distinctive musical identity all on its own. This, of course, is a sign of experience, a band who retains their youthful innocence in their shimmering mid-tempo chuggers whilst demonstrating their knack for soaring, dreamlike melodies. When You Motor Away is out now via Shelflife Records. 

Nick Long of Dark Waves induces my music coma with every synthesized piece of pop on his EP. He’s a lyricist that tells a story in every single track, and equally puts as much thought into his beats. A beautifully haunting video to his single "Echo", that includes Leon walking through the streets in a black and white scale, creates the ominous illusion that is an echo with breathtaking cinematography, “Every time I try to let go, you keep coming back like an echo.” Dark Waves does a powerful job at getting inside your head and igniting your soul, subconsciously making you want more. – Kayla Hay

Garage pop act Spaceships are known for their rough, yet sublimely melodic bedroom recordings. It looks like those days may finally be over for the prolific duo, who are finally taking it to the studio with their latest self-titled EP. The upgrade in sound quality is instantly apparent in new single "Good Gradez", an expectedly fuzzy number with harmonic "oohs" that’s offset by a virtuous guitar lead. The EP is slated for a November 4th release via New Professor Records. 

Noise pop trio Tennis System are streaming their much-anticipated sophomnore full-length, Technicolour Blind, one full week in advance of its official October 21st release date. The follow-up to their 2011 debut, Technicolour Blind was recorded with Ulysses Noriega (of Wedding Presdent and Offspring fame) and mixed with highly-touted producer Drew Fisher. Listen to the full album stream below, and make sure to catch them play a hometown show at Los Globos on November 11th.