Five bands worth following this year.
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Haim
This melodic pop group isn't breaking through; they're busting through. These ladies are currently opening for Mumford and Sons and leading the NME Awards with nominations for best new band, best new song, best new video, and best band twitter. (35,000+ twitter followers–not too shabby for a band who hasn't released a full LP yet!) You'll swoon over 80s-pop inspired tracks “Save Me” and “Forever”, a song which will not “Go go go go get out, get out of [your] memory.”
This uber fun-loving and fearless duo, consisting of Mowgli Moon and Rocky Chance (who was born in Orange County), prove that 'weird' is the new 'sexy'. Their 'Crime Novela' EP is presented as an ingeniously stylized lookbook of animated gifs, in which they embrace their inner child (and look good while doing so). Also be sure to check out their analog-style video for “Believe in Me”, a song that makes us feel sexy and confident enough to dance in public. He Met Her are currently working on their debut full-length album, which will be released later this year.
You can tell this trio (Joshua, Goldy and Sara Lynn) has both brains and heart. “Positively 4th Street”, a track from their introductory EP titled “Four Steps In Corsets”, should already be on the soundtrack to every teen-girl targeted show on television. Self-titled track, “Yellow Red Sparks” makes us daydream of riding
bicycles through a waist-high flower field while eating ice cream. The band has recently completed their first full-length record and O.C.'s own director/cinematographer Claire Vogel is gearing up to record their first music video.
bicycles through a waist-high flower field while eating ice cream. The band has recently completed their first full-length record and O.C.'s own director/cinematographer Claire Vogel is gearing up to record their first music video.
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Thelma and Louise don't hold a match to this Los Angeles rock duo consisting of Lindsey Troy (guitar, vocals) and Julie Edwards (drums) who met at a needlework class, of all places. Deap Vally sounds like what would happen if a Karen O kidnapped the White Stripes in a time machine set to 1970. Their song “Lies”, whose music video debuted this week, makes us want to acid wash our jeans and re-watch The Runaways. You'll feel revived while listening to other tracks like “Gonna Make My Own Money”, a gritty, high-energy rock song. Bragging rights: These girls were the openers for Muse's international tour this winter.
This Chino Hills-bred band creates soothing, melodic riffs punctuated by thought-inducing lyrics. Their song “The Walk” will make you want to grab a cuddle buddy and head to the beach tonight with PG-13 intentions. “The Way I see” (a free download from their fb page), has a faster, yet still melodic and mesmerizing tempo. And yes, we've spotlighted this quartet in the past; you can read our interview here.
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