The sophomore LP from Red Ribbon (the project of songwriter Emma Danner) sounds like how many of us are currently feeling: lost, but with a sense of wonder. Having moved from Seattle to L.A. while working on the album, Danner’s songs are noticeably more sonically informed by the new locale. The opener “Weight of Man” is reminiscent of a Neil Young piano ballad during his Laurel Canyon days, while “Renegade” shifts to a more classic-Fleetwood-Mac-with-the-windows-down kinda vibe. Whether it’s how she uses her voice, or...

With Megan Thee Stallion and MARINA releasing music this week, summer is set. Here is a list of songs to add to your playlist that are guaranteed to elevate your summer.  1. "Keep It Movin’ " by Olivia O’Brien Making her name known through songs like “Josslyn” and “NOW,” Olivia O’Brien has made it very clear that nothing is off-limits when writing about her previous relationships. While her new album “Episodes: Season 1” has many anthems that can help anyone through a breakup or heartbreak, “Keep It...

Japanese Breakfast goes big on Jubilee, an album featuring billowing orchestral arrangements, smooth ’80s flourishes, and lush shoegaze sounds. Michelle Zauner’s previous two albums under this moniker dealt with grief and loss, but it’s apparent from the cheerful horns on the first track that Jubilee is bold and triumphant. Japanese Breakfast has always displayed a wide range, and this is no exception: from the danceable (“Be Sweet”) to the brooding (“Sit”) to the political (“Savage Good Boy”), Jubilee contains an impressive array of genres, moods,...

I love all eras of Liz Phair, and Soberish is no exception. Her first full-length record in a decade finds Phair combining her early work’s inventive, intimate jump-rope-rhyme sounds with her innate pop hit-making ability by enlisting Exile in Guyville/Whip-Smart/whitechocolatespaceegg producer Brad Wood. Soberish has everything Phair fans love: explicit desire within complicated love, rebellious lyrics sung in striking melodies, and even a nod to Henry, the bartending friend from 1998 favorite “Polyester Bride.” Phair wrote, when introducing 2010’s delightfully weird Funstyle: “This is my...

A lot goes into making a live performance memorable and worthy of watching. Whether it’s the talent that’s being showcased, the set design, or even the use of lighting, everything about making a good show is crucial. What many people may not question is who tackles all of the fine details into producing and designing something like a concert or a live music production. That is where Laura Escudè comes in.  Multi-talented artist and world-famous live show designer, Escudè is a woman with a vision of...

Timeless songs aren't just about whoever happens to be performing them. They're also about catchy song lyrics that have the capacity to make us laugh, cry, and dance like nobody's watching. Songwriting is a craft that should be honored, and listed below are five Black women songwriters who've given us some of the best bops of our generation. Know their names, support their solo work, and take note of just how talented they are.  1. Victoria Monet Born in Georgia and raised in Sacramento, California, this singer-songwriter’s...

This collection of David Bowie covers by an array of artists purportedly seeks to spotlight the late, great performer’s lesser-known appreciation for soul, R&B, jazz, funk, and gospel. But was Bowie’s appreciation for said genres truly obscure? He famously performed on The Dick Cavett Show backed by R&B powerhouse Luther Vandross and was later produced by Nile Rodgers of disco/funk paragon Chic. From the instrumental “Life on Mars” to the milquetoast rendition of “Soul Love,” if there’s an overarching theme here, it’s melancholy. Meshell Ndegeocello...

  L.A.-based band The Linda Lindas scored a record deal after performing their original song “Racist, Sexist Boy” at the Los Angeles Public Library. Hours after their performance was recorded and posted, the song went viral, receiving millions of views and garnering the attention of well-known musicians such as Paramore’s lead singer Hayley Williams and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.  Don't mess with The Linda Lindas.Watch the full concert: https://t.co/Usv7HJ1lLR pic.twitter.com/pKZ5TKDdiA — L.A. Public Library (@LAPublicLibrary) May 20, 2021   This talented group was founded in 2018 and consists...

If the name Emily Kinney rings a bell, then you more than likely remember her from her role as Beth Greene on the AMC hit, The Walking Dead. Both a seasoned actress and singer-songwriter, Kinney’s newest video for her track, “When The Midnight Fireworks Start,” is described as a “letting go of the past." Filmed during an actual full moon, Kinney is seen performing a moon ritual, practicing the art of letting go of past traumas and looking towards a brighter future.  “I think the song...

South London four-piece Dry Cleaning released its debut LP on 4AD in April. New Long Leg’s tight, focused post-punk sets a formidable stage, but vocalist Florence Shaw’s way with words—droll musings and surreal non-sequiturs delivered spoken, with canny dryness—steals the show. We thought Shaw, who has a background as a visual artist, researcher, and drawing lecturer, might have good reading recommendations, and we were right. –Emily Nokes 1. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata The portrayal of a female character who finds routine and logical systems...