“White Knuckles” by Boh Doran

In New York, Boh Doran was a frontwoman, but now she’s a solo artist in Los Feliz. Her recent sessions with Jon Kaplan (Ingrid Michaelson) and Ethan Mentzer (The Click 5) spawned her forthcoming self-titled debut EP (Big Stuff Records) which includes the groove-driven pop track “White Knuckles.” But don’t let the catchy, swinging chorus fool you. Underneath her oh-so-sweet voice are unapologetic lyrics of soulful strife.

“Will you still be holding on with white knuckles?”

Boh Doran: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Soundcloud

“Weekend Millionaires” by Katelyn Tarver

Los Feliz denizen Katelyn Tarver recently leaked the first single, “Weekend Millionaires,” off her forthcoming album. As a result of collaborating with Swedish composer/producer Ludwig Goransson (HAIM), the playful song alters between a lite funk groove and a glossy pop anthem:

“Until Monday comes again, we’re weekend millionaires.”

Katelyn Tarver will perform on March 9th at Bootleg HiFi.

Katelyn Tarver: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud

“Dumb Bitch” by KUZIN

Jessica Maros (of Escondido) recently ditched Nashville for Los Feliz and re-emerged as KUZIN. Her debut album, Cavity (Kill Canyon), was produced by Bill Reynolds (of Band of Horses) and is due this spring but for now here’s “Dumb Bitch” –an intense, balls-out shredder with pure punk fury and a spunky shrill:

KUZIN will perform Monday (February 9th) at The Satellite.

KUZIN: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Soundcloud

“Desire” by Little Brutes

Los Feliz‘s Little Brutes came about when solo artist Rachael Cantu hired songwriter Harlan Silverman as her tour guitarist. What started as backstage warm-up sessions naturally became a new project. Their debut EP, Desire, drops tomorrow and is stuffed with lush chops of indie pop. Here’s the title track:

Little Brutes: Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Soundcloud

“Lifeboats” Music Video by Soft Swells

Soft Swells‘ self-titled debut album seamlessly layered indie rock with pop tones, but their new EP Lifeboats (Modern Outsider) floats to an even higher level of jubilation.

Band founder Tim Williams blames the songs blatant optimism on “falling in love and finding true happiness” as he split the recording between his Los Feliz apartment and in the UK with producer Dave Lynch. The group is currently working on their sophomore LP, but for now you can enjoy the music video for the EP’s title track which was shot around Venice Beach and features pro surfer Bree Kleintop.

Soft Swells will perform on May 5th at The Echo along with Pillar Point, The Mercy Beat, and In The Valley Below.

Soft Swells’ Official Site, Soft Swells on Facebook, Soft Swells on Twitter, Soft Swells on Instagram, Soft Swells on YouTube

“Sleepwalk” by Great White Buffalo

Los Feliz‘s Great White Buffalo recently produced another EP and it’s their best work yet. Co-produced by the Grammy award-winning Philip Allen (Adele), the self-titled release features six more raw songs of grit-pop rock. Most bands can only write a few catchy tracks and attempt to even out the tone with a little lethargy –but not GWB. Each new song packs an upbeat punch and melodic soar that just plain rocks. Check out the perpetually grooving “Sleepwalk”:

Great White Buffalo will perform every Tuesday in April for their residency at Hemingways (presented by The Basement Sessions). Come on out, it’s FREE!

Great White Buffalo’s Official Site, Great White Buffalo on Facebook, Great White Buffalo on Twitter, Great White Buffalo on Bandcamp

“Help Yourself” Music Video by Naama Kates (Premiere)

Piano poptress Naama Kates returns with her sophomore album entitled King For The Day. As if haunted by jazz, she hasn’t lost her “girl (performing-in-the-bar) next door” charm and delivers more cabaret chic pop that’s lacquered with cigarette smoke and sultry whispers…

Her second single “Help Yourself” is accompanied by a music video that is Kates’ darkest to date. Created remotely by New York-based director Aaron Lehmann, Kates recorded her domestic routines (and her cat Masha) by hanging her iPhone with a clothes hangar in the corner of her Los Feliz apartment. Lehmann later added the digital special effects and himself appearing as “the stalker painter.” The final result is a chilling abstract view of voyeurism:

Naama Kates “Help Yourself” Music Video from Lehmann Film Productions on Vimeo.

In order to truly interpret the video, we asked Lehmann a few questions:

How did you come to direct this video?

“I’ve worked with Naama before on my thesis film, years ago.  I’ve always been a fan of her work, so I thought the release of her new album was a good opportunity to collaborate again.”

How did you decide to come up with the concept for the video?

“For whatever reason, ‘Help Yourself’ struck a chord with me.  All my inspiration came from listening to the song and letting my imagination go with it.”

What is the scary face that appears on the TV screens?

“The face-painted demon is ‘death-in-waiting,’ or the grim reaper.”

Creepy.

Naama Kates will perform next at Room 5 on Friday, April 26th.

You can purchase “King For A Day” on CD Baby.

Naama Kates’ Official Site, Naama Kates on Facebook, Naama Kates on Twitter, Naama Kates on YouTube

“Slow Down” Music Video by Poolside

Only in SoCal could a band like Poolside form. Based out of a studio in Los Feliz, the duo of Filip Nikolic and Jeffrey Paradise make what they call “daytime disco” by mixing slow beats with lax vocals. Their songs are caught between bopping down the strand in roller skates and laying in the sand while the tide rises. Either way, it’s warm, fun, and engulfing. Nikolic plays bass for Ima Robot and Paradise used to be in San Diego’s The Calculators with members of The Rapture, but now they’re the go-to-act for a laid-back dancefest. The music video for their second single “Slow Down” was directed by Shahana Khan and is a visual showcase for the band’s appropriate moniker:

Poolside will perform this Saturday, March 30th for All Bands On Deck! at the Santa Monica Pier along with YACHT, Kisses, Them Jeans, Guns In The Sun, and DJ Mario Cotto. And yes, there will be actual free bike valet at this event.

Poolside’s Official Site, Poolside on Facebook, Poolside on Twitter, Poolside on YouTube, Poolside on Tumblr, Poolside on Soundcloud

“Before You Lose It” Music Video by Naama Kates

There’s something different about Los Feliz’s Naama Kates… something unique. And it’s not just her name. It would be easy to dismiss her as just another piano chick, but everything about her demands a second glance. Maybe it’s her lounge chic style or her obsession with Shakespeare, but it’s probably her solid song writing that takes tiny risks with various tempos and dynamics. Right now she’s the girl (performing-in-the-bar) next door, so do yourself a favor: stop drinking and listen.

Naama Kates‘ released a music video for her first single “Before You Lost It” which is off her debut album The Unexamined Life. Directed by Princeton Holt, the video is part film school project, ’90s TV drama, and home-made footage; but it excellently captures the dreary essence of Kates’ dark diary expressions:

“Wash that blood off your hands, before you stain them…”

Naama Kates’ Official Site, Naama Kates on Facebook, Naama Kates on Twitter, Naama Kates on Youtube

“(You Got A) Pretty Mouth” by Great White Buffalo

Great White Buffalo might live in Los Feliz, but they sound like they went through a dozen dirty dive bars to get there. Like a pop rock band that got hooked on chew and whiskey, they spit out upbeat groove rock filtered through cigarette smoke and rough croons. As a follow up to their debut album All At Once, the quartet self-released the EP Tightrope this year and it features the hook ridden track “(You Got A) Pretty Mouth” which is probably an appropriate reference to the infamous line from the movie Deliverance:

Great White Buffalo will open for The Muddy Reds, Robinson, and The Dead Ships tonight at The Central.

Great White Buffalo’s Official Site, Great White Buffalo on Facebook, Great White Buffalo on Twitter, Great White Buffalo on Bandcamp