Something good is going on in (or originating from) Orange County, California.  Kind of a rootsy, folky, Americana/soul vibe, with some straight-forward rock elements.  Our artist of the month, The Union Line, is representative of that...

Our January 2009 Artist of the Month is the The Union Line, a band that hails from Orange County, but whose sound is not breezy surf music.  The band's tunes seems more rooted in the fertile landscape of the south or old west, perhaps spilled...

Gus Seyffert is the man behind the mellow pop of Willoughby.  Close your eyes and you'll be reminded at times of the jazzy, sad laments of Chet Baker and windows streaked with rain on a quiet weekend.  Other times the music is more upbeat,...

A blast of happy fun time, The Monolators make "sweet punk"- simple ditties that charge forth with manic energy but aren't trying to pretend they can solve the world's problems (thank you!).  The approach is somewhat reminiscent of the Young...

The World Record is led by Andy Creighton, whose songs are power pop gems of the first order.  The rest of the band is comprised of members of another outstanding group, The Parson Red Heads.  Creighton's songs are reminiscent of Fountains...

The Pacific deserve a massive audience.  They have a real knack for creating insanely catchy, propulsive rock songs.  You can totally envision a stadium full of fans singing along to these tunes.   Their sound is familiar- think Oasis...

Known as Emma Burgess when she released her debut record, Swim, Brandi Emma is a singer-songwriter from Los Angeles.  With a voice reminscent of Shelby Lynne, AmieStreet.com declared her record one of the top 25 of 2007.  Brandi's songs are...

Here's our session with the outstanding singer-songwriter, Jason Falkner.  Aside from an impressive solo career that that has garnered critical praise, Jason has also been a member of some influential bands- Jellyfish, The Grays, and Air. ...

As we reach the end of the year, it's good to reflect on how the music industry is evolving.  A little over a year ago, in October 2007, two events shook the music business.  First, Radiohead offered fans a chance to set their own price for...

Previously known as a backup singer for The Bird and the Bee, Alex Lilly takes center stage with her new band, Obi Best.  As a songwriter, she demonstrates a real knack for intricate, playful melodies.   The band's debut album, Capades,...

Appropriately perhaps, Alexandra Johnston of Monster arrived at our sessions sporting a cast on her arm.  Appropriate because Monster's songs are such fractured tales.  The songs she creates for Monster are quivering and ethereal,...

We owe this session to über Los Angeles music scene writer Kevin Bronson (definitely bookmark his Buzzbands music blog), who highly recommended Kenan Bell during our last visit to LA.  Kenan is a rapper, but this is not a turntable...

Big Phony is the solo project of Bobby Choy, who splits time between New York and Los Angeles.  Bobby's (quite brilliant) songs are gems of understated heartache, most definitely in the mold of Elliott Smith.   Check out (and buy) his...

Fol Chen, who've just been signed to Asthmatic Kitty Records, are a curious (mysterious) lot.  There's a story here (read the bio on the linked myspace page) and perhaps the songs are taking us on a journey.  For this session, we filmed the...

Sometimes when you bring a bands into a recording studio for a live session, they become more mellow than if they were performing in front of a real audience.  Understandable, since the only other people in the room are sound engineers and...

The Coral Sea, who've had their music featured on the television show Grey's Anatomy, play orchestral, atmospheric rock.  Leader (and singer) Rey Villalobos has a high, quivering voice that is fragile, even beautiful in its expression and his...

Los Angeles-based Honeyhoney is led by Suzanne Santo and Ben Jaffe, and the twosome is certainly an engaging pair.  They have a new record, First Rodeo, out today, that is a stellar mix of folk, soul, country, bluegrass, rock, and pop. ...

Kárin Tatoyan delivered one of our most compelling sessions.  With an Olympic-sized voice, all-out delivery, riveting songs, and unique arrangements, there is a lot to like about her music.  There have been comparisons to Bjork and...

With two records under its belt, The Western States Motel has established that it can consistently deliver memorable tunes, as well as a vibe that is somehow both deadpan and spry.  Songwriter Car Jordan creates musical landscapes that sparkle,...

Los Angeles trio, The Karabal Nightlife, released a promising full length record called The Other Shore in 2006.  There was an earnest angst to their playing and the songwriting was quite good (Sea of Sleep and I Need A Girl come to mind). ...