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The spirit of New Year’s is still in the air, and so is the time for making fresh updates to playlists.
Dynamic bands from Canada, Australia and Southern California are on the rise, as are soloists hailing from Vancouver and in Los Angeles. Whether it be surf rock for listeners eager for winter to be over or passionate breakup anthems for fans in search of catharsis, several talented entertainers are carrying momentum into 2025.
Read on to discover a handful of artists the Daily Bruin is adding to the queue.
Singer-songwriter JESSIA wears a denim outfit and looks toward the camera on the cover of her 2024 EP “Okay With Every Part.” The Canadian artist’s inspirations include Jessie J and Sia. (Courtesy of JESSIA Music Inc.)
JESSIA
JESSIA is OK with every part of entering the world of pop music.
Jessika Harling, better known as JESSIA, is an artist from Vancouver, Canada. Her stage name is a combination of her two idols, Jessie J and Sia, whose musical inspiration is reflected in her sharp voice and impactful lyrics. JESSIA made her breakthrough in 2021 with her viral TikTok song “I’m not Pretty,” a body-positivity anthem. She followed this with her debut EP “How Are You?” and later went on to open for OneRepublic’s “Never Ending Summer Tour” and Dean Lewis’ “The Future Is Bright” tour.
JESSIA’s July 2024 EP “Okay With Every Part” continues to demonstrate her songwriting skills by reflecting on mixed feelings about an ex after breaking up. In the opening track “Different People,” she sings, “I don’t wanna wonder where you are tonight / Like, are you kissing / Different people? / Trying not to say my name / To different people?” She toys with her desire to keep tabs on her ex but knows she shouldn’t for the better. However, the tone shifts to anger and revenge in “Friends With My Friends,” as she sings, “‘Cause I still think about how we loved / But tonight, I’m putting those thoughts on the shelf, ‘cause / I hate that you’re friends with my friends.” Ultimately, the EP captures the emotional complexity of post-breakup turmoil, balancing vulnerability with the harsh reality of moving on.
With every unapologetic lyric, JESSIA proves that vulnerability and strength will punch her a ticket to stardom.
– Chirag Tailor
[Related: Concert preview: Winter season brings R&B singers, indie artists to Los Angeles stages]
King Stingray’s 2024 sophomore album “For The Dreams” features the band’s name on yellow lettering against a red background. The five-member Australian band fuses surf rock with funk. (Courtesy of King Stingray. Exclusively licensed to Civilians and Cooking Vinyl Australia)
King Stingray
King Stingray is ruling over a rising tide in the surf rock scene.
The Australian band released its second studio album, “For The Dreams,” in November – two years after its eponymous debut LP in 2022. The group consists of Yirrŋa Yunupiŋu, Roy Kellaway, Dimathaya Burarrwanga, Campbell Messer and Lewis Stiles – Yunupiŋu and Kellaway have been friends since childhood – and has been releasing music since its debut single “Hey Wanhaka” in 2020.
Surf rock is the primary genre found in King Stingray’s music alongside elements of indie rock, punk rock and funk. Some of the band’s songs incorporate lyrics in Yolŋu Matha – an indigenous language tracing to the northeast Arnhem Land in Australia’s Northern Territory – as well as English. Up next for the band are several shows across Australia starting in March.
For Angelenos who enjoy the beach and listeners who love upbeat rock tunes, King Stingray looks likely to keep bringing a lively splash to any playlist.
– Reid Sperisen
Singer-songwriter Miya Folick crawls toward the camera while covered in mud on the cover of her upcoming album “Erotica Veronica,” which will be released Feb. 28. The artist is based in Los Angeles and explores themes of sexism and power in her music. (Courtesy of Stop Talking, LLC under exclusive license to Nettwerk Music Group Inc.)
Miya Folick
Miya Folick is frolicking in her newfound fame.
The Asian-American singer-songwriter entered the musical scene in 2015 with her EP “Strange Darling.” After her first full-length album “Premonitions” in 2018 secured her a coveted NPR Tiny Desk Concert, Folick boomed as an artist with a fresh sound and something to say. The LA-based singer embarked upon her own headlining tour, promoting her album “ROACH” and growing her fanbase. With her new album “Erotica Veronica” set to release Feb. 28, Folick is rapidly becoming a banner of the music industry’s future.
In an interview with “GEM Magazine,” Folick revealed how she turned to music when grappling with loneliness and stress during a semester break from college. The coping mechanism gradually morphed into a career prospect, discovering local musicians on dating apps to form a band. Folick’s music is unapologetically personal, stringing intimate experiences and insecurities into soothing music with deeply relatable lyrics. Furthermore, Folick is focused on increasing representation in the music industry just as her music gains traction, and she explores dark themes of sexism and toxic power structures.
The bold artist is one to watch as she empowers listeners through her authentic style.
– Puja Anand
A kelp forest is shown on the cover of Rec Hall’s 2024 EP “Otherworld.” The indie boy band from Southern California includes post-punk influences from artists such as The Strokes in its sound. (Courtesy of Arista Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment)
Rec Hall
Rec Hall is making its way onto every surf rock playlist.
The California-based indie boy band features vocalist John Barry, drummer Lance Meliota and bassist Ben Tyrrell, with Barry and Tyrrell both also acting as guitarists. With multiple “Battle of the Bands” titles, the trio has expanded its songwriting skills through releases like its 2021 debut single “She Doesn’t Get It” and first EP “Localism” in 2023. Opening for lovelytheband in 2024, Rec Hall fused the American indie pop band’s sound with post-punk influences from artists such as The Strokes, The Clash and Interpol.
The band’s recent contract with Arista Records encouraged the band to experiment with new sounds, culminating in its latest EP, “Otherworld,” released in November. The five-track collection immerses listeners in a sensory exploration of anticipation, growth and positive energy, capturing a psychedelic journey into a sonic otherworld.
With its listener base only set to grow, Rec Hall is sure to take fans on a “Joyride” with its new music.
– Isabella Appell
The members of the band 9Million stand and face the camera on the cover of their 2024 EP “9Million on Audiotree Live.” The group hails from Toronto, and frontman Matthew Tomasi has produced for artists such as Ethel Cain. (Courtesy of 9Million and Audiotree Music)
[Related: Concert Review: Billie Eilish shows her tour is ‘THE GREATEST,’ wows at Kia Forum concert]
9Million
9Million artfully blends the moodiness of ethereal shoegaze with addictive melodies.
The Toronto, Ontario-based group is composed of Matthew Tomasi, Danielle Clark, Lia Lepre, Looch Man, Jamie Fastlane, Noah Aviles-Betel and Ace Mendoza. The band was spearheaded in 2021 by frontman Tomasi, whose background as a producer has led to his pioneering collaborations with artists such as Ethel Cain and Nicole Dollanganger. Tomasi formed 9Million as an outlet to explore new sounds and creative concepts.
The group’s 2023 mixtape “GUSH” showcased this transcendence of musical boundaries, with tracks ranging from alternative rock to synthwave to haunting dark ambient, all with 9Million’s own captivating essence. The group credits alternative rock band The Breeders, particularly its album “Last Splash,” as one of its shared inspirations. 9Million released its latest EP, “Lucky,” in October, featuring its signature hypnotic vocals, atmospheric reverb and rich, complex instrumental layers. The band will be performing at the LA venue Genghis Cohen on March 2.
9Million seems set to keep transporting listeners to a ‘90s garage while cultivating a sound that is distinctly its own.
– Jade Wang-O’Shea
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