We’re into the muted atmospheric sensibilities, classic blend of low-key instrumentals and warm hazy-vocaled presence of Toronto dream-pop group Tearjerker on their new down-tempo track “Perfect” which is off the trio’s new album Stay Wild (out on July 17). According to Tearjerker in an online interview with Impose Magazine, the group’s lush-vibe home-recorded album Stay Wild (which was carefully created over three years in the comfort of the band’s own surroundings) is partially about not allowing “life’s curve balls get you down, and alternatively to never grow too complacent even when life seems to be treating you really well”. Interestingly enough, according the the interview Tearjerker is going to have a cassette-tape release of Stay Wild but the group (in keeping with their environmentalist naturalist sensibilities on the project) plan to use natural packaging. We dig the quiet minimalist style, message and well-balanced instrumental demeanor of Tearjerker and look forward to hearing the album in its full-release form very soon. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Tearjerker 
(Soundcloud)
Get familiar with 25-year-old LA-based Montana-bred singer-songwriter HANA who recently charmed the blogosphere with her first single-debut “Clay” and subsequently caught the attentions of some big name artists such as Lorde, Grimes and Lana Del Rey. On her breathtaking new synth-pop second single “Avalanche” which features a lovely attention-drawing male-female vocal duo dynamic and simple-stuff slightly-tumultuous Sleigh Bells-vibe production accents from her producer boyfriend Blood Diamonds (who we covered last in 2014 for his excellent rework of Tinashe’s 2013 hit Vulnerable). Although it takes the song a bit to rev up and get going, we like the track’s seamless dynamic-opposite mesh of HANA’s delicate sweetly-biting vocals with Blood Diamond’s reverberant slicked-up electro instrumentals and bold unwavering staccato bass-line. “Avalanche”, according to HANA in her online Nylon Magazine interview, “is about my inability to say no and learning about becoming a more assertive person. I’m a people-pleaser to a fault, so this song is about saying no if I don’t want to do something, and becoming a more powerful person”. Good stuff. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
HANA 
(Soundcloud)
New B3 producer/artist-find Egyptian Art carefully seams together form and function with style and pizzaz on their new gracefully-executed ultra-smooth beat-driven hybrid remix “She’s So Lovely” which we especially dig for its deep sweepingly-cinematic vibe, glossy absolute-winner bass-line adaptation, and seductive dynamic between synth, beats and vocals. “She’s So Lovely” is an irresistibly catchy artfully-crafted well-calibrated mesh of abhi//dijon’s “Honest” and Kendrick Lamar’s track “Poetic Justice”. Excellent track. We are listening Egyptian Art. A+ Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Egyptian Art (Soundcloud)
Photos by Russ Ramos
Our man in L.A. Russ took a sharp set of photos of last night’s Ryn Weaver show at the El Rey in L.A. that are available NOW for your perusing pleasure.
Ryn Weaver (Twitter)
Photos by Russ Ramos
B3’s Russ Ramos was on had at the Echo on Thursday to catch live a pair quickly rising indie stars, Mind of a Genius innovative R&B man Gallant and pop charts force in waiting Verite. Sample Russ’s excellent set of photos below.
Gallant 
(Soundcloud)
VÉRITÉ (Soundcloud)
The relatively new dream-pop collaboration Helen is comprised of super-talented Grouper band lead-vocalist Liz Harris, Eternal Tapestry’s psych-rocker Jed Bindeman and Scott Simmons. Helen also features the background vocal accents of a mystery gal-pal named Helen and oddly enough the group wanted to be a thrash band at first. On their new psych-tinged indie pop track “Motorcycle” the group exude a certain irresistible charm and we especially like their neatly-muted frosted-over vocals and soul-filled reverb-y guitar textures. Helen is about to unleash their debut album, which (the word is) they recorded within the span of several years in Portland. The “Original Faces” EP is out via Kranky on September 4th. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Helen 
(Label)
The pleasantly subtle dreamily-voiced dance track “Thirstin'”, new from Canadian producer Jack J, showcases an amazing ultra-smooth funk guitar riff, bubbly marimba percussion, dub-reverb accents and vibrant jazz-style piano.. Stay tuned for the the vinyl b-side track called “Atmosphere”, which judging from the Soundcloud preview is also very good. Reviewed By Erin Shay.
Jack J (Label)
Get into the timeless, emotionally-captivating brand of 80’s-inspired gloom/synth-pop from Ballerina Black on the LA trio’s new luscious radio-ready summer dream track, “Heaven Sent”, which features moody-broody vintage-tinged Depeche Mode-vibe new wave style vocals, a vibrantly receptive guitar riff and that ever-present melody-laced synth-line that is beautifully characteristic of the genre. “Heaven Sent” is off of Ballerina Black’s newest EP “Whails”, out now. Reviewed by Erin Shay.
Ballerina Black (Soundcloud)
Santa Monica producer Beshken woos us with subtlety on his new wonderfully dynamic synth-driven percussion-accented track “Know You Well” which is steeped in an excellent ultra-dramatic male-female vocal duet featuring B3 new-fave artist ethereal songstress Mothica and Chicago Cudi-school rapper Mayo. From the Alanis-style sad-undertone I-am-woman-hear-me-roar message and sweet sultry beats to the cheerful-uplifting vibe instrumentals and Mayo’s slick reassuring rhymes, we love this song. Get into it. Reviewed by Erin Shay
Beshken (Soundcloud)
LA-based Floridians SWIMM are a psych-pop duo who recently dropped their guitar-driven EP second single “All The Time” off their upcoming “Beverly Hells” EP which is out via 24west Records on August 28th. A summery tropical-vibe follow up to the EP’s debut self-titled single, their new track “All The Time” has a sweet layer of hazy guitar riffs, punctuating hand-drum grooves, lush undulating synth and outstanding choppy-yet-melodic reverb-ed out Bono-vibe vocals with lyrics that address the duo’s awesomely close relationship to one another despite being opposites. We especially like the befuddled chorus “I want it all the time” and “you worry all the time” which according to SWIMM is “basically talking about how a couple people in a band can have stars in their eyes, feel as though every little decision they make could be life-changing, and that what they’re doing is super important, they are on the edge of everything… But maybe there is a lingering thought in the back of the mind that maybe it’s nothing?”. Don’t worry, we think you are on the edge of something really very good SWIMM and we look forward to hearing more great tracks from you on your new upcoming EP! Reviewed by Erin Shay.
SWIMM 
(Soundcloud)
