Here we have a collection of three exceptional Los Angeles-based artists and bands we’ve showcased quite a few times via our New Music editorials and Artists You Should Know features. If you’ve yet to jam out to the elastically-spirited melodies produced by Fake Dad, head-bang along with the riotous Pep Squad, or fall for the lilting enchantments of singer/songwriter Jailyn Duong — this is the sign you’ve been waiting for to do exactly that.
Remember to check out our Best New Songs of the Month playlist for more fresh finds!
Fake Dad “Crybaby”
After releasing one of our favorite EPs of 2023 last fall Los Angeles duo Fake Dad is back with another madcap indie-rock banger with the release of their new single “Crybaby.” A delightfully irreverent romp through ego-driven ambition and recognition — “I’m the real deal / Grade A Bitch / Coming in for the steal” sings vocalist Andrea de Varona — the track relishes its melodramatic obsession with fame’s elusive glamor. With Josh Ford lying down jumpily scintillating riffs and a propulsive pummeling of drums “Crybaby” embraces that manic sprint toward stardom.
“The song is about someone who’s obsessed with being famous, but no one takes them seriously,” the band said of the single. “It’s about the toxic cycle of success/attention for a whole generation who see ourselves as temporarily disgraced superstars.”
Visit Fake Dad on their website, TikTok, and Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Crybaby” the new single from Fake Dad below!
Pep Squad “Dynamite”
Pep Squad delivers a thrilling conflagration of pop-punk on their new single “Dynamite.” Led by the hypnotically vociferous Kat Leon the trio gives a concussive rush of howling and blistering rock exhilaration. “Come a little closer I wanna show / How a real one does it but you already know / That I’m a truth teller stone killer damn I’m a trendsetter,” she sings on the flirtatious hype track. Against the shrill shriek of distorted guitars comes a wave of ferociously vulcanic energy that is impossible to resist — not that you’d want to. Give yourself to the ecstatic rush of “Dynamite” and you’ll find yourself blissfully obliterated by its fierce adrenaline.
Visit Pep Squad on their Instagram to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Dynamite” the new single from Pep Squad below!
Jailyn Duong “Just A Taste”
Jailyn Duong‘s first single of the year arrives in the form of her hungering new song “Just A Taste.” Between a throbbing melody of intoxicating electronica, she explores the tempting possibilities of an equally seductive and alluring romance. “The sun will fall and I’ll stay / Just for a taste,” she murmurs over the track’s glimmering pop. “Moving with you till my eyes are outta focus / Hold it steady I don’t care about the commotion.” Send the single over to a simmering crush as a not-so-subtle confession and you might find yourself not so single thereafter.
Visit Jailyn Duong on their Instagram and TikTok to stay updated on new releases and tour announcements.
Listen to “Just A Taste” the new single from Jailyn Duong below!
Head over to our Best New Songs of the Month playlist to find more of your future favorites. It’s a far better alternative to discovering new music compared to sifting through algorithm-driven suggestions!
Words: Steven Ward
