Robert DeLong reflects with “Better In College” single, feat. Ashe

Robert DeLong‘s brilliant take on music cannot be overlooked. The one-man-band of Los Angeles simply exudes genius, whether that be bouncing around his tricked-out stage of lasers and Nintendo 64 controllers, writing sociopolitically-charged dance songs or producing major bangers out of his home studio. This guy truly does it all. A par for the course […]

SWIMM assuages city sadness in “Feel Better”

Los Angeles-based pop band SWIMM intertwines psychedelia elements with catchy melodies to render… heartfelt life lessons? You wouldn’t suspect such astuteness from a psych-pop band, yet SWIMM’s depths are far deeper than the shallow surface that surround the pop genre. After busting out two full-lengths in a single year, SWIMM made their mark in 2018 […]

Trevor Hall talks new singles & forthcoming album

The day my editor asked if I was interested in interviewing Trevor Hall, I pulled into the driveway and opened the car door right next to my little lime tree, (named Trevor, of course) and discovered my first lime! You see, the tree was an anniversary gift to my ex, but I took the tree […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Hunter Porter “Nothing Left To Lose”

What happens when a classically-trained musician explores his darker side? You get Hunter Porter, an artist self-proclaiming himself as “the kid in jazz class who just wanted to be in a punk band” and what a mixture it is. Evident in his latest single “Nothing Left To Lose”, Porter builds conflict in his lyrics only […]

Top Shelf Music News: Episode 7

Welcome to the late summer edition of Top Shelf Music News, with your handsome hosts Matt Cook & Kristy Rose. Joining the dynamic music-reporting duo is O.G. of Slightly Stoopid, commenting on just how incredibly stoopid this year has become. With election coverage factoring in the mix by sheer accident, enjoy the latest music industry […]

Vokab Kompany unveils “Like That” video off new LP

Hip hop-EDM duo Vokab Kompany is back with their latest LP, Small Viktories. The nine-track album is the first of four years and breaks boundaries by launching the listener on hip hop-driven electronic soundscapes — such that will transport you for any occasion. Whether you feel politically-charged or in the mood for romance or simply […]

Rockstead to release “Distractions” single off forthcoming album

Hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio, four-piece reggae rock band Rockstead has been making moves and making people groove since 2013. The band is known for their ability to mix reggae, rock, hip hop and alternative flawlessly into their performance and sound. Through the last seven years, the band has managed to make quite a name for […]

Matt Pond PA reveals “A Pillar Of Salt” socially-distant video

For over a decade, duo Matt Pond and Chris Hanson has serenaded the world under the moniker Matt Pond PA. Now, along with the rest of the music world, the two artists had to pivot their platform back in March when the world was shaken with the rampant COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Pond PA took to […]

Top Shelf Music News: Episode 6

Top Shelf Music News is back on the virtual airwaves, standing as the first post-quarantine episode with both hosts Matt Cook & Kristy Rose filming inside the newsroom! After taking June off to observe a month of silence in the support of Black Lives Matter, Top Shelf Music feels the world — and the music […]

TSM Artist #HotList: July 12th, 2020

Filmed in June and premiering today, Alexia Johnson brings you another #TSMArtistHotList. This week features Reed Dollaz (Philadelphia), FillmoeTrev (San Francisco) and Krooked Treez (Los Angeles) pairing with Sen Dog (of Cypress Hill), Karim Israel (of Arise Roots) and Sid Wilson (of Slipknot) This episode includes strong Artists of Color, making waves within the music […]

WORLD TRACK PREMIERE: Dillinger’s Hired Guns “Jellyfish of Love”

Blaine Dillinger continues his instrumental solo journey with a brand new single “Jellyfish of Love”, premiering with Top Shelf Music today before it hits any other digital outlet! A cornerstone of bands like HIRIE, Shrub and Clear Conscience, Dillinger proves through his solo ventures that he is far from a hired hand. Under the denomination […]

Vaudeville Revival delivers in ‘The Death of Los Angeles’ album

Living their lives caught somewhere in between starving artists and superstars, the members of the LA-based indie rock duo Vaudeville Revival have independently released their second full-length album, suitably titled The Death of Los Angeles — a followup to their 2019 debut, Free Dirt. The music of Luke Culhane and Jake Marino shouldn’t solely be pigeon-holed […]

Top Shelf Music gets to know The Vibe

All three members of San Diego alt-funk band The Vibe sit down with Top Shelf Music journalist Kristy Rose! With COVID-19 restrictions for musicians, The Vibe talks about what they had to do to adapt during the forced quarantine, how this downtime has been a blessing and what’s ahead on the horizon. After recently changing […]