Listen to our Ultimate California Mixtape below featuring each artist
Some of the most famous musicians on the planet got their start in California—the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Cher, Snoop Dogg, and Fergie, to name a modest handful. But before they were topping charts and selling out stadiums, these heavy-hitters were just kids with a dream.
California’s still full of dreamers, talented artists playing garages and filming TikToks in the hope of making their voices heard. Among them are the next Metallica, Dr. Dre, or Billie Eilish (three more Golden State stars). So, we asked 15 music experts from venues, record shops, and radio stations throughout the state to cut through the noise and tell us who they think is poised to go platinum. Here’s your chance to beat the inevitable Ticketmaster battle royale and see ’em while they’re still up-and-coming.
The Schizophonics
Recommended by: Tim Mays | Founder of The Casbah | San Diego
“I’ve long thought that The Schizophonics (@theschizophonics) are on the verge of going big. They just played a high-profile opening slot for Jack White at the Hollywood Palladium. They’ve got an established national booking agency working for them and a couple big tours over the next few months. They’ve consistently drawn large local crowds and their show is one of the best live shows out there—it must be seen to fully understand.”
Must-Listen Track: “Desert Girl”
Rexx Life Raj
Recommended by: Pendarvis Harshaw | Arts & Culture Writer KQED-FM | San Francisco
“Rexx Life Raj (@rexxliferaj) can rap. He can sing. He’s a clever jokester who talks about the powers of psilocybin, as well as a poet who readily discusses the -isms that plague our society. He is from Berkeley, played college football in Idaho, and [has] done shows around the world. There are a lot of entry points to his catalog for someone who has never heard of him—the California Poppy and Father Figure series are dope. And he’s done a number of remarkable features on other people’s projects.
But The Blue Hour album is a must-listen. In the wake of losing both his parents, he took that pain and made beautiful music for those who are in pain. (Isn’t that what music is for?) He’s dropping another project; it’s titled In Rhythm. I expect more of all of it.”
Must-Listen Track: “New Normal”
Anna Thoresen
Recommended by: Jake Perry | Talent Buyer Whisky a Go Go | West Hollywood
“I’ve been the talent buyer at The Whisky for 15 years, and an artist named Anna Thoresen (@anna__thoresen) recently sent over her music and I’m very impressed. She’s in her early 20s and lives in Los Angeles. Her music is a blend of soulful rock and pop—a Gen-Z Stevie Nicks who produces her own music. I think she’s the next big thing!”
Must-Listen Track: “Dirty Laundry”
Shua
Recommended by: Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS Arts Reporter & Host of The Finest KPBS-FM, San Diego
“On my radar is Shua (@shuatheshua), a San Diego–based artist who, in his words, creates music ‘for lonely people.’ Throughout his career so far, he’s seen highs and lows—[he’s been] on the brink of making it, with record deals inked and songs with millions of streams, and he’s also been on the brink of homelessness, unsure where his next meal might come from. Throughout it all, he’s committed to raw, compelling, and honest storytelling—all with a stunning voice and sonic energy that’s both urgent and delicate.”
Must-Listen Track: “How To Let Go”
Mareux
Recommended by: Brad Schelden | Head Buyer Amoeba Music | Los Angeles
“Mareux (@__mareux__) is a totally unique, new LA darkwave genius that also sounds completely familiar—a new kind of goth making music to help us cope with our brave new world.”
Must-Listen Track: “The Perfect Girl”
Sitting On Saturn
Recommended by: Candace Mandracia | Talent Buyer Humphreys Concerts By The Bay | San Diego
“Sitting on Saturn (@sittingonsaturnband) [is a] really upbeat trio playing a blend of ska, punk, and indie. Best of all, they are from San Diego and graduated from [San Diego State University]. They’ve made appearances at festivals like Riot Fest and toured with 311, Sublime with Rome, Dirty Heads, and even the Jonas Brothers and have collaborated with artists like G. Love, NOFX, and Simple Plan.”
Must-Listen Track: “Tokyo”
The Neighborhood Kids
Recommended by: Lou Niles | Co-host of Loudspeaker, San Diego Music Foundation Executive Board Member, 91X FM | San Diego
“The Neighborhood Kids (@theneighborhoodkidsmusic) are poised to break out. They are a young, emerging hip-hop group produced by Jon the Funky Monk. They have a great, old-school hip-hop base to their sound while speaking to important political and social issues happening today. The Neighborhood Kids recently won best new artist at the San Diego Music Awards.”
Must-Listen Track: “BIDDI BOMB”
Lou Niles’ Bonus Recommendations
“We the Commas (@wethecommas) are a great North [San Diego] County band that blend an alternative beach sound with old-school soul rhythms and harmonies.
Music influenced by early 1980s dark new wave and synth music is secretly becoming a huge thing, and Glass Spells (@glass_spells) from San Diego are touring the United States to huge crowds.
Helena Holleran (@helenaholleran) and Mitchum Yacoub (@mitchum.yacoub)—two different artists that collab often— are both amazing live [performers] and recording artists that are ready to start touring and getting recognition further outside San Diego.
Shane Hall (@shanehallofficial) is an incredible musician and recording artist with a handful of [San Diego Music Awards] nominations and a win for Best Blues Album.”
Golden Grease
Recommended by: Lance Barresi | Owner Permanent Records Roadhouse | Los Angeles
“Golden Grease (@goldengreaseband) are a muscular post-punk unit out of Los Angeles. Their debut LP Zero Time comes ripping in at just over 22 minutes, crashing through influences ranging from post-punk and hardcore to krautrock. Zero Time is dedicated to the absurdity of modern existence. [Fans of] Total Control, The Fall, The Spits, Wire, GØggs, [and] Neu! [will love them.]”
Must-Listen Track:“Zero Time”
The Snares
Recommended by: Augie Maravilla | Owner Rocket Records Midtown | Sacramento
“The Snares’ (@thesnares) sound pulls from a lot of influences—Bay Area, OC, garage rock, and punk—yet it’s still very melodic and catchy. [All the members of] the band seem like great people, and they look like they’re having a fun time on stage. The fact that they played their first show opening for Jack White in Sacramento says something—they’re definitely getting attention. They’re currently in Europe and just opened for one of my favorite California bands, Hooveriii, in both the Netherlands and Germany.”
Must-Listen Track: “Dumb Luck”
Raue
Recommended by: Caleb Minnick | Owner Normal Records | San Diego
“Raue (@rauemusic) [bring an intense] dedication to their live show [and] classic showmanship that you don’t feel that much from other bands, and they’re not even stars yet.”
Must-Listen Track: “Escape”
Destroy Boys
Recommended by: Lynn Schwarz | Main Booking Agent Bottom of the Hill | San Francisco
“[My pick is] Destroy Boys (@destroyboysband). We’ve nurtured and hosted these Sacramento kids on our stage since they started playing and are so thrilled that their brand of high-energy, LGBTQ-friendly, female-fronted punk rock is taking off and that they are now able to headline much bigger venues and are winning many accolades. Their music, which can be described alternately as punk, garage, post-punk, [and] riot grrrl, is accessible to anyone but also very personal.”
Must-Listen Track: “Drink”
Lynn Schwarz’s Bonus Recommendations
“[San Francisco–based] Spiritual Cramp (@spiritualcramptv) are taking the post-punk world by storm with their brilliant songwriting and high-energy, fun performances.
The fierce women of Chokecherry (@chokecherry4ever) [offer a] hard-hitting brand of rock-n-roll, impressing young and older crowds alike.”
Cahl Sel
Recommended by: Mike Battaglia | Owner Vinyl Dreams | San Francisco
“The artist I’m most excited about at the moment is Cahl Sel (@cahlsel). He makes fantastic, melodic techno with shades of ambience that’s more conducive to chilling than blowing up the dance floor—which is fitting, since he is the son of San Francisco ambient and electronic music royalty, longtime musician Spacetime Continuum. His parents also ran seminal ’90s SF electronic label Reflective Records, which has now been resurrected and is managed by Cahl Sel himself. His debut album is imminent and hot on the heels of two sold-out EPs. Between the pedigree and his innate talent, he’s the artist I’m most excited about. I’ve been pestering him for a promo of the album for a few weeks now and hope to check it out soon.”
Must-Listen Track: “Wishbone” (not on Spotify; tune in on Bandcamp)
Ikana
Recommended by: Matt Ainsworth | Sales Associate Pitbull Audio | National City
“My recommendation is Ikana (@ikanaband). The thing that makes them stand above the rest is that their modern emo sound is highly digestible. The songs are catchy, the instrumentation is well thought-out, and the vocalist has a range that makes most singers jealous. They work their butts off and deserve a break.”
Must-Listen Track: “Cut Up”
Couch Dog
Recommended by: Rick LaPorte | Manager Cheap Thrills Records | San Luis Obispo
“The California band you need to check out is definitely Couch Dog (@wearecouchdog). They are a band from right here in San Luis Obispo [and I think most or all were students at Cal Poly SLO]. I first heard them on KCPR, Cal Poly’s campus radio station. The song they played most was ‘Punch Drunk,’ and I was instantly hooked. It is an amazingly catchy track with awesome, upbeat guitar riffs and some very fun, lively lyrics.
I was so impressed with their sound that I personally reached out to them and suggested that they bring in some music for us to sell on consignment here at Cheap Thrills. Not long after that contact, they recorded their album How To Ruin Your Life Fast and brought in several CD copies to sell at our store. I have listened to the full album multiple times, and it has a very strong indie-pop and rock energy that delivers a sound that is both unique and familiar. In my many years at Cheap Thrills, they are the only artist I know who have sold all their consignment CD copies [with almost no marketing to push them] and come back to drop off more.”
Must-Listen Track: “ROSEJAM”
Skylar Tang
Recommended by: Chris Cortez | Director of Operations & Production KCSM-FM | San Mateo
“As jazz continues to expand with contemporary musical influences, few modern players have been able to successfully bridge the divide between straight-ahead jazz fans and modern jazz fans. However, 19-year-old trumpet player and composer Skylar Tang (@skylartang_) defies the trend, bringing a youthful sensibility and freshness to the scene while honoring the past. She’s a complete artist with a command of her instrument, drawing from her deep knowledge of the tradition [and] effortlessly incorporating modern musical influences into her compositions. As a musician on the cusp of breaking out, she stands out above the pack as an artist who appeals to a multigenerational audience.”
Must-Listen Track: “Kaleidoscope” (Not on Spotify; Tune in on YouTube)
