Sleep really is the cousin of death, turns out. Jeshua is the auntie, watching them bicker and trying to reign them both in before they ruin the function for everyone.  Contrary to the moribund titles of these singles, the versatile, luxuriant-haired L.A. born-and-bred vocalist and songwriter is thriving, blessed and booked during these trying times. These songs, however, highlight a malaise simmering beneath the surface threatening to swallow them whole. ►

When 2016 happened, the innocence of skimming Jezebel turned into the self-flagellation of reading Reductress, and the non-stop queer boogaloo was interrupted by the draconian plans of a sentient sunburn. As other bands wrote protest songs, Dream Machines just got super slutty, celebrating the bacchanal joy of fucking right in Mitch McConnell's wilting face. Their new EP Trust / Desire drops today, and it's a juicy lucy. We talked about being 18 again, why their live show is better than yours and LaCroix. That bit is right at the top. This interview by Tolliver. ►

Beloved L.A. singer and multi-instrumentalist Biianco had a bad 2017. Brutalized by her own thoughts—and the discouraging words of piss ant jerks—she lost herself, her voice, her VOICE, and probably part of her mind. But lights this bright don’t stay obscured for long. We talked about art—duh. But we also talked about fear and the future and the fucked up past. Biianco is a friend and collaborator—you should be so lucky. This interview by Tolliver. ►

Sharing is caring is creepy. The world is a wasteland, the Amazon is soot, and Selena Gomez is still singing about Justin Bieber. Let it go, girl! In a world where being guarded is the move, Talk2Strangers—a.k.a. Lori LeChien—dares you to bare it all. Or at least to like ... be open to the world around you. She’s one of L.A.’s—nay, the world’s—most gripping vocalists, and her songs are bristling with hooks and unimpeachably earnest. I mean, I’m biased cuz she’s a respected friend and colleague. But check for yourself, jerk! We talked about privilege, sex, guitars, chicken and connection. This interview by Tolliver. ►

Royal Trux were and are a dimension to themselves—they had their own gravity, their own laws of physics and their own extra- terrestial kind of white light / white heat even on their rst self-titled album for Drag City in 1988. Their Quantum Entanglement is out on Record Store day on Fri., Nov. 29, via Fat Possum. Co-founder Neil Hagerty was unavailable for this interview but Zig Zags’ Jed Maheu got Trux co-founder and frequent L.A. RECORD alum Jennifer Herrema to dig up some good stuff. ►