NYC/LA label Strange Neighbor put out the very L.A. comp Oscillations last summer, and they're back now with a particularly neighborly new EP that pairs much-loved local producer Teebs with Chicago's similarly visionary Caural. ►

Polymathic L.A. producer Swarvy plays everything, tries everything and does everything—his productions for any number of local and national artists are always worth a listen, and now he has a new album and a new two-in-one video to go with it. ►

A chance encounter at a show with Stones Throw A&R and Leaving Records owner Matthewdavid eventually turned into a record deal. But if it weren’t for a singing and dancing fiddle group from Canada she saw perform in the 4th grade, Sudan Archives might have never become a singing and dancing violinist. She realized this while describing her self-titled debut EP on Stones Throw and divulging a short version of her life. Sudan Archives performs with Moses Sumney on Sat., Oct. 21, at the El Rey. This interview by Daiana Feuer. ►

L.A. is proving to be a comfortable home for Swarvy, a recently arrived beatsmith and musical polymath. The Philly-area native spent years traversing prog-metal, psychedelic rock, and jazz; most recently he’s made his name with the warm and funky style of hip-hop beats most closely associated with Dilla and Madlib. But even there, he makes the style his own. He's constantly putting out new music, but his most recent efforts include a Feeniks single on Akashik Records and Tapes, a single with Pink Siifu and his own Blends Vol. 3. He performs this Friday with L.A. RECORD cover featuree Jimetta Rose and Apollo Bebop at the Eagle Rock Music Festival Kick-Off Party at the Hi-Hat. This interview by Chris Kissel. ►

Your boy Leeland Jackson creates moving work, in both the figurative and the literal. As Ahnnu, he pushes electronic music toward its bare emotive essence, creating context in which listeners can immerse themselves. As Cakedog, however, he’s actually moving you. An avid admirer of the footwork movement from Chicago, Cakedog is Jackson’s contribution to the canon. During our conversation, there are moments when he reminds me of Joe Morton’s character from The Brother From Another Planet. He’s earnestly curious about the bizarre social fabric we live in while many of us still wonder what is water? His off-center perspective is the link between his emotive electronic work as Ahnnu, the irresistible grooves of Cakedog’s footwork, and Jackson’s strikingly visceral visual art. Cakedog's new O.T.K. EP releases June 16 on TAR. This interview by sweeney kovar. ►