Mackenzie Leighton is the friend you call up when you finally book that flight to Europe. She’ll take you down dark, cobblestoned alleyways to smoke-filled underground jazz clubs and give you that authentic Parisian experience not found in Lonely Planet guidebooks. You start to think that maybe after a week of observing the breezy elegance around you—and splurging on a bottle of expensive perfume—you’ll have acquired that coveted French elegance by osmosis. Leighton is here to tell you that’s not how it works. You can take her word for it, too. The California-born singer-songwriter moved to Paris after graduating from NYU and is still chasing that infamous je ne sais quois that Parisian women claim as their birthright. “Paris Girls” is a swinging jazz-pop number with a waltz feel in the verses. Leighton’s navigation of agile melodies makes her sound like a smoother Nellie McKay for a modern young audience. Unapologetic electric guitar remains prominent throughout the song, transporting you to the front row of that smokey Paris jazz club ‘round midnight. Until it’s safe to travel again, this track should hold you over.

The Wild Honey Pie is proud to premiere “Don’t Say Shit You Don’t Mean,” the newest track from Richmond-based Buzzsession alums and Larabar enthusiasts Camp Howard. Both precise and seemingly effortless, the track grooves with an intensely lazy energy. It’s a sound that should be sloppy, but this young band’s relentless performance schedule has trained them well. Camp Howard has, in many senses, broken out of their hometown—they toured nationally with the legendary Stone Temple Pilots—but they’re still rooted firmly in the Richmond scene, a scene whose support allowed them to forge their sound in the fires of the opportunity to (or perhaps struggle to) play shows every night of the week. Though evident from one song alone, the band’s versatility is truly unmistakable with perspective on their whole catalogue. Nic Perea, one of the bands two singers, occasionally pens lyrics in Spanish—and other band members admit to singing backup on lyrics they don’t pretend to understand—but “Don’t Say Shit You Don’t Mean” is as clear-cut and direct as they come. Weston Parker, the other lead vocalist and writer of the track, draws firm lines after issuing the titular command—“I won’t cook / You won’t clean,” he sings, delineating responsibilities definitively, before waffling a bit, expanding his lines to fit in his more complicated emotions. “After all this wasted time / It’s doubtful that you even care,” he sings hurriedly, but the infections groove puts complex emotions aside to reinforce the chorus: “It’s alright.” Camp Howard’s new album Cañón is out October 11th.

California native Ashe delivers supple, introspective songs, flush with lush imagery. The LA-based songstress has been on a winning streak since she dropped her debut in 2017 via Mom+Pop Music, building momentum with tours alongside The Chainsmokers, Shaun Frank, LAUV, Louis The Child, Hobo Johnson, Quinn XCII and executing notable electronica collaborations with Big Gigantic. Major advertising syncs and glowing press from The New York Times and Teen Vogue have only bolstered her indie cred. Her newest offering, the delicate acoustic affair "Cold in California," is a Dylan-esque ode to the love/hate relationship she's developed with her home state. The somber chord changes elicit the existential angst that accompanies those unwelcoming, overcast LA days. “I love California and I also despise it," Ashe told Ones to Watch earlier this month. "I’m from California and in many ways, this song is more about me than the place itself. Nothing is ever one-sided or perfect or right all the time." Check out the single here and be sure to peep the newest dates on Ashe's first headlining tour.

“FODDER,” the debut single from New York-based electro artist DJ ST THOMAS, is a dynamic, experimental pop song with an infectiously funky beat. The track effortlessly pieces together a mishmash of sounds to create a psychedelic jam with an earworm hook. Lush with bright, groovy synths and tight, island-like percussion, it bops to a pulse that flows easily with DJ ST THOMAS’s laid-back vocal as he sings about love and complacency in the age of social media. The production is crystal clear and razor-sharp, resulting in a sound that’s full and immersive without feeling too loud or overbearing. Abstract and rhythmic, “FODDER” should top all your summer party playlists. Look out for his EP, MATRIMONY, later this year.

Nineteen-year-old Julien Chang’s debut single, “Of the Past,” is an artful blend of genres and sounds. Reflecting Chang’s music theory background, the sprawling arrangement seamlessly merges pop melodies with psych-rock riffs, disco/funk, and transfixing jazz instrumentals for an immersive and surprising listening experience. Deep, wavy synths wash the song in a hazy glow as a classic rock guitar and funky bass line introduce Chang’s vocal. Breezy and smooth, the timeless doubling effect is reminiscent of a younger Tame Impala. The vocals are brief, occupying only the first third of the song; the rest of the time, the music does the talking. Perhaps most striking is the sweeping classical piano solo in the bridge—the messy wide-scale run has an unrelenting persistence that reflects the tonal freedom of the rest of the song. “Of the Past” is complex and original, and it signifies a deep understanding of the science of music.

When someone you love causes you pain, it hurts until it doesn’t. Montreal-based artist, Michael Charles Hansford, who creates under the moniker, Molly Drag, realizes the weight of dealing with his own dark nostalgia on his latest single, “Out Like A Light.” As the first track from his upcoming record, Touchstone, we find a piece that moves like a steadily rocking boat—it’s swirling guitars offset by a relaxed, tittering rhythm. Hansford mentions, “While I was recording this album I started thinking about my hometown a lot, the small places within, the parks where I would smoke with my friends after school, the water that surrounded us always.” With the addition of sprite overdubs and subtle synth tones, Hansford creates a pool of gloom that is reminiscent of prior love and given life by the breath of the lyricism. “Out Like A Light” is the heart of Touchstone, which is set for release on October 4 via EggHunt Records—the track's natural beating is sure to unveil a record with a striking awareness, a gift to his past life.

In what can only be described as a watershed moment of peace-seeking in the on-going BK/LA indie scene feud, we here at The Wild Honey Pie are happy to premiere LA-based pop outfit Oyster Kids newest single, “Work It Out.” Know that while prideful of our BK-roots, we remain, first and foremost, humble servants of tasty indie jams. Thus, we are more than happy to extend the olive branch by linking up with Oyster Kids to bring you this tastefully saturated bopper. My intuition is that this song would pair nicely with a ride to the beach in a mid-80s Mercedes Convertible. It’s been about three years since the upbeat popsters released “Gum (Everybodys My Friend)." But now we’ve got “Work It Out,” their third single of 2019, to go along with “Breathe” and “Losing My Mind,” both of which trickled onto streaming services earlier this year. The kids are back.