Blending the darkness and melancholy of 1950s balladry with intimate woodwind, synth, and percussion arrangements, The Saxophones—led by Alexi Erenkov and Alison Alderdice—forge a uniquely hypnotic and personal sound. Formed in the California Bay Area in 2017, the husband-and-wife duo’s minimalist after-hours tones will prop you up in the darkest corner of a smoky lounge bar. Their retro-tinged chamber pop combines elements of mid-century exotica, art-noir, folk, and West Coast jazz, creating music that is both hauntingly nostalgic and unmistakably their own.

Simians is an 8-piece band from San Diego crafting cinematic folk rock rooted in songs about the human experience. Blending rich, melodic layers of synthesizers, cello, trumpet, flute, XyloSynth, accordion, piano, and more, together they create lush soundscapes that feel timeless, yet modern.