Artist: Avi Buffalo

Hails from: Long Beach CA

Musical Style: Indie, Alternative

For fans of: The Shins, Devendra Banhart, Neutral Milk Hotel

This Southern California folk rock quartet is young… high school young, and yet they write songs that are filled with such maturity and wit, it’s hard not to label them as prodigies. They’ve just signed to Sub Pop and are working on their debut record.

Avi Buffalo revolves around one person, the singer, songwriter and guitar player of the group, Avigdor Zahner-Isenber. This 18 year old Long Beach Native was introduced to the professional music world at the age of 13, when he fell under the tutelage of a local seasoned blues man, Joel Weinberg… think Lisa Simpson meets Bleeding Gums Murphy.  After three years of showing the tween Avigodor how to play and perform, the young upstart began recording at home. He mined the traumas of high school romance to fuel his songwriting, and eventually collected an ensemble of like-minded musicians to fill out the sound.

They’ve only been on one tour, up to Seattle and back; however they’ve garnered a lot of attention with their remarkably catchy songs and virtuoso playing. There will undoubtedly be backlash against their hype, as a result of their age; however, once you give the music an honest listen it’s going to be hard to refute that this is a talented and capable band. If you want to get in on a good investment early, check out Avi Buffalo and watch how they grow.

Artist: Zee Avi

Hails from: Malaysia

Musical Style: Alternative, Pop, Acoustic

For Fans of: Feist, Jack Johnson, Regina Spektor

Why you should check her out:

The slow rhythmic chords emanating from Zee Avi’s impossibly charming self titled debut, conjures up immediate images of the warm sunbathed beaches and swaying hammocks derived from her island origins. With her hypnotically light voice and nimble melodies, Zee Avi sweetly creates the kind of respite fit for paradise.

Background Check:

Zee Avi is a success story of the You Tube variety, where her self recorded acoustic demos landed her a deal on Jack Johnson’s rapidly expanding Brushfire Records. Born on the tropical island of Borneo, Avi was raised in pristine, lush rainforests, ample settings for a young mind with songwriting  ambitions. Avi voraciously learned to play guitar at a young age, citing influences from classical jazz to the Velvet Underground, and at age 17 moved to Kuala Lumpur before her music eventually brought her to L.A.

Whether it is an acoustic or full band accompaniment, Avi’s music is a retreat from the gravity of the modern world. Her softly swaying tunes envelop, in simple poignancy, a sense of the island serenity she grew up in. Even as she beautifully covers Morrissey’s “First of the Gang to Die” the tranquility is so weightless and bright, it’s hard to believe something could be so gentle and so affecting.

Underneath that bright surface, Avi’s songs reveal a depth and emotion usually glossed over. Songs like “Just You and Me,” written on ukulele, and sounding as classic as 1930′s ragtime, balance the whispered pains and mournful horns of songs like “Bitter Heart.” Carried by Avi’s fragile and doting voice, the tales of failed love and hopeful tomorrows carry with them the sincerity of experience, without the disparity of cynicism. Whatever the hardship, Zee Avi can look to her music and her life for ever amplified inspiration.

Where you can find her in Cyberspace:

MySpace

Zee Avi Website

Wikipedia

On Tour:

JamBase

Artist: Bon Iver

Hails from: Northwestern, WI

Musical style: Acoustic, Folk, Rock

For fans of: Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, Bright Eyes

Why you should check him out:

Distinguished by compounding falsettos and dense acoustic guitar melodies, Bon Iver creates gentle tracks fitting of winter landscape and emotional refuge.

Background check:

With goals of winter hibernation in mind, singer-songwriter Justin Vernon set off for his fathers Wisconsin cabin in late 2007. Through three months of frozen solitude, Vernon emerged with nine songs full of acoustic layers and lyrical interspection entitled For Emma, Forever Ago. Initially self released, Bon Iver’s debut soon gained the attention of Jagjaguar Records who re-released it to much critical acclaim in February 2008. Named after the French phrase for “good winter”, Bon Iver’s songs exemplify the theme with the addition of intermittent drum machines, bass and horns all  played by Vernon.

While getting his start in bands Mount Vernon and De Yarmond Edison, Bon Iver marks Vernon’s most successful incarnation to date, gaining top reviews from practically every media outlet imaginable and capturing the title of “Best Album of the Year” on more than one occasion. Enlisting the assistance of musicians of Mike Noyce and Sean Carey on live performances, Bon Iver has reproduced the multi-layered sounds captured on the recorded debut and gained highly coveted spots on tour with Black Mountain and Wilco. Sure to expand upon the one season atmosphere in future releases, with winter soon on it’s way, For Emma, Forever Ago offers you the perfect lo-fi acoustic ballads ready to accompany the season.

Where you can find him in cyberspace:

Myspace page

Bon Iver home page

Wikipedia

On tour:

Jambase