The Saxophones Ft. Simians

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 folk-rock folktronica chamber pop band based in San Diego. The project is the brainchild of songwriter and former primatologist Simon Breen. Simians’ cinematic sound is characterized by pensive songs that channel the human experience, breathed to life through the uniquely ethereal lead vocals of Lauren Kirby, sung over a canvas of melodic layers. Blending retro vibes with a modern twist, the ensemble features bandmates who inject an orchestral element into the music with instruments like viola, upright bass, flute, trumpet, xylosynth, baglamas, banjo, accordion, piano, and synthesizers.