Twin Shadow

With a fresh and crispy month comes another School Night at Zebulon! And of course, another 5 Songs to Hear This Week newsletter takeover. So here’s what’s up: each month, when we finalize and announce the upcoming School Night lineup, you’re gonna get a sneak peek at the artists, via this newsletter. And because we are committed to bringing you 5 Songs to Hear every single week, you’ll get five, even if we only have three or four acts hitting the stage at Zeb. What does this mean for you? A sweet, sweet bonus track (or two) from School Night alumni.

This month, your bonus is Twin Shadow, who — fun fact — played their very first LA show at a School Night, many moons ago. Dig into Twin Shadow’s latest “Half Asleep,” a love song propelled by guitar grooves and high-hats, that’s then absolutely catapulted by unexpected synths and electronic beats that come (gloriously) from way out of left field. We just hope Emily caught the vibe.

[Editor’s note for further clarity: Twin Shadow is NOT performing at Zebulon on Tuesday, October 14th.]

Beatrix

Here’s one for every sweet thing searching for their own voice. Arielle Kasnetz trained in classical music since childhood, but tells her own story through music as Beatrix — an identity she only lately mined. Her aptitude is clear to hear, with vocals that strike a perfect balance between hush and swell. Meanwhile, her lyrics paint allegorical pictures of a relatable American childhood. Pre-save Beatrix’s upcoming single here, and enjoy her emotive stylings live at School Night on Tuesday October 14th.

Al Nicol

Earworm alert! This track from certified Nash-villian Al Nicol — sometimes credited as Alex Nicol — will be instantly familiar, as if you’ve been ba-ba-ta-ba-ba-ba’ing along to it for years. And perhaps you have, somehow. The psychedelic underpinnings present in this casually excellent Americana-psych-folk track would support the possibility. “Was it a dream?” the lyrics ask. Marylebone was a sort of dream: an original word that simply manifested to the artist. From whence? Unknown. It just appeared during a writing session for the song. Dig it, and enjoy the show when you see Al Nicol play live at School Night on Tuesday, October 14th.

Lew Apollo

Ever spend the whole day feeling like something’s missing? It’s usually the funk. Enter Lew Apollo. This track’s got sex appeal, soul gravitas, solid dancefloor energy, a bassline that’ll move right into your spine… we could go on, but we’ll pause here. Apollo’s personal story is one of an artist, and his handling of the musical elements here showcases a Midas touch. And shoutout to the divine backing vocals provided by Apollo’s partner in music and in life — Mello Jaxn. Come out to School Night on October 14th to see Lew Apollo live, and feel the groove for yourself!

Quentin

Music is therapy, music is expression, music is where you can put it all out there. We think Quentin may agree. Quentin Arispe is an all-around artist who blends a bevy of skills into this singular track and video: cinematic storytelling, compelling song structure, unleashed guitars, and eff-it lyricism. We’re inspired by them — maybe you will be too, when you see their live performance at School Night on Tuesday, October 14th.