Classixx
“Borderline”
Holding On Single (out now on Innovative Leisure)

If this wind-in-the-hair/sun-in-the-eyes LA-duo ever decides to employ a full-time lead singer, the velvet-voiced Kisses/Princeton frontman would be the obvious choice. Kivel’s dulcet tones are the perfect match for their gauzy, Balearic-kissed synth bliss. Both artists masterfully insert just the right amount of melancholy and nostalgia into their light, summery styles. Could be just the tonic to chase the last strands of winter away.

Laura Marling
“Where Can I Go?”
Once I Was An Eagle (out May 28 on Virgin)

It’s quite mind boggling that British folk-singer Laura Marling has released two totally legitimate freewheeling folk LPs and one capital-B-brilliant one (2010’s I Speak Because I Can) before her 24th birthday. The Hampshire native is set to release her fourth, and its first single, “Where Can I Go?” suggests that it’ll be another quality effort. Marling definitely subscribes to the Mitchell School of Folk, armed with a warm, expressive voice and slack-stringed, fingerpicked guitarwork. Lyrically, she also is reminiscent of the hyper-reflective Canuck, constantly searching for a foothold in an increasingly complicated world. It may be an unfair comparison, but in her short career, the diminutive singer has refused to let anything keep her down.

Tropics
“Home & Consonance”
 Home & Consonance EP (out April 22 on Five Easy Pieces)

Southampton native Tropics (né Chris Ward) looks set to drop a moody follow-up to 2012’s sunkissed, Balearic-leaning Popup Cinema. On its title track, Ward weaves a nostalgic, homesick stunner that feels like driving to the airport after spending a weekend in your hometown. Over a delicate, twinkling Rhodes-line, Ward examines that emotion we all know so well — melancholy about leaving and wishing he could take all his city-friends back to this place that feels like home.

“When I go, I feel so at home…. If I could bring all the ones I love, I would.” It’s a feeling that will resonate with almost everybody.

Valentina
“Wolves”
Wolves EP (out 4.15 on Greco-Roman)

I’ve been crushing on this British siren since she dropped one of the best dance songs of last year : her scintillating collaboration with Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard, “Gabriel.” Now the Anglo-Italian is set for her close-up, and judging from this swirling, moody ballad, it might be a special one.

“Wolves” opens with the Londoner’s warm voice dancing over the top of spare, icy piano chords — a far cry from the blissed-out “Gabriel” — but as the song moves, it builds to a devastating crescendo that highlights her gracefully powerful voice and dynamic, ambitious songwriting. Could be one of the debuts of 2013.

Young Dreams
“First Days of Something”
Between Places (out 03.01 on Modular)

Norwegian dream-pop collective, Young Dreams, are rapidly becoming known for their affecting storytelling through both videos and music (who can forget their troubling “Fog of War” clip?).

Just a day before their hotly-anticipated debut LP is set to drop, they have released this powerful, disconnected slice-of-life clip for, “First Dreams of Something,” a bleary-eyed number that is bristling with anticipation and hopefulness. Some have called them the second coming of the genre-defining, Radio Dept., and while I wouldn’t go that far, they are well on their way to creating something really special.

Bloc Party
“Truth” (Jerome LOL Remix)
Truth EP (out 

When it comes to nailing a feeling, LA-based producer Jerome LOL never seems to need more than a line. From the now-defunct LOL Boys’ stunning “Changes” (“Things wont change until we do”) to his unfuckwitable remix of The-Dream’s “Can’t Wait to Hate You” demo (“Today I’m gonna get over you”), his work offers a stark contrast to the maximalism of much of his contemporaries. The former LOL Boy strikes again with his stunning reconstruction of Bloc Party’s welcome back jam, “Truth,” as the Canadian focuses on vocalist Kele Okereke’s plaintiff, honest declaration, “I am yours now, truthfully.” The result is another affecting earworm that uses a simple building block from the original to create a metropolis of emotion.

Stream over at Pretty Much Amazing.

Check out his remix of The-Dream’s “Can’t Wait to Hate You,” which was written for Mariah Carey. It was my favorite remix of 2012.

Rhye
“Open” (Ryan Hemsworth)
The original will appear on Rhye’s Woman (due out 3/5 on Loma Vista)

There are some songs that you know you love before you even hear it. I’ve been moderately obsessed with the Sade-recalling duo, formed by Canadian producer Mike Milosh and Robin Hannibal of soulful Danish group Quadron, and everything Canadian producer Ryan Hemsworth turns to solid, body-rockin’, Trinidad-James-level gold. Sure enough, Hemsworth adds his signature deft touch to the spellbinding, seductive original, resulting in a re-imagination that feels new and essential without compromising the magic of Milosh and Hannibal’s vision. Beautiful.