This post was updated Nov. 2 at 7:55 p.m.

With these emerging acts, the search for a fresh soundtrack is over.

Although there are only a few months left of the year, there is still time to find a new favorite artist. Whether you’re looking for raw lyricism or a coming-of-age sound, these up-and-coming artists’ releases are sure to be the perfect candidates.

Continue reading to learn more about the Daily Bruin’s new on-repeat playlist.

Rocket

With a skyrocketing debut album, rock lovers should be “Crossing Fingers” to be part of the ride.

The ’90s rock-inspired band Rocket, which balances a modern and vintage sound, released their debut album “R is for Rocket” on Oct. 3. Based in Los Angeles, the band is comprised of lead singer and bassist Alithea Tuttle, drummer Cooper Ladomade and guitarists Desi Scaglione and Baron Rinzler. The alternative rock quartet was formed in 2021 – after a decade-long friendship – and is currently on its first headlining tour after playing as a supporting act for fellow artists of the genre, including iconic group The Smashing Pumpkins.

Coming together unexpectedly – after Tuttle suffered a dance injury that redirected her creative journey – Rocket made its debut as a band by performing live after six months of preparation. Since then, the group has released two projects, including the latest album, which was engineered and produced by Scaglione. In a press release, the lead singer said the band’s extensive experience playing live helped shape the creation of its debut album, often going back and forth between understanding different crowds and reworking songs according to this new knowledge. Following the motto of only getting “one chance” to release a first record, Tuttle said the group’s main goal is to soundtrack people’s lives, which is “the best thing that could happen.”

With an ongoing promising trajectory, there is no doubt that from now on, “R is for Rocket.”

– Ana Camila Burquez

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Skullcrusher

Simultaneously natural and eerie, Skullcrusher’s art captures the rapid stages of life.

Helen Ballentine, aka Skullcrusher, is a New York native singer-songwriter who recently released her sophomore album Oct. 17. Titled “And Your Song is Like a Circle,” the LP came three years after the artist’s debut record. Celebrating the release with a small show, Skullcrusher is taking the new album on the road, making a stop in LA on March 25 at the Lodge Room.

With fingerpicking melodies mixed with electronic elements, Skullcrusher’s sound has been described as having looming “ghosts” of iconic indie-folk artists such as Elliott Smith and Phoebe Bridgers, while still being unique to her artistry. During the time between Ballentine’s two records, the singer moved back to her hometown in upstate New York after being based in LA for almost a decade – a change reflected in the album’s songwriting. The artist said when working on the LP, she reflected on everyday experiences, from feelings of dissociation to the unpredictability of the creative process. With this in mind, she said she didn’t try to put this reflection into words but rather aimed to mirror its inexplicability.

Venturing into the dream-like nature of “Living,” Ballentine creates an immersive experience about human emotion.

– Ana Camila Burquez

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Zac Farro

A longtime member of Paramore is blazing his own trail once more as his own “Operator.”

Zac Farro, the 35-year-old drummer for the Grammy-winning pop rock band, released his album “Operator” on July 18. The nine-track, 25-minute project is not Farro’s first time releasing his own music. While he has previously recorded and released five full-length LPs under the stage name halfnoise, this album represents a new direction for his artistry as he moves in a more personal direction, while dabbling in country and folk.

The new album was preceded by the release of his single “My My,” which Farro said “is a personal song about witnessing a loved one try to let go of someone they care for deeply.” On a thematic level, “Operator” expands upon these introspective themes by discussing topics such as anxiety, family issues and communication challenges. With sounds of the 1970s that have been compared to Fleetwood Mac, Farro has curated an image and aesthetic that is his own and gives his self-penned songs the space to shine.

Given Farro’s talent within a beloved band, his potential as a solo musician is just as great.

– Reid Sperisen