Minimalist and hazy, the video for Kauf's first single, "Relocate," matches the tracks washed out vibes. A disembodied voice coos over electronic pulses, like the morphing, double-exposed faces that fade into each other like polaroids of long lost runaways. Slow to build, the track's throbbingly hypnotic beat keeps you around long enough to hear the ephemeral sound design elements that peek in and out of the transitions between phrases. Kauf's 'As Much Again' EP is out now on Cut Copy's Cutter Records, with a full length expected later in 2014. Catch his one man act live as part of the Lawrence Rothman Residency at The Bootleg on April 7, along with Steffaloo and Cotillon. - Jacqueline Caruso

2013 was a year crowded with local talent. We are excited to begin announcing the results of our massive year end poll. Thanks to everyone who helped spread the word and give bands a chance to have their music heard by critics all over the country. After tallying the votes for the Open Submissions stage of our Los Angeles Year End Poll, it's time to release the results.

Please note that no editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene. The editors that voted on the LA scene were: Q.D. Tran (Deli Philadelphia), Brescia (Deli NYC Contributor) and Paolo De Gregorio (Deli NYC, Editor-In-Chief). In the coming weeks we will release the list of nominees chosen by our local "scene expert" jurors and it will be up to you to pick your favorite Emerging LA Artist of 2013.

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll with a ranking above 6.5:

1. So Many Wizards (Dream Pop) - 7.8
2. The Futures League (Garage Rock) - 7.6
3. May McDonough & Company (Psych/Pop) - 7.3
4. Mina Knock (Hip Hop) - 7.2
5. FMLYBND (Electro Pop) - 7
6. Playthings (Electronic) - 6.6

Honorable Mentions (ranked above 6.25):

Babe Parade (Indie Pop) - 6.5
Micah Brown (Folk) - 6.5
Octopus Mask (Surf Rock) - 6.5
The Blank Tapes (Garage Rock) - 6.5
Mind The Gap (Electronic Rock) - 6.5
steffaloo (Dream Pop) - 6.5
Strangeheart (Electro Pop) - 6.5
Heaps N Heaps (Indie Folk Pop) - 6.3
Heathers (Alt Pop) - 6.3

Total submissions from the LA Scene: 79

WHAT'S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. In the next few days we'll unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors made up of venue promoters and other scene experts, and we'll let our readers and writers influence the poll with their vote.

Thanks to all the acts who submitted to us. Our open submissions pool was truly a celebration of the diversity and richness of LA's talent. Keep creating, keep supporting and stay tuned for your chance to vote!

The Deli Staff

We've given high praise to enchanting electro-pop act Steffaloo in the past, who most recently played our official CMJ showcase in NYC. After a pair of independent releases, Steph Thompson returns with a new full-length, Heart Beats, with the support of label Mush records. The album is now available to stream in its entirety on her bandcamp page. 

Bedroom folk pop darling, Steffaloo, is set to release her sophmore full length, 'Heart Beats' on Mush Records Oct 29. It’s a quick follow up to the hushed, dreamy debut ‘Would You Stay’ released last October. This time around, she is ditching the ukelele for a fully electronic approach. Each song on ‘Heart Beats’ features a collaboration with a different producer. The first single, “Eyes for You,” has Steffaloo teaming up once again with Chrome Sparks. Past success adding her ethereal vocals to tracks by artists like Blackbird Blackbird and xxyyxx, mean she is giving those fans what they have been craving. It’s an impressive undertaking, and from the sound of “Eyes for You,” a worthwhile one. The mind-bending, glitchy dreamscape takes Steffaloo’s voice to a new, more sultry and mature place, that has me itching to hear the rest of the album. - Jacqueline Caruso

After collaborating with a number of impressive electronic producers, obtaining several guest vocal positions, and releasing a series of acoustic covers through Bandcamp and Soundcloud, Los Angeles based song bird, Steph Thompson, has created her first full-length debut, "Would You Stay", currently out on iTunes via Mush Records. Recording under the moniker Steffaloo, the album reflects one lover's longing for the affection's of another; a longing which would unfortunately seem to never be reciprocated at the same level as it was rendered. Steffaloo's ethereal harmonies and distant vocals will completely engulf any listener in the nostalgic ambiance of bedroom recordings. The union of subtle hooks and unforeseen dictions are both beautiful and haunting, highlighting such songs as title track "Would You Stay" and " I'm Sorry". With her first solo album gaining so much momentum in the music community and a new electronic collection to be released sometime next year, it would appear that the question, "Would You Stay" would seem inappropriate. Judging by her past, present, and future accomplishments, it would seem that Steffaloo will not be going anywhere, anytime soon. - Anais Barajas