Derek Simpson, Grace Kay, Smooth Jas

Derek Simpson is an artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose journey from Boston to Los Angeles has shaped his distinctive sound, blending spacey guitar chords, otherworldly synths, and introspective wordplay. His music explores the power of maintaining a positive perspective amid confusion and adversity, earning recognition from publications like Ones To Watch, Spin, EARMILK, Indie Shuffle, Atwood Magazine, and METAL. His work has also made its way into popular culture, with placements in Comedy Central's Workaholics and the feature film The Wheel starring Amber Midthunder.

Listen Here

Grace Kay Born and raised in Los Angeles, Grace Kay developed a passion for empowering women while attending an all-girls high school, a theme that permeates her songwriting. After earning a degree in acting from USC, she starred in short films and mini-series, deepening her appreciation for storytelling in music. Her refined synth-pop sound, marked by syncopated rhythms and lush vocal textures, draws comparisons to MUNA, The Japanese House, Imogen Heap, and Caroline Polachek. Garnering press from LADYGUNN, Sheesh, Under the Radar, Atwood, Ones To Watch, and KCRW, as well as playlist placements on Spotify’s Fresh Finds and Fresh Finds: Pop, Kay’s music has also been featured in A Million Little Things (ABC), True Lies (CBS), and West Coast Hustle (MTV). Her debut album, Grace’s Gospel, is an earnest ode to sisterhood, role models, and independence, woven across ten dazzling synth-laden compositions.

Listen Here

Smooth Jas is the musical moniker of Long Beach native Jas Caprice (they/them), blending dreamy synths, electric guitars, and ukulele-driven melodies to explore love, queer identity, and the complexities of modern youth. Starting in 2018 with GarageBand recordings, Caprice’s sound evolved into a fuller, more immersive experience, showcased in their 2021 debut EP Smooth Jas—a lockdown-era time capsule shaped by a turbulent relationship. Their 2019 single "YCTQ" gained recognition in Junior High Magazine × XGIRL's Isolation issue and Long Beach’s Iblojo.org, and was featured in Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls LA’s 2020 Music Video Program. Opening with the psychedelic lament on codependency YCTQ and closing with the introspective Cass Dy, the EP captures the bittersweet transition from youthful naïveté to the sobering realities of adulthood. Smooth Jas performs both solo and with a live band.

Listen Here

Host or Publisher Permanent Records' Roadhouse