This Is Our Jam: Alison Valentine, Schoolboy Q, & Ricky Eat Acid

There's no better way to fight off inclement weather than with bright and sunny tunes (though, we'll admit that a quality cable-knit sweater helps, too). With that in mind, our first track this week is from florist-cum-disco-diva Alison Valentine, whose "Curious" should have you dancing in the snow. Then, it's new music from experimental producer Holly Herndon, Black Hippy member Schoolboy Q, the punks in Perfect Pussy, and chilled-out producer Ricky Eat Acid. Now, put on some headphones, and get outside.

Alison Valentine
"Curious"
A florist by day who creates high-fashion arrangements for the likes of Hermès, Oscar de la Renta, and Yoko Ono, Alison Valentine also moonlights as an alt-pop chanteuse. "Curious" is a glittery piece of blissful disco from Valentine's upcoming debut EP. It's absolutely gorgeous stuff, and we can't wait to hear more. Grab a free download from her SoundCloud this week only.




Holly Herndon
"Chorus"
Experimental San Francisco-based producer Holly Herndon makes some of the most consistently mind-blowing electronic compositions around. "Chorus," taken from her new EP of the same name, is the first follow-up to Herndon's fantastic 2012 album, Movement.




Schoolboy Q
"Break the Bank"
With the imminent release of Schoolboy Q's highly anticipated new album, Oxymoron, the L.A. rapper continues to roll out new tracks. "Break the Bank" is a drug-rap banger that puts Q's gift for melody on full display.




Perfect Pussy
"Driver"
After releasing an EP to Bandcamp that made the group one of the most buzzed-about bands of 2013, the Syracuse, New York, punk outfit is readying its official debut. "Driver" shows off everything we loved about Perfect Pussy's demos, with ripping guitars and heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics.




Ricky Eat Acid
"God puts us all in the swimming pool"
Ricky Eat Acid is the solo project of Maryland's Sam Ray, also known for fuzz-pop band Julia Brown. Ricky Eat Acid, however, is made up of carefully arranged compositions that take their time to grow on you. It's not what you'd expect from a guy with such a hilariously bizarre Twitter account, but Ray is a wearer of many hats.