Sure it’s the end of the year, a time where the constant stream of new music slows to a drip, but there’s no stopping the mighty Phoenix music scene. While others are focused on their Best of 2022 lists, we’re here to remind you that new stuff is always coming, and now’s no time to let navel-gazing retrospectives distract from all the exciting new jams that await you. Here’s three killer new tracks from Phoenix area musicians that we know you’ll love.

Amateur Genius “the buddha”

A collaboration between Phoenix-based multi-instrumentalist Amateur Genius, saxophonist Mathias Sax, and drummer ZEEN, the five song EP “apologies in advance” is described by the artists as an imagined scenario where “Bill Evans, Sergio Mendes, and John Coltrane hung out a bar and the bill came and you wasn’t sure who was going to pay it.” This collection of brief, jazzy hip hop instrumentals blend samples and live instrumentation, the sort of vibe that would be right at home on one of our favorite modern jazz labels, International Anthem, alongside recording artists like Makaya McCraven and Jeff Parker. Throw this on while making dinner or unwinding with a book and let the dusty, groovy serenity wash over you. amateurgenius.bandcamp.com

The Darts “Snake Oil”

“Snake Oil,” the latest single from these garage rock artisans is a dynamic barnburner, a thrilling followup to their killer EP “Love Tsunami,” which has been on regular rotation since it dropped in April. A swirling wall of vintage guitars and a ferocious organ lead back lead vocalist Nicole Laurenne’s commanding kiss-off to all the bullshit of modern life. Laurenne describes the track as a rejection of “fake news, nasty products, lies, exaggerations, online dating photos, false friends, undecipherable fine print, and general consumerism insanity that has infected the way we all perceive our entire reality.” While we don’t know if the track will stand alone as a loose single or is the first taste of a new project on the horizon in 2023, we’re hoping for even more from The Darts in the coming months and will have “Snake Oil” on repeat until further notice. thedartsus.bandcamp.com // @thedartsus

Sejo “Petals”

Phoenix-based producer Sejo’s new EP “In The Open” is a brief but memorable collection of massive, cinematic electronic tracks. Album closer “Petals” is our current favorite track, a comparatively moody and melancholy cut that at times recalls mid-period Burial and early M83. A stuttering drumbeat is the only constant across a shifting landscape of woozy synth pads and buzzsaw leads, but the ultimate gut punch comes when the music completely drops out for a moment, silence hangs for just a second or two, and everything comes back more propulsive and complex than ever. Put this on in the car (loud) and feel transported, the three vivid sketches found on “In The Open” are the perfect soundtrack to a night drive across the desert. sejoforever.bandcamp.com // @sejoforever