Up & coming artist  Lola Blanc’s biggest fear is mediocrity, even though she’s everything but!  With ravenous long-flowing hair, striking features, and a sexy-meets-avant-garde style, perhaps her first prevailing quality is that she’s a looker. Born in Germany, raised in Michigan, and now residing in Hollywood, vivacious Lola has grabbed our attention in a very big way as the pop star to watch out for in 2012.

“It was always my dream to come to Los Angeles and be a pop singer. Really long story short, I was able to move here, and I started exploring, trying out different styles. About a year ago I made the transition to full-on dance music and it was the best decision I’ve ever made,” Lola said.

Lola’s sound is whimsical with twinkling synth-pop beats & dubstep drops.  Her single You Like Me was produced by the highly-respected German production team, Famties, and co-written by Lola Blanc and singer/actress/minx CC Sheffield. Unlike other pop stars, Lola’s the real deal; she stays true to her own life experiences and her lyrics reflect that. “You Like Me is special to me because, though I’m all for professing your swag, I wanted to write a song that also touched on my own personal flaws…being selfish, spacey, and kind of a bitch at times,” Lola admitted.

While Lola has been busy launching her singing career, she’s managed to land appearances in videos of other artists, including LMFAO‘s “Sexy And I Know It” and Interpol‘s “Lights,” as well as land a blogging deal with It-Girl chasing Buzznet.

Follow Lola on Twitter & Tumblr, and make sure to get inspired by her blog. Check out some of Minx Society’s favorite shots of her including some from her most recent Marie Antoinette-inspired photo shoot by Mario Pena with her wardrobe provided by Esther Jean Designs and Angeleno designer Camille Rousseau. Her music career may be just beginning, but describing Lola Blanc as a natural for the spotlight is an understatement.

If you’re one of the few who heard Big Deal’s debut 7″, Homework, you know why we Minxes are excited about this up-and-coming duo. With Homework, KC Underwood and Alice Costelloe brought out the best of boy/girl indie folk: heartfelt songs of longing and loss backed by interlocking acoustic guitar work. Listen to some of their other demos on their myspace, and you get a ’90s lo-fi vibe somewhere between Mazzy Star and Galaxie 500 with vocals as ethereal as The xx.

We were pretty sure that Homework wouldn’t be the last we’d hear of this illustrious pair. Sure enough, Big Deal recently signed to Mute Records. Underwood and Costelloe’s bittersweet ballads should be right at home at Mute, which has worked with such somber troubadours as Nick Cave and Alison Goldfrapp.

Big Deal’s debut full-length was released yesterday and we’re loving the single “Talk”, which takes the same minimalist approach as “Homework,” overlaying distorted guitars with clean ones for an effect not unlike The Jesus & Mary Chain’s Darklands, or Opal’s early work. The repetition of a simple dilemma that we can all relate to (“All I wanna do is talk, but seeing you fucks me up”) gains more urgency and intensity as the song progresses, before the song ends as unresolved as its narrators’ problems.

No less appealing is the b-side, “Locked Up,” which really brings the band’s lo-fi influences to the fore. In this cut, Costelloe and Underwood become Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan of Yo La Tengo, whisper-singing sad intimations to each other. The guitars are much heavier in this one, adding further texture to the skeleton of a song structure that Big Deal like to work with.

Big Deal’s debut album Lights Out is available for purchase at Amazon and on iTUNES. We’re stoked to catch them live @ the Echo Monday, March 19, 2012 at 7:00pm! Follow Big Deal on Twitter & like their Facebook page.

Here’s a secret: if you want a minx to fall in love with you, take her to Pace in Laurel Canyon. This romantic hot spot (pronounced “Pah-chay”) doubles as a warm sanctuary serving the most delicious sustainable, organic refined Italian cuisine.

Stone steps lead you down into this lovely underground hideaway, and once inside there is an overwhelming perfectly balanced ambiance of cool and cozy. Patrons are greeted with crayons at their paper–covered tables (perfect for date night!) and are immediately given toasted almonds with sublime Calabrese olives and the most delicious homemade bread with vodka sauce.

Head Chef and Owner Sandy Gendel masterfully created a sustainable-rustic menu featuring classic pasta dishes, original salads created with seasonal produce, innovative entrees, and inventive ciabatta-crust pizzas. When we say sustainable, we mean Gendel gets his fresh ingredients twice a week from local farms & believe us when we say you can taste the difference.

Menu musts include the Pappardelle con astice, porri e zucchini (homemade pappardelle with lobster, leeks & zucchini seasoned with garlic & oregano in white wine truffle oil cream sauce),  Tortellini di zucca e ricotta (homemade roasted butternut squash & ricotta cheese tortellini with julienne mustard greens in a sage white wine cream sauce), Grass-fed prime dry-aged Ribeye), and the Seared Hawaiian big eye tuna. The wine & beer list is extensive so it doesn’t matter that they don’t serve cocktails.

Make a reservation at Pace the moment you realize you’re ready to fall in love. Make sure to pull a hot date too! And, if you’re in the mood for some people watching – this is your spot; celebrity regulars include Ryan Seacrest, Zac Efron, Ashlee Simpson, & Britney Spears.

Pace – 2100 Laurel Canyon Blvd. – Los Angeles, CA 90046 – (323) 654-8583

First of all, any guy that can make us dance our asses off while still staying politically conscious is kinda like gold. It’s that tongue in cheek energy that we are loving from Penguin Prison aka hottie Chris Glover. Ever since Minx Society caught his live set at Dim Mak Studios in Hollywood last month, we can’t get enough.

Before releasing his own groove-fest album last fall, Penguin Prison dabbled in hip hop and remixed tracks for such artists like Goldfrapp (“Rocket”), Darren Hayes (“Talk Talk Talk”) and Ellie Goulding (“Starry Eyed”). Straight from NYC, the latest anthem “Don’t Fuck With My Money” has those pop infectious synth hooks, free from those qualities of radio run of the mill hits. Not to the mention, it’s cool as hell that the accompanying video was shot out in the streets of the Occupy Movement. Check out the video here:

With his self titled album out now, Penguin Prison has got a solid tour set out for 2012. He’ll be stopping by LA this weekend to offer up two wild dance parties this Friday at The Echo (TICKETS: 1/13 @ The Echo, Los Angeles, CA (with American Royalty) 18+) & Saturday at The Observatory in the Constellation Room TICKETS: 1/14 @ Constellation Room, Santa Ana, CA (with Polaris at Noon+American Royalty) All Ages). Stay up to date with the latest and greatest from Penguin Prison by following him on Twitter & check out the rest of his tunes on Sound Cloud.

We’re loving these shots of mega babe Sky Ferriera in V Magazine.

Fellow minx & singing queen Sky Ferriera has been keeping herself busy as a fashion icon IT girl appearing in ad campaigns for CK1 and Adidas between finalizing her debut album with illustrious producer Jon Brion (he’s worked with the likes of Fiona Apple, Dido, Kanye West, and Aimee Man). That’s right, Sky’s ditching her previously electro-pop dancey tendencies  & getting more serious. Her single is set to release next month while her whole album is due out for Summer 2012 – we’ll keep you posted!

The 19-year-old starlet proved that she has it all by paying homage to the pop star of all pop stars, Madonna, for a stunning spread in the latest issue of V Magazine, shot by famed photographer Mario Testino. Check out the gallery, what do you think? Follow Sky on Twitter for exclusive updates on her new album & live show dates.

New York has the Oak Room at The Plaza. Chicago has the Coq D’Or at The Drake Hotel. And Los Angeles has… The Spare Room at the Roosevelt. Oozing a sense of glamour and exclusivity while maintaining a dignity that so many other Hollywood venues lack, the Spare Room invites you to have a classic cocktail or a modern take on a classic cocktail, sit back against a delightfully art deco sofa and… stay awhile.

Thursday nights are now the time to be seen at The Spare Room. This season’s music is curated by none of other than actress and singer Samantha Shelton of the melodious voice, past associate of Zooey Deschanel’s jazz band If All the Stars Were Pretty Babies. And damn, does she have taste. Recently, they had the bluegrass meets flapper, 1920s-rockabilly band, Dustbowl Revival fill the space with some charming and danceable tunes and Stumpwaller was just as fabulous. Last week, (November 3rd, 2011), actress Malin Akerman hosted a benefit for Movember at the Spare Room. Movember is a moustache growing charity event held during November each year that raises funds and awareness for men’s health such as prostate cancer. The benefit featured a live performance by a minx favorite, WARPAINT! There was also a photo booth, a specialty “mo-cocktail”, and dance jams provided by Tim Nordwind of OK Go.

Marc Rose, one of the owners, believes in giving the bands a no-pressure atmosphere. The bands play when they want, take breaks when they want, and get to hang out and play a few rounds of checkers (or the board game of their choice) just like all the other patrons. In fact, they would probably be able to bowl a few rounds on the authentic wood lanes that run parallel to the enormous half-moon windows in the Spare Room. These lanes were procured in Texas and driven all the way to LA on a flatbed truck and installed via crane.

All in all, music belongs in a place like this, a place which salutes the yester-year of Hollywood in an unpretentious manner, which politely welcomes all. As Marc Rose alluded, it’s a living sonnet to “a time that once was, but is no more.”

Please do join us tonight! Music generally starts at 9pm or 10pm or slightly later depending on the line up, so it would be wise to call ahead: 323.769.7296 and rsvp at reservations@spareroomhollywood.com

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: Mezzanine Level - 7000 Hollywood Blvd

10/24/11 – School Night @ Bardot

Head to Bardot tonight for two delicious flavors of synthpop: the thumping house beats of Clubfeet, and the more atmospheric sound of Yuna. And just to keep you on your toes, they’ll close the night out with Bleeding Knees Club, an IAMSOUND rising star with a frenetic brand of garage punk that’s sure to get you hoppin’. RSVP for free entry!

10/24/11 – DJ Shadow @ Amoeba Music

In support of his fantastic new album, The Less You Know, the Better, DJ Shadow will be at Amoeba Music tonight at 6pm for a record signing and some record spinning.

10/24/11 – Gold Panda @ Echoplex

Is it chillwave? Is it IDM? Is it minimal techno? Like many other producers from the UK, Gold Panda keeps you guessing. One thing’s for sure, though: it’s great dance music. Don’t miss it!

Tickets

10/26/11 – Kings of Convenience @ The Music Box

Half of this Norwegian duo, Erlend Øye, is known for his career as a solo electronic artist. But with Kings of Convenience, it’s all about indie folk. Over the course of three studio albums, Kings of Convenience have become a worldwide hit, carrying throughout their career the motto that titled their first album: quiet is the new loud.

Tickets

10/27/11 – Trentemøller @ The Music Box

Danish producer Trentemøller takes a wide-ranging approach to EDM. His music encompasses a variety of styles, from techno to ambient post-rock, with a unity and clarity that never ceases to impress. If you’re looking for some midweek downtempo jams to chill out to, the Music Box is the place to be on Thursday.

Tickets

10/30/11 – The Soft Moon @ Echo

What better way to ring in Halloween than with Part Time Punks’ Goth Ball? This Sunday’s headliner is the dark, spooky and thoroughly entrancing The Soft Moon. Frontman Luis Vaszquez combines hypnotic synths, beautiful vocals and swirling visuals for a gothic post-punk experience straight out of 1981.

Tickets

10/17/11 – School Night @ Bardot

Tonight’s free show will feature indie folksters Meiko and El May, rounded out with DJ sets by Gotye and Maydoubt. RSVP for free entry.

10/18/11 – Foster the People @ The Wiltern

If you missed Foster the People last week, the chillwave trio will be playing one more show at the Wiltern on Tuesday. Tickets are going fast for this one, so get ‘em while they’re hot!

Tickets

10/18/11 – St. Vincent @ The Music Box

Over the course of three albums, St. Vincent’s Annie Clark has established herself as an indie rock goddess. Her seemingly innocent looks belie a guitar queen who can shred with the best of them, a brilliant vocalist with remarkable range and technique, and a songwriter with wit and wisdom far beyond her years. Prepare to be smitten, because no one can leave a St. Vincent concert without falling in love.

Tickets

10/19/11 – Moonface @ The Satellite

Moonface is the solo project of Spencer Krug, co-leader of Wolf Parade and frontman of Sunset Rubdown. Unlike those energetic bands, Moonface is much more introspective, featuring Krug on synths with minimal percussion. His first EP, Dreamland: Marimba and Shit-drums, was an experimental journey into inner-space, heavily influenced by Indonesian gamelan music. His follow-up, Organ Music Not Vibraphone Like I’d Hoped, is equally avant-garde and quietly emotional, evoking with coded language the bitter Canadian winter during which the album was recorded.

Tickets

10/19/11 – Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks w/ Ty Segall

Stephen Malkmus is best known as Pavement’s celebrated frontman, but his recent work with the Jicks shows a more refined, mature songwriter. Nonetheless, Malkmus’ latest album, Mirror Traffic, marks a nostalgic return to the snarky quirks of early Pavement.

Tickets

10/21/11 – Tamaryn @ Echo

One of the west coast’s finest dream pop acts, Tamaryn is the perfect combination of psychedelic haze and emotional urgency. The San Fran duo makes frequent appearances in LA, and if you haven’t seen them yet, we highly recommend taking this opportunity to do so.

Tickets

10/22/11-10/23/11 – Wolfgang Gartner @ The Music Box

Wolfgang Gartner is one of the main exponents of the house revival that’s brought us acts like Deadmau5 and Tiësto. Gartner is one of the few American DJs to make a name in the electro scene, which is typically dominated by Dutch and German musicians.

Tickets (Friday)
Tickets (Saturday)

10/22/11 – Aloe Bacc @ El Rey Theatre

The next big thing in neosoul has arrived. Aloe Blacc takes all the best of classic R&B and brings it into the present, resulting in something that fans of old and new soul alike can enjoy. Oh, and did we mention that he’s local?

Tickets

10/23/11 – DJ Shadow @ The Music Box

You could spend your Sunday evening at home, dreading the coming workweek. OR, you could head to the Music Box to see one of the greatest American DJs spin tracks off of his latest record. We hope that the right decision is as obvious to you as it is to us.

Tickets

Anthony Gonzalez is no stranger to the grandiose. The M83 frontman has made a signature of dramatic electronic anthems, and if you can call his music dream pop, its more akin to the epic, swelling soundscapes of Sigur Rós than, say, Mazzy Star or Beach House.

Gonzalez made this much clear with his band’s extraordinary sophomore effort, Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts, which bore little in common with any dream pop album that preceded it. M83 rooted its sound in electronica while borrowing from Cocteau Twins’ moody, ambient approach and the unabashed theatricality made popular by bands like Godspeed You! Black Emperor.

But in 2008, we saw a new side of M83. Saturdays = Youth was more song-oriented than any of the bands’ previous outings, raising an important question for any M83 fan: is this new direction a permanent one?

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, Gonzalez and company’s latest record, answers this question with a resounding yes. Never before has M83 sounded poppier — nor, for that matter, more French. The album is rooted in house music, complete with thumping four-on-the-floor beats and conventional song structures. Tracks like “Midnight City” and “Claudia Lewis” jump out of nowhere as full-fledged disco hits, and “Raconte-Moi Une Histoire” is easily the sunniest M83 tune I’ve ever heard.

As you might expect, Gonzalez handles this stylistic departure with grace and skill. But fret not, fans of the old M83: there’s still plenty of dream pop to go around. Songs like “Wait,” “Soon, My Friend,” and “My Tears Are Becoming a Sea” reflect M83′s characteristic sound. Simultaneously meditative and majestic, these tracks work in perfect opposition to the uptempo dance numbers that pervade the album.

Of course, the theatricality is still there, as well. With influences like the Smashing Pumpkins’ Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, it’s no surprise that Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is a sprawling 2-disc odyssey. In many ways, it’s M83′s most ambitious release yet, not just in its length, but also in the many stylistic risks that Gonzalez took. It’s a marriage of the old and the new, showcasing the extent of Gonzalez’s versatility as a composer.

So, while you might call it a departure, there’s no doubt that Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming will appeal to fans of all of M83′s work. Not only does it recall the band’s early albums and touch on the best of Saturdays = Youth, it launches M83 on a bold new path. It’s hard to tell where this path leads, but it’s also hard to care when you’re floating in space with such gorgeous soundscapes.

Catch them November 9th at The Music Box (tickets are sold out, so do what you can to get your hands on one).

Want to listen to something female-driven, fresh, and on the cusp of blowing up? Look no further than the Dum Dum Girls, a band of pop punk girls reminiscent of The Shangri-Las, The Cramps, and Mazzy Star. We haven’t been this excited about an all-girl band in a while and we’re stoked the Dum Dum Girls are leading the way.

Led by the excellent song-writing abilities and distinctive vocals of front woman Dee Dee, the Dum Dum Girls sophmore album Only In Dreams sounds like polished surf rock with the bygone Buddy Holly era sprinkled on top. Even though this mix of genre might seem soft, it is anything but that. The mature and deeply personal nature of the Dum Dum Girls’ lyrics takes the listener to unexpected levels you wouldn’t expect from “pop” music. In addition to producing some great music, the Dum Dum Girls are marking their mark fashion-wise — enshrining punk couture in the annals of fashion history.

The Dum Dum Girls were in town recently, promoting their new album, Only in Dreams, and reaffirming themselves as a group of bad ass chicks who play instruments. If you haven’t heard of the Dum Dum Girls or their debut album, I Will Be, then hustle over to iTunes to download it. In the meantime, you can stream Only In Dreams at the A.V. Club here. The entire album is ridiculously good, however the tracks “Bedroom Eyes,” “In My Head,” and “Coming Down” really stand out as minxy favorites.

The Dum Dum Girls are currently on tour until the end of November. Although their Los Angeles dates have passed, they’ll be in New York October 20th and 21st before leaving for the European leg of their tour.