Oakland-based Al Harper is what we can only describe as delightful. Songs like “Paradise” and “Sunny Somewhere” have just the right amount of surfy guitars and sweet lyrics to put you in a fine little mood. Even finer is their video for “Sunny,” (directed by John Snapp) which features Harper encountering a sweet little dog a huggable friends. There’s kind of a modern day No Doubt feel and we’re digging it. They’re playing at The Rite Spot Cafe on September 21, and El Rio on the 25th. -Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Al Harper doesn’t take herself too seriously in the video for “Sunny Somewhere” — a saccharine ballad that juxtaposes the feeling of knowing “it’s sunny somewhere” with the realization that somewhere isn’t necessarily here. While the track on its own has the potential to lean negative (“I feel like I am running out of time / and I just realized this party isn’t mind / what if I never end up with everything I want,”) the video — filled with cameos of Harper’s friends, jello shots, and karaoke — adds a certain lighthearted flair that highlights the full potential of Al Harper’s music. "I thought that since it's essentially about finding your bliss, we should just put a bunch of things in it that make me feel good,” said Harper, who will be playing her next show on August 8 at the Knockout. - Lilly Milman, photo by Kelsey McClellan

Stream an exclusive premiere of the video, directed by John Snapp, below. (And watch out for the "Semi-Charmed Life" reference.)

The delicacy of Oakland-based Al Harper’s jangly, soft rock solo project is reminiscent of dreamy vocals of the indie pop duo Tennis, but with her own added edge. Her breezy falsetto carries the listeners through angsty lyrics with ease, like the school-girl sounding “The New You” (streaming below) where she sings about a person that’s changed but “it’s cool, I still want the new you.” There’s an empowerment behind her effortless sound as she embraces femininity in a way that brings her up to the ranks of other beloved female artists like Snail Mail and Evil Seagull. She will be celebrating the release of her tape About Power and to play a few unreleased tracks on June 2 at Abbey's Tavern. - Lilly Milman, photo by Kelsey McClellan