The Young and the Restless: Allies for Everyone

Photography by Therese + Joel

Blending club and pop music is hardly a novel idea these days, but it's rarely done with as much warmth and generosity as it is with Allies for Everyone. Singer-DJ-producer Brian Suarez surfaced with his Scavenger EP in 2012, but its follow-up, You & Me (released last November), shows him settling into a firm identity. From the smoldering "Flashback" to the wistful "In the Wind," its four songs are as evocative and worldly as they are contagious. "When I create stuff, it's based on the history of the music I've liked -- what I grew up listening to, what I like playing out, and what I like to dance to," Suarez says, noting John Talabot and Tone of Arc as personal favorites. Crafting house-infused pop is not the only skill he's honing: He also directed the video for his recent single "Feel Your Love," using his background in graphic design. Says Suarez, "Music is great, but it's way easier to get someone to check you out if you have a strong visual component."

LISTEN TO: The You & Me EP (out now)
FOR FANS OF: Cut Copy, Holy Ghost, Hot Chip