Dallas-bred, New York-based singer and songwriter Jordan Raf has the unique ability to diagnose the ills that plague himself and the world, and to recite the diagnoses with a blend of biting wit and unvarnished honesty. He’s a seer for our radically broken home, a court jester warning his patrons that the food is not only poisoned but has been expired for weeks. It’s a cruel, pointless endeavor, but since we’re all doomed anyways, might as well make the most of it. The Iranian-American’s upcoming self-produced EP, The Last Deer in Laurel Canyon is a raucously brilliant blend of downtempo indie pop, soul-baring R&B, avant-garde folk, and deeply felt electronica. On the project, Raf amalgamates a number of recognizable styles and forms them together into something thrillingly unique. - Will Schube