Santa Barbara, California-based band Gardens and Villa doesn't hide the fact that it resides in a sunny, coastal town known for its laidback vibes and generally wealthy inhabitants. Instead, it embraces its hometown and creates exactly the type of music one would expect to come out of it: sunny, laidback indie rock. While there might be plenty of Southern California bands creating the same style of music, Gardens and Villa adds enough unexpected elements--like a wooden flute and funky synths--to easily set itself apart from its contemporaries. Since forming in 2008, the five-piece has steadily built up a following in its home state, and after releasing its debut album in 2011, received positive press from publications around the country.
