This cover of "California Dreamin'" is cool as hell

Japanese Breakfast puts a gorgeous spin on The Mamas and The Papas classic.



Singer/songwriter Michelle Zauner, who makes music as Japanese Breakfast, recently shared this devastatingly gorgeous synth-tastic cover of the Mamas and The Papas' 1965 folk-rock classic "California Dreamin'" she recorded during a session for SiriusXMU. Wait until that beat drops.

Jane Lui and Puppet Friends cover "I Can't Go For That"

Jane gets some help from furry puppets performing a Hall & Oates classic.



I've said this many times before, but Jane Lui is a musical mad genius. In her latest video, she enlists the help of a couple of fuzzy puppet friends for a super-groovy, blippity-boop synth-tastic rendition of Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go For That." There is dancing. There are belly rubs. There are gummy worms.

Just watch:

Why Steven Yeun’s ‘Entertainment Weekly’ cover is such a huge deal

'The Walking Dead' star is one of the few Asian Americans ever to be featured on the magazine's cover.



This week, in light of the brutal torture porn that was the Walking Dead season premiere, Entertainment Weekly is featuring Steven Yeun as its cover star. Makes sense -- he has portrayed one of the show's most beloved characters, and (SPOILER ALERT) it's a pretty big deal that after six season’s he's finally leaving the show. But his cover is a little groundbreaking in itself.

Read more at Fusion: Why Steven Yeun’s ‘Entertainment Weekly’ cover is such a huge deal.

This is the classiest cover of "Thong Song" you've ever heard.

Jen Kwok's '69*' combines 90s R&B and classical piano.



Ohhhh yes. This is pretty damn marvelous. Comedian/actress/musician Jen Kwok's latest project *69 combines two of her greatest passions: 90s R&B and classical piano. Girl, you're speaking to my heart.

The six-song EP and video series features Jen's smoothed-out vocals and a Rachmaninoff-esque spin on some popular hits of yesteryear, including classics like "Thong Song" by Sisqo, "My Lovin'" by En Vogue, "My Boo" by Ghost Town DJs, and "Are You That Somebody" by Aaliyah. This is so good.

Check out these videos of Jen doing her thing:

One-woman jam Kawehi covers "Don't Dream It's Over"

DIY musician shows off her multi-track artistry with a unique spin on a classic Crowded House song.



This video dropped a couple of weeks ago, but I just saw it and I love it. Do-it-yourself musician Kawehi, who makes incredible one-woman jams, shows off her awesome multi-track artistry to cover one of my favorite songs of all time, "Don't Dream It's Over by Crowded House. It's a unique, cool spin on a classic song.

Check it out:

Jane Lui's fun mashup cover pays tribute to Janet Jackson

Watch the dance-tastically silly video for "All For You/Together Again/Escapade."



One of my favorite people and mad genius music-maker Jane Lui recently put together a stunningly cool mashup cover of three of Janet Jackson's biggest hit songs from the 80s, 90s and 00s, All For You & Together Again & Escapade. It's awesome. And to make the dance-tastically silly video for the tune, she enlisted the help of some friends to show off their moves. It's ridiculous fun.

Check it out:

This kid quartet's string cover of "Fireworks" is ridiculous

Meet the Joyous String Quartet.



So for today's musical dose of cute, I give you these awesome kids calling themselves the Joyous String Quartet, doing a spirited rendition of Katy Perry's "Fireworks" in color-coordinated coolness.

Based in Long Island, these kids have apparently been playing together since they were four years old, and have made TV appearances in Korean and China. And they rock. You may recognize 8-year-old Justin Yu, the moppy-haired kid rocking the cello, who has appeared and performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Take a look:

The Flying Elvii get down with "Uptown Funk"

Raymond Lee and his 'Honeymoon in Vegas' castmates havin' a little classroom instrument jam.



This is too fun not to share. Got this passed along by our good friend Raymond Lee, who currently plays an Elvis in the cast of Broadway's Honeymoon in Vegas. He and his fellow Flying Elvii had to get down with the "Uptown Funk," busted out some classroom instruments, and did their own super-sideburn-styled rendition of Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars' ice cold/too hot hit. And it is awesome.

Check it out:

Goh Nakamura sings you 'Songs to Make Out To'

Singer/songwriter's new cover album is like "the musical equivalent of a warm hug."



If you're looking for some new-old music to make out to, look no further singer/songwriter Goh Nakamura's latest release Songs to Make Out To, a really cool collection of covers. It's Goh's unique take on songs like "This Will Be Our Year," "Wonderwall," "Someone to Watch Over Me," and one of my favorites, "Just Like Heaven" by The Cure. Goh likens the 10-track album to "the musical equivalent of a warm hug." As I listen to it while looking out the window on this rare rainy California day, it's pretty damn perfect.

Here's Goh's take on "How Deep Is Your Love":

Glenn & Maggie's killer cover shoot

Your favorite 'Walking Dead' couple rock a variant cover of Entertainment Weekly



For my fellow Walking Dead fans... In case you missed it, Entertainment Weekly recently ran multiple variant covers featuring characters from The Walking Dead, in anticipation of the upcoming new season of the hit AMC zombie drama. This includes Steven Yeun and Lauren Cohan as your favorite post-apocalyptic couple Glenn and Maggie, in various expressions of undead-fighting distress:

Watch Jane Lui's ultra-cool cover of Pharrell's "Happy"

A lovely homemade mashup with Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"



If you are officially tired of hearing Pharrell Williams' "Happy" for the thousandth time, I submit this ultra-cool, homemade cover/mashup of the smash hit pop tune with Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, " crafted and performed by the one and only Jane Lui. It's really freaking awesome:

Watch Kawehi's kickass cover of "Heart-Shaped Box"

Epic cool one-woman cover turns Nirvana track on its head



Kawehi, where have you been all my music-loving life? Several folks have passed along this mind-blowing cover of Nirvana's "Heart-Shaped Box" by singer/songwriter Kawehi. It was apparently created out of an evening of messing around with loop tests and multiple glasses of wine... but then the internet got a hold of it and boom. A legion of new fans -- myself included. Just watch and enjoy:

Watch Jane Lui's Crazy Fun Cover of TLC's "Waterfalls"

Featuring Tamlyn Tomita, Lynn Chen and a band of merry misfit music makers



So this awesome thing totally happened... In this super-fun video, singer/songwriter Jane Lui is joined by friends Tamlyn Tomita and Lynn Chen, and leads a band of merry misfit music makers in an ultra-homemade one-take cover of TLC's "Waterfalls," complete with typewriters, a toy piano, a water jugand cardboard cutouts. (Yes, I make an appearance somewhere in there too.) Take a look:

Get happy with Jane Lui's cover of "Listen to the Music"

Doobie Brothers and dorky dancing on the streets of San Francisco.



Man, I adore Jane Lui. Not only is she one of my favorite musicians, she's also got some moves. Feeling a little down? I guarantee that this gorgeous little video cover of the Doobie Brothers' "Listen to the Music" will pick you up. Of course, some dorky dancing doesn't hurt either. And baby, there is plenty of dorky dancing in this video to go around. Check it out:

Girl rocks the guzheng with "Sweet Child o' Mine" cover

This is rock and roll on 21 traditional Chinese strings.



Thank you to all the folks who have sent this my way. Many of you are apparently fans of both Guns N Roses and traditional Chinese instruments... Check out this dope video of Vancouver musician Michelle Kwan -- not to be confused with the world champion American figure skater -- rocking a kickass cover of the hard rock classic "Sweet Child of Mine" on the guzheng. Complete with the Axl Rose bandana/sunglasses combo:

New Music: Kina Grannis' ultra-cool cover of "Royals"

I prefer the Kina Grannis version of, well, everything.



You know I am big fan of Kina Grannis. I'm always down, because she always making that sweet, sweet music. So check her out in this gorgeous, ultra-cool cover of "Royals", featuring Fresh Big Mouf (he's the guy banging on stuff). Hell, I like this one better than the original version:

Jane Lui covers "Rainbow Connection"

Catching up some fun videos... Here's a wonderful little island cover of "Rainbow Connection" by our friend singer/songwriter Jane Lui. Shot on location in Hawaii, it's got that chill ukulele vibe with Jane's lovely-as-usual vocals. Check it out:

sid sriram sings the crap out of "change is gonna come"

Wow. I was recently introduced to the vocal talents of Bay Area indie singer/songwriter Sid Sriram, and I'm pretty damn impressed. Check out Sid's incredible soulful rendition of Sam Cooke's "Change is Gonna Come." It's downright life-changing:

Wonderfully warbly Korean kids cover "Space Oddity"

Cute kindergarteners learn English with a David Bowie song.



It's a proven fact that kids love pop songs about fictional astronauts, in any language. Check out this cute video of little Korean kindergarten kids, led by their English teacher, singing a wonderfully warbly version of David Bowie's "Space Oddity." It's pretty great: