Colby Kline is an independent music artist who recently released a new album, AVALANCHE. Described as “dark, groovy, and hypnotic,” the album is a new direction for Kline, who pairs her siren-esque voice with seductive, moody synth-infused sounds. 

Kline, who lives in West Hollywood, is an LA singer-songwriter who draws on her collaborative writing experience, vocal training, and love of a wide range of musical genres to create a lush, dark pop sound. The new release is a refinement of her artistic style and a step forward in her musical career. 

An Early Introduction to Performance

Kline grew up in the hills above Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, the daughter of comedian and actor Richard Kline. Her father’s famous role on Three’s Company was an early introduction to the entertainment industry, and Kline describes this time as an “immersive introduction to show business.” The insight she gained from witnessing her father’s career helped her shape her future ventures in the creative world. 

The multi-talented Kline soon followed in her father’s footsteps and, at a young age, began acting, singing, and modeling in commercials, film, and television. Her impressive vocal talents led to her being featured as a vocalist with the Pasadena Pops Orchestra before the age of 14. 

As a young actress, Kline also enjoyed roles in the films Just Go with It (2011), Problem Child (1990), and The Last Boy Scout (1991). 

Formal Training and Musical Education

Though Kline had early success in her acting career, she chose to focus on her musical talents while attending Northwestern University. She studied musical theater and vocal performance, which would become the foundation for her future indie music career. Kline’s education was essential to developing her range, her nearly perfect pitch, and her vocal style. 

Though she had enjoyed early success in her acting career, Kline decided to pivot after graduating and pursue a music career. 

The Transition to Songwriting and Composing

In 2009, Kline began recording professionally and collaborated with a member of Tears for Fears. It was during this time that she realized being in the recording studio and songwriting was more “creatively fulfilling” than her previous acting work. This revelation pushed Kline to explore more musical opportunities, which eventually led her to take full control of her career by creating her own imprint.

Later, she would move to Brooklyn, where she found what she calls a “grittier, more intimate creative world.” While living there, Kline was approached to co-score a feature film, Ovum. It was her experience composing for the screen that solidified her love for “dramatic, cinematic musical soundscapes” that would later influence AVALANCHE. 

West Hollywood Musician

With the AVALANCHE single, Kline is pushing further into the independent music scene in Los Angeles. She has a strong commitment to maintaining creative control over her musical endeavors and the direction of her career. 

Skin on Skin is one of Kline’s most-streamed tracks, and AVALANCHE confirms her relevance in the indie music scene. Her love of dramatic, atmospheric, mood-driven music pours out of her latest creation.

Kline has cultivated a distinctive sound with her cinematic indie pop and plans to continue infusing her solo work with influences from a wide range of genres. She also aspires to score for film and television.

AVALANCHE is a bold departure from Kline’s previous work and showcases her intense dedication to crafting hypnotic music that enchants listeners. As her Instagram bio says, Kline is “not your eye candy but your soul food.”

Written in partnership with Tom White

The burgundy booths at the Smoke House restaurant have witnessed everything from whispered deals to surprise serenades. Actor George Clooney so loved the place that he named his production company Smokehouse Pictures after the booth where he and Grant  Heslov would scheme over martinis. It’s a fitting tribute to a steakhouse that has served as  Hollywood’s unofficial clubhouse since 1946. 

The restaurant began as a 46-seat chophouse at the corner of Pass Avenue and Riverside,  frequented by stars like Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. Three years later, it moved to a  Tudor-style inn across from Warner Bros. Studios and expanded again in 1955 under architect Wayne McAllister, growing to 18,000 square feet. Today it seats more than 500  people amid fireplaces, director’s chairs, and classic movie posters. A neon sign outside still flashes the motto “fine food at a fair price,” a promise that has endured since 1946. 

For decades, the Smoke House has blurred the line between reality and the silver screen.  Casts from “Friends” and “ER” gathered here after taping, while Judy Garland and  Robert Redford were among its many regulars. Live music fills the lounge on weekends,  drawing performers like Joni Mitchell, who celebrated her 80th birthday at the restaurant.  The menu’s icons—prime rib with horseradish, creamy pastas, and that famous garlic cheese bread—remain unchanged, even as the kitchen sources more sustainable ingredients and modernizes its cocktail program. 

Asked how the restaurant stays relevant in a city obsessed with reinvention, Smoke House management says the secret lies in preserving the “soul” of the place while meeting contemporary standards. Dim lighting, red booths, and genuine hospitality create a sense of continuity, while updated service, inclusivity, and sustainable sourcing appeal to modern diners. They describe the steakhouse as an “industry sanctuary” where patrons can finalize deals or rehearse scripts without paparazzi lurking. The management team sees the restaurant as a bridge between eras, a living link where veteran directors and young actors share garlic cheese bread and stories. 

The upcoming 80th anniversary celebration embodies that philosophy. In October, the  Smoke House will revive its 1946 Throwback Menu—pricing signature dishes at $19.46—and host curated events that lean into its Old Hollywood roots. The restaurant will launch digital storytelling projects to capture the memories of longtime staff and patrons and continue its support of the Burbank International Film Festival, ensuring that future filmmakers will have a place to call home. “We aren’t just celebrating a date on a calendar; we’re celebrating 80 years of being a cornerstone of the community,”  management said. 

After 80 years, the Smoke House remains a rare constant in Los Angeles: a steakhouse where the past and present collide, where garlic bread is as legendary as the stars who dine there, and where the next chapter of Hollywood history is just a booth away.

Written in partnership with Tom White

There’s a certain kind of artist you don’t fully understand in one listen, not because they’re confusing, but because there’s more going on beneath the surface. Lili Harbit is one of those artists.

Based in Poland, Lili Harbit (born Liliya Maslakova) isn’t just a singer-songwriter trying to break into pop; she’s someone shaping her work from multiple angles. Alongside music, she has a background in psychology and works as a music teacher, and that combination shows up clearly in how she creates. Her songs don’t just aim to sound good, they feel considered, introspective, and emotionally intentional without trying too hard to prove it.

At a time when a lot of emerging pop can feel fast and disposable, her approach leans in the opposite direction, slower, more reflective, and quietly immersive.

A Visual Language That Matches the Music

A big part of Lili’s identity lives on YouTube, where her music videos help define her world just as much as the songs themselves.

There’s a noticeable consistency in how her visuals are put together. They’re minimal, but not empty. Cinematic, but not overproduced. Instead of relying on big concepts or loud aesthetics, her videos focus on mood, soft lighting, stillness, and subtle expressions that carry emotion without spelling everything out.

It feels intentional without feeling forced.

That’s likely where her psychology background plays a role. There’s an understanding of emotional space, knowing when to hold back, when to let a moment breathe, that gives her visuals a kind of quiet confidence.

“Near” and the Shift Toward a Bigger Stage

One of the more defining moments in her recent journey is the release of her single “Near” on VEVO.

For independent artists, a VEVO release still carries weight. It signals a level of professionalism and opens the door to a wider, more global audience. But beyond the platform itself, “Near” feels like a step forward creatively.

The track leans into atmosphere, soft, emotionally driven, and built around presence rather than intensity. Her vocals don’t overpower the song; they sit inside it, letting the mood lead. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t demand attention loudly, but holds it if you stay.

You can tell it matters to her. Not just as a release, but as a marker, something that represents where she is right now as an artist.

Sound, Emotion, and Control

What stands out most about Lili Harbit’s music is how involved she is in shaping it.

She isn’t just writing and singing, she performs within her own arrangements, which gives her sound a sense of cohesion that’s hard to fake. Everything feels like it belongs together because it’s coming from the same place.

Her style sits somewhere within contemporary pop, but it’s softened by atmospheric production and a focus on emotion over structure. The themes she leans into , inner change, connection, growth , could easily feel generic in another artist’s hands, but here they feel more personal, more internal.

Not dramatic. Not exaggerated. Just… honest.

The Teacher Behind the Artist

Outside of her own music, Lili also works as a teacher, and that part of her life doesn’t feel separate from her artistry.

If anything, it strengthens it.

There’s a groundedness in the way she approaches music, both technically and emotionally. Her teaching seems to focus not just on skill, but on expression, helping people understand how to feel music, not just perform it.

That dual role, artist and mentor, adds another layer to who she is. It’s not just about building her own career, but also shaping how others experience music.

Growing Quietly, But Intentionally

On platforms like Instagram, her presence follows the same pattern as her music: consistent, understated, and real.

She shares her work, moments from her process, and glimpses into her creative mindset without over-packaging it. There’s no sense of trying too hard to go viral or fit into trends. Instead, it feels like she’s building something slowly, an audience that connects with her for the right reasons.

And that might be her biggest strength.

A Different Kind of Pop Artist

Lili Harbit doesn’t come across like someone chasing the typical version of pop success. She’s not loud about what she’s doing, and she’s not trying to fit into a pre-defined mold.

Instead, she’s building her own space, one that blends music, emotion, psychology, and visual storytelling in a way that feels personal and sustainable.

“Near” might be one of her first bigger steps onto a global stage, but it doesn’t feel like a sudden shift. It feels like a natural progression.

And if anything, that’s what makes her interesting to watch, not just where she is right now, but where this slow, intentional build might take her next.

Written in partnership with Tom White