The Midway State: They first attracted attention in the U.S. when their song “Unaware” was featured in the final episode of The O.C. earlier this year, and now this Canadian band that plays soundtrack-ready rock for the MySpace set is poised to really make their mark on the indie teen crowd. They just last week released their Met a Man on Top of the Hill EP in the U.S. through iTunes.
www.myspace.com/themidwaystate

Santogold: Remember M.I.A.? Brooklyn duo Santogold (vocalist Santi and producer Gold) is bringing a similar electro/hip-hop/rock hybrid sound to the kind of clubs where patrons sport neon and metallic American Apparel wares. Santogold’s album is scheduled to be released on Lizard King Records later this year.
www.myspace/santogold

Vampire Weekend: With a sound labeled “preppy afro-pop” by The New York Times recently, this Ivy League-bred buzz band (the members started the band while students at Columbia) is bringing a new sound to the increasingly stale indie rock scene. Heavily influenced by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Vampire Weekend can most easily be described as The Walkmen meets Paul Simon’s Graceland. Their digital EP, available exclusively through Other Music, is self-released but you can likely expect a label bidding war over these guys.
www.myspace.com/vampireweekend

And by the way: H&M’s next designer collaborator is Roberto Cavalli. The collection, featuring apparel and accessories for both women and men, is slated for a November 8 release.