Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.

This all-singles edition features indie rock from The Nuts, a remixed Michael Skib sci-fi excursion, electronic folk-pop by Rabbitology, techno by Zagc, and fuzz rock from Mazinga.

The Nuts, "Black Time"
I'm happy to report that Ann Arbor's The Nuts have released another great song. I'm also thrilled to report it's the latest single from a forthcoming album, one that I've been hoping for all year. I'm not as crazed to report that the record is called The Nuts Hang Out!, but that's because I'm serious all the time. Not a lick of humor in me; just existential brooding and melancholy, which is what I want out of my music, too—and thankfully, The Nuts dropped a single that's filled with just that. ("Nuts" and "dropped" next to each other in the same sentence was an accident. Stop giggling.)

The shoegaze-meets-indie-rock sound of the band's previous singles is still the foundation of "Black Time," but there are some epic-sounding synths in the chorus to go along with the rest of the tune's distorted guitars, delay-and-chorus-effect leads, and spoken-sung lyrics. Based on the singles I've heard so far, I've already penciled in The Nuts Hang Out! on my top 10 list for 2025. It's a ballsy prediction, but that's just me, man: huge stones.

Michael Skib, "New Ghost (!Mindparade Remix)"
A one-off remix of the closing track from the recent New Ghost EP by Ann Arbor's Michael Skib. The !Mindparade interpretation plays up the beats and squelches from the original but retains the menacing sci-fi atmosphere.

Rabbitology, "Preybirds (Watcher Song)"
TikTok is the new tastemaker, and Ann Arbor's Rabbitology has a budding career from it. The person behind Rabbitology is Nat Timmerman, a University of Michigan undergrad student who gets a ton of streams on social media and Spotify. She has released numerous quirky, clever, songs that combine folk instruments—a banjo is the lead instrument on "Preybirds (Watcher Song)"—along with electronic production and richly layered vocals.

Zagc, "Cold Stand"
I'm not sure if Zagc is still in Ann Arbor or if he's a Brooklyn guy now, but we'll still claim him if he keeps releasing moody techno bangers like "Cold Stand."

Mazinga, "The Dark Path"
The latest single from Mazinga's forthcoming album is a wah-wah-soaked fuzz fest that will have you wanting to buy a Harley and hit the road sans helmet. Look for the long-awaited new full-length from these A2 rock 'n' roll lifers in early 2025.

Christopher Porter is a library technician and the editor of Pulp.