The sunny pop project of Santa Monica-based songwriter Zach Yudin and his twin brother Ben, Cayucas pays tribute to the seaside town of Cayucos, California as well as the lighthearted sounds of the early to mid-'60s. Formerly making music under the moniker Oregon Bike Trails, Yudin double majored in music theory/production and Japanese in college. Sampling artists like Harry Belafonte, the Animals, and the Tornadoes and writing songs on acoustic guitar, he pieced together some nostalgic yet timeless-sounding songs that he posted online. Cayucas eventually landed a record deal and collaboration with producer Richard Swift that resulted in 2013's summery Bigfoot. For 2015's Dancing at the Blue Lagoon, the Yudins worked with producer Ryan Hadlock, who helped the pair develop a more polished sound. ~ Heather Phares