10 Artists to Watch: The Like

Who Los Angeles teen-girl trio -- part of the pop-minded L.A. rock scene that includes Rilo Kiley, Rooney, Phantom Planet and Maroon 5 -- who have been gigging around town since they were fifteen years old.

Sound Lush, dreamy pop-rock songs built around the sweetly lovelorn lyrics and throaty voice of eighteen-year-old singer-guitarist Z Berg. "The first song I wrote was about a boy I dated and how I was really mean to him," says Berg, who had written twenty songs by the time she formed the band. "What I write about hasn't changed much -- it's either about who I'm dating or what I'm reading. I recently reread Madame Bovary. Situationist literature is good fodder for songwriting."

Girl Power The Like recently toured with Phantom Planet and Maroon 5, and they're currently recording their major-label debut, due in June. With success, the band has discovered that it's an inspiration to young female fans. "Girls come up to us at shows to tell us, 'We never had the courage to start a band, and after seeing you guys we're going to,' " Berg says.