Sifting through San Diego’s music culture will yield a wide assortment of music varying from Lo-Fi to high art. Labels like Three.One.G, Single Screen and Art Fag are paramount to understanding the local music scene. These labels work outside of most conventions and release music, for better or worse, not completely embraced by your standard pop genre.

Three.One.G is a great starting point in the history of the San Diego’s modern music scene. Starting in the mid-90s, Three.One.G is a label specializing in experimental post avant punk music. It’s not a genre, but an all inclusive term for bands in the tradition of No-Wave/Post Punk greats like Devo, Suicide, Sonic Youth, Joy Division and many others who’s style and originality did not die with the punk trend.

Justin Peirson is a bassist and one of the singers of the Locust, a post-prog-proto-grindcore punkfest. The Locust spearheaded the new movement of extreme alternative punk in San Diego that led Peirson to start Three.One.G.

One of the bands that have been released on the label is the indie-thrash-noise gods Arab on Radar. They could be described as a staccato-noise punk through a blender of indie disco. Other releases include post-punk heroes The Blood Brothers – for those who like their punk on the more eclectic side. The label also features Cattle Decapitation, a must hear for all death-grind kids, as well as a trough of other bands to cover all your experimental music needs.

Three.One.G’s latest release, The Hard EP from Zs, is a fifteen-minute one-track noise trek. Though not as active as it once was, Three.One.G is still a strong totem for the tradition of creating music that makes people uncomfortable.

Some of the most recent and notable San Diego has to offer is coming from Single Screen and Art Fag.

Single Screen has an emphasis on eclectic rock ranging from power pop to low-fi and all relatives in between. Most of their releases have been solid, though a specific rock aesthetic might be required for listening. From the post-rock punk of The Sess, The Beaters, and The Powerchords to the slightly more ethereal folk qualities of Paddle Boat and Cuckoo Chaos the bands found here are bound to have something every rock lover could enjoy.

Art Fag, on the other hand, has a bit of a niche variety. Their shoe-gazing, low-fi indie artists proudly display their lack of musicianship yet balance out with good multi-layered ambient pop rock. This label is more concerned with presenting an alternative kind of pop music that has been having great success in terms of a growing fan base. This label specializes in groups with a similar aesthetic appeal as Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls. Reviews and updates from Vice and Pitchfork have given Art Fag a growing reputation outside of San Diego.

Swami Records has to be mentioned by San Diego law. Founded by Rocket From The Crypt front man John Reis, who’s impeccable taste in music has given us releases from some of the best post-punk bands San Diego had to offer. Most of the bands shamelessly include Reis himself; and, sadly most are no longer around.

The latest Swami release, “Mariachi El Bronx,” is a mariachi style album from The Bronx. Catch the best three hours you will ever get from our San Diego air waves on 94.9fm Saturday nights 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. hosted by Reis himself.

Gravity is putting out three bands at the moment. Crime Desire and Bastard Noise seem to come from the same vein of hardcore punk but Les Aus’ experimental noise collage has an airy psyche-rock mix, which was a lot more engaging. With more than fifteen years of experience this label is still known as one of the best and most consistent. Any local music lover is strongly urged to check this one out.

Knowing the musical acts from your hometown makes the experience a bit more personal, especially if it’s enjoyable music. Taking a brake from famous artists and exploring the local scenes could produce something you never knew you loved.