Solo artist Finley Martin has spent the past two years creating his premiere album, Backtracks. Finley’s deep voice brings a rich flavor to hauntingly beautiful piano harmonies in the first song of the album, “The Empress of Ireland”. As the album continues, it becomes apparent that his voice is able to do much more than lay the melody for a classical melody, but also fit a variety of modern genres. His versatility creates an album which seems to explore each subgenre of modern rock. The vast majority of his album is acoustic guitar and voice, and the diversity of his sound makes Backtracks captivating. You can catch him this Thursday, June 12th, presented by the RLife Live Series at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel, or June 19th at William Jeffrey’s Tavern    –-Hannah Brady

Brooklyn trio Twintapes doesn’t take the easy way out. Although their bread and butter is plush, danceable electro-pop, they perform sans laptops. And it’s clearly something they’re proud of — the lack of computers is one of the first things mentioned on their social pages. Performance-wise, this laptop-free commitment takes the form of a collaborative chain reaction: singer/frontman Pavel Rivera initiates sounds to all-analog synth player Landon Knoblock. From there, Benny Reiner adds rhythm with an electric/acoustic melded drum set. This unique DIY-electro approach has paid off. Twintapes celebrated the release of single and subsequent video “Everyday Chemical” (streaming) in mid-March.

LINKS: Read Corinne Bagish’s interview with Twintapes
EVENTS: Twintapes live at Spike Hill Hill with Leverage Models, Zula, Wolvves, Psychic Twin + more on 06.14

Grungey and fuzzy trio Dead Stars finally announced the release of their first full length this summer, a record dripping with the elements that attracted attention towards them over the years: a pop sensibility through angsty chords, dewy melodies and distorted guitars, and their trademark juxtaposition of the lows and the highs of life. So much so that new track ‘Summer Bummer’ is filled with ‘anti-summer’ lyrics according to Jeff Moore (vocals and guitarist), but that doesn’t stop it from feeling good. Drums so fast that almost sound abbreviated are consummated by a fluid bass line that doesn’t so much lay underneath the melody, but is integral to it, making the whole thing writhe with passion and pulse. New LP ‘Slumber’ is out 6/17 on Old Flame Records – support them at the launch show on June 19th at Union Pool, or see them at Village Voice’s 4Knots fest in July. – Francesca Baker

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best Indie Guitar Rock songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!