When you go to see a band live for the first time, it is normal to expect them to sound like a better or (often) worse version of their "digital streaming" selves: in the case of Long Island’s BRAEVES (who coincidentially just qualified for out Best of NYC Year End Poll), this identity can be described as your "regular" melodic indie pop band. But a live show can quickly affect your preconceptions. Opening song ‘Guest of the Gun’ instantly hit us with a noteworthy emotional impact: the young band kept hanging on to that quality throughout the show; their stage presence and competent performance gave their songs an added strength, and the crowd of a sold out Pianos certainly helped create the perfect atmosphere. As they played “Talk like Strangers” (streaming), I was thinking about the tough week France had, especially my dear Paris (yes, that’s where I hail from), and then everything flew away for a while – which is exactly what I needed. The band’s melodies, full of emotions, are supported by Ryan Colt Levy’s clean, perfectly "pop" vocals. The crowd’s applause signaling the end of the show brought me back to earth, which suddenly felt like a better place. Isn’t that what pop music is for? – Maylis Personnaz

Thanks to all the artists who submitted their music to be considered for The Deli’s Best of Toronto Year End Poll for Emerging Artists.

After tallying our editors’ ratings for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. Please note that to avoid conflicts no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene

Total submissions from Toronto: 15

Jurors: Natan Press (The Deli DC), Jordannah Elizabeth (The Deli SF), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli NYC).

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll:

1. Kira May – 7.33

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2. Laura Cole – 7.16

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2. The Pick Brothers Band – 7.16

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4. Sun K – 7 

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4. Jessica Bundy – 7

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Honorable Mentions (scores above 6.5)

Clara Engel, The Gnarly Ones, Dear Blackwolf, Triangle & Seed, The Young Novelists.

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WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. We have already unveiled full list of nominees that also includes the artists nominated by our local jurors (see left column here). It’s now time for our readers to influence this Year End Poll for Emerging Toronto Artists with their vote!

—The Deli Toronto

Last week we started publishing the results of our picks from our Best of NYC Year End Poll’s Open Submissions for the genres Alt Rock/Power Pop, Songwriters/Rootsy Pop and Electronic. A bunch of categories are left, but it’s now time to go Indie-Poppy! Pop has been invading the NYC scene in the last decade with bands that retain NYC’s signature edgy sound, but blend it with more melodic and uptempo elements. Competition was fierce in this category, with an incredible amount of really good bands – darn, WHY can’t we let them all through? Who created this poll’s rules anyway? Anyway, this is what our jurors went for:

Total submissions in this category: 42

Artists qualified to the next stage (i.e. the Readers’ Poll, starting around 01.20):

1. The Landing – 8 (out of 10)

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2. HEY ANNA – 7.83

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3. The Cabana Kids – 7.5

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3. BRAEVES – 7.5

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Honorable Mentions (scores above 7):

Éyal hai, Pink Murder, The Letter Yellow, Born Cages, Jonah Delso, Canon Logic, Rathborne.

Jurors: Jason Behrends (The Deli Chicago), Terra J. Jura (The Deli Nashville), PDG (The Deli NYC)

Stay tuned for more results from the open submissions, and then for the readers’ poll, and then the final chart!

The Deli’s Staff

Thanks to all the artists who submitted their music to be considered for The Deli’s Best of DC Area Year End Poll for Emerging Artists. After tallying the votes for the Open Submissions stage, it’s time to release the results. Please note that to avoid conflicts no local editor was allowed to vote for bands in their own scene.

Total submissions from the DC Area: 42

Jurors: Terra J Jura (The Deli Nashville), Michelle Bacon (The Deli KC), Paolo De Gregorio (The Deli NYC)

Acts advancing to our Readers/Fans Poll:

1. Avers (Psych Rock) – 8.16

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2. People’s Blues of Richmond (Blues/Psych Rock) – 7.83

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3. Andrew Aylward (indie Rock) – 7.33

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3. The Northerners (Folk Rock) – 7.33

Honorable Mentions (ranked above 6.5):

Caustic Casanova, Paperhaus, Exit Vehicles, Clones of Clones, Flo Anito, Classified Frequency, Jacob Ungerleider, Bencoolen, Red States, Harness Flux.

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WHAT’S NEXT: These results end the first phase of the poll. We will soon unveil the artists nominated by our local jurors, and we’ll let our readers and our writers influence the poll with their vote.

Keep creating, keep supporting, and stay tuned for your chance to vote!

— The Deli DC Area Staff