Baltimore’s Jenn Wasner doesn’t need much of an introduction, she’s made quite an impact both locally and internationally with her experimental electo-lyrical duo Wye Oak and solo project Flock of Dimes. Wye Oak’s "Shriek" was one of the standout indie records of 2014 – since then Wasner has been touring with the fantastic Sylvan Esso, getting her next solo release ready, and working with Andy Stack on new band material. None of her new songs are available online yet, but if you make it to one of her live shows you’ll most certainly hear what’s in the works. Flock of Dime’s next Baltimore show isn’t until September 26th at Druid Hill Park, but if you’re as impatient as we are you might enjoy some sonic treats to tide you over. Warner has been releasing some killer collaborations, one being a dark pop song called "Automatic" with producer Alan Wilkis on his project Big Data. Wasner brings her dream-gloom magic into a more traditional pop set up, delivering cryptic hooks like "Here I am, Don’t you want me to do it again?". Sylvan Esso’s lead Amelia Meath, having started her career in the primarily a cappella trio Mountain Man, is no stranger to finding haunting harmonies. When Wasner and Meath get together to take in and take on Gillian Welch’s "Everything is Free" in a video for The A.V. Club’s cover series, they cast a spell. This can’t really be described. I hope you’ll give it a watch, especially if it’s been a while since you’ve gotten shiver-skin from hearing something beautiful. – Leora Mandel

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Fronted by the three eclectic Rauch-Sasseen sisters, Brooklyn/New Jersey band Hey Anna bring unabashed ear candy to the NYC scene. Sporting God Help the Girl-like vocals, quirky synths, and delicious lyrics, singles like "By the Bay" remind that life’s many pleasures are still small and accessible. The band has a new EP in the works, and will be playing Baby’s All Right on July 9th. – Jillian Dooley

With their debut, self titled LP, The Gradients have already forged a very strong sonic identity, one which can’t be easily labeled. The record takes us back to the days when XTC was still little more than a punk band (1979 circa), but already displayed all the talent in place to become what it became: one of the edgiest pop bands of all times. Like the British duo, The Gradients feature dual vocals (bassist Charlie DY and guitarist Luca Balser) with contrasting tones, and a songwriting attitude that privileges clever song developments, melodies and instrumental parts over familiar ones. Their album’s incredible consistency is the most promising asset here, which bodes well for their future; whatever alchemy they have in place right now should be nurtured and cherished. The band will be kicking off a US tour at Palisades on July 3rd – dates here. They will be joined by Brooklyn freak folk band The Cradle – another interesting group we’ll be blogging about soon.

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

Dreaming has always been a prerogative of the young. But seeing the raising wave of dreamy NYC based bands, we start to wonder if dreaming becomes a necessity for those who choose to settle in that post-industrial wasteland that is "non affluent Brooklyn." Or maybe it’s the other way around: would anobody who doesn’t have a dream to nurture settle in a place like Bushwick? Whichever the answer, that gray urban ugliness is producing many colorful psychedelic flowers. One of them is Pop and Obachan, a duo that, in just over a year of existence, released two EPs that show a radical metamorphoses – one that veers towards dreaminess. Their debut EP ‘Unfurl’ was a modest, sparse and sleepy alt folk record featuring just voice, ukelele and acoustic guitar. Its melodies and chord progressions owe a lot to the roots of American music. But this year’s ‘Dream Soup‘ sees the band entirely transformed – and for the better. An enriched instrumentation – now featuring also drum machine, keyboards and electric guitar – supports, through inventive arrangements, some truly imaginative and personal dream-pop songwriting. The highlights are opener ‘Holly’ and ‘Dry Land,’ with their impressionistic sound, beautifully whimsical melodies, and perfectly balanced production. If this is what "non affluent Brooklyn" can do to a band in one year, there’s definitely nothing wrong with it, no matter how expensive the rent is.

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

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