Over the recent years, electronic infusions have spread through every genre of music, but have found its most compatible companion in pop. Enter New York native Julietta, who with her electro-soul-pop concoctions, takes us on a dreamy escape. Her initial training in musical theater set the foundation for the precise control of her expansive vocal range, which coupled with the airy synths and deep beats (programmed by a team of producers), create a powerfully ethereal sound that flirts with trip hop and the intensely mysterious atmospheres of Lana Del Rey. Catch Julietta sing about love, loss, and everything in between at Baby’s All Right on March 19, when she’ll open for Vallis Alps. – Adriana S. Ballester

From the opening double-stick flam pattern drum figure, heroic guitar notes and vintage sine wave synth pads, Brooklyn’s Syvia lay claim to a classic alterna-pop sound on “Anxious Animal,” the lead track off their newly released 5 song EP “Silent Violence.”  A repeated vocal hook “you will never be enough, you will not amount to much,” suggests singer Ruth Mirky may be speaking of more internal doubts than anything outwardly accusatory. Though some have stated Yeah Yeah Yeahs as a stylistic equivalent (and overall vocal tone and recording techniques do bear this out) the song structure leans closer to early 1980’s “new wave” monster hit “I Melt With You” by one-hit-wonders Modern English.  However the pacing of this track is more deliberate and laden with harsher guitar layers pointing towards early aughts Swedish indie rock band The Sounds, pioneer new wave acts Blondie and Missing Persons as sonic counterparts.  In addition to the EP release, the band recently played dates in Norway, Sweden and Finland as part of The Brooklyn Sound Tour, and play next at Rockwood Music Hall on April 2. – Dave Cromwell

The Zoom Lens family descends on the inside stage of Cheer Up Charlies to mark the beginning of their weeklong stay at SXSW. The eight-artist showcase will include performances from Oh My Muu, Meishi Smile, a live debut of la pumpkin, (Savannah, GA) new songs from Plaster Cast‘s recently released EP "Permanence," and more. Find more info on the Facebook event page and the official SXSW page. Until then, stream the specially curated Zoom Lens mix to whet your appetite. – Ryan Mo

Eschewing mediocrity for a full-on queer punk motif, PWR BTTM is a punk duo sodomizing the status quo. Energetic and positive, the message of their music is uplifting, which pairs well with the group’s DIY showmanship that grips its live showcases. Ben Hopkins and Liv Bruce plan on shocking at SXSW 2106; while their dynamic may be a bit off the beaten path, they don’t seem to care about what other people think, and there is nothing more punk rock than that. After the Austin festival, the band will embark on a tour in support of Ra Ra Riot. Check out their break out single "1994." – Lee Ackerley

There’s a beauty and freedom in being a new band, mainly consisiting in being free of any preconceived notions or assumptions of their style based on previous works. This often translates into a sound that’s fresh sounding and unpretentious, and this is exactly what Brooklyn’s Brain Salt has done with their debut EP ‘Crowds.’ Opener “Wisdom of Crowds” and “New Orbit” play with synths and twinkling, textural piano compositions whereas “New Theme from Troll 2” has more of a theatrical nature to it and heavier guitar rhythms. See them live at The Shop in Brooklyn on March 17. – Adriana S Ballester