Brooklyn songwriter Mitski – our Record of the Month in November 2014 – just unveiled this new video for single ‘Your Best American Girl,’ featured in her fourth studio album ‘Puberty 2,’ released on June 17th on Dead Oceans. The Japanese-American artist will headline a US tour as a three piece in the summer, and play a few shows in Europe next week. The band’s June 20th show at Bowery Ballroom is sold out, so you better get your tickets for the following NYC show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Juyly 27.

We mentioned Fieldings a few days ago in this blog, and we’ve been intrigued by their music since then. This is the project of a NYC based songwriter who recently moved from Sydney, Australia to Brooklyn, whose first name appears to be Lu. Her 2014 three song EP ‘Wild Release Vol I‘ brings back to mind the emotional expressionism and experimental droney inclinations of Lisa Germano’s early albums, although the tone here is more subdued and the production sparser. In it, Lu’s voice shines for confidence and tone, together with her songwriting and production skills. Follow up EP ‘Wild Release Vol II,’ released a few months later, picks up where the debut left off, with acoustic guitars blending gracefully with electronic elements, samples, and percussion sounds that are alternatively acoustic and electronic. We are curious to hear what an edgy scene like NYC will do to this already original artist, in particular now that Lu appears to have band mates. Check out our favorite single ‘Idioglossia,’ strteaming below.

Koncept shook up our senses in 2015 with “The Fuel” EP (co-produced by J57), aand by storming SXSW in March this year. Now we can see him bring his fire to the intimate and historic Arlene’s Grocery. As he raps in his newest single, “Crazy is Beautiful,” — “Never look back at the past me, that would bring me down so badly.” The EP is a testament to living in the present. If you’re feeling like you’re running on empty, come out and fuel up. Doors at 6pm. He plays at 8pm. Don’t be late!

In a world where the lines between genres keep blurring it’s no surprise when bands or artists create works the defy fitting into any one of them. What is refreshing, though, is when they do it well. Enter Nothing, Nowhere. With self deprecatingly analytical lyrics glazed over with a layer of anger, dreamy reverb guitars, rapping, and samplings from movies and readings Nothing, Nowhere. builds tracks that take cues from emo, indie dream pop, and hip hop. Thus forging an LP (streaming below) that explores love, frustration, religion and loss of faith with an unique style. Keep an eye out on their facebook page for any future concerts.

Residencies are a great way for venues to launch a clear message to music press and fans, the message being: "we dig this band and they have a great live show!" We’ve got to trust Rockwood then about Brooklyn’s The YeahTones, since they offered them a three date quarterly residency starting in February and ending on April 28th. From what we can tell from their only recorded track, entitled ‘What Could I Do’ and streaming below, the group masters the blues rock genre to a t, managing to instill in this old music a healthy dose of freshness, power and character, without ever losing its signature viscerality. Looking forward to hearing more.