As it’s developed over the years, the garage-rock genre, and it’s variations, has grown to include many types of music, and none know this better than Boston by-way-of Providence group The Rare Occasions. Instead of opting to section themselves off into one of the genre’s many corners, the band instead embraces its multi-faceted nature wholeheartedly, and play tunes that fall anywhere on the spectrum between swampy pop all the way to harder, dischordant punk. Because of this it’s hard to know what to expect off of their forth-coming EP Futureproof, due out August 13th, aside from it should be eclectically electric.  The Rare Occasions are going on an east coast tour in support of their new EP available on 8/5, indluding a release show at The Middle East on 8/13. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

On Mākutu’s debut track, "Into the Sun," featuring Annapolis’s Gingerwolf, the Boston-based group introduce themselves with an intriguing gloom-pop sound. The song starts off meekfully and mellow, with a lonesome piano melody that is quickly joined by harmonzied vocals. As the track progresses, however, more components are added in, the dynamics grow bolder, and the song transforms from a elegiac tune to an up-lifting jam, full of redemption. It’s bold, and nuanced song-writing from the fledgling band, and it should be a promising sign for future projects. You can check them out at The Middle East on 7/27. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

 

Alternating between swirling, lawless sea swells of sound and spacey-lounge jazz, Brooklyn-based band Sheen Marina is as unpredictable as a rogue wave. Sounding every bit Mars Volta as lo-fi sunshine-y surf rock, the band’s chill-beach tendencies are punctuated by a looming chaotic (and math-y at once) madness that threatens to take charge at any given moment. Despite this, the band comes off as tight, raw and endlessly interesting – leaving the listener picking up new song elements with every pass. Sheen Marina’s sound was made for summer (with a twist), so check out their recently dropped single, a rather irrecognizable cover of "Gettin’ Hungry" by the Beach Boys, and their first EP, Coda Arms, here. – Olivia Sisinni 

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Vagabon is the indie rock project of New York’s Laetitia Tamko, whose emotionally charged electric folk songs often focus on moving or wandering from place to place in search of a purpose and loved ones. The trio released their debut EP Persian Garden in November of 2014, which features six lush tracks that are brimming with honesty and delicate instrumentation. The album’s opener “Cold Apartment Floors” is a ballad characterized by shifts between soft, quiet sections and guitar charged climaxes. Following track “Shadows” (streaming) speeds up with folkier elements and lyrics that center around following a loved one wherever they may go – even when the feelings aren’t mutual. Vagabon will be playing the Silent Barn on July 28th in support of Fear of Men. – John Honan

Boston band PowerSlut have never played by anyone’s rules but their own, and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. The lead single off their second LP "Girl Crush," is as evocative, or even moreso, than the ironic alt-rockers have ever been, telling the story of a girl the singer has a "girl crush" on.  The lyrics are hilarious, espcially the chorus where Linnea Herzog repeats "Girl crush, girl crush, no homo," bringing back a phrase that most people probably asummed had died alongwith other unfortunate high-school sayings. PowerSlut have always demonstrated a real talent in creating music that messes with the listener’s expectations and pokes fun at society while still satisfying sonically as well.  PowerSlut are set to release their second album titled The Second Coming on 8/5 alongwith a release party at Out of the Blue Arts Gallery and More. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Brooklyn-based soul crooner Peter Wise offers a "back-to-basics" approach that’s experiencing a resurgence in today’s RnB. Like for his contemporary Gallant, the pillars of his sound are his range-y voice, and simple but impactful instrumental arrangements that let the vocals take center stage. His latest release, "Sweet Solitude," illustrates this perfectly, as Wise implores, then begs a partner with his gripping alto (and impressive falsetto at times) not to leave him in "sweet solitude". His voice is acompanied by Wise’s own seemingly Santana-inspired guitar part that reinforces the track’s vintage quality and adds in nostalgia of its own as well.  "Sweet Solitude" is a promising single from an EP due in September, and you can check him out on August 6th at C’mon Everybody, a new Brooklyn venue between Clinton Hill and Bed Stuy that’s booking quality artists. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber, Photo Credit: Toby Seifinger

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