There’s a trope about the city that it’s miserable to find love, so it makes sense that a few out-of-state-ers who wound up living in NYC would be nervous about dating. Fortunately for us, four-piece group, Nervous Dater, is anything but shy about their music abilities. The band combines a fun, driving, pop-punk aesthetic with windy, math-rock tinged guitar licks, and sets it against singer/guitarist Rachel Lightner’s clear, laid-back vocals. There’s also something delightfully relatable and real about the band’s lyricism, and their anthemic approach to songwriting gives the band an instant draw. Nervous Dater was kind enough to talk to the Deli about their origins, their latest EP, and of course, what gear they’re currently going crazy over – see links below. Nervous Dater plays the Cake Shop on October 2nd! – Olivia Sisinni

Read The Deli’s Interview with Nervous Dater

NYC soul artist Teddy Sinclair seems to have found her voice in new project Cruel Youth, which marries her expressive and confident alto with an edgy and trippy electronic production. New single/video "Diamond Days" is a soaring ballad that manages to reference at once the Beach Boys’ orchestral Pet Sounds arrangements and the mellotron in The Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever, while gradually transporting the listener towards a lofty pop chorus. Don’t miss the lady’s live show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on November 21, part of her upcoming US tour to promote debut album ‘+30mg.’

From the sound of it, psych-pop band Kuroma’s latest release, "Perfect Girl," might have been written under the influence of a serious summer crush. Starting simply with a strumming acoustic guitar, the track slowly builds, erupting into rich layers of orchestral instrumentation – is that the sound of soaring love? Though the arrangement gets more complex as the tune progresses, "Perfect Girl" manages to remain grounded, courtesy of Hank Sullivant’s dulcet vocals hovering over the mix. The result is a tune that sounds as if it was plucked from a mid-60’s summer top 40 chart. Stream "Perfect Girl" below and catch Kuroma playing with the Acrylics at Union Pool on 10/5. – Olivia Sisinni, photo by Ansely West

Austin-based all girl power trio, Moving Panoramas, craft gorgeous indie pop dreamscapes set against simple, but alluring vocal melodies. On their single "One," the band creates a strong assertion against Three Dog Night’s famous tune, in a way that seems both strong and sincere. In fact, the band’s sound is one of strength and sincerity–a group both sure of who they are, and have masterfully honed their sound. Take a listen to "One" streaming below, and be sure to catch the Moving Panormas at Cheer Up Charlie’s 10/15 with Dead Leaf Echo, Pale Dian, The Veldt, All in the Golden Afternoon, and Twin Studies. – Olivia Sisinni

Those looking for bare-knuckle brash punk in your local Nashville scene behold: The Rip Taylors is a band guaranteed to make you tap your Doc Martens, and channel some of that pent up angst. The group deals in catchy tracks that still manage to feel real and raw. Listen to "I Don’t Care What You Say" off their latest release Defects of Character streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

Fun and fearless are not a word pairing that you’d think go together, but it’s an apt description for the garage/punk rocker grrls in Brooklyn-based T-Rextasy. On their latest release, the delightfully fitting Jurassic Punk, the band uses fun vocal affectations and punk riff-age to lampoon patriarchy and systematic oppression with a forceful swagger – masterfully using absurdity to point out the absurdities that society forces women to deal with. Though T-Rextasy is endlessly engaging because of their unique approach to punk, their fiercely feminist message has us majorly crushing on the dino dames. Listen to T-Rextasy below, and be sure to check them out at the Market Hotel with Pity Sex and Eskimeaux, on 10/3. – Olivia Sisinni

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