If you still haven’t gotten up the nerve to talk to that special someone you’ve been eyeing for days, then this song’s for you. In his second single “Talk To Me” (following his debut track “Lean,” both streaming here) Brooklyn based synth-pop artist Blonder imagines what it would be like to finally have that interaction. “Talk To Me” brings out the flurry of emotion that would arise from such an experience—excitement, relief, wonder, and perhaps a touch of nausea?—through heaps of funky synths, jingling and jangling percussion, and soft, slurry vocals. Listen to the tracks down below and keep an eye out for more coming soon. – Ashley Muniz

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

Sneaks, the one-woman project of Eva Moolchan, produces music that seems mezmirzingly simple, but is wildly potent. Gymnastics, the latest LP from the artist, is a bass-driven/drum machine-backed work that could probably be loosely filed under "avant-punk." But while the album feels like it encapsulates part of the DIY aesthetic, Moolchan’s polished vocals–that alternate between conversational talk-singing and hushed whispers–add an eloquence to the tracks. While the instrumentation remains minimalist, her voice fills in the cracks, making you question why people even add guitars to things anyway. Listen to Sneaks streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni
 

Inter Arma might just be the sludgy saviors of doom metal. The VA-based band serves up tracks that are not just heavy, plodding metal licks, but instead offers dynamic, quaking aural-scapes that reveal a world of more merciless gods. "Transfiguration," a 9-minute stand-out track off the band’s latest release, Paradise Gallows, is operatic in scope–utilizing guitar sweeps that echo the glissandos Mussgorsky used on "Night On Bald Mountain" to conjure demons–and threatens to place the listener into the desperate throes depicted on the album cover. The sonic imagery is so trenchant that it’s easy to feel gripped by the terror of being ensnared by a mighty, black sea. For metalheads, Inter Arma is a band to watch, and Paradise Gallows is a staggering juggernaut of an introduction. Check them out streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

The only thing that I’m truly apologetic about is that I’m having a really difficult time jamming Boston-based We Can All Be Sorry neatly into the lines of any clear genre. The band’s latest release, Weekend Sorry, is arguably their most acessible album, and one where they really seem to have gelled comfortably into (mostly) coherent grooves (think the power pop vibes of old-school Weezer), but throwing adjectives out there like punky, poppy, jazzy, or post-whatever really does the band a disservice. Sure, there are muscular melody lines and a powerful sense of song structure, but there’s also something delightfully off-kilter about the band’s sound. There’s the almost-reckless display of atonal play, unexpected chord progressions, and clever use of dynamics that manages to be salient on the recording, but never overtly so. It’s a delicate balance that screams classical training, but is so totally devoid of pretension or obvious eye-roll-inducing technique-flexing that would cloud the real meat of the songs. The result is a refreshing display of talent that never edges toward tipping its own hand. It’s also 10 tracks of kick-ass tunes you’ll find hard to not be humming the hooks of. Check out We Can All Be Sorry streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

After gracing (two thirds of) The Deli’s 2016 SXSW issue‘s cover, Rockaway Beach, NY’s avant-soul-pop duo Lewis Del Mar had a pretty exciting year, which culminated in the recent release of their self titled debut album, and the following US and EU tour. The band started turning ears in 2015 with a series of memorable singles that blended an overall acoustic sound with electronic experimentation. The new single "Painting" (video streaming below) confirms their edgy sound and souldful songwriting. 

Check out this interview on our sister blog Delicious Audio: Lewis Del Mar talks about gear and the creative process.

The Boston-based trio of "sarah, jake and derek" have given themselves one of those classic band names that I’m a little bothered I didn’t think of first: Fucko. Their latest release, Dealing with the Weird, is a fun punk LP–catchy as all hell, tongue-in-cheek at times, but not to be confused for an album without a ton of heart. Singer/guitarist Sarah, whether belting out hooks or delivering her lyrics dryly, sings with a relatable earnestness that is instantly translatable–even on a first-blush listen. But then again, who out there isn’t dealing with their own weird? Check out Fucko streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni