The Undercover Dream Lovers’s cover might just have been blown. The NYC synth-pop band recently sold out Rough Trade, and has been getting attention from a glut of music blogs. I guess it’s hard to stay covert when you’re busting out catchy dancehall tunes–especially when tracks sound far larger than the bedroom they were recorded in. The solo project of Brooklyn-based Matthew Koenig, The Undercover Dream Lovers delivers synth-heavy hooks, angular instrumentals and soft, understated vocals that together have the kind of magic that will instantly draw you in. Catch him at Our Wicked Lady 2/4 with Saint Marilyn and Violent Sands, but in the meantime, stream his latest single below. – Olivia Sisinni

With a sound expansive enough to get lost in, Cavern serves up stoner metal vibes with the atmospheric depth of post-rock. Fuzzy but tight soundscapes adorn their latest record, Outsiders, but there’s also tons of angular riffage to chew on as the band weaves between full-force metal grit, and more nuanced, dulcet melodies. Catch them at the Metropolitan Kitchen & Lounge 2/25 with Foghound, Caustic Casanova, and Mantis Toboggan and in the meantime, listen to them below.-Olivia Sisinni

Howard County Maryland resident Brandon Perry is K.A.A.N, or “Knowledge above all nonsense”.  Sporting an unstoppable flow, brutally honest lyrics, and groovy beats, Perry’s music is a veritable tour de force.  Unafraid to broach heavy subject matter such as police brutality and depression, Perry says he wants his music to be emotionally serious, not just for people to party to.  To Perry, making music is a cathartic experience, one that offers emotional release.

Check out K.A.A.N’s music video for the song “Phoenix” and the song “Concealed the Outro” available on Soundcloud. 

Slay gurl, SLAY. Ex-girlfriends’ new single is fierce, fun, and catchy as hell, and we here at the Deli are stoked to be able to premiere it. "Slay" is the latest release from the all-girl garage punk band, and the track is a dirty, glitz-and-gritz romp that pulses with the fervor of a bare-knuckle brawl at a glam rock show. Fearless, in-your-face, and just oh-so danceable, "Slay" is a slice of lo-fi goodness that you won’t be able to resist sinking your teeth into. Stream Ex-girlfriend’s new single below, and catch what can only be a livewire performance from them on 2/2 at Shea Stadium playing with Fruit & Flowers, Kino Kimono and Sutro Baths. – Olivia Sisinni

Since it inception, Rock’n’Roll has always been music feeding itself with paradoxes (hey, it was born from a mix of white country and black blues!), and throughout its history it has thrived on sonic contradictions such as the psychedelic pop experimentations, shoegazer’s blend of noise and celestial melodies and the ’90s loud/quiet/loud leanings. Brooklyn’s Diet Cig‘s comment their new single ‘Tummy Ache’ (streaming below) in a way that perfectly fits with this narrative: "Tummy Ache’ is all about unpacking the feeling of approaching punk with radical softness, and the struggle when it’s not always read as powerful or cool or whatever enough. Its the shout into my pillow when what I’m saying isn’t being heard, and a big old I FEEL YA to all the femme folks creating space for themselves in a world that wants to keep us quiet." The duo is taking the opportunity of this single to announce the release of their debut album ‘Swear I’m Good At This,’ scheduled for April 7 on Frenchkiss Records. They will promote it through several live shows at SXSW and a month long US tour starting at Baby’s All Right on the dey of the release.