Warning: the new single “Happy or Sad” (streaming below) by the Brooklyn trio Dead Stars might become your new slacking song of the late summer of 2017 – yes because late summers are the perfect time for slacking. Taking inspiration from classic ’90s outfits like Dinosaur Jr. and even Nirvana, the band integrates that distorted, loud-quiet-loud sound with pop-influenced, melody-driven choruses, creating self-deprecating songs you can dance to. The chorus of the single is infectious, as Jeff Moore sings “I know it’s really a drag, that I’m neither happy or sad” over completely fuzzed-out guitars. The song is an anthem for the ordinary—one that would even make Weezer proud. The band will be celebrate the release of their new full album Perfect Patterns at Sunnyvale on September 1st. – Lilly Milman

Max Gardener is only 19 years old, but he already has all the makings of the next bedroom pop sweetheart. Following in the footsteps of male solo acts like Mac Demarco, Ariel Pink, and Alex Calder, he’s grimy looking but makes sweet music. His latest single, "Sudden Love" is a twinkling synthpoppy song that fits right in with his predecessors, with a smoother and more lo-fi approach than his prior releases. Gardener’s last EP, "New In Town" from this April 2017, also posses twinkles, and plenty of jammy electric guitar. Gardener, although still a teen, has been releasing music since 2015 – listening to his discography shows how he’s matured over the years. "Sudden Love" opens up a new chapter in his musical career, one that we hope will launch him into that dirty lo-fi dreamboat clique that we all know and love. See him in his hometown of San Francisco at Rickshaw Shop on September 10th. -Allie Miller

The new minimalistic video for “If I Lied” (streaming below) by singer-songwriter Los Angeles Police Department (aka Ryan Pollie) is cute, quirky, and makes the most of the little things in life (like watching the National Dog Show, or a great late show special) to tell a story about the bridge between reality and imagination. Pollie’s vocals carry the listener through a dreamy, melodic track that is both breezy and driven. Los Angeles Police Department will be playing his next show on September 8th at the Constellation Room, and then following up with a residency at Bootleg that begins on November 6th. – Lilly Milman

On August 26th, the artist-run venue National Sawdust in Brooklyn will be hosting the 18th installment of the monthly Revolution series—an event dedicated to fostering community by showcasing local performers from Brooklyn and Harlem. The three artists chosen to represent their respective genres this month are Valerie Orth, The Odd Hawk Orchestra, and Khemestry and The Harlem Society.

Headlining the event will be Harlem-via-Washington D.C. trumpeter Khemestry and his side project The Harlem Society, of which he is the bandleader. The Brooklyn 9 piece band The Odd Hawk Orchestra, led by Jacques Boudreau, will also be performing, bringing together international musicians to create music you can dance to. Producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie Orth will provide a change of pace with her unique brand of feminist-influenced alt-pop. – Lilly Milman

As the New York alternative scene becomes more and more entwined with electronica, it becomes easier and easier to find interesting new acts dabbling in drum machines and weird abstract electronic sound. Beiju is the low key Brooklyn electro-pop project of Caitlin Seager, whose ethereal voice perfectly complements her half dancey, half experimental tracks. On DEMAIN, her EP released in July, she draws comparisons to Hailee Steinfeld and Selena Gomez with her personal quirky signature. you can see her live at Trans-Pecos tonight (August 23rd). -Allie Miller

Upcoming artists face a myriad of challenges in the scramble for purchase in the music landscape. As if making honest art that resonates with diverse audiences wasn’t arduous enough, then there’s marketing, networking, selling oneself without selling oneself out, balancing one’s family’s expectations as they stack up upon your shoulders, and the feeling of dust building up on your dreams. Akinyemi bravely stares into the crystal ball in the first single from his upcoming “summers” EP (the release party will be at BK Bazaar on Sept. 17 at 8pm). The dust doesn’t stand a chance. – Jason Grimste, brokeMC

Whirring guitars find pedal heaven among the many changing shrieks and fuzzes that make up NYC psych slackers The Sofas. With a homey name and a flannel-clad, unshaven appearance, you might expect them to be a little softer—but you’d be wrong. The Sofas are loud. They slip in a solo that could be two decades old, yet sounds completely fresh and thrash their instruments like any good old garage band, but reference in their sound some of the most imaginative bands of the ’90s, forgotten by many, like early Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The band has been playing a lot of local shows in 2017 and has an LP scheduled for later in the year (out on Jurassic Pop Records). If it’s anything like their first single "Hum" (premiered below) it promises to take over our ears. – Allie Miller

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