Hayes Peebles’ cerebral folk has been permeating the Brooklyn scene since the release of his debut single, “Ghosts” (2016). A couple of singles, an EP and two acoustic b-sides later, Peebles has accumulated a collection of sparkling acoustic Americana that conjures bittersweet and melancholic thoughts. Just released earlier this week, his newest single, “I’ll Be Fine,” flows with a lighter tempo that remains grounded with expressive and heart-tugging lyrical content. Many artists make an effort to show the softer side of their taste, but tracks like “Short and Sweet” and “Bella” display the effortlessness of this artist’s melodic style. Though raised on indie rock idols Interpol and The Strokes, Peebles has wandered quite a bit from his roots with a style that channels the gentle spirit of Bob Dylan and the twang of Neil Young—but all rock is not lost. Sometimes you can snag a taste of his younger influences in songs such as “Straight to Hell,” which burns steadily through big-stadium blues riffs. Hayes has torn through his local scene and, with the help of industry acclaim, is quickly becoming one of most distinct emerging voices in folk music. Check out his new song “I’ll Be Fine” below and stream his full discography on Soundcloud or Bandcamp. – Rebecca Carroll

Having spent the month of November touring numerous west coast cities together, Felte Records label mates Public Memory and Devon Church celebrate their respective new releases with a show at Alphaville on 11/30. Robert Toher’s Public Memory (previously featured here) released his second full-length album “Demolition” earlier this month, with lead single “The Line” (streaming below) making an immediate impresson. On an hypnotic trip-hop beat, layers of synths and samples create dark and atmospheric soundscapes. Vocals soon emerge within deeper padding textures as space is cleared for additional live drums. As the track continues to progress, elements of sampled voices materialize, adding one more element to its otherworldly nature. Both albums can be streamed everywhere and ordered at the Felte bandcamp page here. – Dave Cromwell

Brooklyn indie-rock trio Noble Kids are announcing their forthcoming sophomore album, Messy Pretty, with the release of a new single “Rain Hat,” a sentimental song with ribbons of synth-sounding instrumentation spiraling in the background. "The mess we made was proof / Can’t rid myself of them so soon / And i’m just so glad for you.”

Their upcoming album Messy Pretty meditates on questions of the self and the other—the ways you can misinterpret the identities’ of your loved ones and visa versa. It’s a perfect coming of age track with plain-spoken lyrics and conversational vocals that fits right in as the band grows into their nostalgic pop sound. 

“Messy Pretty is a very human record,” says Barsten in a press release. “There is a sheen to it, but it’s messy at its core and direct in a way that made us all a little uncomfortable while making it. That was a new feeling, and it became an important feeling to embrace. It pushed us.”

Listen to “Rain Hat” below. Messy Pretty is out February 2019 and you can pre-order it here.  

Currently based in NYC, Lucite Tokki is a duo that formed in Seoul in 2005 and had a pretty good run so far, releasing four full albums and six EPs. Their songs shares delicate melodies and a variety of instruments, from the acoustic to the electronic, that are the basis of their always sparse arrangements. Their latest album "L+" features both Korean and English lyrics and delivers plenty of charming pop moments. Our favorite songs is opener "every you" (streaming), which use a jazzy piano progression to build a sophisticated soul pop composition filled with nods to the masters of the genre from the early ’80s. Lucite Tikki will be performing live at Rockwood Music Hall on December 23rd.