The Black Atlas is the art rock project of NYC’s multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Peter Koronios. Towards the end of 2014 the band dropped debut EP "The Other," featuring three brooding, mysterious and rather unpredictable songs, monopolized by Peter’s austere tenor. We are now premiering single "Black Milk" from upcoming EP "Devils,"scheduled for a June 23rd release. The tune reveals an extra push in the band’s dark, complex and imaginative sonic soundscape. After a two plus minutes long textured instrumental intro, a melody as ascetic as the one in Velvet Underground’s "All Tomorrow’s Parties" emerges, filtered through the lens of Pink Floyd’s epic, post-modern psychedelic exhistentialism. The chorus unexpectedly alleviates the grieving, giving release to the verse’s tension, but without losing edge, thanks to the sudden introduction of an odd tempo that keeps things subtly unsettled. The Black Atlas will be celebrating the ‘Devils’ EP release at The McKittrick Hotel on June 16 – the perfect venue for a band that likes to dwell in mystery.

Since the band is comprised of musicians already active in semi-established acts LVL UP and Porches, Brooklyn’s Downies earns automatically the not so prestigious title of "semi-super-group." But the one song they have available online indeed showcases a band with semi-supernatural musical powers, in particular in the speed and melodic departments. "Widow" (streaming below) is a terrific pop tune that proceeds at dangerous pace, while unassuming vocals barely float in a sea of distorted guitars. You could call this pop punk, if the genre didn’t bring to mind a million screaming Greenday derivatives. Rather, Downies’ music seem to draw influences from the more humble records of the pioneers of melodic hardcore, Husker Du, although with a dreamier vocal style. This is stuff with potential, we are looking forward to hearing more at Palisades on May 21, when the band will support Big Ups and Krill at Palisades.

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

NYC synthpop couple Wonderful Humans (who recently made our Best of 2015 Emerging NYC Bands list) unleashed a series of single in the last year that gathered interest on Soundcloud. Earlier this year they released "Just What I needed," which evokes East Village era Madonna. Yet, a practical approach to love, in lyrics like, “I wanted more/But I think you got it/Now that I know you’re/Just what I wanted,” is a slightly-cynical reboot worthy of the Girls epoch. More recent single "Don’t You" (streaming), references the ’80s in a darker way, adding playful fake saxophones (an instrument that defined that decade) to an otherwise fully electronic arrangement.

As you can gather from her website, electronic artist Kim Boekbinder is a New Yorker full of imagination and ideas, and her music reflects that. She released EP "The Sky Is Calling" in 2013, featuring striking single "Stellar Alchemist." Its video (streaming below) was seen by over 150k people. More recently, to support her next release, she wrote a one-minute song for every hundred dollars she raised, and called it mission accomplished at 169 one-minute songs – all the tracks are gathered here. Legendary British songwriter Momus – who lived in NYC for some time – had a similar idea a few years ago, but approached the concept in a more personal (and pricey) way, writing a full song about each person contributing $1,000.

We blogged about Brooklyn transplants (via Chicago) Nancy about a year ago, after their move to the city, and were thoroughly impressed with their fast paced garage rock. Even though the duo hasn’t released anything new since then, it came to our attention that they are playing a show at The Acheron on June 25. This, in turn, brought to our attention that The Acheron is now an official venue with a rather busy calendar of live shows – and a new website. The Nancy’s show, also featuring hardcore locals Warthog, might be a good opportunity to check out the Bushwick spot, whose calendar looks like a good place to parse for obscure up and coming local acts.

In 2014, Bosco — a recent NYC transplant from Atlanta who recently made our Best of NYC Emerging Artists list — released a series of well-received singles that married breathy, soulful vocals to edgy electronic experimentation. Normally outside soul music’s vocabulary (at least since the late ’80s), these results range from futuristic party tunes (“Names”) to hypnotic, abstract R&B ballads like “Slippin’,” or brand new single "Boy," streaming below, with which she announced the signing to record label Fool’s Gold.

New York singer/songwriter Raye Zaragoza offers a set of shimmering folk with her debut EP Heroine (released last week). Throughout the four-track release, the young musician shows deeply intimate scenes of romance-searching (as in “Sleeplovers”) and innocent love (as in “Crazy Eyes”), continuing a tradition of plaintive guitar-based ballads while distinguishing herself with her voice. Comparisons to Norah Jones are almost inevitable but Zaragoza’s vocals are warmer, finding an intriguing spot between toddler-like dependence and the experience of an adult. While initially recognizable, Raye’s voice—and music, at large—has a unique elusiveness. Raye Zaragoza celebrated the release of her debut EP last Wednesday at Rockwood Music Hall with The Natalie York Band. – Zach Weg

We found Bushwick quartet Warn The Duke in the listings of the July Gigawatts Festival, which packs a slew of emerging NYC artists (we covered most of them in this blog). They play incendiary alt rock with punk and garage overtones, and from their Facebook posts we gather that they are currently working on the follow up to their 2014 debut two track ‘Noreaster EP’ – listen to the EP’s title track below.

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

In early April we issued a NYC buzz alert for Brooklyn soul pop trio Strange Names, and in just over a month the buzz has become something more than that: after unveiling four singles from the upcoming album ‘Use Your Time Wisely’ (to be released on Frenchkiss Records), the boys last week played a sold out show at Irving Plaza supporting Azelia Bank (and then two more in Chicago and Boston). All this is building the ideal conditions for the album release party, which will be celebrated with a show at Baby’s All Right on May 21. Check out single "I Can’t Control Myself," streaming below.

Sometimes the most basic things are also the most rewarding: The Mystery Lights‘ songs may sound like every rocker’s first attempt at songwriting (and recording): 3 chords, lots o’ screams and waaay too much treble… but the energy and the freshness of their music is an antidote to the sometimes convoluted Brooklyn musical output. The NYC garage rock quartet will bring their acid sounds and wild antics to Baby’s All Right on May 26.

Flordingblast is the solo project of NYC’s Alex Goldberg, who is also drummer in Throw Vision & Double King. He recently released some rather experimental electronic material. We were intrigued by this video for glitchy and abstract track "RESULT," where the musician is put in front of a choice of glasses, which represent (and offer) different perceptions of the world. Quite unsurprisingly, he ends up picking the square ones – a Williamsburg hipster classic! But do not fear, triangular frames will be hot one day!

Dissonance in rock music is not infrequent, but we’d be hard pressed to find it in pop – except… we just did! Brooklyn’s Painted Zeros are not afraid to use discordant chords within their otherwise perfectly dream-pop tunes. The effect is rather interesting: that dreaminess becomes somewhat weird, and the concept itself of ‘dream’ assumes a deeper, more troubled meaning, reminiscent of the strident juxtaposition of good and awful dreams in David Lynch’s masterpiece Mulholland Drive. The band’s recent video for single "Too Drunk" (streaming) seem to reflect this ambivalence, portraying intoxicated fans in some kind of air-french-kissing competition – which is at once awesome and fucked up. The band will be playing at Union Pool on June 4th opening for Austin’s The Zoltars.