We’ve been obsessed with avant-indie duo Buke and Gase since we first saw them live at tiny Ditmas Park venue Sycamore back in 2008.  We instantly decided to put them on the cover of the then upcoming issue of The Deli NYC – and recommended the band to take that opportunity to change their name, which at the time was "Buke and Gass" (yeah…). They didn’t listen to us, but eventually (2012 circa) proved us right by switching to "Buke and Gase." They are not exactly an emerging band anymore, but they should be considered a model by any up and coming artist for their consistent development of a personal style and powerful live shows.
They just released this new single ‘Seam Esteem’ (streaming below) and announced a West Coast tour that will bring them to Music Hall of Williamsburg on October 10.

Unlike New Yorkers – who forget they live right by the Ocean – young Floridians seem to have an innate skill of taking the beach with them wherever they go. Boyd Shropshire grew up on a swath of eastern Florida land on the Atlantic known as the "Space Coast" – no wonder his music has psychedelic influences. After playing guitar for some time with Kurt Vile, he moved to Queens in NYC to focus on his solo career. His recent single ‘Soon’ is as lazy as a (high) day spent at the beach in the dog days of the summer can get. And the single’s videos – quite amazingly – manages  to recreate this atmosphere… in the backyard of a Carrol Garden apartment! Check out also the EP "Victory Weather," released in July.

One year (almost to the day!) after the release of his cassette-only “The Barn,” Matthew Fasano unveiled his newest LP “The Factory,” coming in at 16 tracks long. While the arrangements are notably sparse, it is for a good reason— the songs themselves seem to transcend a need for extravagance or strict technicality. With each piece digging into the next without any loss of momentum, the collection displays Fasano’s operatic falsetto and lo-fi guitar throughout. Listen to single ‘Played It Last" and indulge in a melancholia that lingers well after the final note has been sung. – Jillian Dooley

Public Access T.V. is one of New York City’s newest alt-rock (potential) sensations. They come at us with attitude beyond their years and seriously catchy hooks, embedded in classic sounding pop rock nuggets with garagey tinges. Even though their sound seems to scream "Manhattan," they have developed an affinity with the UK, probably in an effort to follow on the steps of great bands initially under-appreciated in the US like The Strokes and – believe it or not – The Pixies. They recorded their debut EP ‘Rebounder’ in London, and in September they’ll be playing eleven dates in the UK. The trio opened for Weezer in PA earlier this month for Musikfest, which is fitting given their sound. You can snatch the EP from iTunes or grab the vinyl from Rough Trade. The first opportunity to catch them live in their home town might be at the CMJ Music Marathon in October – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

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

Atlopalo’s latest single “Chagrinning” (streaming) clocks in at just under six minutes, but all told it contains more arcs and bends than many contemporary records. It has the lyricism and production of a contemporary hip-hop track, without shying away from dexterous instrumentation. The single undulates synesthetically, the focus shifting from whispered vocals, to a sparse and airy piano interlude, and finally engages in a raucous instrumental section of clashing drums and 8-bit inspired guitar acrobatics. Just as you think the song is fading out, all parts previously considered hit you in unison, like a misjudged wall. You’d think this outlandish arrangement would shake any sense of proprietary markings, but the piece remains thematically consistent throughout and presents a band with a sublime and singular voice. You can see Altopalo live at Glasslands on August 27. – Emilio Herces

NYC’s soulful and blues-minded 3-piece rock & roll outfit, STRNGRS, are everything you love about Jack White without the massive ego. Their most recent riff-heavy sophomore EP titled ‘Magic Boy‘ is a passionate, solo-filled, harmonica-wailing musical mayhem. Listen below to closing track ‘Outta My Mind’ below, an up-and-down ride that climaxes in a bluesy sexplosion, kind of like the last half of The Black Keys’ song ‘Little Black Submarine’. They’re set to headline Mercury Lounge on 8/29 with Clam. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Brooklyn trio Lodro sounds like a band with dangerous, dark intentions. On top of that, bassist and lead singer Lesley Hann (formerly of Friends) has the looks of one of those irresistible, Pulp Fiction-style, not to be trusted female characters, while Jeremy Cox’s guitar does whatever it takes to sound as sharp and out of control as a rusty knife in the hands of a psychopath. Since he recorded all the band’s material (so far) in total DIY fashion, our friends at Delicious Audio asked him to shed light on the band’s recording habits – see link below.

LINK: Q&A about Lodro’s gear and DIY recordings

If you haven’t heard the name Fascinator before, don’t feel clueless: with a barely there online presence and their last musical offering released late last year, the band has been cruising along under the radar – but this may change soon. The side-project of Australian, now NYC based, Children Collide‘s frontman Johnny Mackay, the band debuted in 2012 with the track ‘Sexuality Mystery.’ Mackay initially kept his name off the project, but revealed his involvement with the release of his second video ‘Mr Caterpillar’. Released in October 2013, Fascinator’s second five song EP ‘Earth’ is a collection of dancy, dark, exotic psych-rock tunes, with lo-fi reverby vocals woven through it. Influences by Ariel Pink, early Beck and Connan Mockasin (refreshingly acknowledged by the band in their Facebook page) trickle through tracks like ‘Girl I Want’ (streaming) and ‘River Legs’. Having opened for Australian bands Tame Impala and Jagwar Ma earlier this year, Fascinator is set to play Burning Man next week. Their wild, fully costumed show is a must see, keep an eye out for upcoming show dates and fresh material dropping later this year – Brescia Mascheretti

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

This Saturday, August 23rd, Craig Greenberg will perform at Joe’s Pub in celebration of his birthday and in anticipation of his upcoming album, to be unveiled this fall. The singer-songwriter will be backed by a five-piece band and will give us a glimpse of what we can expect from the next release. The record will follow Greenberg’s “Spinning in Time” EP, a short but cohesive collection threaded with the twang of a country album, the melodic structure of pure-hearted pop and a light hearted vocal delivery reminiscent of Cake (the band). Known as “the troubadour piano man,” the artist is sure to put on an entertenining show this weekend. – Jillian Dooley

27-year-old producer Jeremy Lawrence (aka Visionary Jeremy, pictured) crafts tracks that sit in the pocket and groove at the tempo of a beating heart. Enlisting soft-spoken female voices, he creates a percussive balance between dark, heavy downbeats and shrill, hasty hi-hats and tambourines, moving his tracks along with purpose and admirable technical skill. Listen to his latest single entitled ‘Long Time’ – featuring Lily Virginia’s vocals.

Pandafan (pictured) is the work of Grace, Delaney, and Joe, an indie folk trio that crafts impressive harmonies, layering their three voices atop one another with elements of folksy crooning. The band keeps their tunes energetic and commanding, moving along at a speed reminiscent of traditional Irish music. They maintain a spirit of positivity threaded throughout their music, setting them apart from many more melancholic contemporaries. – Jillian Dooley

These artists submitted their music for coverage here.

After dropping her debut full-length album “Anti Venus” this past November (preceded by two EPs released in 2009 and 2012), sound architect, vocalist and feminist force Vandana Jain has been focusing on bringing her eastern music influenced, noir electro-pop to a larger fan base through several live appearances, including one at Highline Ballroom earlier this summer. Band members Yusuke Yamamoto and Ryan Casey contribute to forging an intriguing analog sound, driven by Vandana’s sophisticated velvety vocals.

The record’s opener “Ecstatic” (streaming) is the strongest track, emphasizing distant percussive mechanical clicks and whirrs recreating sci-fi atmospheres reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome To The Machine” sci fi experiments. Dark, foreboding (yet warm) analog synth notes pulse and rise from distant ethereal mists. Recorded at Jain’s home studio, inspiration came in part by delving into Henry Miller’s classic novel “Tropic of Cancer,” and its embrace of “the grip of delirium.” “You freak – you make me ecstatic” becomes the central, single line and rather addictive vocal hook.

Other tracks like “Claw” are less instrumentally dense, allowing more space for expressive vocals. With a style reminiscent of Kate Bush’s penultimate work combined with the modern deeper vocal textures of British pop vocalist Sophie Ellis Bextor, Ms. Jain’s voice becomes instantly appealing. While “Mask” (a track about the proverbial camouflage we all put on every day to function) is recurrently stark and minimal in places, the overall effect sounds incredibly big, and Vandana’s seductive vocal delivery makes for a delightful headphone listening experience. – Dave Cromwell

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

NYC’s The Cabana Kids released debut single ‘Just Let Me Know’ (streaming) earlier this month, giving us a small taste of what their fall EP ‘The Birds & The Bees’ might have in store for us. Their nostalgic vibe is homespun, with male and female vocals taking turns on simple acoustic guitar chords, underlined by reverb-drenched stabs of distorted six strings, which made us think of The Jesus and Mary Chain from their poppier days. The handclaps-driven chorus is an explosion of pop cuteness, with 60s elements taking over in the vocal and organ department, and harmonies that lead singer Joseph Lee describes as "what Sonny and Cher would sound like if they were hipsters." The Cabana Kids’ indie spin on bubblegum pop is charming and uplifting yet quite unique. – Sammie Spector