Singer-songwriter Katie Buchanan has just unleashed a haunting, extremely well shot crime scene-inspired video for her single “Go” that brings an element of melodrama to the already-heartbreaking track. Set to appear on her upcoming EP of the same name, the song is said to have been inspired by a toxic friendship nearing its end, and the video offers a symbolic representation of this ending in the form of death. The video is a gorgeous interpretation of a song rooted in sheer sadness, and Buchanan’s dark, blues-inspired vocals – planted effortlessly on top of hollow percussion and a sparse, steady guitar arrangement – underscore this feeling. Watch the video below. Buchanan’s forthcoming EP is set to release on August 5th. – Jillian Dooley

At the end of last 2013, songstress Diane Birch released her second album “Speak A Little Louder,” which garnered a similar critical acclaim bestowed on 2009’s debut “Bible Belt.” Establishing a permanent residency in Brooklyn (she’s originally from Michigan, but she lived in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Sydney, Australia before settling in Portland, OR) has afforded opportunities to collaborate with creative forces that better reflect her evolving sound. Daptones drummer Homer Steinweiss became that influential foil, producing and co-writing several tracks on the latest album. Though her primary instrument is piano (and her voice), many of the tracks feature analog sounding synths that have a decidedly retro feel.

– Read Dave Cromwell‘s Interview with Diane Birch
– See Diane Birch perform live at one of The Deli’s Ten Year Anniversary Parties at Brooklyn Bazaar on August 02 with Secret Someones, 5J Barrow, The Prettiots, and Poor Remy.

Bringing the deeply rooted vocals of soul music to the forefront of modern pop since 2012, NYC sextet The Rooks have been charming local fans with their uplifting sounds and performances, predating the nu-soul trend exploded in recent years. Melting soul, R&B and classic rock ‘n’ roll, the band is ready to conquer the many hearts that were once filled by the music of acts like Marvin Gaye and Hall and Oates. Winners of our Artist of the Month poll a few weeks ago, the band is about to spend the first third of August touring the East Coast – you can see them in NYC at Arlene’s Grocery this coming Friday (08.01)

Read Christine Cauthen’s Interview with The Rooks.

Drowners, a band that didn’t grace the cover of one of our 2013 issue just because of an unfortunate coincidence, will be headlining the second of The Deli’s Ten Year Anniversary Parties, scheduled for this upcoming Friday August 01 at Brooklyn Bazaar (it’s a free show!). The group has been one of the most successful NYC indie exports this year, and is scheduled to play the legendary Leeds and Reading festivals in the UK later in August.

LINKS: Dave Cromwell’s recent Interview with Drowners

Late Cambrian‘s brand of pop rock certainly doesn’t lack effervescence – so much so that we are tempted to call it Champagne Rock. The band, winner of our Best of 2013 Readers Poll for Emerging Artists, has been spending the last few months in the studio working on their sophomore full length, from which they just unveiled the title track ‘Golden Time’ – streaming below. They also announced a UK, Ireland, Amsterdam & Berlin tour starting Sept 29, opening for Brooklyn Power Pop maters Wheatus.

Michaela Anne’s ‘Ease My Mind’ is the sweet, heavy-hearted story of a young country singer recently disillusioned by the trials and tribulations of love, her family, and her city. Michaela croons these disappointments with a sadness readily combatted by grace and power, offering all of the simplicity of a true country album with the complexity of being young in a big city. Brooklyn’s country gem laments, “Is this what Mama meant when she told me how hard it can get?” with a syrupy, unmasked voice, recalling perfectly the blissful ignorance of childhood in a single line. Now, Michaela is spreading the nostalgia as she hits the road in support of the album— be sure to catch her at Brooklyn’s Union Pool on July 30th. – Jillian Dooley

Around since 2007, A Great Big Pile of Leaves has been slowly but surely building an enviable fan base through their quality indie pop, that turns the sonic clock back to the more or less alternative pop of the 90s, from early R.E.M. to Prefab Sprout. Led by Singer/guitarist Pete Weiland and drummer Tyler Soucy, the group released their third and most acclomplished album in 2013 and spent the last couple of weeks touring with Braid. The second to last leg of the tour will see them perform at the Music Hall of Williamsburg tonigh July 26.

NYC dream pop duo-with-band Ex Cops just premiered the single ‘Black Soap’ (streaming below) on… Vogue! We often wondered what kind of requirements a band’s gotta have to be covered on the fashion magazine’s ‘culture’ pages, but now we get it! It’s all about having a model in the band – fair enough! However, Ex Cop is a band that trascends questionable choices based on facade: we booked the guys for our CMJ show last year and they put on a great show. The new single is a taste of the upcoming album ‘Daggers,’ scheduled for a late October release.

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

“Bands are unstable molecules, bands don’t want to be bands, they want to fly apart. There’s always tension; I think a lot of that’s where the music comes from." You can find these words in the Mishka Shubali feature on our recent Ten Year Anniversary issue, and they certainly hit the nail on the head when applied to CT/NYC based indie pop band Grand Cousin, who find themselves in the peculiar position of celebrating – on the same night – an EP release show and a farewell party. The trio plays an intense brand of pop with folk tinges that’s partly reminiscent of Jeff Buckley. Check out the recent video for single ‘Oxygen’ and – if you dig – enjoy the band’s last show at Arlene’s on 07.27 

Following the disbandment of avant-pop trio The Mobius Band, Brooklyn based singer songwriter/producer Ben Sterling started Cookies in 2012. The project basically channeled solo material he had been working on since around 2009. On July 31st the band will be performing at Rough Trade (together with that unstoppable EDM machince known as Avan Lava) and unveil new material off the upcoming debut record entitled ‘Music for Touching,’ scheduled for a September 9 release. The record features Colin Stetson (Arcade Fire), Aakaash Israni (Dawn of Midi), Tom Vek, Rebecca Zeller (Ra Ra Riot), the Magik Magik Orchestra, and the voices of Melissa Metrick, Areni Agbabian and Ashley Giorgi, who serve as the female counterpoint to Sterling’s baritone. Listen to the title track below.

Sultry folk band Shenandoah and the Night (whose debut EP was The Deli NYC’s Record of the Month back in 2011) has just released the haunting ‘100 Wants, Part One,’ the first of a series of live and studio recordings that will be released on a quarterly basis and will culminate in a vinyl pressing upon completion. Infectiously feminine Shenandoah Ableman’s and her uniquely melancholic (and almost vintage sounding) soprano return this time within even sparser arrangements, and we’re hoping the rest of the releases follow suit— so far, we love what we’re hearing. Listen to the release here and be sure to catch their July 25th performance at Pete’s Candy Store. – Jillian Dooley