Hillary Barleaux takes a childhood of playing ditties on her grandfather’s upright piano, and translates this passion into finely wrought pop anthems. Latest track ‘You Don’t Know Me’ displays the folk singer-songwriter as an emotional torrent that’s come a long way from these roots. With a knack for dark and haunting melodies that stick around long after the last hammer has struck the piano string, her latest EP ‘Live at Dirty Water’ takes the journey one step further as it charts a confident course between love of all things vintage, coupled with an ability to tread new waters. – Mike Levine

The many Cocteau Twins orphans out there (I’m one of you!) should check out Empress Of‘s gorgeously lush dream pop. This project is the brainchild of talented 23 year old Lorely Rodriguez, whose last name (together with songs like this one) reveals a hispanic heritage – something quite rare in the indie rock community.

Empress Of debuted with a 2 song EP in 2012 featuring the melodically impressive track "Champaign" (streaming below). The follow up EP "Systems" – out earlier this year – confirmed that Lorely is not a one-hit wonder, delivering four solid tracks, improved production, and another aural gem entitled "Hat Trick."

NYC dreamers shouldn’t miss her show at Kent 285 on August 2 with Blue Hawaaii.

In Active Bird Community‘s latest two song EP ‘FIreplace Song/Sega Genesis’, the alt-rock band has taken a softer approach to otherwise difficult subjects. Perhaps it’s because they recorded these songs during winter break last year, but this record holds two haunting and immersive tracks.

Opener ‘Fireplace Song’ (streaming) has the ambient thrust of Arcade Fire, along with the disenchantment of Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. On second track ‘Sega Genesis,’ weighty lyrics like ‘I’ve got a friend that lives in the ground, I hope someday he’ll live in the clouds,’ the quartet’s unafraid to touch on weighty issues, while always keeping the party going. A band that began when members Tom D’Agustino and Andrew Wolfson were just in sixth grade (strong bonds are good for bands), they’ve come a long way in a fairly short time, and we are looking forward to checking them out when they play Highline Ballroom on August 14. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Local Bronx rapper Doley Bernays who has only been in the biz for two years now, has already launched himself into the national spotlight. His smooth, yet relentless hip-hop has been enough to catch not only our attention, but also the attention of Pitchfork and SPIN. His newest track, titled “Tommy& Keish” ft. James ASHLI, is the first single off of his forthcoming EP produced by MP Williams titled ‘Just In Case,’ and it’s both captivating and fresh. The forward yet elegant piano-infused beat drags you in and the lyrics keep you listening, telling the story of the couple from the movie Belly. Listen to the track below! –Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Ethereal pop quartet These Animals is the perfect band to boost the dbittersweet emotions brought by the approaching end of the summer. The band’s debut LP ‘Pages’ drops today, and teaser track ‘Hunting Horn’ (streaming), a syncopated and lush journey through the seasons, promises a hard-hitting torrent of energy and guitar rock goodness for their upcoming release. Recorded during the group’s winter cabin recording sessions, the track is somewhat reminiscent of Grandaddy’s melancholic pop, and has the feeling of the cold season in its lyrics and pounding drums, with the warmth and optimism of summer built into bright guitars and falsetto vocals.

The Brooklyn band releases their CD on August 1st at Bowery Electric. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

A band whose sole mission is to make you dance to their high-spirited folk jams, Charly Bliss goes further than most of their NY string band peers. Listen to the demo for ‘April‘ and you might think the band plants themselves firmly in a well-blazed trail of rich harmonies and string arrangements.

But keep listening. Singer Eva Grace Hendricks delves into relationship troubles with the polish of any pop singer in tracks like ‘Wait‘, all set in an (almost) entirely acoustic realm, with certain fairly hair-raising exceptions of especially loud distorted detours. "Friends" (streaming below and also taken from their sophomore EP ‘A Lot to Say‘) shows a band that possesses the confidence to draw from a wide range of songwriting and sonic inspiration – from rootsy pop to bursts of noise. And nothing’s more exciting than hearing a new band whose direction reserves surprising turns and twists.

See them when they play Silent Barn with LVL Up and Julia Brown on Aug. 8th. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Active since 2012 and with three releases under its belt, The Clox can make what feels like a solid 3 minute guitar pop jam feel like an epic journey through the jungles of distorted guitar hooks (listen to epic album opener ‘civilian‘), and back out again to solid groove funkness. The band attaches an existential dread of all things weird and dangerous to solid jazz funk chops that make it all.. well… fun. Check it out. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Of all the instruments and effects out there, analog synths and reverbs are the best ones to render sonically this sticky, hazy thing called the NYC summer. These two elements abound in the music of Brooklyn’s electro-pop one man project Brothertiger, and, in single "In Mind" (a preview from the upcoming, sophomore full length "Future Splendors"), they conjure up a melancholic, breezy track that’s a perfect companion for a slow walk under the scorching sun.

The band is playing Pianos tonight with Tiny Victories.

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

Butter the Children – the new Downtown Records signees we blogged about just a few days ago – just released the first single under their new label, entitled "Spit it Out" which can be streamed here. The song is part of an upcoming EP entitled "True Crime" scheduled for an August 20 release.

From the moment you press play on God Tiny‘s epic rocking release from March, the seven minute ‘Fearless’ (streaming), things have already begun their descent into madness – a psychedelic blues kind of madness. With lyrics like ‘Fly your freak if u want to, Your skin’s got such lovely hue,’ and lengthy but tasteful intertwining fuzz guitar solos, you know their upcoming LP is bound to bounce off into some interesting directions. For a band comfortable exploring sounds that haven’t been hot in Brooklyn in a couple of generations, it’s exciting to see what will come of this newly founded psychedelic eclecticism. Check it out and stay tuned for a new release later this year. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

BK’s fuzz-pop up-and-comers Gross Relations have let out the first single to their upcoming self-titled debut due out 8/20 via Old Flame Records. The raw, mellow sound of the track should not be confused with its production value, which is seemingly high, isolating each component perfectly. The lazy, yet emotional vocals pair well with the band’s infectious and grungy riffs. Listen to/download “Cut The Final Scene” below. They have a few shows scheduled in the NYC area for late August & early September, so check them out! They take 90’s rock, throw some more distortion at it, and make it current again. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

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

Growing up in Trenton, New Jersey, Jim Smith spent his teens playing in hard rock and metal bands before gravitating towards more synthesized sounds, becoming a prolific electronic DJ, remixer and producer. Under the moniker TEEEL, Smith draws upon a lifetime of musical interests, meshing electropop, dreamwave and heavy metal into a distinctive style he’s explored over the course of two albums, Amulet and University Heights. – Read Dean Van Nguyen’s interview with Jim Smith here, check out TEEEL’s latest mixes here.