Alex Shera places a soft touch on the hurt: his new single “Fire” is cool and soothing, reminding us that self-love is the first step towards loving others. With emotional vocals that sway to a background of immersive introductory clean guitar chords, a futuristic beat, and sizzling effects that add an edge to a love piece, it all is easy to take in. Shera may be playing with modern pop elements, but it is his emotion that carries his music above the fray and allows a connection with the listener that is the mark of a great upcoming artist. “Fire” is a declaration of love no matter the circumstances, always on its way to triumph; stream “Fire” below. –   René Cobar

You would not say that there is much of 2020 one should bring into the new year, but few exceptions exist, among them is the year-end single by L.A.’s The Dumes titled “Ok.” The new track is power rock at its best: reverb-soaked guitar solos, a trashing drum beat, and distorted bass-powered breakdowns led somewhere heavenly by the confident-elegant vocal delivery of front-woman Elodie Tomlinson. The title expresses something simple, but upon examination, and in the context of the year behind and the work ahead, lyrics like “Can you try to find your hand in mine/And you’ll be ok when you find a match in the dark” there is a depth so relatable. As we move forward, The Dumes invite us to rock on, with a head held high, shaking to a quaking beat. – René Cobar, photo by Emma Cole

Stuyedeyed, Pure Adult, and Holy Wisdom LLC, will be taking over Rough Trade NYC on 10.30 for what promises to be an overly noisy evening with local NYC bands. 

Stuyedeyed is comprised of Nelson Antonio Hernandez-Espinal, Humberto Genao, George Ramirez, and Luis Ruelas, four musicians dedicated to the cult of… loud sounds and vocals of uncompromising garage rock. “Mr. Policeman,” the band’s most popular track, features contentious lyrics addressing police brutality (“Hey Mr. Policeman, who’d you kill today?”), complemented by blaring guitar riffs, with results that are protest-inducing, to say the least.

Pure Adult released their self-titled debut EP in September of this year. This 33 minute long EP gives the listener a look into this band’s crazed chaotic sound. The first song off the EP, “I Am Shitting in a Room” conveys the subversive vibes straight from the title and sounds like someone randomly browsing through radio frequencies. Things get definitely more structured starting with single "The New Guillotine," a spartan post punk track featuring striking spoken poetry and an explosively broken "chorus".

In "The Midnight Room" EP, Holy Wisdom also flirts with experimentation and post-punk vibes, though through a darker and more ominously mysterious approach. The band’s vocals, muffled and mysterious, shun anything resembling a melody, and can be whispered or borderline satanic sounding – in a way that’s at once reminiscent of Tom Waits and Suicide’s Alan Vega. The results are designed to cause an uncomfortable and frightening experience among the most sensitive listeners, in the most authentic tradition of early post-punk. – Karigan Wright 

Brooklyn based band Panther Hollow describes their sound as “the musical equivalent of playing a video game where instead of following the story you spend hours looking for Easter eggs.” Interpret that however you may wish, what we can tell you is that their music is worth listening to… The indie-pop quintet released their latest single “Letter” in August, and the sparsely arranged track stands out for its gentle, imaginative melody and lyrics focusing on the complications of life and the personal changes that end up affecting a relationship. Panther Hollow’s most popular song on Spotify is by far “Jamie,” from the band’s 2017 debut EP; it’s a charming acoustic ballad that touches once again, but in a more bitter way, on a conflictual romantic relationship, in the form of a series of stream-of-consciousness questions and accusations. – Karigan Wright

Nickel and Dime Ops, Ziarra Washington, and Juwan Crawley make their Revolution debut on October 17, for Vol.43. This appointment with the monthly series marks a change of day and time, as the show is now held on a Thursday at 8 pm, with doors opening at 7:30 pm. What hasn’t changed is the variety of genres represented in this inclusive, curated appointment with emerging NYC artists. 

Nickel and Dime OPS is a jazz-infused hip hop project based in NYC. Lyricist Nickel Killsmics performs alongside female vocalist Victoria Cave, backed by a group of jazz musicians including a powerful horn section. They have released two albums over the past six years incorporating jazzy elements with modern rap, creating a truly unique and exciting listening experience. 

With an energetic stage presence and catchy lyrics, Ziarra knows how to entertain with her contagious personality, establishing a flashy and dramatic atmosphere inspired by pop icons like Cher, Prince, and Lady Gaga. Her EP “Heart” was released this year and includes five tracks that highlight her delicate yet firm voice and songwriting styles ranging from energetic pop to electronic soul-pop. 

Actor singer-songwriter Juwan Crawley is a refreshing and invigorating artist, with a voice positively meant for Broadway. Crawley released his first EP, “Becoming” in June of this year, each track giving the listener a brief look into his robust talent. 

You can purchase tickets for The Revolution Vol. 43 here. – Karigan Wright

STRANGEPRIDE’s debut album, We’ll Take It From Here, reveals a talented indie band whose sound harkens back to the elegant electric indie pop-rock of late ’80s/early ’90s acts like Lloyd Cole and the Commotion and The Psychedelic Furs. Here, those influences are occasionally filtered through the gentle dream-pop atmospheres of contemporary acts like Real Estate through a guitar work that is at times textured and at times driven. The opening track “Kids” reminisces over life as kids, leaving the reader with a sense of nostalgia and yearning for what are – in most cases – the best days of our lives. Single Tumbledown, a distorted guitar-heavy track, highlights the kind of catchy and evocative tunes this band can produce, featuring a vocal performance R.E.M. would be proud of. Check out also Daisies and Blue, one of our favorite songs from the record, streaming below. The band played Rough Trade last night, check out their Facebook page for upcoming shows. – Karigan Wright

Loud and groovy is an understatement when it comes to describing the NYC based band, Warpark. Comprised of Simon Arcenio, Roger Walsh, and Nick Ciccantelli, the band brings a vibe to their alternative rock tracks that’s reminiscent of ’90s artists with very little in common like Cake, Pavement and Jeff Buckley, creating a complex and multifaceted sound. Their three singles, released in early 2019, showcase a band constantly searching for new sonic sounscapes. “While They Slept” is purely instrumental, featuring an energetic melody with blaring backing instruments, while “Take Your Place” highlights a slacker rock approach to vocals that complements the pure insanity of the melody. The longest track released is “Like A Void,” one of a calmer nature, is not without welcome twists and turns. Warpark will be playing Rough Trade NYC on 10.10 with Plague Vendor and No Parents.  – Karigan Wright

NYC’s Dirt Buyer offers nothing short of a unique take on folk. The trio, consisting of Ruben Radlauer, Joe Sutkowski, and Emma Stacher, released their debut album in 2019. Murky and dark, their sparse ballads are often sung in a melancholic falsetto, and betray influences as disparate as Radiohead and the Beach Boys. Opening track “Dirt Buyer Theme Song” is only a little over one minute in length, but does an exemplary job at introducing the listener to the band; according to it, Dirt Buyer is here to comfort the listener, letting them know they did nothing wrong. Lead singer Sutkowski’s unique and ghosty voice has a knack for exploring spacious melodies rich in minor thirds yet not-at-all bluesy, like in brand new single IKIF, probably their best track to date, streaming below. You can catch the band at Rough Trade NYC on 10.04. – Karigan Wright

The performance series The Revolution will hold their Vol. 42 show on Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 pm. This show will highlight three artists from Brooklyn and Harlem, including Niya Levon, Liberation Era, and Ryan Egan. The Revolution has a new volume every month, with three artists from three different genres performing at each one. These shows not only connect the music community in Brooklyn and Harlem, but they also present the opportunity to share their own stories while also spreading awareness and positivity. 

Niya Levon 

A product of a musical family, Niya Levon is influenced by several old school soul artists, including Prince, Luther Vandross, and Lisa Fisher, but also contemporaries like Lady Gaga, Brandy, Justin Timberlake, and Alex Lacamoire. Levon stands out from the crowd with her elegant and fragile voice in single “Sweet Victories,” complementing the light and dainty melody. Levon has worked with several renowned artists, including Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire, John Legend, Smokey Robinson, Patti LaBelle, Mark Ronson, and Lauren Hill. In 2015 she introduced Real Entertainment Industries (REI), her own nonprofit talent agency, where she works to find new and unique artists.

Ryan Egan 

Singer, producer, and multinstrumentalist Ryan Egan‘s songs are delicate and smooth, his velvety voice accompanying his rather soft melodies. Egan has released several singles and two EPs, “Postures” and “Fever & Bloom.” Having over 1 million total plays on Spotify, Egan is quickly and seamlessly making a name for himself in the music business. 

Liberation Era

Kyle Shedrick and Jean Mahoney are Liberation Era. Inspired by societal injustice, the duo of home grown musicians takes inspiration from R&B, folk and jazz. Their song, “Quiet the Monster,” is an acoustic tune highlighting Shedrick and Mahoney’s smooth and tender vocals effortlessly harmonizing over the single’s mellow and quiet melody. They are currently working on their first EP, the “Liberation Era EP.” 

-Karigan Wright

With her strong, soulful voice and evocative, jazzy songs, Zsela stands out in the crowded scene of NYC songwriters. Her delicate debut track Noise (whose video we are streaming below) presents us with a sparse ballad full of poetry, led by vocals reminiscent of a more soulful Joni Mitchell from her early records. The lyrics tell a heart-wrenching story of the little things left behind after a failed love affair, leaving the listener with a sense of failed intimacy and emotional struggle Zsela evokes both through her lyrics and her vocal delivery. The Brooklyn native is currently on tour in North America with indie rock singer-songwriter Cat Power, stopping in New York, Canada, and Western America over the span of three months. See her live at Baby’s All Right on September 16. – Karigan Wright

New York City indie-soul-pop duo, Refs, released their new EP, “Now” on September 10th. Consisting of Zach Lipkins and Richard Saunders, the group has been active since 2015, releasing single “Pain Goes Away” as their debut. “Now” is comprised of four songs, each with its own unique feel and beat. The opener, "Bones," has a solid beat underlying the smooth lyrics, creating a gratifying experience for the listener. "What a Shame" is upbeat, despite the slurred lyrics describing getting over "it", whatever "it" may be. "New York," on the other hand shakes things up, a slow and melancholy melody accompanying soulful pensive lyrics. "Now" closes with "Little Late," a song both calm yet strangely energizing. You can catch the duo at Elsewhere in Brooklyn, NY on September 12 at 6 pm. – Karigan Wright

Drew Robinson’s project Shining Mirrors draws attention for reimagining the decadent folk-rock developed in historic NYC venues when the epicenter of the city’s rock’n’roll was still Manhattan’s West village. The third "folkier" Velvet Underground album resonates in single "Joanna," mixed with echoes of, perhaps, the Kinks and Pavement. The group dropped their debut EP in 2017, but this new single, a preview of their sophomore release, gives the impression that the sonic cards have been thoroughly shuffled – check the band’s Facebook page for news about the release date. – Susan Moon