The release of duo Nalani & Sarina’s third full-length LP The Circle (May 2018) has brought these NJ-bred twins to the forefront of the DIY indie pop scene. As young songwriters, their masterful fusion of soul, rock, and mainstream pop combined with their familial ties has given their music a reputation for being both impressive as well as deeply personal. Their hit single “Young and Inexperienced” off their latest record has gained huge popularity due to its catchy folk rock influence, and has grown to be considered a representation of the millennial voice for its enlightened lyrics on post-college employment. Many of their songs have a witty storytelling charm that reflects on coming-of-age contents, supplementing their multi-faceted genre blend with meaningful and relatable lyrics. Their collaboration has fused their unique individual tastes to create music that has both traditional and contemporary roots, while gripping audiences with their appealing and accessible young flair. Check out Nalani & Sarina’s newest album The Circle on Spotify and stream their earlier recordings on Soundcloud. – Rebecca Carroll

Brooklyn’s Taja Cheek is an experimental singer/instrumentalist whose classical music education inspires her solo project L’Rain‘s rich, ambient sound. While creating her debut, self-titled record in 2017, Taja’s burgeoning music career was intersected by the passing of her mother Lorraine, which affected L’Rain’s lyrical content with themes centered on the subject of grief – as heard in tracks like “Stay, Go (Go, Stay)” and “Heavy (But Not in Wait)”. Her tracks, however, wander through mystifying and dreamy territories in the aim to blend morbidity with cheery effervescence. Listening to L’Rain’s is the aural equivalent of gazing into a sonic kaleidoscope composed by a multitude of synths, samples, and effects, concocting a wistful carpet blanketed with her lush, whispery vocals. You can experience the L’Rain’s poignant and dreamy music live, at Sunnyvale on October 19. -Rebecca Carroll

New York City band Deaf Poets recently released a new addition to their discography with new EP Change and Bloom. The new collection may contain less material than their previous full-length records, but it certainly does not make less of an impact. Building on their core sound of heavy, distorted guitars, the tracks hit with a wall of dialed-up noise that blends classic rock and 60s psych influences with a modern, hard hitting twist. Their sound leans on their raucous drums and vocals, forging a style that is carefully produced but executed with grungy, carefree aggression. Do not, however, mistake this group’s recklessness with thoughtlessness. After their relocation from Miami back to their NYC roots, their need to produce a new path for themselves carried enlightened ideas of progression and self-discovery into their latest work.  Tracks like “Change and Bloom” and “Cigarette” give a look into this band’s continual development, and a listen into the inner torment of feeling displaced and confined – but for these guys, there’s no better therapy than getting on stage and causing a sonic riot.  If that’s up your alley, check out Deaf Poets’ release show at Brooklyn’s Alphaville on 10.27. –Rebecca Carroll 

After twelve years on tour with folk-rock outfit Lake Street Dive, former bassist Bridget Kearney made a rapid transition into a self-made singer/songwriter, initiated by the speedy release of her debut single, “Won’t Let You Down.” This title also serves as the name of her first full-length LP, released in March 2017. Though slower tracks such as “Love Doctor” and "Nothing Does It” give glimpses of her previous group’s rootsy leanings, Bridget’s new sound primarily adheres to the glimmering and catchy traits of indie pop. Songs like “So Long” and “Who Are We Kidding” provide a nonchalant atmosphere to this record and pull her bright energy down to a more relaxed level. The echoey effect she applies to her gorgeous melodies combined with the tracks’ pleasant instrumental landscape gives this collection an enticing, almost seductive feel. You can catch Bridget Kearney playing Union Pool on October 19, and stream her debut album Won’t Let You Down on Bandcamp. – Rebecca Carroll

In their new EP Before You Go (set for release October 5), bi-coastal duo EXES have expanded their exploratory indie-pop collection. The physical distance between these artists is certainly not palpable in this collection of cohesive, neatly produced tracks. Integrating snapshots of recent thoughts and experiences into their new work, EXES has merged their characteristic mellow pop with a noticeably more candid lyrical approach, showcasing the growth of this duo both musically as well as personally.  The duo’s sound is driven by the soft, melodic vocals of Brooklyn-based singer Allie McDonald and the edgy electronic beats of LA-based producer Mike Derenzo, resulting in a soulful interpretation of clean electronica. Single “Before you Break” explores a playful staccato vocal style that, combined with a slow-burning drum track and layers of subtle ambiance, reveals the meticulous production elements of their recent work. Many of their new songs contain very visual and often experience-based lyrics. “Peckham” vividly evaluates abstract subjects such as romance, hopes and fears, showcasing this band’s equal consideration of both sound and substance. You can stream EXES’ Before You Go in full right now via Live Nation’s Ones To Watch, and be sure to keep an eye out for the official release this Friday. -Rebecca Carroll

After the release of full-length debut LP Seen A Change (2017), Brooklyn-based group High Pony speedily returned to the studio to produce a follow-up record, Nothing Here Is Mine, released June 8. Merging the intensity and speed of punk with their core slacker rock style, this band’s gritty sound expresses their refusal to be bound by classic pop structures. Both the title and substance of songs such as “Off to Kill Myself” and “Drooling with Rage” illustrate these guys’ commitment to the rebellious, unrestrained nature of their genres of choice. Funneling rampant vocals and distorted guitar noise into each of their tracks, High Pony welcomes the world’s heaviness, channeling classic punk constructs of loneliness and delirium into their gnarled screams and introverted lyrics. Catch them shredding live at NYC’s Alphaville on October 15. 

Gabriel Royal’s sophomore album coheres more around its lyrics than did his debut which centered on the artist’s fine-grained cello and smooth soul vocals. Both remain here on Miss Once; yet the overall eclecticism of arrangement and rhythm makes this the more adventurous affair of the two. Lines such as “Ain’t gotta worry ’bout the facts” (from “Been a Minute”) and “I always seem to get caught up in troubled times” (from “About You”) echo current media slogans—albeit personalized via Royal’s inimitable touch. “Battle Hymn of the Lower East Side,” a doo-wop-meets-Gregorian-chant, closes the LP with an anthem of self-empowerment and escapism (e.g. “When I’m focused I can fly”). Memory looms largest on Miss Once, however, as in songs like “Tough Love,” which begins: “She said remember right now/Wanna always feel this way.” “Degoba,” a title taken from the fictional “Star Wars” home of Jedi/sage Yoda, laments the bygone days “when you were mine.” “Been a Minute,” by turn, looks back more fondly (“Running on the streets through my old town”; “Trippin’ on some old times”). Musically-speaking, the strongest numbers here are the ones that feel referential of older genres, such as opener “C Major Prelude,” which recalls early Rufus Wainwright and sixties Van Dyke Parks, or the hip-hop/jazz inflected “Indoors” (featuring beatmaster Matt Young at the mixing board). “Notice” is the best example of Royal’s ability to take source material and churn it into something entirely his own. It offers a sprightly rhythm of plucked cello triplets and hand-claps, which the artist then sings over, moving from simple chanted lyrics to full-throated crooning. The eighties-esque chorus “All of the things you say I know they are for real” is both transcendent and thoughtful, and exemplifies an album chock-full of melody, quirkiness, and heart. – Brian Chidester

Gabriel Royal will be performing live at Joe’s Pub on October 26th.

Brooklyn-based four-piece Taking Meds boldly advocates their distinct musical style, ascribing to the self-created genre, ’math-punk’. With several members who were previously – and some who still remain – involved in Rochester’s pop punk project Such Gold, it is no surprise that Taking Meds’ complex instrumental sound draws from an assortment genres across the punk/rock board. Post-hardcore and math rock drive the majority of this band’s disjointed yet dynamic tracks, but it is their subtle emo and indie rock influences that pack their tracks with a chaotic tapestry of styles. After producing their debut album My Life as a Bro in 2016, the group returned to the studio earlier this year to begin recording their second LP. Many of their songs like “Blue Shirt Boogie” and “Comfort in Poor Planning” fuse aspects of classic, dissonant punk with the relatable energy of modern indie rock, creating a combination of hard-biting lyrics and rhythmic complexity that penetrates the spirit of punk rock. With vocals that err on the side of Four Year Strong or Neck Deep, blended into layers of Balance and Composure-esq post-hardcore instrumentals, you are left with a cutting mixture of pure, intense noise. See them live at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere on November 5.

Brooklyn-based alt/indie folk artist Nathan Xander was not always so acquainted with the New York City music scene. Born and raised in Pennsylvania, this singer-songwriter brought to the big apple his psychedelic brand of alt folk alt-folk that cuts through the harsher city soundscapes. With the release of his fourth full-length LP, Blue House, Xander set himself apart from the noise with humbled attitude and grounded lyrical content. Akin to the dreamy repertoire of Dr. Dog or Neutral Milk Hotel, Xander’s music possesses a melancholic nostalgia that indulges in the reminiscence of his previous lifestyle and the conflict of feeling torn between identities. Often examining the complexities of urban culture, this coming-of-age album traces the growth of this musician, both artistically as well as personally. With meditative tracks such as “Over You, Over Me” and “(What It Takes) To Make a Man”, Nathan’s stunning sonic atmospheres, combined with his musings on change, create a beautiful account of overcoming imperfection and insecurity. Watch his stories come alive during his live performance at Union Pool on October 11, featuring special NYC guests Quicksilver Daydream and Pecas.

Mexico City bred and currently Brooklyn-based band, Frege, have create a very intriguing melange of sonic elements with their latest single, “Stilfs.” Released with a sultry accompanying music video, the track blends mellow, noir atmospheres with soulful vocals that satisfy our never-ending craving for catchy melodies. Unexpected sonic developments, like an accelerated chorus driven by an ingenious, fragmented drum pattern, or experimentation with electronic textures, keep things interesting throughout the song, without letting things get too "out there" to be thoroughly enjoyed. Following on the steps of avant-pop artists like Radiohead and Talk Talk, these guys aspire to provoke thought, and pull big sounds and even bigger concepts into each little groove of theirs. Listen to the single below, and check out Frege’s live session of their new track here. – Rebecca Carroll – photo credit: Maureen Evans

New York-based ensemble Casual Male’s sound is best epitomized by the cover of their most recent (and aptly titled) extended play, "EP": it’s a photograph of a small, tree-covered island in the middle of a verdant river valley. There’s a nostalgic, summer-y quality across the release’s five tracks, not one evocative of an overdone Californian surf-rock trope, but something more nuanced and sonically diverse that reads as a tripped-out summer spent in the Adirondacks. The crux of Casual Male’s artistry emerges in their instrumental tightness – their ability to pull off disorienting tempo shifting numbers like “Resistance,” or incorporate a discordant synthy swirl behind screaming R&B guitar riffing on “Takin’ It Easy,” keeps the entirety of the EP interesting, while walking that careful tightrope between classic and contemporary. Here’s hoping this new group continues to flesh out their vintage vision in the near future. – Connor Beckett McInerney

Another appointment with The Revolution is almost here! This Saturday, September 22, three Brooklyn and Harlem based artists will be representing the heart of NYC’s independent music at the gorgeous National Sawdust venue, located in the heart of Williamsburg. With a lineup that showcases the sheer diversity of our scene, Volume 31 of this series will feature performances by locally bred artists Danielle Grubb, GRXDNT, Eleni Arapoglou. Danielle Grub is a singer/songwriter who fuses together bits of funk, rock, and soul to forge a cool, modern rendition of the pop genre.  Coined as experimental soul, the two-piece GRXDNT indulges in electronic ambiance and slow burning beats to fuel their edgy, effortless sound. For those with a more classical taste, this year’s mix will also include the jazz-inspired songs of the angelic Eleni Arapoglou. Doors open at 9:30, check out the featured artists on The Deli’s Revolution #31 Soundcloud playlist below. – Rebecca Carroll