Self-produced solo artist Ryan Egan has generated a lot of interest with his modern blend of pop and soul. With R&B-inspired arrangements and meditative lyrics, this artist’s eclectic collection showcases a style that’s at once edgy and relatable. In his more popular tracks "Tongue of Yours" and "Between the Pages," Egan experiments with minimal electronic percussion and smooth falsetto vocals, creating melodies that move along with pleasant leisure. As a musician who has released two EPs solely from the facilities of his home studio, Egan continues to self-sufficiently head his music career with the upcoming release of a single, “Won’t You Be The One,” out on Friday, September 28. For now, you can check out single "Between the Pages" (streaming below) and catch him live at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere on Friday, August 28. – Rebecca Carroll

Ambient pop duo Belle Mare has announced a new EP, Liars, set for release on October 19. In the two charming preview singles, Liars and Spain, members Amelia Bushell and Thomas Servidone unveil a possibly catchier approach to a sound they have been developing since 2013, when their haunting debut EP was named NYC Record of the Month in this very blog. Layering their characteristically dreamy sound with a bouncier tempo, the duo’s new style showcases a bubblier side, while still preserving its ethereal quality. Stream Belle Mare’s newest track below. – Rebecca Carroll 

L’FREAQ has recently premiered on Billboard.com a new music video for her single “Weird Awakenings,” the second released off her forthcoming EP of the same title. Her dreamy, sultry voice layered over a pulsing beat is reminiscent of LP1-era FKA twigs, mixed with the power of early 2000s R&B ballads. The lyrics are borderline disturbing as she pleads “Gimme that sweet tooth grin / hold me before I know it’s over;” Singer Lea Cappelli says that the awakening she refers to in the title happened in real life, when she finally felt “liberated from a doomed relationship.” “Weird Awakenings” is authoritative and dynamic, and is indicative of good things to come. – Lily Crandall

Kelsey Byrne, the Brooklyn based artist behind VÉRITÉ, worked as a waitress at the Times Square Applebee’s, (a position feared by most), for three years to foster her career in music. After receiving praise for her first single “Strange Enough” in 2014, she has gone on to record 2 EPs and a full-length album Somewhere in Between in 2017. The standout from that album, “Nothing” is a melancholic, electronic gem that includes all the elements of a great pop song. Her voice is airy yet commanding, the synths behind it powerful but not overwhelming. She will be performing on August 28th at National Sawdust as part of the Hum Series, a showcase that celebrates female and non-binary artists. This particular show will feature custom arrangements for an all-female pop chamber orchestra. – Lily Crandall

Star the Moonlight’s debut single “Don’t You Think You Wanna” is a groovy jazz/soul song you won’t be able to get out of your head. Hattie Smith’s timeless caramel-smooth vocals overlay the band’s funky rhythms as she pleads “Don’t you think you wanna slow down?” while Maximillian Zooi’s funk-inspired clarinet interludes give it a kick. Their first single is a promising sign of good things to come from the band; their debut album is set to come out later this summer. You can see Star the Moonlight live at the Knitting Factory on August 28. – Lily Crandall

This band submitted their music for coverage here.

Holy Ride’s guitarist and bassist Caleb Oldham describes their music as “D’Angelo meets Mac DeMarco.” They’ve got the breezy, trailing riffs of beach rock layered with singer Julian Ernest Wright’s soulful vocals that give them a sound all their own. The four musicians that comprise Holy Ride met while attending Columbia University, where they started out by playing dorm parties. Their debut EP Party Tricks, released in June, is a collection of four tracks of love, lust and heartbreak in the city. On “Movies”, Wright sings, “I’m down to waltz around on common ground / So let me know when you’re around.” However, the band isn’t taking a break after just one release; they said they’re planning to release three additional EPs in the near future, and they already have “about a dozen” songs in the making. -Lily Crandall

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

It makes perfect sense that three of the four musicians that comprise A Valley Son are Southern transplants: the band has a unique country-meets-the-big-city rock flair. Songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist Trey Powell tackles the real stuff in “Sunset Park,” a song he wrote in response to the death of Michael Brown in 2014. He laments on the state of the country: “It’s always been chaos / but we’ve really lost control / these last few years.” It’s a raw, honest reaction to today’s political environment. The group incorporates some soul elements, a bit of the grit of Springsteen’s lyrics, and a lot of heart to make their sound unique, especially coming out of a scene like the indie-sound-leaning Brooklyn one. Check them out live July 12 at Mercury Lounge. – Lily Crandall

Indie electronic band Balún is quickly making their presence known – in their current home base of Brooklyn and globally. Their 2016 single “La Nueva Ciudad” was on Spotify’s US Viral Top 50 playlist as well as in eight Latin American countries. “El Espanto,” their most recent single, is inspired by the dembow and reggae heartbeat of their hometown, San Juan, Puerto Rico, reinterpreted through the lens of the creative local DIY scene. The breadth of the genres they encompass is representative of their transnational experience; of their two homes and how they complement each other. The result is a harmonious, transportive blend of island rhythm and city edge, a style they call “dreambow.” Balún’s unique style is one not to miss, catch them live at Rough Trade on July 12th. – Lily Crandall

Renny Conti describes his music as “indie folky songs for your heart,” and there is indeed a fireside-in-the-winter kind of comfort in his acoustic guitar-based tracks. He tackles heavy topics of in a subdued, quiet way. In “How I’ll Die,” Conti laments “Focus on the rhythm / Of where our life has went / All i can think about / While you’re so far away from it.” It’s rain-on-the-windowpane sadness masked by the breeziness of indie folk anthems, and you can catch him live at Mercury Lounge on June 27. -Lily Crandall

Back for its third run, In Plain Sight NYC and Korg are teaming up to bring a day of hip hop and DJs back to the streets of Brooklyn. 20 artists will be featured at The Block Party Vol. 3, in this full day of live performances on Wyckoff Street (between Bond & Nevins Street) on Saturday, June 23rd. In addition to the lineup of talented hip hop, electronic, and neo-soul acts including Tuamie, eu-IV, Zoomo, and Nothing Neue, Korg will have some of their popular synthesizers on display available for demonstrations. The Block Party Vol.3 will be a unique opportunity to see terrific artists and check out some gear, and you don’t want to miss out on it. Check out a playlist of the performing artists, streaming below – Lily Crandall

New York native, queer singer-songwriter Kat Cunning is no stranger to the stage. After earning a BFA in dance, performing on Broadway with Cirque du Soleil, and recently landing a recurring role on HBO, Kat has transitioned to the third aspect of the triple threat, and found a home in singing. In her new single, “Wild Poppies,” loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, she explores the idea of “a version of The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy doesn’t come home.” Cunning’s sultry, velvet voice perfectly intensifies the tragic lyrics “The courage to / See through you’d have kept me blind / We’re face to face / And I’ve pulled the curtain wide.” The passion of Lorde mixed with the pop feel of Billie Eilish results in a caramel-smooth stripped-down pop ballad of love, pain, and coming to terms with the truth of a relationship. She returned to her home of New York after finishing a sold-out national tour with singer-songwriter LP, and you can catch her live at House of Yes tonight (June 13th). – Lily Crandall, photo by Ben Trivett

If you miss the sound of the indie rock of the early-to-mid-2000s, The Britanys might be just what the doctor ordered. Made up of four roommates based in Bushwick, the band uses their apartment as headquarters, and offers a cohesive sound of electric, upbeat and melodic indie rock filled with catchy guitar riffs and light vocals. Their latest release, “When I’m With You” shows a slight evolution in the sound compared with previous releases, more sparse and mature, and rehashes the 20-something’s saga of complicated relationship. Lead singer Lucas Long laments “We break up then we’re back together / We make up now we’re through forever.” As trends go in and out of style, The Britanys have solidified a timeless sound. Don’t miss them at Rough Trade on June 16th. –Lily Crandall