If this is what bad magic is then I don’t even want to know what good magic is because I’m sure I will keep coming back to the beguiling clutch of Bad Magic’s music. The Richmond trio–consisting of Julie Karr, Jimmy Held and Tim Falen–hits a sweet spot between rough and tender, coaxing us listeners with the rugged charm of high strung guitars and then easing us down with languid vocals. Julie bewitches with her vocals, textured with longing and fire, and commandeers each track with a snaking guitar riff that sneaks up on you before exploding. Bad Magic’s music is raw but melodious, packing every inch of each chord and progression with feeling and desire, melting everything around you away. Luckily enough they’re performing at Strange Matter on August 8 so if you’re looking to be enchanted just take a listen below and catch their show on monday! – Adriana S. Ballester

The sweet summery delicacy of a beach boys-y sound set against lyrics heralding apocalyptic doom? Def.GRLS is a band of devilishly delicious contradictions, combining elements of late 60’s garage-pop with disco beats, and laying down distorted guitar tracks that sound almost Zeppelin-esque in scope. The result is a sound that’s at once edgy and dulcet, delighting in retro vibes while never taking itself too seriously, and delivering lyrics that meld both fun and snark. Be on the lookout for their new EP dropping soon, but in the meantime listen below to single ‘The 4 Horsemen…’ and catch them tonight playing Shea Stadium with Sexy Neighbors, Dead Sexy Shelia and Das Black Milk.-Olivia Sisinni

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

What neosoul outfit Votive Crown lack in material, they make up for with potential and promise. Having released only three tracks over the past three years, the Brooklyn group has been coy, if not shy, about demonstrating what they’re truly capable of so far. What they have cared to share, however, is a shimmering, fresh take on vintage soul, just as their name would suggest. Their most recent release, "THEREMIN" (the first since 2013) gently weaves in worldly influences into a deeply melodic soul sound that’s headlined by silky, female vocals and ethereal synth and keys patterns. Votive Crown can’t release something else soon enough, and you can check them out at Mercury Lounge on 8/8. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Aerial View hail from Silver Spring, Maryland, and play a rather tranquil brand of indie rock that combines the ethereal sounds of shoegaze with the technical complexity of math rock. Their latest EP Wear breezes by with clean guitar tones that exhibit a different sound on each song. The track “Desiderium” (streaming) evokes the guitar playing of Hum, but with a more elegant and less crunchy tone. The EP’s closer “Hypnotist” ventures into prog rock reminiscent of the band Yes, while maintaining a dreamy guitar-driven shoegaze inspired sound. Aerial View will be playing at the Velvet Lounge on August 7th in support of HTML. – John Honan

If we were living in an ’80s movie and the protagonist sees his love interest for the first time it would be as she’s dancing to “Violent Soul” in some dimly lit club, her hair primped to an effortlessly chic voluminous ‘do, neon flourescent lights flickering in the background. With an abundant amount of dark and ambient synths it’s difficult not to find ‘80s new wave as an influence on True Body. The distant, unpolished vocals on Demo ‘16 (streaming below) call to mind British alt rockers White Lies, with a touch of U2, but the spacey keys are reminiscent of Talking Head and DEVO–certainly something that belongs on the soundtrack to some John Hughes film. It’s brooding, yet bubbly, meant to be enjoyed in the late hours of the night when the idea of tomorrow is but a fleeting thought and you’re trying to forget who and where you are.

Accompanying True Body on stage that night is Fat Spirit, whose name does not deceive. Their tracks are perfused with an ecstatic sensation– spastic guitars shimmy throughout the album, swirling to life a sound that recalls a rough around the edges ’60s psych rock guitar riff. The vocals teeter between tender and moving to distant and apathetic, a perfect combination when singing about love, as Fat Spirit does throughout the album, or more specifically the loss of love and disintegrating relationships.

Lose yourself in Fat Spirit and True Body’s music below and make sure to check them out at Strange Matter on August 4. – Adriana S. Ballester

One of the most powerful assets of art is its ability to transform negative or sad experiences into positive emotions.  A Valley Son does just that in their new, moody Americana and folk rock infused single, “Dark Places,” which tells the story of a mysterious old man full of dark tales – and of his undignified, lonely death ("They found him in his bathroom’s floor…"). The song keeps the band’s promise of “encompassing the dark, poetic lyricism of Bruce Springsteen,” yet they do so with accents that are more Southern and twangy than the ones adopted by The Boss. You can catch A Valley Son at Union Hall on August 13th. – Madeleine Grossman

CVS at Night delivers music for moonlit escapades, and the bleary eyed wonder-ers up past their bedtime. The Brooklyn indie rock quartet’s self-titled EP combines catchy hooks and soft dance-able beats with a warm, lo-fi psych tint that seems to point toward insidious emotions that lie beneath simple words and poppy melodies. The quartet’s debut, self-titled EP is as bewtiching as it is absorbing, so be sure to check out the newly released tracks here (with a promise of more to come!), or listen below. – Olivia Sisinni

Some artists are able to create music that provides the perfect accompaniment to life as we imagine it in our most hopeful moments – which in turns actually helps us live a better existence. NYC bands Beach Moon, Peach Moon and Parrot Dream (pictured) play elegant dream pop that’s just as good of a companion on the commute to work as it is during a night spent alone with our thoughts. Beach Moon, Peach Moon’s lo-fi shoegaze is filled with warm, melancholic guitars and softly lush, self-reflective vocals, and often juxtaposes melancholic instrumentation to optimistic lyrics, like in opening track ‘Philosophy at 23/at 24′ (streaming). Slightly more upbeat, the dream pop of Parrot Dream is centered around Christina Appel’s vocals and her lyrics, which heavily rely on metaphors to construct poignant and distinct imagery. Both bands will be playing at the Silent Barn on August 3rd. – John Honan

Alana Amram‘s songs could belong to a different era. Wielding a vocal authority that feels very Patti Smith, Amram deftly crafts narrative lyrics that paint images ranging from pastoral to wild – but always a far cry from the brick and bustle of Brooklyn where the songwriter currently resides. The sound is Americana by way of late 60’s psych-tinged folk, and is ever-present on her spellbinding 2014 release Spring River. Catch her at Union Pool on August 4th or headlining at the Cake Shop with Ian O’neill of Deertick, Reservations, and Heaven’s Jail on August 31st, and be sure to listen to the track below. – Olivia Sisinni

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

Bummed that summer is slowly dwindling down before our eyes?  Join the club. Luckily there’s bands like Boston’s own Aüva, whose dreamy surf-pop sound reminds us that we still can make the most of August. Their latest video for "Better," the bands first ever video, positions the band’s two vocalists, tongue-in-cheek, as a pair of exes. The male vocalist is despondent, smashing bottles and wallowing in self-pity. The female one on the other hand has moved on, and started anew with another male suitor. It’s a funny, cute take on that whole "Mr. Brightside" catergory of songs, and it reflects the lightness of the track’s nature well — which jams by the way. Aüva are releasing a new LP in a few days, and you can check them out live when they play O"Brien’s on 8/13.

We discovered Aüva through our submissions page. If your a band that’s looking to get checked out, you can send us some tunes here. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber 

The chaotic and angry nature of hardcore punk can become exhausting, causing many musicians to seek other, tamer forms of self-expression. PAWNS was formed in Brooklyn after its members felt the need for a break from full-on anger and decided to settle for just gloomy animosity – an attitude reminiscent of some early post punk bands of the late ’70s/early ’80s. On their latest seven-inch Eternal Return the band harnessed the gothic influences that were prominently featured on their first release for a more urgent sound inspired by anarcho-punk, as in “Masquerade” (streaming below) where singer Gage Allison uses a throaty shout instead of his usual deadpan vocal tone. If life is a little too good for you these days, you don’t want to miss PAWNS live at the Knitting Factory on August 16th. – John Honan

On her third release, LAMB, New York songwriter, Nadia Kazmi shows an enviable range of genres, moods, and influences.  Opener “Kill the Monster” adopts angsty blues and punk elements, with results reminiscent of a Karen O with Janis Joplin’s melodic tendencies.  The rest of the album, starting with second track Lamb in Wolf’s Clothing, takes a narrative turn, as it displays more folk rock leanings with a vocal cadence reminiscent of Bob Dylan, and various other ’60 influences.  “Haunting” proceeds to evoke The Doors and as the album progresses, the songstress continues to release intense energy and something akin to inner turmoil that manages to pull us in.  For what is guaranteed to be a lively show, check her out at Baby’s All Right on August 8th. – Madeleine Grossman

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