The Bronx has always had the worst reputation among the NYC boroughs, a concrete pariah whose name still concots emotions of fear, mostly outside of NYC. It is from this dismissal and its rough-and-tumble fame that artists like Kemba draw their inspiration. In his new single “Last Year Being Broke” (streaming) Kemba paints hyper-real portraits of his everyday life via punchy verses that carry the warmth of his sincerity. The whipping kick drum and trickling piano notes help bring Kemba’s proclamation of soon-to-be-achieved success amid all-too-real poverty forward. The track is relatable for up and coming artists and shows that the rapper is looking to connect with his audience as opposed to boasting at them. In today’s hip-hop scene this is a welcome approach. Check out the single below. – Rene Cobar

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could take The Growlers and amp up their surf side? How about a few added sprinkles of bossa nova for the dance enthusiasts? Pleasure Island makes this a reality in their new EP Playa del Manos. The band shows its ability to channel the surf vibe with languorous guitar chords and hi-hat ebb and flows that soothe the mind. The synth ambiance created in the EP’s final track “Sunlight” (streaming) could easily have been part of your local high school’s Enchantment Under the Sea Dance. The group will be showcasing their  loungecore indie pop at Brooklyn’s Rubulad on May 31st. Get a taste for it in their new EP, streaming below. – Rene Cobar

Mars Motel blends vibrant indie-rock guitar riffs with the ambient atmospheres of dream pop to create a sound that is both edgy and emotional, light and heavy, dangerously infectious, and ultimately fun. The choruses of the group’s latest single “Coming Up For Air” are super-charged with energy and show off the band’s late ‘90s and early ‘00s influences. The poise and intensity of the group’s music feels like a crossover between The Verve and Young the Giant, classy and perfectly suited for festivals. The band will be releasing its debut album Passenger X later this year and has a scheduled performance at Pianos on May 30th. Check out the single is streaming below. – Rene Cobar

By the time you hear the vocals of Obil frontman Miguel Martinez in the band’s debut single “Your Name” (streaming), you have already been engulfed by the track’s sonic atmosphere. Faint electric guitar notes flutter around in a whirlwind of synth parts, all to the rhythm of an exquisitely groovy drum beat. The bass on the track seems to melt in the ears of the listener as the song progresses. Martinez’s smooth vocals resemble those of Kings of Convenience lead singer Erlend Øye, both sharing an alluring composure. The group has released the single just in time for the summer, a catchy song that signals good things to come from the band. – Rene Cobar

The music of New Jersey’s Fence is the sonic equivalent to a perfectly cooked medium-rare steak: it is seasoned enough to have an intense flavor to it and raw enough to feel tender. The soft plucking of guitar strings that open up their track “Quidditch” (streaming, from their 2018 split EP with Aqui) doesn’t prepare you for the punk beat-driven feast of screaming solos and vocals that dominate the song. Still, the surprises are welcome, and the feeling of comradery in the harmonies and well-arranged instrumentation underscore the passion that seeps through the band’s music. Fence has been covering the music of Neutral Milk Hotel as of late, and their take on it in their new EP is worth a listen for fans of the psych-folk group. Check out "Quidditch" below. – Rene Cobar

The message embedded in Samia’s music video for her freshly minted single “Ode to Artifice” is the perfect accompaniment to the indie-pop song. The shy girl in the video (Samia) struggles with her identity at prom and is upstaged by her own more confident reflection. The fragmented duality in the video is not only relatable to anyone who has ever felt like they are not self-assured enough, but also offers an intimate look at the artist’s struggles. The person you are and the person others see don’t always line up, Samia seems to recognize this and send a powerful message of self-appreciation and authenticity through this video. The songwriter will be headlining Rough Trade on June 7 before yet another headlining show at Los Angeles’ Bootleg Theatre June 26. Check out the video for the song below (there is a cameo by Mary-Louise Parker in it that gets a thumbs up from us). – Rene Cobar

Shadow Year‘s latest single "PDA" (streaming) is smooth, thorny, and drips with something dank—the artwork for the single is right on the money. Led by its warm sounding bassline and sharp guitar riffs that contort without notice, the composition moves along with steadfast loyalty to indie rock. The group fits in perfectly into the post-punk inspired indie that young groups like Priests and The Coathangers are driving forward: they keep it interesting with messages that ask you to open up your mind. "People so addicted to the water underneath/Drip by drip/Covering," is repeated several times in the song, evoking the single’s artwork once again. What the water signifies is wholly left to the imagination; it could be politics, toxic relationships, or drugs, to name a few things – the band seems happy to let you fill in the blanks. Shadow is preparing for a fourteen-stop tour of the country that will start 06.01 in Washington D.C. – Rene Cobar

Forget your easy-listening diet; your ears gotta get a load of TOP nachos! The Queens, NY band’s 2018 record Dank Side of the Moon is stuffed with eruptive garage-rock tracks that never let up. The entire LP shows off the duo’s ability to create a zesty sonic experience: relentless drum beats, crunchy guitar riffs, and catchy choruses leave a feel-good aftertaste track after track. Yes, the choruses of songs like “Punk Vacation” (streaming) may seem overly simple at first but boy do they stick with you. The band’s upbeat approach to the hefty fuzz-rock that groups like Truckfighters have championed is what makes them a standout. If you are hungry for a good time, TOP nachos will showcase their delicious sonic dish June 1st at the Bushwick Public House. – Rene Cobar

Katie Rush is everything that is great about synth-pop music: the group confidently delivers a sonic meteor shower that dazzles with its dreamy synth melodies and sonorous bass lines. The harmonious flow of the band’s latest album Stage Life comes from R&B-lacquered vocals and essential drum beats. The group’s ten-track album is a sweet ride from start to finish that is powered by the tender yet sophisticated singing style of lead vocalist Katie Wagner. Think of Katie Rush as a soulful alternative to synth-pop group of the moment Chvrches. The record is dedicated to the memory of band member Sam Mehran who helped write, produce, mix, and master the album. We have the title track here for you. – Rene Cobar

The elegant hip-hop beats that dominated the tracks of 50 Cent’s 2003 breakout album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ feel like a relic of olden days. The splendor of those beats was in their concentration of funky bass lines, R&B buffs, and kickdrums that popped alongside the velvety verses that laid on the track. It is the smoothly-layered words of NYC’s Akinyemi—alongside his tribute to those beats—that make the artist a standout in the current crowded hip hop market. In his song "Fleece" (streaming) the young MC suggests protection from the elements: he references the frigidness of greed, the heat of competition, the winds of change. Akinyemi says, "the weather isn’t bigger," and the more you listen to his track, the more you feel inclined to believe him. The Queens Village rapper is ready to bring his message to Zone One, Elsewhere on May 25th, loud and clear. – Rene Cobar

Cha-ching! NYC’s Quarters of Change continues to score with some wickedly addictive songs. Since the release of their 2018 eponymous EP, the group has been keeping their work rate in high gear with a trio of singles. Each tune is more refined than the next and displays the band’s vibrant blues-rock style—bass lines slip and slide, guitar melodies cavort, snares crack, and crooning voices harmonize. The smooth players will be further affirming their entry into the NYC music scene by playing Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on May 24th. Check out the sleekness of “Feathers” below. – Rene Cobar

Playing punk music makes sense for folks hailing from the East Village, but what about blending it with good old blues rock? Well, The Sweet Things formed in 2015 with the intent to deliver precisely that sound. Drawing inspiration from ‘70s arena rock monsters like The Rolling Stones, the band compounds blues elements with each member’s previous punk rock backgrounds. Screaming guitars at the start of the group’s latest single “Almost Faded” blend excellently with deft keys that would make Chuck Leavell proud. The fuzzy bass and the powerful drums drive the song forward at full steam and give it the edge that makes it contemporary. The single announces their May 24th debut album In Borrowed Shoes, On Borrowed Time and the band is gearing up for a tour of the U.K. starting in June. The party is just getting started for this group of new yorkers, don’t miss the local leg at The Bowery Electric on May 24 – Rene Cobar