The dance-inducing rhythms of NYC’s Cheap Synths reverberate the style and edge of alternative dance bands like Hot Chip and LCD Soundsystem. The group could easily have been pulled from a DFA Records catalog, and yet their sonic varnish shines brightly and has landed them a publishing deal with Rough Trade. The electronic rock duo has released their first mixtape yes yes yes with its first single “Devastate” flaunting noteworthy grit and glamour. A heavy bassline accompanies a slick guitar riff while synth stabs and pads contribute to a complex aural texture. The accompanying video is the powdered sugar on top of this sweet dance-rock cookie. Check out the video below. – Rene Cobar

NYC’s Wild Yawp has been actively performing since last June and released their first single “Femme Girl” (streaming) this year. The pop-punk trio is now preparing for a record release show at Trans-Pecos on May 9th, culminating months of promotion. Characterized by explosive drum beats, whirling, entrancing basslines, and vocals that cruise and crash at will, the single showcases a fierceness reminiscent of the Riot Grrrl movement of the early ‘90s. The music of the band is already making appearances on movies and television shows, showing the group has been brewing well for some time now. The show at Trans-Pecos will be a celebration of their hard work, and the preview is here for you below. – Rene Cobar

You may know Mike Caridi from his previous band LVL UP. If you enjoyed the indie rock group (which dissolved last September), you might want to look into his solo project The Glow. In between LVL UP albums, Caridi was writing songs that drew life from the same lo-fi vein that was supplying his former group. Now his songs are finally seeing the light of day: the first two singles are out now and they shine brightly on their own. “Weight of Sun” has a snappy rhythm and bright acoustic guitars that give it an upbeat nature. “I Am Not Warm” is driven by Caridi’s deeply-layered vocals, a distorted lead guitar, and dense drums. The hazy feel of the tracks, along with their grungy edge make Caridi New York’s answer to L.A.’s rising lo-fi star Justus Proffit. Check out “I Am Not Warm” below. – Rene Cobar 

A laid-back afternoon in the ‘burbs with your buddy is something many New Yorkers rarely experience, if ever. So it’s somewhat refreshing to stumble upon a video by a NYC band that’s just about that: walking in the middle of the streets, dancing on rooftops and in empty parking lots, and picking up Wendy’s are only some of the "adventures" duo Fly By Midnight indulges in to the sound of their own feel-good retro pop. With its addictive, soulful melodies and gentle uptempo rhythms, this single is so uplifting  that it can make even a regular day in the ‘burbs feel special. The track and its accompanying video are a preview of the bands’ LP, scheduled for later this year. – Rene Cobar

“Thin Wire” (streaming) is the uber-charged debut single of Brooklyn punk rockers Trash TV. A sonic surge of distorted guitars and eruptive drums, this is the kind of tune that jolts you to the front of the crowd. Since late last year, this quartet has been fermenting music they call “scuzzy punk,” distinguished by upbeat tempo, fuzzy guitar licks and the graphic verses of lead singer Habiba Warren, who at one point mentions grease, numb hands, and bleeding eyes—get the picture? The band is revving up for a rooftop party show at Our Wicked Lady on May 22nd. The song serves as a sizzling preview of things to come from the Brooklyn natives, check it out below. – Rene Cobar  

Up for a dose of new music? There is a new group roaming the concrete jungle, wielding a debut single that demands attention.“Fake” has a luring quality to it, with its glaze of post-punk and Southern rock it immediately recalls the panache that catapulted Kings of Leon to the top of the charts. The single of NYC’s Nicotine Dolls is smooth in its delivery of flexible tempos, intricate harmonies, and gritty lead vocals that make way for a ripping guitar solo which culminates the song. The band is debuting with a solid entry and will be undoubtedly playing the single at their next show at Connolly’s NYC on June 28. We have the release here for you below. – Rene Cobar

Erin Durant’s newest single “Highway Blue” (streaming) ruffles up the dainty fragments of bittersweet memories: the song evokes a once great friendship, a romance that almost was, the lost familiarity of a place in time. The opening piano notes sound off with the tenderness of the first drops of rainfall and soon make room for her accompanying vocals, candid in tone. The soft beat of the snare throughout and the captivating harmonica solos help complete this second single from Durant’s upcoming sophomore record Islands (out June 21 via Keeled Scales). With the help of TV On the Radio’s Kyp Malone, Durant expands her sonic palette in this new track and grants us a peek of a promising album on the way. “Highway Blue,” is sincere in its delivery and tells a story you may know. – Rene Cobar

“You Were Never My Boyfriend” is the latest single from Ariana and the Rose and boy does it have a bite to it. The indie pop track is a commentary on the increasingly superficial love relationships of the twenty-first century and their broken promises. Riding a pensive wave from start to finish, the song shows off Ariana’s rich soulful soprano and expertly-placed synthesizer flourishes that define her synth-soul-pop sound. The accompanying music video is beautifully simple and helps to magnify the subject matter with subtle visual developments in a single shot. The attention-grabbing song—originally a simple poem by Ariana—has served its purpose by sparking curiosity for the pop singer’s next move. Watch the video here below. – Rene Cobar

Brooklyn’s post-hardcore trio I.O.U. demonstrates that it means business with a visceral display of sonic anger in the opening track of their newly released EP I.O.U. ONE. “Captain Howdy” cleaves its way into the eardrums of the listener with the ferocity of its guitar riffs, a fuzz-infected bassline, and dauntless drum fills that may leave you in a feverish state of thrill. The group’s four-track record starts at a high intensity and never lets up the energy, without giving up the opportunity for sonic experimentation given by slower tempos, like in second track "My Maytag." The vocals of all three members shred through the entrails of “Swamp,” while in “Bossy” the trio lets everyone know that “cannibals are people too.” I.O.U. is a feral band in all the right ways, check it out below. – Rene Cobar

The heavy punching hymns of pure alternative rock seem like a rarity these days but groups like Zr. King bring them to relevance with fuzzy guitar chords to spare. “Ships in the Night” is the group’s second single off their upcoming sophomore album Musically & Morally Bankrupt, which is set for release May 17. The group formed in 2012 and is true to the power-rock that has elevated bands like Queens of the Stone Age to national stardom. The new track shows off the band’s deep sonic arsenal, as it delivers one euphoric musical breakdown after the next—slick guitar solos, slithering basslines, bold drum fills – it’s a sincere ode to hard rock. Zr. King calls the single "a celebration of the confidence that comes from rebuilding yourself." Celebrating is also what Zr. King will be doing at Arlene’s Grocery May 16 as they perform on the eve of the album’s release. – Rene Cobar

Johnny Jewel and Daniel "Baby D" Bachrach are back at it again. Known collectively as Jangula, in their latest EP Ataraxia the duo offers music that’s as stirring as ever. The eight-track festival of experimentation features an incredible pace with flashes of electronic textures, loose and fast guitar solos, swelling organ melodies, and deep vocals from Jewel that rip and tear themselves with frightful ease. From the indie-folk sound of “My Jubilee Gang” to the synth-driven tune “Experimental Alchemy” the band shows an ability to dabble in genres, picking and choosing what they see fit. Jangula will be bringing their sonic experiment to Trans-Pecos in Brooklyn on May 7. – Rene Cobar