It’s hard to believe that the singer-songwriter Matt Siffert was born and raised in New York City, since his music fits so comfortably in the Nashville scene. His move to Music City infused his already folksy tracks with Americana influences that can be seen everywhere from the new-found hint of a twang in his voice, to the groove of his guitar. He is slated to release his seventh project Gallatin on July 24th at The Basement alongside Zach Torres. – Lilly Milman

Watch the video for his latest single, “You Left and You Didn’t Say Goodbye” below. 

Last summer, 20 year old Ben Shirken lost his backpack in Rome — resulting in the loss of his laptop, hard drive, and lyrics he was working on. After roughly five years of inspiration, he had nothing to show for his work (there’s a big ad for cloud backup  systems!). That’s when the jazz-guitarist-turned-producer began a new project, the For Time is the Longest Distance Between Two People EP (created under the stage name Beshken.) Single“Lightning By the Sea” (streaming below) is a dance-oriented ode to regrowth set to the beat of Beshken’s organic-sounding electronica. The full EP is scheduled to be released in later in the year. – Lilly Milman

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

On their Bandcamp page, Nashville-based Lawndry tags themselves as “stoner rock,” but they are so much more than that. Their February release, Yoko, offers two versions of the same song; both engage the listener into the world of stripped-down psychedelia through hypnotic, distorted guitar riffs, a mesmerizing melody, and lyricism that is simultaneously genuine and a bit funny (“Did you come to Nashville / To Yoko my band?”). The main difference between the two tracks (aptly called “Yoko” and “Sloko”) is that the latter plays in slow motion. Listening to the full double single is almost like entering a trance (in the best way possible.) They will be playing at the East Room in Nashville on August 20th. – Lilly Milman, photograph by Yuri Figueroa 

Brooklyn-based Kew’s latest release Typical Me is a great summer EP for the dejected and self-deprecating. Energetic bass lines and bouncy angular guitar riffs counteract downtrodden lyrical themes, resulting in lively tracks that hurt in just the right way. The tune “Blind” (streaming below) echoes early emo acts like Rites of Spring with its melancholic lyrics and explosive energy, while the overall mood on the EP is still more playful than somber. In short, Typical Me is a party soundtrack any emo kid can bang their head to — see for yourself on the tonight at The Glove or the 21st at a house show.

One consequence of music streaming is the over-saturation of the DIY scene with sloppy EPs recorded in bedrooms and basements that all end up sounding very much the same. But Sault’s spring and summer demos is not one of those records. Recorded by Nashville three-piece Sault, the EP travels between emo, folk, and indie rock in just four songs. Tracks like “socks” start off slowly, but eventually explode in an outpouring of emotion too raw for a conventional scene (a vocal tactic not too far off from Conor Oberst.) As a first release, this project is extremely promising and marks Sault as a force to be reckoned with on the local scene. – Lilly Milman

It’s not surprising that Brooklyn-based Atlas Engine, the solo project of Nick LaFalce, experienced a whirlwind of success following the release of his debut EP After the End. Without question, this EP is upbeat, melody-driven indie pop, but it is also saturated with lush, dream-pop elements. The intimacy of this record is sure to be paralleled by his upcoming double single release, which he is previewing at The Mercury Lounge on July 20th. –Lilly Milman

If the chorus of Boston-based bellwire’s new single sounds familiar, it’s because it is. The classic repetition of the word “dream” comes from the Everly Brothers song “All I Have To Do Is Dream,” but that is where the similarities between these two tracks end. bellwire’s take on this song is dark, stripped down, and is more comparable to the likes of Patti Smith than the pop duo (maybe not sonically, but definitely lyrically.) Tyler Burdwood, the lead vocalist of bellwire, is currently on a solo tour with Massachusetts-based Jake McKelvie, of The Countertops. – Lilly Milman

With the release of their EP Diamond Jubilee, Bent Denim has carved out a dreamy space for themselves in the world of indie pop. The new release has the same narrative drive as their 2015 LP, Romances You, but with more detached vocals and a hazier soundscape. There is a sobering honesty that comes across in these five tracks, which mostly focus on mortality and the human experience. However, ultimately, this is a record about space: considering that this band is equally based in Nashville, New York, and New Orleans, Bent Denim’s music fills in the space between these cities (quite literally, as the band members send each other tracks through the internet.) The group will be reconvening in Nashville to play a show at The End on August 27th. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track, “Miss You, Kid” streaming below.

Wild Pink is one of those rare bands that’s able to channel the emotional without being melodramatic, the nostalgic without the overly sentimental. The New York-based three-piece informs their brand of indie rock with punk and garage influences, while their narrative-inspired lyricism channels a singer-songwriter vibe. Their New York roots become clear in songs like “Great Apes” (streaming below) where they make specific references to their surroundings (“Riding out some psychotropics / In the shadow of the World Trade / Trying hard to understand the culture in my face.”) The dynamics of the song are reminiscent of early 2000s indie rock, but their simple, raw lyrics modernize the track. Their next live show will be at Goldsounds in Brooklyn on the 26th, and after that, The Knit on 08.23 and then a September East Coast tour. – Lilly Milman

Inspired by their first time at SXSW, Brooklyn-based quintet Future Generations wrote the melodic, guitar-driven single “One More Problem” (streaming below). The use of a catchy hook and a dynamic, fast-paced chorus with a semi-electronic production could be compared to indie pop stars like Walk the Moon. This single is notable for the band because it is the first to be written collectively by the five members and its release is also providing momentum for their brief tour. Starting in Chicago, the northeast circuit ends with a show at Brooklyn’s own Knitting Factory on August 5th. –Lilly Milman, photo by Nico Schinco 

Some of the first songs Susannah Cutler ever wrote ended up on her newest EP friendship porn, a nostalgic collection released under the pseudonym Yours Are the Only Ears. Her soft voice, coupled with her minimalistic and concise lyricism, is reminiscent of Gregory and the Hawk—the songwriting on this EP is intimate, mysterious, and (most notably) raw. The EP plays out like a bittersweet daydream, filled with fragments of memories (“I watch / as you climb a tree / sitting patiently / your tireless flame / conquers everything,”) that are conveyed through airy and distant vocals. This EP, which is available in digital and cassette form, cements Yours Are the Only Ears’ spot in the NYC scene—they can be found playing at Alphaville on August 2nd. Until then, listen to the EP, streaming below. – Lilly Milman, photograph by Julia Leiby 

Regardless of what’s going on in the world, punk music is like a cockroach the mainstream just can’t kill. It’s constantly growing and shapeshifting into new amalgamations that its originators couldn’t even imagine. That’s where the fast-paced, frantic post-punk of Brooklyn’s Big Bliss comes in. Taking cues from legends like The Cure, Blig Bliss’s arrangements are restless and rampaging, while their vocals are cold and detached. Their new single, “Fortune” (streaming below) is an explosion of angsty energy, with a thrumming bass line, a frenzied guitar part, and a hypnotic chorus. Catch them play live at C’mon Everybody on July 14th. – Lilly Milman, photograph by Kevin Condon