Slay gurl, SLAY. Ex-girlfriends’ new single is fierce, fun, and catchy as hell, and we here at the Deli are stoked to be able to premiere it. "Slay" is the latest release from the all-girl garage punk band, and the track is a dirty, glitz-and-gritz romp that pulses with the fervor of a bare-knuckle brawl at a glam rock show. Fearless, in-your-face, and just oh-so danceable, "Slay" is a slice of lo-fi goodness that you won’t be able to resist sinking your teeth into. Stream Ex-girlfriend’s new single below, and catch what can only be a livewire performance from them on 2/2 at Shea Stadium playing with Fruit & Flowers, Kino Kimono and Sutro Baths. – Olivia Sisinni

Armed with an arsenal of synth sounds, soaring vocals, and experimental electronic vibes, Paris Monster weaves effortlessly across genres and decisive categorization. On his latest release, "Ain’t No Movin’ Me," the Brooklyn-based act showcases its prowess for hook writing/crafting a track that could stand without accompaniment as a blues-y, spirtual declaration, but is launched into another realm by its bed of synths and echoing choruses. An inspired take on blues-folk that’s both hypnotic and engaging, Paris Monster’s sound seems to edge toward what could be the new face of American roots rock. Check out his new single streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn-based Vagabon’s vocals are sometimes wistful, sometimes haunting, but always seem to have a soft ethereal quality to them. An indie rock project spearheaded by Laetita Tamko, Vagabon navigates the spaces between dulcet tones and crunchy feedback effortlessly. While every track on her Persian Garden EP is worth spending time with, "Cold Apartment Floors" is a distinct stand-out–featuring the juxtaposition of thick, noisy guitars, against Tamko’s soft vocals; resonating like thunder and rain. You can check her out at Baby’s All Right with Mal Devisa and Jelani Sei 2/24, and in the meantime, be sure to stream her music below. – Olivia Sisinni

Need something to warm you up as you truck along the NYC-slush? Check out Dakota Jones, a Brooklyn-based four piece specialzing in the type of soulful rock that’s guaranteed to melt away even the steeliest winter blues. With warm, roots-rock guitar licks, and singer Tristan Carter-Jones’s honey-sweet vocals, the band makes unfussy music that refuses to compromise on visceral punches. Check them out live at the Bitter End 1/20 playing with Liquor Radio, Samia, Danielle Cardona, The BeriBeri, and The Bowery Boys, but in the meantime stream Dakota Jones below. – Olivia Sisinni

spookyghostboy may not be all that scary, but there’s certainly an otherworldly quality to his music. The project of Nashville-based Austin Thomas, spookyghostboy’s soft indie rock has a spectral, lingering quality to it–inspiring reflection and, perhaps, the ghosts of the past to float out of the woodwork. With etheral vocals, and unadorned guitar playing, Thomas’s sound is simple, but effective, and commands attention just from its bold earnestness. Listent to spookyghostboy streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

David Strange is delightfully weird, devilshly hypnotic, and guaranteed to pull you down into his personal rabbit hole. With psych rock leanings, it’s easy to say that the ex-session musician’s sound belongs to a different era, but there’s a hard-to-place oddness pumping through the twisted heart of his self-titled EP–so much so that it’s perhaps more fitting to say Strange’s music belongs to a different dimension. Stand out track "Aztec Corn" pulses with the grit and glam of old-school rock n’ roll, but has a jaunty, sinsiter quality that feels as if Strange is edging closer and closer to becoming wildly unhinged. The result is a delirously delicious aural treat, especially for those craving something a bit more unusal. You can catch him at the Knitting Factory 1/30 with ZEBEDEE, Logan X, and Toot Sweet, but in the meantime, be sure to stream him below. – Olivia Sisinni

So maybe you gave up on wearing your sister’s jeans, but your heart was never were able to fully give up on your middle-school-era emo music phase. Free Throw may be just the band for you. The Nashville natives serve up songs busting with visceral punches, and primed to cut right through your gut and leave you screaming the lyrics along to your car radio. The band’s currenly revving up for a national tour (dates here) but in the meantime, stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni

Having spent 3 years working inside a corporate music store, I can personally attest that the sounds you hear all day are not exactly the most musical. It’s pretty common to be asked by wide eyed customers how you can possibly deal with all the noise while kids who have never touched a drum set before wail on the heads with reckless abandon. Honestly though, after a couple of months of working against all the clamor, the constant set of squeals, squawks and crashes tends to bleed into the background, and answering a hush-toned phone call takes no real effort. 

But this is why I was instantly interested in Glassine’s (aka Danny Greenwald) latest release. No Stairway is made up solely of manipulated field recordings from the artist’s local Guitar Center, and before you write it off as a weirdo, novelty album take a listen–the LP is a bona fide avant-ambient record that stands even without its premise. With 7 tracks of vaporwave vibes that feel warm, hazy and exceptionally human, Glassine forces the take-for-granted din of music retail into the forfront of his work. How he’s managed to transform the cacophony of middle aged men stumbling through three chord songs on thousand dollar guitars into emotive ambiance is beyond me, but it’s a creative tour de force that will have you questioning the line that lies between music and noise. Check out No Stairway streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

With canned, am-radio vocals, surf-y female harmonies, and interesting, angular beats, Psymon Spine‘s latest release manages to be both haunting and strangely dance-able. The four tracks that make up the self-titled EP utilize a combination of fat synths and energetic drum machine grooves as the backdrop for ethereal vocals that float at the top of the mix. Check them out for yourselves at the Mercury Lounge 1/09 with The Roofers Union, but in the meantime stream them below. – Olivia Sisinni

Sometimes you just need some home-cooked Americana music, and Darrin Bradbury serves up just that. On Elmwood Park, the Nashville artist’s latest release, Bradbury forges strong narratives, and crafts meaningful stories behind each song. It’s music-as-vingettes, and though his sound is simple, and his voice is perhaps rough around the edges, his music reads like soul food. Check out Darrin Bradbury streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Aaron Abernathy could be the future of R&B. With soulful vocals, angular synths and soaring guitar leads that could have been snatched straight from a Prince album, the DC-based artist’s latest album, Monologues, is a a funky R&B album that you don’t want to skip over. The DC-based artist sets his compelling instrumentals against poignant, smart lyricism, yeilding songs that seem to honor past R&B sounds, but have their eyes set to the future. Check out Aaron Abernathy streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni 

With the snarl of mid-aughts alt bands like Fall Out Boy and The Used, MD-based A Place in Time, is treat for 20-somethings like me that are pining for some catchy pop punk with an unbreakable sincerity. Their latest single, "Perish the Thought" is wrought with thick lyricism, infectious harmonies, energetic drumming and soaring sing-along choruses–a potent blend that’s destined to worm its way into your head and have you hitting the repeat button. Catch A Place in Time on 12/30 at VFW Post 350 "Hell’s Bottom" with WVNDER, Who is Atlas, Waves Overhead, and Heavyweights, and be sure to stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni