New York college student Emily Yacina has been quietly uploading music to Bandcamp since 2011, making her part of what’s becoming – for better or for worse– a somewhat ubiquitous subgenre of bedroom pop: DIY dream-writers. But unlike a lot of those artists, Yacina actually leaves her bedroom. And she gets pretty far, like all the way to Alaska far. That’s where she lived this summer, working at an environmental nonprofit. Her most recent release “Heart Sky” reflects that; it’s expansive but intimate, vast but quaint, like the state that inspired it. It’s wandering melodies most likely mirror her exploration of the state, and most definitely mirror our exploration of the album. She’ll be performing live at a very interesting event inside a New York church on October 27th with like-minded artists Florist and Lizard Kisses. It seems like the ideal setting for music that’s this quiet and intimate. – Rachel Kerr

National Sawdust is dropping yet another eclectic showcase with their latest Revolution show. On Saturday, October 21st, Revolution #20 will play host yet again to Brooklyn and Harlem based artists that are pushing the evolution of their genres. This weekend features Chandanie, Looms and Shareef Keyes and The Groove, who has a new a single coming out on 10/21 that features Ghostface Killah. According to the National Sawdust, the "series supports revolutionary artistry and how important music is to healing, in all aspects of life." Check it out for yourself here, and in the meantime, stream these video by the three local artists, below. – Olivia Sisinni

The Nuclears might sound like a some unearthed garage-y gold from your latest crate digging escapades, but the five-piece have only been tearing up the NYC-scene for not even a decade. The band plays raw rock ‘n’ roll the way your daddy used to like, with all the electricity of old-school punk acts, and they even dabble in dirty rock-a-billy for the discerning rock purist. Check them out live at Sunnyvale 10/21 and be sure to check out their music below. – Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn-based Plates of Cake serves up sweet, creamy psych pop that manages to be trippy without ever being jarring. With a sound that’s reminiscent of a more Beach Boys-y Syd Barrett, the easy listening aspects of Plates of Cake’s songs are matched by their layers of sonic experimentation. Their new release, "Let’s Not Deprive Each Other" is no exception; the album is surprisingly moody, somewhat cynical, and most interestingly, seems to defy simple time-period classification. Strong melody writing, undeniable hooks, and great instrumentation are all on display here, so make sure you catch them live at Berlin 10/19. – Olivia Sisinni

Bad Galaxy‘s latest self-titled EP displays the band’s prowess for crafting indie tracks with thoughtful, poignant lyricism and a moody sonic textures. The brainchild of musician Alexis Pastuhov, the project started after Pastuhov moved to NYC from Colorado. The songs on the record speak to both his transition and the broader culture and identity shifts that occur when living in a city like the Big Apple. Says Pastuhov, "…just like the city, the music is dynamic both sonically and thematically. There are a lot of highs and lows as the album progresses from song to song and those shifts are just as much a product of my own creative neuroses as they are a product of the city’s ever-changing mood." We’re stoked to premiere the new, self-titled album so hit the play button on Bad Galaxy streaming below, and if you want the live version of it, don’t miss the band’s live show tomorrow at Muchmore’s in Brooklyn. – Olivia Sisinni

Saturn Rising produces moody R&B that sounds as astral as his name suggests. The singer/dancer crafts dreamy, dark soundscapes that strike powerfully on the rawest of human experiences, while still managing to fit in against other club bangers. The musical prowess and fierce individuality of Saturn Rising makes his music a must-listen, so be sure to stream him below.-Olivia Sisinni

NYC-based  Surfbort may have the noisy heaviness and aggression of other bands, but they offer a definitive lack of angsty bravado and instead boast flippant tongue-in-cheek lyricism and unfiltered vocalism that smacks of real, visceral vigor and musical gut-punches. Their latest  EP. Bort to Death, is 4-tracks worth of rough-‘n’-tumble, old-school punk that will leave you dreaming of deep diving into your nearest circle pit. Luckily for you, you can make that dream a reality and catch Surfbort at their latest show at Brooklyn’s Villian on 10/23. – Olivia Sisinni 

NYC-based Surfbort may have the noisy heaviness and aggression of other bands, but they offer a definitive lack of angsty bravado and instead boast flippant tongue-in-cheek lyricism and unfiltered vocalism that smacks of real, visceral vigor and musical gut-punches. Their latest  EP. Bort to Death, is 4-tracks worth of rough-‘n’-tumble, old-school punk that will leave you dreaming of deep diving into your nearest circle pit. Luckily for you, you can make that dream a reality and catch Surfbort at their upcoming show at Brooklyn’s Villian on October 23rd. – Olivia Sisinni 

Looking to get your dreamy, alt fix? Brooklyn’s Yucca King produces heavy 90’s indie vibes, where laid back instrumentals meet wretching, bare-all vocals and angst-ridden lyricism. They just dropped their latest single, "Know It All," a track that would almost qualify for a ballad, if not for it’s bursting hook. Check out the band’s latest single streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

"Tino Drima is a cauldron of then, now, and what will be" boasts the band’s profile. Though that may be a lofty statement for an artist to make, there’s no denying that Tino Drima has the uncanny ability to effortlessly wade through multiple styles, feels, and time periods with their music. Frontman Gregory DiMartino’s crooning vocals are as enchanting as they are distant, and the band’s instrumentals manage to pull off both a laid-back effortlessness, and driving, visceral rock ‘n’ roll. The band’s new album dropping 9/22, Her Kind of Man, is a hearty mix of lax, cool-kid ballads and borderline-experimental doo-wop anthems that leave us scrambling trying to choose a favorite. Listen to Tino Drima streaming below and catch the band live at the Verdi Club 9/22.-Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn darlings Kino Kimino serve up gutsy, garage-y pop with a serious side of post punk. The brainchild of Kim Talon, the band features deadpan vocals, gritty guitars and 90’s cool-kid vibes. Their latest release, 2016’s "Bait is for Sissies" is unapologetic, innovative, fierce and hits in just all the right ways. Check out Kino Kimino at Alphaville on 9/23 but stream them below in the meantime. – Olivia Sisinni

The transportive power of psych music is a tired cliche, especially in a scene overflowing with every flavor of psych rock imaginable, but Brooklyn-based Boon cuts through the packs with a sound that is distinctively immersive. Boon’s brand of psych rock is multi-layered, glitchy, and nearly thick enough to wade through. Where other bands fall into pitfalls of rehashing ideas that have been tired since the late 70s, Boon presents the listener with edge-of-your-seat experimental tones and full-fledged freakouts that feel forward thinking instead of regressive. Check out the band streaming below and catch them live at Alphaville on 9/22. – Olivia Sisinni