Imagine Joanna Newsom’s voice on top of the swirling instrumentals of a Lorde song. That sums up Kami Maltz‘s music in a nutshell. The Brooklyn singer/songwriter and co-producer released a new single chock full of that hypnotizing sound called "On The Loose". Though the song’s a bedroom creation, it sports masterful production bringing out the humming basses and ethereal synths. She’ll play the song along with many others on March 3rd, when she performs live at Pete’s Candy Store with her new backing band. Don’t miss out. – Will Sisskind

Zenizen‘s Opal Hoyt has taken her musical journey from her native Alaska to Vermont, DC, Jamaica, and Brooklyn. Now, in the midst of working on her debut full-length album and collaborating with other New York artists, she takes Zenizen to SXSW this year to introduce her soulful sound to the festival’s audience. Her Australia EP — her first, available on Don Giovanni Records — can give a taste of Hoyt’s sweet and soaring vocals, and can warm up any listener with its slow and jazzy grooves. But Zenizen’s live performances convey the full blast of soul power, with Hoyt giving her all on stage with her black keytar and head-mic, and her band backing her up with every heartstopping hook. If you’re attending SXSW, don’t miss Zenizen at the Sidewinder Outside on March 13th. For now, stream the video for "Follow The Leader" — their latest — below. – Will Sisskind

In 2016, we named Alexia Bomtempo one of NYC’s top emerging artists. Late last year, Bomtempo released her third studio album, called Chasing Storms and Stars, and we are happy to premiere the first music video for the track "I Thought About You". The stripped-down song features Alexia’s frank vocal delivery and Brazilian-inspired beats fused with American soul. In the video, Bomtempo’s fluxing expressions — some projected over her blank face, some shown raw — convey the power behind her simple but beautiful music and lyrics. And to add more emphasis to the simplicity of the whole package, the video makes expert use of black and white. See it for yourself — and take a listen to "I Thought About You" — below. Alexia Bontempo will perform live at The 55 Bar on February 13. – Will Sisskind

After a busy and positive 2017, Matt Koenig’s kept things moving in the first months of 2018 as he prepares for The Undercover Dream Lovers‘ sophomore EP release. Koenig’s solo project — which also features Galen Gatzke and Sarah Galdes on the live end — will play Brooklyn Bazaar on March 1st to support In Real Time, a collection of six new songs featuring Koenig’s masterful electropop hooks and funky beats. Fans of Tame Impala and Portugal. The Man will dig the new tracks as well as the old. Joining The Undercover Dream Lovers are Future Generations and Wilder Maker. Tickets are on sale now for the March 1st show; for now, stream the newest release from In Real Time, called "Stop & Listen". – Will Sisskind

The Manhattan-based alt-rockers of The Chordaes (pronounced kor-daze) have had a busy last few months, and they don’t show signs off stopping as they kick off February with a live show at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2. In October, the band released their EP In Itinere, a collection of seven personal-journey tracks which showcase Leo Sawkin’s versatile voice and Kevin Foley’s Harrison-esque guitar work. They also released the music video for the track "What Do You Want From Me", a psychedelic clip which further strengthens the Beatles similarities; the track sounds like it could come from a modern-day Magical Mystery Tour. Catch The Chordaes at Rockwood Stage 2 on February 3rd; until then, watch the video for "What Do You Want From Me" below. – Will Sisskind

Though they identify their genre of indie music as "anxiety pop", Wet Leather return with confidence as they drop their newest single, "I Was Wrong". Drawing from ’80s influences (Prince’s ghost often dwells in their recordings) and indie elements of the ’00s such as CHVRCHES’ synths and poppy hooks, the group once again makes their mark in the NYC scene. Last week, they released another new song called "IWMU"; both that and "I Was Wrong" (streaming below) will appear on Wet Leather’s upcoming EP, Present Lives. The group will release the EP and perform on February 2nd at Elsewhere’s Zone 1. – Will Sisskind

Eric Benoit‘s sophomore album Heartrender consists in seven tracks of emotional journeying through a tortured relationship. Beginning in 2014 with his bold album College, Benoit has melted his soul into roaring lyrical anthems with the arrangements of haunting electronic soundscapes. His second release builds upon the work of his debut, exploring themes of trauma and unresolved pain with explosive lyrics such as "Fucking is a disease/Procreation is incest". Benoit will mark the album’s release with a show at Pianos on Saturday, January 27th. You can stream two tracks out of Heartrender below. – Will Sisskind

Dragonflies by Eric Benoit on VEVO.

In March, you can pick up Amen Dunes‘ fifth album, Freedom. However, right now, you can watch the music video for "Miki Dora", the first single from the album. Damon McMahon, the brains behind Amen Dunes, reflects on his youth and upbringing in the eleven tracks on Freedom; in "Miki Dora", he connects the life of the legendary surfer to his own, touching on the surfer’s criminality and distorted personality. Tastes of the early-80s post-punk and late-80s no-wave scene come through in the track. The music video for the first single stars seventeen-year-old Boomer Feith running through New York City in slowed-down scenes to fit the bass-heavy moody music; scenes of McMahon singing and lyrics from the song cut in between.

To celebrate the release, Amen Dunes will perform at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 31st with a brand new live band. Get a taste for what’s to come by watching the video for "Miki Dora" below. – Will Sisskind

In August, The Deli wrote about Freezing Cold‘s debut EP, a three-track untitled demo which introduced the world to their post-hardcore sound. Just last week, the band released the music video — their first ever — for "Shape of Escape", the EP’s second track. The song builds and falls in the post-rock style of This Will Destroy You; Jeff Cunningham’s and Angie Boylan’s raw voices harmonize over the sparse yet powerful guitar-bass-drums arrangement. The color swirls and exterior shots move in time to the music, creating a subtle piece of art that feels massive. You’ll have to wait until March to see Freezing Cold at Silent Barn, so for now, watch the video for "Shape of Escape" below. – Will Sisskind

Brooklyn-based electronic producer Max Schieble, also known as Elbows, blends a handful of genres into his work, creating his signature, rich hip hop and jazz-infused backing tracks. He’ll release more of that sound on his upcoming Sycamore EP, his sophomore record, which he compiled from recording sessions in both New York and San Francisco. The songs on Sycamore chronicle Schieble’s Bay Area roots, shifting genres with the moods of the songs, going from old-school hip-hop to smooth synth-heavy jazz to lounge music. The EP drops on January 26th, but Schieble will mark the release with a show at Baby’s All Right on January 31st; Space Captain and Zenizen will open. 

Schieble has released the most recent single from Sycamore, a harmony-laden chill track of wistful nostalgia called "Windowpane". Stream it below. – Will Sisskind

Brooklyn via Seattle Tenderfoot‘s newest single "Semiprecious Life" (streaming) has a low hum which lends a calming touch to a song about an existential crisis. The track, which is included in the upcoming LP Break Apart (out February 2nd), features frontman Adam Kendall Woods’s breathy voice waxing about his old and changing home of Seattle, as construction noises pulse behind the rhythm. The other songs on Break Apart will deal with different kinds of change: relationships fading, health deteriorating, hopes dying and growing. To celebrate the release, Tenderfoot will play a show in Seattle in February and then one in Brooklyn on March 16th at C’mon Everybody. Listen to "Semiprecious Life" below. – Will Sisskind

Starting off the year with a Deli premiere are Lake Ruth, a group of multi-instrumentalists and genre explorers who are set to release their second album Birds of America on February 16th on British label Feral Child Recordings. The follow-up to their critically acclaimed debut features the track "One Of Your Own", which combines perky ’60s surf-rock psychedelia with the brooding New Wave vibes of Joy Division and the electronic textures of early Simple Minds. Allison Brice’s voice soars above the driving drums and entrancing guitars of bandmates Matt Schulz and Hewson Chen in a mix care of Grammy-winning producer Geoff Sanoff. Listen to the Deli premiere of "One Of Our Own" below. – Will Sisskind