On first listen, the songs and sounds of Renata Zeiguer’s debut album Old Ghost are deceivingly simple. Indie rock influences clash with her delicate voice in interesting if not straightforward ways. Yet there’s an appealing aspect of Old Ghost that continues to draw the listener in as she paints an image of the world that is filled with naturally occurring voids that are at once brutal and beautiful. Her voice feels equally morose and triumphant as she explores themes of identity and loss. Nature also plays a large role in Zeiguer’s lyrics; cosmic elements of our world like the moon and the mundane creatures who inhabit it both haunt and captivate the singer. These poetic lyrics burrow themselves in her ethereal voice and unfold in expansive and cathartic moments as the production swerves from angular to harmonious. Old Ghost is an album that burns softly if heard in the background but illuminates brightly when it is lived with. The entire record can be streamed below and you can hear Zeiguer perform at Elsewhere on June 20. – Tucker Pennington

The title of Kahiem Rivera’s breakout release, Be Quiet, Pt. 1 EP, isn’t so much of a command of silence as it is the mode in which he conveys his thoughts. His voice, slightly nasal and assured, slithers in between of whisper and a confession. The production is hushed, and many of the introspective lines can breeze past the listener as the muted psychedelic beats offer a dreamy hideaway. This isn’t a soft, pleasant listen though. Many of Rivera’s lines, while seemingly straightforward, hide rage and melancholy for his generation and the younger kids who will follow their footsteps. Guest vocals from artists like Rosehardt and snake eyes push the ethereal vibes of this release into hypnotic territories. Be Quiet, Pt. 1 EP is a release that is crystalline and fragile, as if at any moment the production or lyrics could cause the songs to collapse, yet it’s this vulnerable and delicate balance that makes Rivera such a compelling artist. To create with an emphasis on subdued feelings makes every verse and every beat feel vital. You can hear the full EP below and see Rivera live at Elsewhere on June 22. – Tucker Pennington

In this new age of bedroom pop and DIY everything, Georgia’s band Triathalon, who recently resettled in NYC, offers a sound all its own, blending elements as varied as soul, pop, jazz, and electro. Attempting to label their music proves challenging – and that’s part of the plan, since they state that they "work towards a sound that can’t easily be defined.” Thriathalon’s first two EP sounded like rather unfocused takes on anything within the indie realm, from dream pop to slacker rock. Third LP Online, released earlier in 2018, sounds like music made by a different band altogether: the production is more mature, the sound more focused, and a newfound passion for soul seems to have shuffled the band’s sonic cards. “Hard to Move” is reminiscent of a lo-fi, synthed version of Michael Jackson’s “Blame it on the Boogie,” while “3” is backed with a thumping bass verse that cleverly transitions to a jazz-inspired keyboard interlude. This is a band with lots of potential, check them out live on June 18th at  Brooklyn Steel. – Lily Crandall

The most striking thing you might notice about Huh’s music is how it blends its meticulousness with its witty and relatively catchy songwriting. Many of the songs found on the Whatever You Want EP deal with being fed up with the bullshit of the world and forging whatever path they want: men sharing poetry they think is darker than anything you could understand; being with any man they want without worrying about what others think; condemning their youth if it means usurping their own privilege… The four songs, while brief, say a lot about what’s on this four-piece’s mind. But the band never becomes entirely weighed down by their own messages; the precise and mechanical drumming from Ryann Slauson pushes each song forward while Tia Vincent-Clark’s distinctly rebellious vocals punctuate every song’s message with cathartic triumph. You can catch Huh performing at Alphaville on June 14. -Tucker Pennington

Opening with strings that instantly hook listeners is a bold move for a band’s lead single. But everything about Champagne Superchillin’ screams boldness, from the sensual and soothing vocals sung entirely in French to the title of their newest single which translates into “love of fate”. “Amor Fati” is a cool, cinematic song and the first single of the band’s upcoming album Beach Deep. It utilizes the sum of the band’s parts to create something that is effortless in its charisma; the bass line instantly finds a swaying groove as a psychedelic mist coats the guitars. The single is evocative and instills old-school pop styles without relying on nostalgia to create a brilliant introduction to the band. However, the track also blends darker tones to create something that is simultaneously mesmeric and uneasy. The strings cut back in twice, transforming the song into a bewitching soundtrack for nocturnal creatures. You can watch the music video for “Amor Fati” below and catch Champagne Superchillin’ performing at Alphaville on June 23. -Tucker Pennington

New York native, queer singer-songwriter Kat Cunning is no stranger to the stage. After earning a BFA in dance, performing on Broadway with Cirque du Soleil, and recently landing a recurring role on HBO, Kat has transitioned to the third aspect of the triple threat, and found a home in singing. In her new single, “Wild Poppies,” loosely based on The Wizard of Oz, she explores the idea of “a version of The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy doesn’t come home.” Cunning’s sultry, velvet voice perfectly intensifies the tragic lyrics “The courage to / See through you’d have kept me blind / We’re face to face / And I’ve pulled the curtain wide.” The passion of Lorde mixed with the pop feel of Billie Eilish results in a caramel-smooth stripped-down pop ballad of love, pain, and coming to terms with the truth of a relationship. She returned to her home of New York after finishing a sold-out national tour with singer-songwriter LP, and you can catch her live at House of Yes tonight (June 13th). – Lily Crandall, photo by Ben Trivett

Real Clothes‘ Nico Fox describes her music as performance art, but that description doesn’t do justice to the music that she creates. Performance art conjures up images of artists in brightly lit museums gesturing in an ostentatious fashion for the audience to look at without much interaction on their part. The twisted and celestial creations crafted by Real Clothes guides listeners through Fox’s headspace, often crumbling or repeating in hypnotic trances. Using trip-hop as a starting point, Fox’s songs quickly branch into experimental hymns that feel truly unique. They are spirituals for the digital age, featuring shuttering drum patterns and glittery synths that surround her voice without preventing it from reaching its mesmerizing peak. And Fox’s performances are often dimly lit with lamps resembling candlelight as she sways from side to side, serenading her audience. It’s spellbinding in quality, fascinating in a somewhat alienating way. Most importantly, Fox’s music grabs listeners and pulls them on a aural journey that is simultaneously weightless and deeply impactful. You can stream “Bruja 魔女: The Screwed Pedant Lies” off the 2016 album Modulation below and see Real Clothes perform live at Alphaville on June 19. – Tucker Pennington

The blistering single “Going on a Trip” acts as a thesis statement for Ellen and the Degenerates. Dizzying riffs and hyperactive snares propel the song forward without a sense of direction and without care. It’s a low-fi and gnarly punk journey describing a road-trip gone wrong when an exit is missed and a fight breaks out between driver and passenger. It’s a non-stop barrage of energy that weaves between angst and rage as its modes of discourse. While the band promotes itself as “teen angst” and “pop punk”, it would be foolish to diminish their ferocity to something as quaint as teen angst. “Going on a Trip” is a twisted punk song that ends with heavy breathing, mirroring what every listener feels after first experiencing their music. Ellen and the Degenerates will be performing their hellish brand of modded punk at Elsewhere on June 17. You can stream their 2017 Herb Alert EP below. -Tucker Pennington

If you miss the sound of the indie rock of the early-to-mid-2000s, The Britanys might be just what the doctor ordered. Made up of four roommates based in Bushwick, the band uses their apartment as headquarters, and offers a cohesive sound of electric, upbeat and melodic indie rock filled with catchy guitar riffs and light vocals. Their latest release, “When I’m With You” shows a slight evolution in the sound compared with previous releases, more sparse and mature, and rehashes the 20-something’s saga of complicated relationship. Lead singer Lucas Long laments “We break up then we’re back together / We make up now we’re through forever.” As trends go in and out of style, The Britanys have solidified a timeless sound. Don’t miss them at Rough Trade on June 16th. –Lily Crandall

Perhaps what’s most intriguing about the Boston indie rock quartet Dutch Tulips is how quickly they establish themselves as the Real Thing. Listening to the first few minutes of their debut self-titled EP is enough to catch onto the infectious and fun fuzzy jangle rock. Where others may fall victim to the cringe-filled symptoms of trying too hard with a track named “Love You Bae,” the teflon rockers are somehow able to skirt by with a smile, a great hook and an earnest delivery. Dutch Tulips are preparing to kick off a tour at the Downtown Stage in Willimantic Connecticut on June 21 and will be on the road through July 1. Stream the full EP below. – Lilly Milman




The new single “marbles” (streaming) by the San Jose duo of pop-punkers known as The Mystic Decade packs a fun melody and an earnest delivery into a three minute timespan. The surfy guitar arrangements are a breath of fresh air, especially as they take control in the last twenty seconds of the track. The Mystic Decade recently finished up a four-part YouTube documentary series about their band called Reality_In_Monochrome, showcasing their affinity for filmmaking. – Lilly Milman

It’s been over 20 years since the landmark debut album from Cibo Matto Viva! La Woman, and in that time founding member Yuka Honda has continued to push sonic boundaries. Through collaborations with artists like Yoko Ono and Nels Cline, her work has never settled down and continues to change shape. Now, under the Eucademix monicker, she is once again reshaping how we think about music. Focusing on the “limitations of logic”, she has crafted electronic pieces the are unshapely and abrasive. Hissing feedback acts a barrier to entry, but the intricate breakbeats and pulsing synthesizers offer a song that rewards a patient listener. Pushing pass the abrasive moments, Honda finds serenity in the kinetic and exploratory maelstrom of her compositions. Her experimental constructions can be heard at Elsewhere on June 13. – Tucker Pennington