Ido, a film maker finishing his debut road trip feature film shot in Israel film ‘Never Too Late’ and Estelle, who works at an easy-to-use website-builder start up called Wix.com formed – in Brooklyn in 2007. The duo operates in charming and delicate lo-fi indie pop territory, and aspires to create, “Memorable, melodic tunes that will last forever. And a substantial audience who love and understand what we do.” – Read Gina Alioto’s interview with the band here.

Understated and yet extremely powerful, Callers‘ sophomore album “Life of Love” plays at times like a stripped down, subdued version of your favorite ‘90s indie rock band, consisting of serious guitar and percussion mastery while channeling the voice of a new Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. In other corcumstances the band sounds like pure and simple "avant-blues", mixing Portishead’s simplicty, Nick Cave’s powerful darkness, and Sonic Youth’s resolving dissonances. With a diverse background and a passion to challenge their musical creativity, the Callers are sure to bring inventive music and dazzling vocal command to wherever their travels take them. Don’t miss these guys’ show at Bowery Bowl on 04.14. – Read Christina Morelli’s interview with the band here.

Brooklyn singer/songwriter and composer Ben Lear recently released his debut album, "Lillian: A Folk Opera" on March 1st, through his own record label, Underwater Sounds. Lear is also a spokesman for plastic pollution and ocean conservation, themes that weave themselves in and out of his songs. These are tied together by a strongly optimistic feel, with tracks like “It’s A War” containing lyrics like “Still, my heart flew out to her/Like a bird in a glass cage.” Lear’s music, also thanks to the occasional contribution of gentle female voices, is an appropriate match for this season – it’s like flowers blooming and a fragrant breeze wafting over you. Getting yourself a copy of "Lillian: A Folk Opera" is a choice you certainly won’t regret. – Leah Tribett

Although the members of Diet Kong removed themselves from the concrete jungle by shacking up in a winery in the Catskill Mountains, the results of the recording session on "Beautiful Blackout" still exude the frenetic, vibrant energy of the city – possibly even more so than the trio’s previous set of songs. The slicker production and addition of live drumming on this release contribute to the band’s growing sound. Diet Kong’s brand of dance rock is a mixture of LCD Soundsystem’s sophistication, The Cars’ pop sensibility and The Ting Ting’s spunk. When singer Jenn Penn and singer/guitarist Keith Gladsyz weren’t raising livestock, enjoying the bucolic lifestyle and meeting the band’s soon-to-be drummer, Jeff Harrigfeld, they were honing their songwriting skills. The proof is in the pudding; just take a listen to any of the five tracks on “Beautiful Blackout.” By the time the chorus kicks in the second time, you’ll be singing along and wondering why this band has been running under the radar the past few years. Diet Kong will play live at The Studio at Webster Hall on April 6. – Nancy Chow

Full disclosure: Mixel Pixel are the favorite band on the planet of The Deli’s Editor in Chief’s wife – she repeatedly insisted that he put them on the cover of the NYC printed edition of The Deli Magazine, but so far he has resisted this pressure. For no particular reason though, because this is a truly fantastic, imaginative and fun band, that was featured in the very first issue of The Deli back in 2004. Mixel Pixel has just released this new video of the song "Haze For Days". The clip is totally animated – made from claymation, reminiscent of Pee-Wee’s playhouse. The intricate narrative is like an "exploding sketchbook" brought to you by director Lindsay Kovnat, who has previously worked with Man Man and Plastic Little.

Just released, "Dreams of a Troubled Man" can only be the latest LP release from new artist Troubled Andrew. This former pro Snowboarder began his musical career in 2004 after a injury kept him at home surrounded by his wife, Santigold’s (aka Santi White) musical equipment. Troubled Andrew mixes a surf/indie/pop style that has gained the attention of fellow musicians Yelawolf, Diplo, and Curren$y. Touring in May well into the summertime, catch this sophomore release and hear what Troubled Andrew dreams about. – Michele McManmon

Quiet Loudly‘s new limited edition digital live EP is only $5 and every penny will be donated to disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and the tsunami. The EP was recorded at Howler’s Cafe in Pittsburgh while Quiet Loudly was on tour this past summer with GunFight!. There are six songs, including four Quiet Loudly songs and two covers (one of which was performed as a supergroup with GunFight!). You can purchase it here.

Superhuman Happiness (who made our Best of NYC 2010 list) has just unveiled a video for "The Hounds," the track from side two of their new 45/digital single ("GMYL"/"The Hounds") out now on Electric Cowbell Records. Superhuman Happiness are in the midst of several projects, including an EP, an additional 45/7-inch release due this summer and their first full-length album. Additionally, the band’s collaboration with electro-synth duo Cults on a remake of "Ile Aiye" by Caetano Veloso will appear on the forthcoming Red Hot + Rio 2 collection due out June 28. We also heard a rumor that the band may be touring with Iron and Wine in the spring. Superhuman Happiness’ next performance is scheduled for April 6 at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City sharing a bill with Chico Mann.

The paradoxical idea of mixing electronic music with good old Rock’n’Roll is not new (I think Suicide pretty much coined it in the early 70s), but definitely interesting and under-explored. Mad Decent Records signee, New Jersey based Bosco Delrey blends the two genres to create a rather infectious signature combination of electro-psychedelia and rockabilly styles. After catching the attention of The Beastie Boys (who worked on 2 remixes of one of his songs) and playing several dates with Major Lazer, Bosco just announced a tour with sublime NYC electro-punk rippers Sleigh Bells. His album "Everybody Wah" is scheduled to be released on April 26. Here’s the video of the song Space Junkie.

We keep covering the 107 artists that made our Best of NYC Emerging Artists 2010 list – Diamond Doves placed at #99.

For the last five years, the three members of Diamond Doves have been Dearland, writing and touring with Elvis Perkins.  Their “breakaway” enterprise has a similar folksy Americana feel as their past work, yet stands alone, exuding boundless energy, and their revolving cast of horn, fiddle, and keyboard players creates a chaotic sound you can’t help but dance and sweat to.  After seeing their show, the legendary Carl Newman (The New Pornographers) tweeted that they were “The Band to [Elvis’s] Dylan.”  Their song, “You’re Not The One That I Love,” recounts the classic rock ‘n roll road story, the realization that the person you’re with may have been fun to sleep with, but in the light of day you’d rather be alone.  The tale is told over a jangling guitar-driven rhythm, the fiddle highlighting classic southern rock overtones. The single "Club Night", on the other hand, shows a desire to overcome the boundaries of roots music, experimenting with rhythms, sonics, melodies, and vocals in an avant-pop direction reminiscent of MGMT. We’ll call that a successful experiment. – Katie Bennet

April is going to be an exciting month for rootsy pop quintet Shayna Zaid and the Catch. After playing several dates at SXSW, on April 1st the band will be celebrating the release of their debut full length "Lighthouse" at Crash Mansion’s Soirée Stage (upstairs from Crash Mansion on Bowery). The band was also invited to play a 3 date residency at The Living Room on Ludlow Street in April. Led by petite but charismatic singer Shayna Zaid, this band has the charm and the songwriting chops to attract a wide audience beyond the NYC limits.

On Friday April 1st, Brooklyn based Plates of Cake will be giving an in-store performance at Greenpoint’s Permanent Records. (181 Franklin Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222 Sharply at 7PM. FREE.) Praise for Plates of Cake’s Debut LP, out now on All Hands Electric: “This is rock ’n’ roll for latenight cab rides, rainy mid-day skies, blinking lights, almost-gone well drinks, cocktail napkins with phone numbers written in lipstick — this is The National if The National sounded like everyone says they do. . . Truly soiled music, dove-like in its beauty and full of gritty fire and sore guts.” -TinyMixTapes "With an impressive breadth of pop styles and tight execution, the band puts forth a surprisingly varied set for such a short record." – Popmatters "A top-shelf lead single [Private Yacht] that we can show off to our friends…" – My Old Kentucky Blog "A British Invasion sound straight out of Brooklyn." 2010 CMJ – Our Recommendations – AM New York – (as posted in The Deli’s Open Blog – post your band’s entries, videos, and Mp3s here. The NYC Open Blog is powered by The Music Building).