Ah, what a dreamy fine time it is listening to Healing Potpourri. These guys have mastered the art of the silky bossa nova beach vibes, complete with clips of seagulls chuckling away. Songs are pure charm without being too cutesy, heavy with the mastery of their instruments and production. Tunes are filled with hazy keyboards, floating guitar warbles, a gentle sax, and lyrics with a Nilsson-esq cleverness. Fans of Whitney will enjoy the angelic vocals and well, probably everything else. Ah, healing indeed. We’re pleased to announce they’re playing Noise Pop at Bottom of the Hill and before that, they’re playing with Real Estate at The Chapel (sold out). Lovely! –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Buzzsaws, the latest release by Brooklyn-based glam rock multi-instrumentalist Nat Brower, is an album soaked in acid and brimming with classic panache. From record opener “Real Girl” and its syncopated, raucous guitar work interwoven with tight percussive builds, Brower cultivates soundscapes reminiscent of The Kinks and The Stooges, channeling them through a DIY framework in terms of production. This gives the entirety of Buzzsaws a feeling that is both vintage and contemporary, an album built upon polished instrumentalism that is still raw, rock and roll to its core – a perfect blend of the genre’s old and new characteristics that is instantly jammable.

Brower will bring his classic-yet-contemporary soundscapes to The Gutter on January 24th, alongside The Glitch, Huh, and HARMS. Stream 2018’s Buzzsaws below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

After his intriguing debut two months ago, Brooklyn-based songwriter/producer Sunspeaker has quickly returned with his second electro-pop single, “Under the Gun,” premiering right here. The track evokes dreamy, disco-like vibes, conjuring up images of a pulsating slo-mo dance-floor. Each facet of this song is packed with slow-burning heat; from the beat’s smooth, sensual feel to the impassioned lyrics, Sunspeaker was able to balance lyrical intensity with groove. Unlike the vocal flexibility heard debut single “I Will Not Love You,” the vocals in this new track tread steadily over a clean yet busy blend of sounds, allowing the production skills of this solo artist to shine. Sunspeaker will be headlining a show at Gold Sounds on Feb 2, catch him playing “Under the Gun” (below) live and stream his debut singles on Soundcloud or Spotify. – Rebecca Carroll

The early roots of rock and roll are on full display in NYC’s Screamin’ Rebel Angels sophmore album “Heel Grinder.” Out via newly launched Hey-Lo Records, the full-length is set for release on 1/24. Fronted by dynamic, flame haired, tatood and glamorous Laura Palmer, the band evoke in each of the 13 tracks of the record the sprit of Littile Richard, Elvis Presley and Patsy Cline . Lead single “Oh! My Soul” (streaming below) in fact covers the legendary (Little) Richard Penniman, infusing it with it an additional level of barrelhouse, juke joint boogie-woogie. The accompanying video features red-hot Laura and her equally alluring “conjurers” tapping into the spirit world via tarot cards, magic potions, ouija boards and adorable Chihuahau puppies! Deeper tracks touch on elements of rockabilly (“Hands Off,” “Iris”), early Sun Sessions era Elvis (“I Believe”) and a blusey stroll, torch song raveup (“Something on your Mind”). The band celebrate with a record release show at The Mercury Lounge on Friday, 1/25. – Dave Cromwell

There’s an immediate feeling of satisfaction when listening to the music of Oceanator, the Brooklyn-based grunge project of Elise Okusami, one bore in equal parts from the its crunch-heavy guitars as well as Okusami’s no-holds barred lyricism. Oceanator’s 2018 EP Lows is bolstered largely by Okusami’s unapologetic narrative as songwriter, where, over the course of five sun-drenched tracks, she broods over past pain on songs like “Not Around” and Mistakes.” Not all of Lows is an emotional catharsis however, with closer “Inhuman” being an open meditation on what it means to be human, providing a deeply essential ending to a short, albeit standout effort.

Oceantor plays Trans Pecos on February 9th, lending support to BRNDA, Maneka, and Patti. Stream their most extended play below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

Self-described rock n’ chair band Credit Electric just released their new EP, “Red Glow” and it is a mighty feast for the ears. If by rock n’ chair they meant that these songs make you want to sit back with a cold one and let the intertwining guitars work their soothing Americana magic, they nailed their goal. Tracks are infused with the sway of a lovely steel guitar, Ryan LoPilato’s vocals are like a less cutesy version of Stuart Murdoch (we love you, Stuart) and title track “Red Glow” provides a platform for some killer folk jam serenades. Ah, let that cosmo electric vibe float in. Recorded at Doc Boyd Audio in Oakland, this EP is truly a refreshing taste off their forthcoming album. Oakland is lucky to have these folks and we’re ready to see them comin’ up next month. Their next show is February 6 where they open for Fantastic Negrito at Harlow’s. Next up, February 7th at The Ivy Room, with Ariel Wang, My Evergreen Soul and Coywolf. So much good to come! –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

While New York mourned the end of much celebrated DIY rock quartet LVL UP late last year, the months following the group’s dissolution have been marked by an uptick of activity among the solo projects of the band’s former members. Nick Corbo’s Spirit Was is one of those projects, one that carries the doom-laden distortion and wandering, esoteric lyricism that characterized some of LVL UP’s best work. And while split single “Golden Soul” feels as though it could be B-Sides from albums like Space Brothers or Hoodwink’d, Corbo’s added instrumental and vocal experimentation on “Olive Branch & Brown Dove” is a welcome addition to the city’s alt-rock tapestry, an expansion upon the oeuvre of his former group that continually becomes weirder, grittier, and more enigmatic in the best way.

Spirit Was will play Alphaville on February 8th, supported by Yours Are the Only Ears and IR Moody. Until then, stream “Golden Soul” below. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

Branding oneself as a “psychedelic dub interpretation of Joy Division” is a move certain to raise eyebrows, but Brooklyn noise quartet Jäh Division’s take on the music of Ian Curtis is executed with a remarkable amount of confident experimentation and self-assuredness. While it’s not surprising that Jäh Division started as a joke between roommates Brad Truax and Barry London, a self-described “good smoke and a joke,” their nine-track LP Dub Will Tear Us Apart… Again is more than another sophomoric meme album. Truax and London, in collaboration with members of Oneida and Home, create spacey, discordant soundscapes throughout Dub that rely upon components of Joy Division’s music as a backbone while expanding outwards into something completely different; at face value their music is familiar in melody only, with their phaser-laden employ of the Curtis’ vocal lines from songs like “Disorder” and “Love Will Tear Us Apart,” but the end result is more indicative of the group’s respective electronic instrumental chops. While not for everyone, Dub Will Tear Us Apart is an interesting, defiantly different interpretation of post-punk made by and for those who crave New York’s weirdest sounds.

Jäh Division will play a record release show on January 26th at Secret Project Robot, supported by Mourning A BLK Star. Stream Dub Will Tear Us Apart… Again below. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

Hola, peoples into emerging music!

The winter issue of The Deli NYC (our 56th!) is now up on the cloud (HERE), featuring glitch-soul luminaries altopalo on its cover!

The issue also tackles the current shift of everything cool from Brooklyn to Queens, and – as usual – highlights many local bands we dig (and their favorite gear).

There’s also a special about the NAMM show, which we will participate in with our own Stompbox Booth featuring tons of emerging pedal manufacturers!

Fresh Buzz and NYC Records of the Month sections are never skipped!

Look out for the print version, out at the end of the month.

The Folks at The Deli

There is nothing usual about the vocal powerings of Zelma Stone’s front woman, Chloe Zelma Studebaker. How do we mean that? There are the self-proclaimed modern influences of Angel Olson (we hear that), the haunting calls like Jefferson Airplane’s Grace Slick, some Kate Bush feels. This stuff is hard to find and there’s a blooming of those same types of lyrical and vocal strengths within this work, repackaged into a more modern type of dreamy folk with some touch-of-grunge rock. Tracks like “Light Bulb Boy” and “River” have surprising key-shifts, killer baselines, sexy drums and a smack of tamborine. Challenging, fierce and empowering. Let’s go see them tomorrow night, where Richshaw Stop hosts their album release party. January the 19th with an all female-fronted bill of Mayya & The Revolutionary Hell Yeah, Moon Daze and Mae Powell. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

“The Revolution”, a showcase of emerging local artists hosted by The National Sawdust, will be celebrating it’s 35th rotation with three engaging new voices in the New York music scene. Queen Esther conjures the melancholy of black Americana with her take on country; The Hornē Electric band approaches their compelling brand of funk with a combination of technical savvy, creativity and a sense of humor; headliner Mizan K balances complexly fractured beats with soothing soul vocals, creating music with which she seeks to let people “know they are not alone”. Three very different creators to be sure, but each reflects the diversity of backgrounds and specialties housed by the artistic hub that is New York City. “The Revolution: Vol. 35” will take place on January 26 at 10:00 pm – you can listen to a playlist of the featured artists below, and buy tickets here. – Sunny Betz

Former AOTM Jacques Le Coque, the Stamford-based four-piece, send a surge of electricity through the slacker rock genre. Their latest album Positively…, released on King Pizza Records, is an ode to classic rock and roll with kitschy song titles like "Getaway Car," "Roller Girl," and "I Only Want To Rock & Roll." The high-energy vocals, frantic guitar lines, and driving percussion on Positively… are the elements of garage rock greatness. You can almost feel the sweat of a live show on your face when playing through standout track "Crush" (streaming below) and the rest of the album follows suit. Jacques Le Coque will be heading to New Haven on January 25 to play at Cafe Nine with The Fleshtones. – Lilly Milman