THE DELI

It’s easy to imagine yourself in a verdant, lonely locale when listening to the music of East Village-based songwriter Trafton, and new single “Gone” is his coldest, most distant destination yet. Damper-pedaled pianos and an at times whispering falsetto endow this recent offering with visions of wintery woods, a more key-friendly take on the isolation familiar to fans of Bon Iver or Thoreau’s Walden. Within this distance established between Trafton and the listener, however, is a separate, more intrinsic loneliness, the product of a separation between the artist and their now-gone ex-love, as well as a desire to return; Trafton’s parting words implore the individual to “come tell me I’m wrong, and please don’t be gone.” It’s a haunting track that will resonate with fans of folk and good songwriting during this cold December— listen below. —Connor Beckett McInerney

Alt-rock duo A Shadow of Jaguar will release their new full-length album Different Brain on January 11th at Knitting Factory, but they’ve released its first single “Love You, Hate You” as a preview. One listen to this Deli premiere and you’ll understand why A Shadow of Jaguar are a band to watch going into the new decade. The duo’s grunge-inspired riffs pack lots of energy and emotion, especially on a track like “Love You, Hate You” which tells the story of love without the happy ending. A Shadow of Jaguar will release Different Brain on a bill alongside fellow Brooklyn bands The Rizzos and Ovareasy; ring in the new year with all of them on January 11th. – Will Sisskind

Dreamy, introspective songwriter Annie Hart releases her sophomore solo album “A Softer Offering” this month, two years after her “Impossible Accomplice” debut. Already known as an innovative film composer and founding member of Lynchian synth-faves Au Revoir Simone, Hart continues to expand her body of work with this latest release. Opting for a more spacious, minimal sound, first single and video (streaming below) “Wilderness Hill” centers around a steady low note pulse and stark electric piano chords. With self -directed video footage shot in the songtitle referencing area of Margate, England combined with hometown Rockaway Beach imagery, Annie’s hushed vocals match this early morning contemplative mood. Follow-up single “Don’t Breathe For Me” employs singular held keyboard pads, angular electronic percussion and deep-twang melodies behind a raw vocal recitation on the need to move on. The whole album is a cohesive work that emphasizes the spaces inbetween our hectic lives, where our own thoughts are encouraged to mingle with the artists creations. The album is out in full on 12/13 with a release show that night at Union Pool. – Dave Cromwell

Part of living in New York is an unfortunately normalized culture of exhaustion, both physical and emotional. Few cities can boast a guide of the Best/Worst places to Cry in Public; such cultural phenomena are likely a product of rising rents, a drive by management for greater productivity over the course of the 40 (or 50, or 60) hour work week, and failing infrastructure (just a guess). And despite the bullshit, we’re all still here, a sentiment at the core of Noah Chenfeld’s new single “I Love Being Tired.” Lamenting the necessity to save money, the crowded nature of the subway, and the absolutely brutal winters, Chenfeld finds resolve on the song’s chorus, aptly crooning “I love being tired” over vintage, Zombies-esque keys sand syncopated Fender chords. Chenfeld’s lyrics are both a passive acceptance of the hurried lifestyle inherent to city living and a tongue-in-cheek critique of the rat race we’re all active participants in; listen to it this weekend when someone at a party asks you “how are you doing” and you politely abstain from telling them how you really feel, and catch Noah Chenfeld at Pianos on December 6th. —Connor Beckett McInerney

Oakland-based alt-pop artist Sun Kin just released the single “IDKY” off forthcoming LP Private Time. Kabir Kumar, the India-born artist behind the music, seeks to point out what he calls the “shallowness of algorithmic music selection” that we’re surrounded by. Kin creates bedroom pop songs heavy on the organs with earnest lyrical inflections. Says the track: “When it’s the date of the show/Just simply act like you know/It’s okay to be admired/And while you’re sharing your screen/You must pretend like you have seen/The confidence of a paycheck.” Where the song really shines is in the composition with special praise to those horns and percussion. The full LP is full of catchy soulful pop songs with special guests sprinkled throughout. Sun Kin releases Private Time on January 17th, where they’ll be playing The Starline Social Club. -Lucille Faulkner 

Photo: Ginger Fierstein