THE DELI

When the first handful of TMBOY’s singles came out in 2018, it was clear that the electro-pop duo could pull off subtle rushes of emotion when combined with subdued, drum-heavy dance beats. On their newest album Steam, the pair doubles down on the sound of their singles, creating an album of hypnotic synths and glimmering vocals. The intricate rhythms of the electronic drums often interlace with a variety of synthesizers, offering quick jolts to a song’s groove or an atmospheric moment of meditation. The instrumentals offer hints of LCD Soundsystem, but the lyrics on Steam are unique to TMBOY. Earnest declarations and realizations of isolation make the act of touch and travel on these tracks sound otherworldly. Songs like “No One” and “Submarine” highlight how these sonic collaborations can so powerfully capture feelings of loneliness and searching for connection. You can listen to Steam when it releases on Feb. 08 and catch TMBOY live at their release show at Union Pool. -Tucker Pennington

Whether you’re getting ahead on Valentine’s Day plans or dreading its approach, it’ll be well worth it for you to make it down to Elsewhere the night of the 14th to check out Starchild & The New Romantic. Drawing on the grooves of artists like Prince and Outkast, Starchild (otherwise known as Bryndon Cook) gracefully balances vibrant earnestness and downright addictive electro funk, making even heartbreak sound fun. Cook established himself touring with Solange and working with Blood Orange, but with last year’s debut album Language, it’s clear that Starchild deserves a stage of his own. Check out Language on Starchild & The New Romantic’s Bandcamp, and don’t miss the upcoming Brooklyn show, date or no date. – Sunny Betz

There’s no right or wrong approach to songwriting: some artists find their voice in bizarre arrangements or completely wild chord progression, while others make energy or tension or even just powerful lyrics their trademark. However, there’s only one way to write rock music with mainstream potential that sounds timeless and honest, and pulling it off is not easy feat: it consists in finding a fine balance between melody, tension, character, meaning and relatability that few artists are able to strike (Tom Petty and The Cars are among our favorites). The music of Bird Streets – the solo project of Brooklyn’s John Brodeur – features these qualities. The project released the self-titled debut album this past August and was named NPR’s 2018 slingshot artist shortly thereafter. Brodeur will leave NYC for a short west coast tour at the end of January, keep an ear on him

Released just last month, Kat Robichaud’s latest single “Criminal” is a haunting, strong peek at her anticipated next album. The opening chords feel like the opening to a rock opera–and with her theatrical outfits, wigs and a long-time history of orchestrating and performing cabaret, we’re not surprised. It takes a certain type of creative to channel all the different energies that Robichaud musters here. Her last album, Misfit Cabaret, was like listening to a one-woman circus act that keeps your imagination open and whirling, empowered and invigorated. Not that we’re telling you how to feel about it. Listen yourself. Shout out to track “Bully” from Robichaud’s previous album, where the sheer power in her vocals is shiver-inducing. Think Heart meets a not-so-poppy Katy Perry, with some Rocky Horror and Bowie inspirations gyrating throughout. Check out the captivating video for her single Criminal, shot and edited by Daniel Garcia, and if THAT weren’t enough, go see her next cabaret show, “Lost in Z Space” at San Francisco’s Z Space. These music-filled shows start February 7th and run through the 16th. – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor