THE DELI

A shiver runs down our spines every time we read the words "self-directed video," in particular when applied to artists that play musical genres that require top notch production values (like soul music). But in the case of NYC’s soul-pop artist Raveena (previously known as Raveena Aurora) our premonitions were proved wrong. With the help of director James Ronkko, the artist of Indian and American descent created a simple, but truly beautiful video that matches the breezy, lightheartedly intimate vibes of her single "Sweet Time." A woman of many talents, Raveena not only looks incredibly comfortable in front of the camera, but also supports her art with commitment to social causes rarely found in soul pop acts. A debut EP is scheduled to be released at some point soon.

There’s a certain overarching sweetness that consumes the Denver/New York-based group, Strawberry Runners, but a close listen will reveal a far more complicated sound. The pop-driven arrangements and saccharine melodies support lyrics filled with darkness -a juxtaposition that’s at once uplifting and upsetting. The band is about to release a new EP entitled "In the Garden, In the Night," with a show at Trans Pecos on October 21st. Emi Night, the singing-songwriting force behind this project, is very much into stompboxes and our friends at Delicious Audio asked her some questions about it.

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best indie songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!

If you’re a fan of Florist’s ambient folk melodies and subtle production, you’re probably pretty excited about the group’s latest album and October 27^th headlining show at The Park Church Co-op. You’ll probably also fall for opener Lizard Kisses. The Brooklyn collective’s music has a similar melancholic minimalism, though veering in its own directions. Light on percussion, heavy on dual low-high vocals, and full of charming instrumentation like synth and glockenspiel, Lizard Kisses’ sound is somber and heartwarming at the same time. Get to the show early and see if you can resist falling for them. – Cameron Carr

NYC transplant (by the way of Toronto), Jill Peacock, may not have the ostentatious fervor of the bird who shares her name, but her music might give you a reason to strut like one. Her self-titled EP is 5-tracks worth of engaging soul-pop that prominently displays her effortless vocals against minimalist R&B instrumentals. It’s a release that will tempt even the most rigid listeners to head-bob along to the velvety beats. Stream her single "Sunshine," streaming below, and see her live at Pianos on October 22nd. -Olivia Sisinni

New York college student Emily Yacina has been quietly uploading music to Bandcamp since 2011, making her part of what’s becoming – for better or for worse– a somewhat ubiquitous subgenre of bedroom pop: DIY dream-writers. But unlike a lot of those artists, Yacina actually leaves her bedroom. And she gets pretty far, like all the way to Alaska far. That’s where she lived this summer, working at an environmental nonprofit. Her most recent release “Heart Sky” reflects that; it’s expansive but intimate, vast but quaint, like the state that inspired it. It’s wandering melodies most likely mirror her exploration of the state, and most definitely mirror our exploration of the album. She’ll be performing live at a very interesting event inside a New York church on October 27th with like-minded artists Florist and Lizard Kisses. It seems like the ideal setting for music that’s this quiet and intimate. – Rachel Kerr