NYC-based artist Car Astor has given synth-pop a number of makeovers since beginning her solo career in 2016. Over the course of her two EP and two single releases, this singer/songwriter has displayed her talent as an emerging artist by mixing clean blends of synth-heavy electro pop. Her wide vocal range steers her sound, allowing her to deliver in formats ranging from poignant ballads to danceable hits. But it is Car Astor’s experimentation that pushes her music beyond the lines of her genre. Her most recent single, “Girlfriend,” (featured below) coolly executes a catchy pop melody, but is given depth with an electro-rock backbone and a defiant lyrical attitude. Though she may abide by archetypical pop song structures, this frontwoman’s darker style and killer vocal control is enough to give her sound a more sultry, polished edge. Her more touching songs, however, like “She Cries” and “Closed Eyes Open” off her first EP Ties, expose the softness around this artist’s edges with their rich arrangements and thoughtful substance.  Check Car Astor out for yourself on Soundcloud or Spotify and catch her playing live at Mercury Lounge on December 23. – Rebecca Carroll

This lady is a force! We feel empowered just listening to Rose Droll. A genre-less wonder, Miss Rose gives us a little bit of a lot of things and we want more more more. Samples are interwoven in tasteful snippets, from Lou Reed baselines to “This Little Light of Mine” lyrics. There are parts we can only describe as coy-strong lady rap, interjected at the perfect moments (a poetic “…so baby, when you gonna give a fuck?” in the same breath as a line from “Ring Around the Rosie”…what the hell? Yes!). There are colorful bursts of instrumental delight–all her own doings–and to accompany it all, is that voice: fluid, lovely and nailing every pitch it tries to reach. Like we said, she’s a class all her own, but in an attempt to compare: if you enjoy Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten, Tune Yards and badass versions of your favorite nursery rhymes, you’ll probably dig this as much as we do. Come see her at The Independent this Thursday the 13th where she’s playing alongside Pllush, Pardoner and SOAR. – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

 

Brooklyn dream pop duo Datachoir made its debut in late November with a three song EP (streaming below) and… a guitar pedal. For the stompbox-educated, the pedal in question is a reverse delay + modulation device built in collaboration with Old Blood Noise Endeavors – you can read and hear more about it in our pedal blog Delicious Audio. For those who only care about music, instead, Datachoir is comprised of guitarist Cathy Begien and keyboardist Summer Mastous, and their sound will resonate with fans of early dream pop and shoegazer artists like Cocteau Twins and My Bloody Valentine.

Brooklyn indie rockers TOLEDO make things look and sound easy. Anchored by Daniel Alvarez and Jordan Dunn-Pilz, TOLEDO has put out a mix of laid-back singles that showcase a folksy, blissed-out sensibility. With soft, watery harmonies and bright hooks that are easy to sink into, their sound recalls early days of Real Estate or even Fleet Foxes.  As of now, TOLEDO is getting ready to put out their debut EP in February of 2019. You can catch them IRL at Trans-Pecos on December 16th, where they’ll be playing alongside Saint Marilyn and Elliot & The Ghost. Listen to their single “Hot Stuff” below. Sara Nuta

There’s an immediately disorienting quality to “Paradise Flat,” the novel single by New York art pop husband and wife duo Dollshot. The track’s in an off kilter 7/8 time signature that fills each measure with a sense of shuffling unease, while a brooding synthetic bass plays against occasional piano accents. In the eye of the storm is Rosie’s hauntingly vocal performance, a melodic counterpoint to the discordant saxophone of Noah K. It’s a lot to take in at once, given that each musical component comes at the listener simultaneously, but the end result is an impressive synthesis of pop, jazz, and classical instrumentation, one that belies Dollshot’s experiences cutting their teeth at music conservatory before shifting into the world of experimental indie. Futhermore, the track is evocative of other alt-jazz efforts, primarily Radiohead’s "Life In A Glass House," done so in a way that ratchets woodwinds, percussion, and electronics up to an 11. 

“Paradise Flat” is the first single from Dollshot’s forthcoming sophomore effort, Lalande, out January 25th. Stream it below. –Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)

Much of Ackerman’s new 5 track EP, 1000 Variations of Yourself, is shrouded in echoes. This reaches a spacious pinnacle on the penultimate track “For Everyone You’ll Never Know,” where two-plus minutes of silky reverberation precede the core of the song. Ackerman, which describes itself as an “experimental rock group and multimedia collective,” invests generously in effects-laden transformations of pop sounds. Not to say that the Brooklyn group comes from an otherworldly place—opener “Tiger Traps” brings Animal Collective-esque electronica to the mix, M83 or Grizzly bear style indie rock ambience can be heard in the title track and “I am No Longer Afraid of Coyotes!,” and the closing falsetto and light funk of “Loverboy” holds plenty of pop appeal—but Ackerman’s tendencies toward the dreamy, less expected ends of that world distinguish them in the indie pop realm. Listen to 1000 Variations of Yourself below. – Cameron Carr

Since last year’s lovely-brilliant EP “The,” we’ve been awaiting the next move from Oakland’s own Perhapsy, solo project of artist Derek Barber (Curls, Bells Atlas). The new album, “Kingdom Starlight Bliss,” weaves an energy both soothing and invigorating. A shoegazing lover’s dream, songs are textured with the intricate guitar work that earned Barber his mad respect. Resonating melodies reach an almost intergalactic quality (check out The Curse!). His sweet vocals express emotions that are at times darker than most of his previous work: sad stories sprinkled with tough emotions and epiphanies; references to dooming relationships and dark times ahead. But as Barber puts it, “Kingdom” is an album full of endings, changes, and the eventual sparkle at the end of the tunnel. Give it a listen and check out those sweet images, too (did we mention he’s also a cartoonist?)….Enjoy! – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

The National Sawdust’s ongoing series “The Revolution”,  is dedicated to showcasing local artists and collaborators and Saturday 12.15 is The Revolution, Vol. 34. This month’s acts include Salomon Faye, Melissa McMillan, and Zoo Berries. 

Melissa McMillan puts an ambient, electronic twist on R&B vocals. Her velvety voice soars over dark, looming beats and ominous percussion. Her latest release, "Shade," is a meditation on contemporary jazz and Neo-soul.

Salomon Faye is a French American rapper who uses his particular brand of avant hip-hop as a jumping off point to explore the arts and music scene in Brooklyn. Many of his lyrics are often introspective and lean towards the philosophical. In 2017, he put out his King Salomon EP, which featured J. Cole and this year he dropped the single “Whatever,” back in November. After being associated with the A$AP Mob, Faye opted to pave his own path and collaborate with underground artists around him to create THEiLLUZiON, a collective of sonic and visual artists. After spending years behind the scenes, Salomon Faye has set the stage and put in the work to finally assert himself as a trailblazer in the NYC underground hip-hop scene.

Zoo Berries find a fusion between funk, jazz, r&b through grooving bass and smooth improvisation. Throughout their latest, EP.1, the 7-piece bring together sax, drums, guitar, bass, piano, and spoken word, creating an easy-going instrumental sound that brings together the best aspects of traditional funk forms and contemporary compositions.

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You can buy tickets to The Revolution Vol. 34 Saturday 12.15 here. 

Brooklyn indie rock trio Valentin Marx is premiering here a brand new single, titled “Made Up.”. This band has certainly reemerged with an enlightened new perspective on this track, exposing more than just their collaborative talent. “Made Up” offers a bold look at the modern social landscape (and all zombifying apps that come with it), voicing the afflictions of forming relationships in the digital age—and it does it with style. Starting with an airy dream-pop feel, the song’s smooth jangly guitars in the opening are met by lead singer Andrew Kissel’s slacker-ish vocals, forming a tension that is all too fitting for this track’s lyrical context. Being just the first taste of this band’s upcoming releases, “Made Up” gives a relatable, jam-worthy preview of the new material that can be expected in the new year. Check out Valentin Marx’s newest single below and stream their earlier music on Bandcamp. – Rebecca Carroll

You’d be hard pressed to find a music video that’s as anxiety-driven as Sean McVerry’s recently released “Burning Out,” a narrative short film of sorts that explores what happens when everything goes completely wrong. Shot as a side-by-side comparison over the course of a day, “Burning” shows several key moments, contrasting positive outcomes with negative ones, with the latter sequence of events coalescing with McVerry driving away in a Hyundai from an angry mob. The final moments frame the music video as a tongue-in-cheek commercial for Hyundai itself, a parody of the solutions offered by consumer goods to life’s problems. Against the humor of these video, the track itself is bombastic synth pop jam, complete with percussive electronic beats and ’80s influenced textures; these elements all heighten the drama of McVerry’s lyrics and vocal performance, contributing to a final output that is as explosive as it is perfectly weird.

McVerry will perform at Rockwood Music Hall on December 12th. Watch the video for "Burning Out" below. -Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt), Photo by Jesse McFadden

Huck’s music is a product of the internet era. Brooklyn musician John Wolfe blends woozy slacker rock with the bedroom beats of SoundCloud in a way once unexpected but increasingly popular among DIY producers. His latest track “Scrimmage” sees Mac Demarco-style synths with tight production and the syrupy soft rap of Sophie Meiers. Elsewhere Huck leans into melodic guitar (“Summer Lovin’”) and stuttering electronica (“Without You”). A sort of slight eclecticism that merges styles moving with parallels. You can catch Huck live opening for Blac Rabbit at Mercury Lounge on December 30 or joining Goth Babe, B.Miles, and Pom Pom Squad at Baby’s All Right on January 30. Listen to "Scrimmage" below. – Cameron Carr

Brooklyn-based night pop project Unknown Caller explores the dichotomy of meaningful connections on his newest drop, “See You Again.” The song, a four minute, Saturday night R&B romp, mediates between the significance of human interaction as appreciated through melancholy, rose-tinted glasses. “‘See You Again’ is about people and places that appear in your life – perhaps briefly, perhaps enduring – [who] impact your worldview in a way you don’t always realize in the moment,” says Unknown Caller’s Alex Lichtenstein. Setting this lachrymose appreciation for forlorn connections against pulsing night rhythms evokes memories of evenings on the town with old friends – perhaps some who have since left the city – providing an adult perspective and melancholic appreciation for those times that have come and gone. It’s a mature, groovy take on NYC nightlife that will resonate with anyone who has lost a friend to parts unknown.

Unknown Caller will bring his visions of evening’s past to The Delancey on December 7th, supporting Blonde Maze, Sophie Colette, Hopper Race, and Ekurtis. Before that, stream "See You Again" below. – Connor Beckett McInerney (@b_ck_tt)