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)

The newest single “New Jazz” (streaming below) from the Boston-based trio BROADBAND is the kind of song that leaves you with the unquenchable desire to do something, even if you’re not sure what that something is. From the first few seconds, the melody begins escalating, twisting and turning through twinkling guitars and exhilarating vocals. Even though the track pushes four minutes, it never loses its sense of urgency; it feels like a flash of excitement, a single moment in time. If you loved the track as much as we did, see BROADBAND play live at O’Brien’s Pub with Stray Fossa, New Dakotas, and Tiffy on December 10. – Lilly Milman

Taking cues from Kate Bush, Bjork, and lugubrious 4AD artists like This Mortal Coil and Dead Can Dance, Brooklyn’s Tesha delivers a refreshingly anti-pop track to fight Christmas’ usual sonic banalities. The edgy, electronic artist is about to release a new EP and just unveiled single Funeral, a track about her mother’s funeral (Tesha lost both of her parents a few years ago). Otherworldly and minimal, the song is driven by a slow bass line and a plodding rhythm section, while almost unintelligible vocals seem to express a kind of thoughtful sorrow that sounds at once profound and alien. The EP is scheduled for a January 25th release. 

Curtis Lowe is a new electronic music project from NYC-based producer Conor Cook.  The debut EP, Sad Bangers Vol. 1, is due January 18 via the Spotify Direct program. The first single “Breaking Me” (streaming below) was unveiled today, unveiling a melodic house sound with the souful vocals of Naomi Wild. The EP was produced by Cook, who also plays guitar on every track. The songs were all co-written by Cook and the featured vocalists. 

Cook explains: “I wanted to create modern a sound that is based around classic house elements and good songs.  I’ve been writing with some great musicians and friends over the last year and am excited to begin releasing music under Curtis Lowe. The songwriting happened in a variety of sessions in NYC and LA, but most of the production was done alone in my apartment in Brooklyn over the last year. I drew a lot of the inspiration for the sonics of the project from 90’s/Chicago house music, married with modern production elements, and darker songwriting themes.

Balms’ anticipated album Mirror hits the streets in February 2019 and the intriguing taste they’ve given us so far is their newest single, “Candle.” Self-proclaimed bummer pop, this chugging indie rock jam might make us a little more anxious if it weren’t for the cooing, sweet vocals shining through the darkness. It’s like Grizzly Bear took a dip in the grunge bath and we want to jump in. Every part of this song—the composition, the lyrics, the feelings—is a multilayered mélange that’s hard to shake. “I want your soul,” he says, a charming, echoing call. Songs like this are why categories like dream rock exist. –Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor

Photo credit: David Brendan Hall

Austin’s indie-folk quartet Much 2 Much just wrapped up their November residency at Swan Dive last Thursday evening. The lineup was a female-centric smorgasbord of intricate harmonies, instrumental versatility and head-turning musical approaches. 

The first act of the evening was a duo set by two of the women of Ley Line, Emilie Basez and Maddy Froncek. The duo played soft and slow, but with raw power and a unique emotional intensity that kept the inhabitants of Swan Dive silent and attentive as ever. Basez and Froncek effortlessly exchanged duties on acoustic guitar, banjo, upright bass and percussion, seamlessly shifting between songs without missing a beat. Their set included originals, some sung beautifully in Portuguese, and covers by artists such as Gillian Welch. 

Much 2 Much – fronted by Erin Thelen and Angie Holliday – took the stage next. With fluttering, ethereal harmonies and concise songwriting, Much 2 Much are masters of dynamics and catchy hooks. Thelen and Holliday are each proficient at guitar and keys, and both bring different methods to their instruments, so no single song sounds quite alike. Backed by a powerful rhythm section consisting of Tyler Irvine on drums and Alex Browne on bass, Much 2 Much plowed through their set with smiles and fervor to an uproarious crowd.

The last act of the evening was the trio of Allysa Grace Music. Grace’s music is an intriguing blend of jazz, soul and prog-rock, with songs that often descend into what feel like free-form jams. Grace’s stage presence is strong, and she addresses the crowd with an affable ease that belies the complexity of her music. In a town filled to the brim with guitar players, it’s refreshing to see a band without guitar. Instead, Grace’s keyboard is the centerpiece instrument, with bassist Ben Bradshaw often taking lead excursions on his five-string bass. 

You can catch Much 2 Much at The Lodge and Tavern in Wimberley on December 22nd. Listen to a live version of "Footsteps" below! – Ethan Ames

Former Exitmusic member Devon Church (whom we interviewed here) has released his solo debut album “We Are Inextricable.” While holding on to many of the dream-like qualities of his previous band, his material features a more intimate and introspective style of writing. His voice is slightly rougher now, bearing a world-weary storytelling approach. “Draw the knife of your beauty one more night – cut these fibers now that tie me to your bed.” The artist will be celebrating the album release show at Alphaville tonight (11.30), the record can be streamed and purchased at the Felte bandcamp page here. – Dave Cromwell

LoFi Satellites take psychedelic rock n roll, turn up the warbling reverb, add a chugging rhythm and tie it all together with the energy of Marc Belluomini’s vocals, ranging from wistful to angry and wild then back again. Track “Feet to the Fire” rumbles in with a sassy booming bass-drum duet and carries the song throughout its highs and lows. Did we mention that baseline? Recorded in San Francisco’s own Tiny Telephone studio, tracks are mixed warm and fuzzy. And better yet, they know how to put on a killer live jam. See them November 30th at Caravan in San Jose then mark your calendar! They’re playing Winters Tavern in their home town of Pacifica on February 16th. And what do you know, they’re a leading contender for November’s Artist of the Month by their adoring fans. Bravo, boys. – Michelle Kicherer, Associate Editor 

DIY diva/producer Sir Babygirl is gearing up to release her hotly anticipated debut album, Crush On Me, in February via Father/Daughter records. She’s already released a few criminally catchy queer bangers, “Heels,” “Flirting With Her,” and “Haunted Mansion” plus some spooky accompanying visuals. Her songs inhabit an atmosphere that’s sparkly, maximalist, and histrionic. A former comedian and current meme-r, Hogue uses humor to confront issues of bi-sexuality, femininity, and gender on her instagram and in her music. Now, the Silicon Valley-born, New Hampshire-raised starlet is hitting the road on tour in support of her upcoming album with Philly’s Petal. Listen and watch "Haunted Mansion" below, and be sure to catch Sir Babygirl and Petal at Rough Trade NYC with Cave People on January 25th. 

Kamau Wainaina—who performs under the moniker Maũ—is creating shape-shifting, avant music that’s as interdisciplinary as his artistic background. Maũ, a senior at NYU Tisch whose work spans film, photography, and music, put out his single “SUNDOWN” via Invertebrate back in September. The song enters a space free from the boundaries of conventional genre where a slinking electro beat meets stream-of-consciousness spoken word hip-hop:“I wish I could call it word vomit but that would understate it / syllables spilling god willing, I  turn a phrase to payment.” Born in Nairobi, Wainaina’s work is largely focused on the ways one’s identity can adapt and shift in different environments. You can catch Maũ as well as Jae Luna, Octopus, and Pom Pom Squad at Trans-Pecos on 11/29 at 8 pm in a show put on by NYU Local. Sara Nuta