Demanding NYC indie rock fans who are struggling to find original, fun, and entertaining new bands should go check out Cloud Becomes Your Hand when they play live at Alphaville on Juse 9th, within the Northside Festival. The avant-post-punk (!?) collective was on the cover of our 47th issue of The Deli, and for a reason: their debut album "Rest in Fleas" was the most refreshingly fun thing we happened to listen that year, in particular single "Hermit," streaming below ("Sand of Sea" and "Bridge of Ignoramus" are pretty darn awesome too). Their live show is some kind of perfectly excuted experimental theatrical production that’s tightly paced without ever falling in the traps of self-indulgence. Do not miss!

Since 2016, Brooklyn artist pronoun, the brainchild of songwriter Alyse Vellturo, is on a catchy single roll: her debut EP "There’s No One New Around You" exposed a talent able to forge memorable yet intimate pop songs dealing with troubled personal feelings, in the tradition of The Magnetic Fields. In 2018 the project has already released two singles, "Run" (streaming below) and "Wrong," which was recently included in Stereogum’s "Best 5 Songs of the Week." Alyse will be performing live with band at Brooklyn Bazar on May 26.

Connecticut-based americana singer-songwriter Kerri Powers has seen it all, and she intends to tell you about it on her debut album Starseeds. Her experience is obvious from her simple, yet earnest way of storytelling; her confident, yet not overzealous vocals; her subtle, yet astute reworking of age-old tales like that of Lady Godiva. Take lead single “Mine the River” (streaming below), where she is able to blend the seemingly overused combination of bluesy guitars, a soulful voice, and Americana storytelling to create something original. She is currently touring and will be playing her next show on May 18 at Washington DC’s The Hamilton. But fear not, she’ll be back in Connecticut in June to play a show at Bridge Street on June 24. – Lilly Milman

The debut video (streaming below) of Oakland stoner-pop group Saalt (fronted by Alisa Saario) follows a similar pattern to that of a strange dream. Saario is pictured singing while skiing down a mountain, maneuvering her way through the powerful chorus of the track “Wasted” while dressed in an all-white ski-suit. When combined with the clips of her skiing with her guitar, or emptying out pink dust around the mountain, the overall picture only becomes more ethereal. Despite her unquestionable recklessness, Saario’s vocals and her carefree smile coax you into her world — as if saying, don’t worry about me. She almost convinces you, even, but the last frame tells a different story. Check out the video below and keep an eye out for future releases from one of our favorite artists right now. – Lilly Milman 

Advice columnist Nedelle Torrisi’s musical versatility heads toward the domain of soft adult contemporary in her upcoming album Only For You, with allusions to the pitfalls and complexities of monogamy no doubt gathered from her time writing as Advice from Paradise. A steady fixture of the indie scene, Torrisi is known by some for her work as one half of experimental project Cryptacize, as well as for her contributions to Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Sufjan Stevens, and John Vanderslice.

Listen to the featured single “Complicated” before Torrisi’s album release party tonight at the Bootleg Theater. Only For You comes out on May 18 via Frenchkiss Records.

Sultry and confident, in their latest video for single DDT, New York’s alt-rock trio Uni makes good use of a mix of vaguely S&M imagery, glam-rock sartorial choices and the fetishization of all the iconography it portrays. The song itself is lumbering and heavy, with swelling organs, crunchy guitar riffs and powerful lead vocals by Nico Fuzz. Glam Rock had roots in NYC with the New York Dolls and David Bowie’s formative years; times seems ripe for a revival in the city. – Ethan Ames

The delicacy of Oakland-based Al Harper’s jangly, soft rock solo project is reminiscent of dreamy vocals of the indie pop duo Tennis, but with her own added edge. Her breezy falsetto carries the listeners through angsty lyrics with ease, like the school-girl sounding “The New You” (streaming below) where she sings about a person that’s changed but “it’s cool, I still want the new you.” There’s an empowerment behind her effortless sound as she embraces femininity in a way that brings her up to the ranks of other beloved female artists like Snail Mail and Evil Seagull. She will be celebrating the release of her tape About Power and to play a few unreleased tracks on June 2 at Abbey’s Tavern. – Lilly Milman, photo by Kelsey McClellan 

The new single, “Heartbreak In A Box” (streaming below), from Boston’s seven-piece group JUICE delivers the dose of sweet, upbeat neo-soul that—at this point—is to be expected from them. The septet met as freshmen at Boston College, and after winning a Battle of the Bands contest in 2014, have been bringing their funk-influenced play on pop to venues all over New England. Their sophomore LP Workin’ On Lovin’ will be released on June 15. They are currently on tour, with upcoming shows in Burlington, VT on June 9, Nantucket on June 12, and Boston on June 15. – Lilly Milman

Brooklyn by way of Tel Aviv artist O Mer employs DAW, synths and electric guitar to create minimalistic pop gems that are as catchy as they are arresting. Started as a one man band, the project has recently expanded to comprise a full band, which has brought the sound to new heights of sonic refinement. O Mer will be performing live at Berlin on May 25th, check out the video for single Icarus, streaming below.

Our friends at Delicious Audio asked O Mer a few questions about the creative process and his favorite gear, you can read the Q&A here. – Photo by Noel Woodford

Already proven adept at hook-heavy alt-pop, in their new EP Isadora Deal Casino progresses their sound into more nuanced approaches to pop. New single “Soft Machine” showcases this clearly. While still working in the alt-pop realm, the tempos drop considerably, opening up space for a more atmospheric production where synthesizers challenge the edgy guitar parts, while vocals double up in intensity, for a more mature and powerful listening experience. THe arrangement accentuates melodies with bell-like glockenspiel, and peaks with a chorus practically inverted by echoing distorted guitar and a slowed down melody. “Soft Machine” is a strong step for the band toward a more matured sound. Isadora Duncan is out May 18, you can listen to “Soft Machine” below and see the band live at the Asbury Park Brewery on May 20th. – Cameron Carr

San Francisco’s Bone Nest creates music for those disillusioned by the overwhelming prevalence of upbeat, pop-influenced tracks in the electronic scene. His single “Fkbyzantm” (streaming below), which is set to appear on a forthcoming debut LP, features experimental production in the form of a beat that is both warm and a bit abstract. With influences from neo-soul, new-wave, and breakbeat and a perfectly imperfect blend of two sets of vocals, the track keeps the listener guessing. We’re eagerly anticipating what’s to come. – Lilly Milman

In her new EP Kitsch II,  New York avant-pop artist Sur Back – real name Caroline Sans – deeply mines the esoteric, incorporating obscure facets of many different genres into the record’s four tracks. It’s part baroque-pop, part new wave, and extremely avant-garde. It’s sweet and melancholy, with unconventional string orchestration and an abundance of compelling, unexpected melodic twists. Listen to "Valentino" below and see them live at Baby’s All Right on Saturday June 2nd, opening for Chaos Chaos. – Ethan Ames