Nation of Language’s vision of the New Wave aesthetic feels seamlessly natural, a continuation of 1980’s synthpop instead of just an experiment in nostalgia. The band has an advantage of hindsight that their musical inspirations did not, a position that allows Nation of Language to freely experiment in the nuanced area between New Wave and post-punk. Yet, the real delight that sets apart this group are Ian Devaney’s vocals. Devaney’s wistful crooning comes with a romantic dark side that cannot be ignored. Check out Nation of Language at Elsewhere (Zone One), 02.06. —Amanda Ogea

In August, The Deli wrote about Freezing Cold‘s debut EP, a three-track untitled demo which introduced the world to their post-hardcore sound. Just last week, the band released the music video — their first ever — for "Shape of Escape", the EP’s second track. The song builds and falls in the post-rock style of This Will Destroy You; Jeff Cunningham’s and Angie Boylan’s raw voices harmonize over the sparse yet powerful guitar-bass-drums arrangement. The color swirls and exterior shots move in time to the music, creating a subtle piece of art that feels massive. You’ll have to wait until March to see Freezing Cold at Silent Barn, so for now, watch the video for "Shape of Escape" below. – Will Sisskind

Brooklyn-based electronic producer Max Schieble, also known as Elbows, blends a handful of genres into his work, creating his signature, rich hip hop and jazz-infused backing tracks. He’ll release more of that sound on his upcoming Sycamore EP, his sophomore record, which he compiled from recording sessions in both New York and San Francisco. The songs on Sycamore chronicle Schieble’s Bay Area roots, shifting genres with the moods of the songs, going from old-school hip-hop to smooth synth-heavy jazz to lounge music. The EP drops on January 26th, but Schieble will mark the release with a show at Baby’s All Right on January 31st; Space Captain and Zenizen will open. 

Schieble has released the most recent single from Sycamore, a harmony-laden chill track of wistful nostalgia called "Windowpane". Stream it below. – Will Sisskind

This Saturday on January 27th at 10:00 PM, National Sawdust will be hosting the 23rd installment of their emerging artists spotlight series "The Revolution." As with every month, the event will feature live performances from three forward-thinking and boundary-pushing NYC-based artists representing three different genres. The artists being highlighted this month are rapper and saxophonist QuazztheKid, who is as equally influenced by jazz as he is by trap rap, psychedelic synthpop outfit SKYES, and internationally renowned jazz vocalist Michael Mayo. – Alexander Beebe

The precision with which Oakland indie rockers The Lovemakers attack the often butchered genre of 1980s inspired synth-pop is almost unbelievable. The opening track on their double single Cassingles, entitled “Lost and Profound” (streaming below) is high-energy, hypnotic pop at its finest, slapping listeners across the face with its nostalgic sounds and advanced production value. In one breath, founding member Lisa Light’s vocals are feminine and fatalistic. It is safe to say that The Lovemakers are masters at crafting sultry, summery synth-pop that hits hard on record and even harder live. Catch them playing next on February 14th at Great American Music Hall. Until then, just put your headphones in and put Cassingle on repeat because that’s what we’ll be doing here at the Deli. – Lilly Milman 

Emerging from the restless suburban sprawl of New Jersey, The Nectars find inspiration across the Hudson River (and beyond) in developing their alt-punk sound. Making a sticky impression with their debut single and video “Heaven” (streaming below), elements of classic 90’s and early aughts female fronted rock can be gleaned through both the audio and visual performance. While Gwen Stefani and No Doubt provide an obvious visual reference, other sonic elements emerge as the song progresses. “I should have never started looking at you – should have never started getting so close” serves as the essential sonic bridge through to its explosive chorus, which reveals how the beauty all around us is rediscovered once freed from a toxic relationship. The band embraces Sonic Youth’s forceful abandon, but soaring vocals bring to mind Amy Lee‘s range and quality with Evanescence. The Nectars will play The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ on 1/27 with a stacked lineup of upcoming artists. – Dave Cromwell

When listening to the debut full-length LP Fish from the Sky from San Francisco-based E.G. Phillips, also known as Ducks With Pants, the first words that come to mind are ‘whimsical’ and ‘charming.’ The words ‘incredibly good’ also slip into the mix. Compiled of ten short tracks that blend quirky singer-songwriter pop with folk sensibilities, the album is Phillips’ “motley collection” of tracks he’s put together while living in the Bay and “haunting the various open mic venues in coffee houses and bars that the city makes available.” The opening track, “Tall Girls In Love” (streaming below) is the perfect example of what makes Phillips project so accessible. Apparently inspired by an episode of "Leave It To Beaver," the tongue-in-cheek lyrics absolutely refuse to take themselves too seriously (“the boys are intimidated / they hafta look up to see her eyes”), while the stripped down arrangements bring a certain intimacy one could only attain in the type of open mic night that Phillips describes. He will be next performing at Neck of the Woods on February 15th. – Lilly Milman 

Beginning with pummeling tom drums, Russian Baths‘ first single from the upcoming “Penance” EP could easily be a soundtrack to fleeing the titular Slenderman character. While the airy vocals emote almost plainly, the instrumentals jostle with each other to occasionally cacophonous peaks. At its calmest, “Slenderman” is a foreboding, gothic track but the noisy, feedback-laden guitars topple over in threatening outbursts that do justice to the fictional character’s horror legacy. Most startling about “Slenderman” is the calm portrayed in the vocals throughout it all. In another context the voice might be a soothing reassurance, but here it only adds to the tension. "Penance" is out February 23rd via Good Eye Records. – Cameron Carr

SHIMASHIMA Collective’s Abri makes hard-hitting retro soul-pop music (listen to her new song "Need to Know," and you’ll understand what I mean by "hard-hitting"). Abri’s unafraid and powerful vocals, combined with a dark, juicy Motown-inspired production make for a confident, pulsing track, and the songwriting displays an artist that takes ownership of whichever situation she’s put in. Abri is playing DROM on 1/24 with SHIMASHIMA, and the collective has more new music coming out this month. –Geena Kloeppel

With no fear, The Muckers embrace a rock ‘n’ roll of the past: cyclical riffing, healthy doses of reverb, song structures built for guitar solos, and a taste for the slightly psychedelic. There’s something classic New York about the band too, a bit of Strokes imagery (check the floppy hair and stylized logo font) and some garage rock sensibilities. But, the problem is, The Muckers only have one recording to their name, the retro-styled “Suspended for a Long Time.” For now, you’ll have to catch the band in concert to hear more—the group’s upcoming gig at Elsewhere on January 21st will be the next opportunity. – Cameron Carr

While electronica meets rock is hardly new at this point, Psymon Spine makes it sound like a totally novel idea. The Brooklyn group emphasizes the psychedelic and adventurous aspects of both genres, bringing in complex rhythmic samples, EDM beats, circling harmonies, and even folky guitar interludes. The results capture the intricacy of headier electronic music with the youthful energy of the indie rock of the early ‘00s reinassance (think Animal Collective and TV on the Radio). You can experience Psymon Spine’s unconventional sound live on January 27th when they take the stage at Alphaville. – Cameron Carr

Brooklyn via Seattle Tenderfoot‘s newest single "Semiprecious Life" (streaming) has a low hum which lends a calming touch to a song about an existential crisis. The track, which is included in the upcoming LP Break Apart (out February 2nd), features frontman Adam Kendall Woods’s breathy voice waxing about his old and changing home of Seattle, as construction noises pulse behind the rhythm. The other songs on Break Apart will deal with different kinds of change: relationships fading, health deteriorating, hopes dying and growing. To celebrate the release, Tenderfoot will play a show in Seattle in February and then one in Brooklyn on March 16th at C’mon Everybody. Listen to "Semiprecious Life" below. – Will Sisskind