Max Gardener is only 19 years old, but he already has all the makings of the next bedroom pop sweetheart. Following in the footsteps of male solo acts like Mac Demarco, Ariel Pink, and Alex Calder, he’s grimy looking but makes sweet music. His latest single, "Sudden Love" is a twinkling synthpoppy song that fits right in with his predecessors, with a smoother and more lo-fi approach than his prior releases. Gardener’s last EP, "New In Town" from this April 2017, also posses twinkles, and plenty of jammy electric guitar. Gardener, although still a teen, has been releasing music since 2015 – listening to his discography shows how he’s matured over the years. "Sudden Love" opens up a new chapter in his musical career, one that we hope will launch him into that dirty lo-fi dreamboat clique that we all know and love. See him in his hometown of San Francisco at Rickshaw Shop on September 10th. -Allie Miller

The new minimalistic video for “If I Lied” (streaming below) by singer-songwriter Los Angeles Police Department (aka Ryan Pollie) is cute, quirky, and makes the most of the little things in life (like watching the National Dog Show, or a great late show special) to tell a story about the bridge between reality and imagination. Pollie’s vocals carry the listener through a dreamy, melodic track that is both breezy and driven. Los Angeles Police Department will be playing his next show on September 8th at the Constellation Room, and then following up with a residency at Bootleg that begins on November 6th. – Lilly Milman

On August 26th, the artist-run venue National Sawdust in Brooklyn will be hosting the 18th installment of the monthly Revolution series—an event dedicated to fostering community by showcasing local performers from Brooklyn and Harlem. The three artists chosen to represent their respective genres this month are Valerie Orth, The Odd Hawk Orchestra, and Khemestry and The Harlem Society.

Headlining the event will be Harlem-via-Washington D.C. trumpeter Khemestry and his side project The Harlem Society, of which he is the bandleader. The Brooklyn 9 piece band The Odd Hawk Orchestra, led by Jacques Boudreau, will also be performing, bringing together international musicians to create music you can dance to. Producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Valerie Orth will provide a change of pace with her unique brand of feminist-influenced alt-pop. – Lilly Milman

As the New York alternative scene becomes more and more entwined with electronica, it becomes easier and easier to find interesting new acts dabbling in drum machines and weird abstract electronic sound. Beiju is the low key Brooklyn electro-pop project of Caitlin Seager, whose ethereal voice perfectly complements her half dancey, half experimental tracks. On DEMAIN, her EP released in July, she draws comparisons to Hailee Steinfeld and Selena Gomez with her personal quirky signature. you can see her live at Trans-Pecos tonight (August 23rd). -Allie Miller

Upcoming artists face a myriad of challenges in the scramble for purchase in the music landscape. As if making honest art that resonates with diverse audiences wasn’t arduous enough, then there’s marketing, networking, selling oneself without selling oneself out, balancing one’s family’s expectations as they stack up upon your shoulders, and the feeling of dust building up on your dreams. Akinyemi bravely stares into the crystal ball in the first single from his upcoming “summers” EP (the release party will be at BK Bazaar on Sept. 17 at 8pm). The dust doesn’t stand a chance. – Jason Grimste, brokeMC

Whirring guitars find pedal heaven among the many changing shrieks and fuzzes that make up NYC psych slackers The Sofas. With a homey name and a flannel-clad, unshaven appearance, you might expect them to be a little softer—but you’d be wrong. The Sofas are loud. They slip in a solo that could be two decades old, yet sounds completely fresh and thrash their instruments like any good old garage band, but reference in their sound some of the most imaginative bands of the ’90s, forgotten by many, like early Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev. The band has been playing a lot of local shows in 2017 and has an LP scheduled for later in the year (out on Jurassic Pop Records). If it’s anything like their first single "Hum" (premiered below) it promises to take over our ears. – Allie Miller

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

Blending psychedelia with folk has been an established indie trend of the new millennium (so many dream pop bands out there!), but few remember that folk and psych rock had something more than a flirt back in the the ’60s… NYC’s Lovechild reference, in their sound, that very source. The band’s only song available for purchase on Bandcamp is a live, one-take, DIY jam that definitely evokes the "good ole days" of guitar-banging, basement-come-venue style shows. The simplest way to describe "Plant a Flower" is that it sounds like a grungier version of something by the Rolling Stones, on drugs. In a good way. Catch Lovechild at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on August 29th. -Geena Kloeppel

Zenizen is such a perfect 2017 listen, we can’t believe that they haven’t blown up. Soulful vocals by lead Opal Hoyt maintain the sweet spot of R&B that manages to blend an original tone with smooth scales. Backed by charming keys and at times unpredictable beats, all these elements make this group such a timely combo. But Zenizen is not that young. They’ve been doing this for years now. With yearly singles "Coldwood," Fiver" and "No Contact" released since 2015, they’ve been working on their jazz-infused music for a while. Like most good things, they only get better with age. "Australia" their 2017 release and first EP, is their most confident work yet. Listen to the three tracks on this new EP and take the time to enjoy "Expanding," a Rihanna-esque heartbreaking pop song, especially. See Zenizen at Baby’s All Right August 30th. -Allie Mille

Among the many jaw-dropping moments from Ritual Talk‘s performance at Pianos a few weeks back, one that noticeably caught the eyes of the crowd was their artful 5-person vocal harmonization. With their newest single, "Sense" (brand new video below), they replicate that skill perfectly on record. The band’s second track from their upcoming debut EP, Rippled Glass, is soothing and ethereal as was their debut single, "Help I’ve Been Dreaming"; but the vocal performance here is sublime, floating over a more psych, alt-soul vibe. The track’s progression is reminiscent of Alabama Shakes’ soul rock "Sound and Color," mixed with Alexander DeSimine’s Dirty Projectors-esque vocals; the accompanying harmonies, and the final buildup, will send chills down your spine. And if the rest EP is anything as this single and their live performance, it will be one hell of a release. – Pearse Devlin

When you think of country and Americana, the clichés might take you to pastures and whiskey and Tennessee. But native New Yorker Claire Hawkins proves that there is room for this genre, even amongst the concrete and taxis of in her hometown. Hawkins debut EP, Even These Words, is a simple, 4 song introduction to the young songwriter’s playful, simple lyrics and sing-along melodies. The most memorable line? "My baby got a job at the TSA," she sings on the delightful, sincere "Loaded Gun" (streaming). Hawkins gives Americana a sweet light-heartedness, and I’m interested to see where the next batch of songs will take her. -Geena Kloeppel

Sludgy, frenetic, and surprisingly melodic, Mutoid Man serves up nasty, heavy jams with a side of skilled riffage.  Their latest release, War Moans, is 12-tracks worth of head spinning metal aptitude, and – paired with a ground shattering live show – opened the door to a summer US tour with Danzig – dates can be found here. Our friends at Delicious Audio were very curious to know what kind of gear went into making their signature gut-busting sound – check out the link below for a Q&A about it. – by Olivia Sisinni

Delicious Audio’s interview with Mutoid Man about pedals and gear.

Listening to Hayes Peebles’ debut EP Ghosts elicits the warm feelings that come from a country croon, while a closer look at the lyrics reveals the wisdom of a masterful songwriter. His honest ballads are embellished by his tasteful arrangements (in which he plays guitar and keys), which are too dynamic to fall neatly into the Americana category. He will be playing a show at the Mercury Lounge on August 24th. Listen to our favorite track, “Home” streaming below. – Lilly Milman