San Fransisco outfit Spooky Mansion will be playing a hometown show this summer at Golden Bull on August 23rd. The band’s most recent material came out this year with a surprisng stylistic change; The previousl;y self-described surf rock band brought a whole different flavor of chill, hip-hop oriented beats and instrumentation on their new EP, I’m the Moon, You’re the Wave (so plz change w/ me). With listed influences like Modest Mouse and Pixies, this project contrarily resembles (at least to our ears) the fellow Californian band The Neighbourhood, especially on “You’re the Wave”, a subtle and gentle track with dreamy piano chords over a quick, lofi hip-hop beat and harmonizing soft vocals. Check out the band’s latest work below. – Pearse Devlin

With her debut EP, Book of Lolita, released last month, Nashville born, LA based alt-soul singer Anne Dereaux delivers a soothing record filled with wisdom and vitality. Inspired by an alter ego conceived by the artist when she was a child, the EP marks an emotive and personal journey, featuring vocals that range between confidence, pain, and delicate textures, layered over atmospheric instrumentals. The artist released a video (streaming below) for the song "MO(U)RNING", which complements the emotional track through an ambitious story that transitions from a somber, darkened setting to a luminous ending, painting a journey through pain and heartbreak. She’s playing NYC’s hot hub Baby’s All Right on August 22nd – it’s a good sign. – Tafari Lemma

What do you do when you wake up from a coma? Make an album called Comatose Hope. Or, at least, that’s what Julia Weldon did, awakening from a coma, post-gender reassignment surgery. Perhaps the most beautiful songs on this record are the simplest ones. "Take Me To The Water" builds into a gorgeous atmospheric synth and piano ballad and the lyrically poised "Cursed and Blessed" shows the polarity of the world in an uncomplicated manner. With simple guitar hooks and otherwise feel-good arrangements, the record flows really nicely. "When You Die" serves as an angsty reprieve from the established warmth, but orchestral strings and a delicate piano accompaniment take us home at the end in "You Want It." Comatose Hope is an album of many shades- the optimism of the morning, the sluggish nature of midday, and the quiet reflectiveness of midnight. –Geena Kloeppel

Los Angeles and Oakland based label Redacted Collective will host a series of shows to celebrate the release of their second annual mixtape, featuring new tracks from Genevieve Artadi, Love Nothing, The Unending Thread, Old Notes, and more. The string of shows will span Berkeley to Eagle Rock through late-August and early-September. Catch the first show at Gilman’s on the 26th, followed by the Hi Hat on the 27th, rec center on September 2nd, and All Star Lanes on the 9th. The mixtape is set to release on August 24th on Redacted Collective’s Bandcamp.

There is a vintage sound that comes across in LA indie quintet Inner Wave’s latest single “Eclipse” (streaming below). Maybe it’s the way Pablo Sotelo’s voice shifts into falsetto during the repeated line “Try, it’s right there for your eyes,” or the way the synth beats start to drive the song into groovy, psychedelic territory. Either way, listening to the song is like losing track of time—it’s mellow but not boring, catchy but not conventional. Hear Inner Wave play tracks like this live a the Constellation Room at the Observatory on August 25th. – Lilly Milman

Music writers and listeners alike seem resourceful enough to box every band that pops up nowadays. With new albums covered within hours, and decades of classics catalogued by those born decades after their release, there is a steady source of opinion on the internet. Space Captain defies these assessments. With a sound ranging from psych to hip hop to electronica, they stand their own ground. On their two most recent singles, "Two" from 2016, and "Sycamore" from 2017, they recreate seductively complex tunes that constantly keep you guessing. At times, they bring up other experimental, female-lead sounds coming from Chicago-based rapper Noname or German producer Moglii, or just most of what’s been on NPR’s Tiny Desk in 2017. Still, Space Captain’s music carries a energy and originality that deserves listening to. Check out their Bandcamp or see them at Baby’s All Right on September 8th. -Allie Miller 

New York’s Freezing Cold is a brand new indie band with math leanings comprised of ex-members from Bridge & Tunnel, Weed Hounds, as well as Aye Nako. The power trio’s self-released three song EP entitled Demo 2017 will resonate with fans of Seahaven’s melancholic post-hardcore/indie sound. Whether for its earnest sounding vocals, partly reminiscent of Cold War Kids’ frontman Nathan Willett with a touch of emo, or for the band’s inventive guitar parts backed by complex drum beats, this is a new project that’s definitely worth checking out. Their next live show will be at the Amityville Music Hall on September 19. – Pearse Devlin

More than a few big names come to mind when listening to the careful, quirky alt-folk crafted by Kelly Hoppenjans on her June EP Dreaming Is Easy—Imogen Heap, Brandi Carlisle, Regina Spektor, to name a few. She experiments with her own vocal and artistic range to create a wide soundscape for a singer-songwriter. Her lyrics reveal a complicated battle of emotions that often contradict each other (“you can sell me short and I will buy,” “I’ll wear my tightest skirt and my thickest skin”), creating an emotional experience that anyone can relate to. Catch the sultry, raw pop of Kelly Hoppenjans before she embarks on tour on September 1st at the Homegrown Taproom in Tennessee. – Lilly Milman

Listen to our favorite track “Garden of Little White Lies” streaming below.

Drawing from both Appalachian folk music and modern experimental acoustic styles, Brooklyn based artist Hite ( aka Julia Easterlin) presents a captivating sound alongside illustrious storytelling. In March, Hite released her debut album, Light of a Strange Day, a tranquil and harmonious record featuring delicate vocals that carries listeners to a southern mountain soundscape. Catch Hite at C’mon Everybody 08.25, but for now watch the video for the song, "Light" below. –Tafari Lemma

Brooklyn band, Elliot & The Ghost, will be performing at Mercury Lounge on August 25th alongside Best Behavior. Most recently, the band released the single “Turn Off Your Radar” (streaming below), a playful yet dark alt-rock track that draws from pop, punk, and rock-and-roll. The song kicks off with an indie pop sound, while low vocals lead into an alternative rock-driven chorus. These darker undertones are tethered by lead singer William Thompson’s unleashing of scratchier and more daring vocals in the second verse. Be sure to catch the them light up the stage in a few weeks, and check out the music video to their latest single below. –Pearse Devlin

It’s easy to see how the heavy-hearted alternative pop of up-and-comers Elliot Root came to fruition, as the four-piece band formed in the heart of Music City itself. Since releasing their EP Thoughts From Yesterday last year, Elliot Root has seen their fair share of success. They’re following up with their debut LP called Conjure, set to be released on August 25th. They’ve already shared four singles off the LP, the most recent being the soulful stadium-ready anthem “Stay” (streaming below.) This isn’t a track to be listened to through headphones, which is a good thing considering they are beginning a tour with Rainbow Kitten Surprise in a couple of weeks. They will be playing a Nashville show on September 2nd at the Live On The Green festival. – Lilly Milman

The latest single “Spit” (streaming below) by Brooklyn band Abraham King has been a long time coming. The four-piece has been a work in progress ever since frontman Adam Eisler started it as a solo project back in college. Now the full-fledged band is gearing up to release a debut LP later this year, and if the rest of the album is anything like “Spit,” then it promises to be something special. The 90’s influenced single is a fuzzy and nostalgic melody-driven explosion of a kind of melancholy you can bang your head to. It’s also a refreshing return to the two-minute long song, which leaves you wanting more. They will be playing their next show at the Brooklyn venue Friends and Lovers on August 18th at 6:30 pm. – Lilly Milman