Billy Changer is one of those artists that comes in and out of the LA spotlight, but somehow always manages to stick in your head. 2014’s release S/T is a groovy, innovative psych-pop record, with two memorable tracks like "Barbarella" and "Black Angel." Like anything on Lolipop, the fun-loving rival of Burger Records, the album is sun-drenched sweetness. 2016’s "Light and Shadow Under the Olive Tree" makes a more "organic" turn, with fewer effects and a more earthy lyric-driven sound, that’s borderline folk-pop. Listen to their new Soundcloud singles for their upcoming release or catch them at one of their national tour stops continuing now into September. – Allie Miller 

"Sarah Brown" sounds like that wild Saturday night at a grunge-y, smoke-filled bar listening to hard rock. Or… hard folk? This new tune by 5j Barrow sure rocks and rolls in every sense of the term, except there’s also a banjo solo. That’s what makes it all the more: there’s the expected lonesome beginning, with hollow harmonies and a steadily beating kick drum, which melts into smashing guitars and half-growled/half-shouted vocals by the end of the song. 5j Barrow are clearly heavily influenced by the folkier textures in the genre, but "Sarah Brown" is a wild ride, no doubt. Their forthcoming EP, The Journey: Vol. 1, is out this fall. After a bunch of local dates (Union Hall tonight, Rockwood on the 13th), the band, founded and fronted by singer-songwriters and Broadway actors, Eryn Murman and Jason Hite, will go out on a New England/upstate NY in August. –Geena Kloeppel

NYC-based Sharkmuffin creates punchy garage rock wrapped in a fuzzy, ’60s cool that is at once feminine and fearless. On the heels of a new album release, the band is about to celebrate the release of a split cassette with fellow NYC garage revivalists The Off White at Muchmore’s on July 20th. Tarra Thiessen (guitar/vox) and Natalie Kirch (bass/vox) also gave our sister blog Delicious Audio an in-depth look into the meaning behind their latest tracks, and the delicious array of pedals they use to help create their frenetic tunes. Check out single "Leather Gloves, streaming below, and the interview about the creative process, at the link below.

Sharkmuffin Q&A about Pedals and the Creative Process.

New York’s indie-pop quartet Lightning Bug is playing at Baby’s All Right on July 8th, at the release show for the immigrant rights benefit compilation entitled "So Many Singing." Lightning Bug’s most recent EP, ‘the torment of love,’ showcases the band’s affinity for atmospheric bedroom pop, as well as melodic folk-rock sensibilities reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. – Ethan Ames

While we were still sobbing over the touchingly soft 2015 release of Skin Gets Hot, Fraternal Twin‘s debut album, Brooklyn Native Tom Christie went ahead and broke our hearts all over again. The sophomore release of "Homeworlding" in 2016 provided 10 more songs of even sweeter thoughtfulness. On that record, Christie went somewhat pop, covering all our favorite issues (space, ghosts, and nature), on songs like "Big Dipper," "Favorite Ghost," and "White Wind." Adding a handful of minor chords to each of those topics, "Homeworlding" turned into a fitting stay-in-bed album. Now in 2017, Fraternal Twin catches our attention again with their July tour. See them at Silent Barn July 11th with Stolen Jars, Thelma, and Poppies. -Allie Miller

Showtime Goma (of Sunny Day in Glasgow) turns pop on its head with her new album Smiley Face. Experimenting with different soundscapes, distortions, airy pop vocals, her new record moves in a dozen different directions that all flow together seamlessly. There is the dancey “Big Disaster” (video streaming below,) the slow “Propel,” the experimental “Chug,” and more. Jen Goma’s noteworthy vocal and artistic range shine through in this record, making her an artist to watch. Catch up with Showtime Goma at her album release party at Union Pool in Brooklyn on July 9th at 8. She’ll be touring with Of Montreal in September! – Lilly Milman 

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

Evan Lanam and The Live Oaks is a rowdy folk rock and roll outfit from the San Francisco Bay Area. Hailed by some as the “Anderson Paak of folk music,” Lanam fills his band with friends and plays whenever and wherever he can. The band just wrapped a three-show residency at The Boom Boom Room that spanned over a month and a half, but they aren’t slowing down. Catch them next at the Uptown Nightclub in Oakland, CA Back Focus by Evan Lanam & the Live Oaks

Deli Reders! 

The Best of NYC issue 2017 is out digitally (physically soon too!), with glorious garage rockers Baby Shakes gracing its cover! The super fun quartet topped our Best of NYC Poll for Emerging NYC Artists earlier this year, which earned them the cover of this issue – go see them live if you can!

Besides featuring more than 90 of the best emerging NYC bands organized by genre, the issue is also focused on the our free, educational event for musicians called NYC MixCon! Musicians located in or near Manhattan should take this incredible no cost opportunity to learn about mixing on July 8/9 – check out the list of incredible producers involved here and RSVP to the single presentation(s) you are interested in attending.

According to their Facebook, Sketchy is “5 dudes living in NYC that like pizza and alcohol… a lot.” Their most recent release is a split record with U.K. based band Burnt Tapes, featuring two tracks (“Normal” and “Whiskey And Coffee”) of fast-paced, punchy punk rock. Christopher Schultz on vocals is a force of nature, and he’s backed by arrangements that are powerful and unapologetic. The band will be playing at Muchmore’s in Brooklyn on July 7th with Sally Draper and The Toms. – Lilly Milman

Listen to their new single, "Never Meant to Get This Old" (streaming below) off their upcoming album "Heck" (coming out August 4th.)

Released on the first day of the season, the EP Summer Vibes by Nashville’s Geddes The Sea (also known as Gavin Geddes) is exactly what the summer needed. Rooted in a playful, chamber pop sound, the EP soars through fun lyrics, horn riffs, staccato beats, and powerful harmonies. This is especially seen in "Sunrise" (streaming below) which opens the EP with an infectious melody and vocal arrangement reminiscent of other bouncy, alt-rock bands like Neon Trees. The theme of the release is overwhelmingly optimistic and light—all staples of a good summer pop album. –Lilly Milman

San Francisco electro-soul act, The Crooked Stuff, are kicking off their summer residency at San Francisco’s Boom Boom Room on July 12th. With influences ranging from The Doors, Bad Brains, and Funkadelic, to Jamiroquai and Massive Attack, The Crooked Stuff are sonically experimental and unreserved. The band’s residency continues July 26th, August 9th and 23rd. – Ethan Ames

Danish multi-instrumentalist and producer extraordinaire Sara Savery aka Drop the Gun has shared the music video for a single from her debut, self-titled EP. "All I Want" is boldly colored, eye-catching, and startling. Featuring cutaways of a superimposed face on Savery’s hands, lyrics flashing in front of clips and kaleidoscopic visual effects, the music video highlights the pop-electronic production of the song. The video taps into the depth behind the lyrics in a harsher, more pronounced light, getting to the root of the confusion the Savery aimed to portray in the song. "All I Want" displays inner turmoil on the screen, quite literally. Don’t miss her live performance at Baby’s All Right on September 21st. – Geena Kloeppel