Brooklyn-based Evolfo plays garage rock with the sort of heart, grit, and flourishes you’d expect from a group of vinyl store junkies with a massive b-side collection. The band, an ensemble of music school students who orginally united–to much acclaim–in Boston, plays like a well-currated list of late 60s-70s cult hits. Their songs are dynamic, visceral, infectious, and immediately compelling. Take a listen to their recent release, "Vision of Sin," streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Texas transplants, Pueblo, moved to Brooklyn last year, taking with them the ease and warmth of the southern state. These characteristics define the band’s sound, especially in the new video for their song “Dictating Directions.” In footage depicting a road trip adventure, the tempered beats of the percussion glide alongside a smooth electric guitar and soft, laid-back vocals. The slowed motion of the video is trance-like, and the whole thing feels like a dream. Perhaps it is. Pueblo’s new EP Boring The Camera is out March 31 and catch them live tonight, 3/17 at Trans Pecos. -Geena Kloeppel

Can you listen to  Tinica Rose and not have goosebumps run up and down your arms? The Bronx-based songwriter’s unique acoustic blend of R&B marries her buttery vocals with understated guitar tracks to produce songs that feel honest, earnest, and effortless. The intimate performance style also acts as the perfect vessel for Tinica’s lyricism as she offers songs that feel at once deeply personal but also instantly relatable. Check out "WHHW," off of the artist’s latest EP, The Girl Behind the Sarcasm, streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Jersey-based The Off White‘s self titled EP may clock in at under 12 minutes, but don’t be duped–the four tracks pack a wallop of punchy, surfy garage rock goodness that won’t waste your time with any of the fat. The four-piece deals in psych-tinged garage with a punk-rock attitude that is rearing and ready to be your soundtrack for nights of old-school rock ‘n’ roll depravity. Take a listen to The Off White streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

Party music that you can enjoy with a pair of headphones, Baltimore, MD based SOOHAN‘s fourth full length album is a joyride. A virtuoso sampler, SOOHAN draws on Jewish folk music and Indian pop songs to craft infectiously melodic, trap heavy grooves. Every track on this album is a real treat: well crafted, smooth as butter, and an invitation to dance like a deranged banshee.

Check out SOOHAN at Rock & Roll Hotel April 22nd.

-Written by Michael Dranove

There’s something instantly captivating about Cassandra Jenkin’s songwriting presence. The Brooklyn-based songstress wraps her music in a tender yet ethereal aura, while masterfully spinning new slants on classic imagery. On her latest single, "Red Lips," Jenkins combines her breathy vocals with driving electronic pulses resulting in a track that feels soft but strong–accesible alt pop, enshrined with deeper lyricism. Take a listen to the new single streaming below.-Olivia Sisinni

We here at the Deli are excited to announce that our absolute favorite schizo-prog/math-metal-freakout band, Bangladeafy, has not only swept the best NYC metal/punk act category for our yearly polls, but have also garnered the top pick in our NYC reader’s poll! Offering up facemelting riffage at it’s absolute finest, the mindbending duo of Jon Ehlers and Atif Haq make highly virtuosic tunes that push not only the bounds of genres, but of technical playing ability. Bangladeafy is undoubtedly a band to watch, but if you don’t believe me, go ahead and smack that play button below. We would also like to thank all of the bands for participating, and the readers and jurors who make these polls possible every year.-Olivia Sisinni

Avant-pop artist Miles Francis has released his debut single "You’re A Star", along with a fresh music video for the track. To mark the release, Francis will perform at Union Pool on Thursday, March 16th with The Jack Moves and Kendra Morris. Francis not only wrote and produced the song himself, but performed all of the instruments on it as well, while recording in his basement studio. The track touches on balancing the search for popularity with happiness, which Francis experienced himself while touring with acts such as Will Butler of Arcade Fire. His video, directed by filmmaker Charles Billot, shows Francis in a white-clad suit as dancers in colorful costumes symbolize hunger for validation. The video features cameos by Katherine and Lizzie Lieberson of TEEN, both of whom will perform with Francis at Union Pool as members of his live band. Watch the video for "You’re A Star" below. – Will Sisskind

It’s never been quite clear if future funk is supposed to be an ironic criticism of capitalism in the 21st century, or serious straight ahead funk made in someone’s bedroom. Certainly, future funk legends like Saint Pepsi originally intended their music to build upon the social and economic criticisms so central to vaporwave music. However, there has always been an element of unironic enjoyment in the music, something which the most recent crop of future funkers seem to be focusing on.

Perhaps to highlight exactly what the appeal of future funk is, future funk artist Cero Rio, published through the Baltimore future funk collective Sunrise Collective, has titled their latest release "Towards the Future". The sparkling clean songs on this album embrace the sound of artificiality as the sound of the future, something exciting and fresh.  That takes care of the future, but what about the funk?  Groovy basslines and snippy horn melodies make sure to fully deliver on the promise of "future funk".

My recommendation, if you want to hear something new, give it a listen.

-Written by Michael Dranove

With Spring on the horizon, singer/songwriter James A.M. Downes’ new EP, ‘Prison Font’ is perfect for thawing those winter-frozen hearts. Due out 3/17, the project consist in rich folk pop songs where Downes convey a wide variety of emotions. Tracks like “Bait My Soul” are full of sweet melodies, charming twang and upbeat cheerfulness, whereas “Feel My Love,” is a stripped down folk ballad where the songwriters’ powerful vocals take center stage. With ‘Prison Font,’ James has boldly displayed his talent as a songwriter, and solidified himself as someone to watch. You can check him out live at Berlin on 3/25. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Based out of both Toronto and Brooklyn, Ginla plays low key electronic music ranging from the poppy to the experimental, although it must be noted that the poppier material is the most recent one, showing a classic evolution emerging artists go through when they mature artistically. 2014’s debut single ‘Almost Plastic’ features two (or three? Bandcamp and Soundcloud seem to disagree on that matter) intriguing tracks where electronic ambient pop meets Radiohead-style experimentation. Recent single ‘Apophenia’ (strreaming) tames the angularity for an approach that follows a more linear and dreamy approach. The band will travel to Austin this week to play SXSW.

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

In the spaces between world-wide tours as bassist for A Place To Bury Strangers, Dion Lunadon spends time writing and recording his own solo material.  The results of those efforts will culminate in an 11 track self-titled debut album he recorded over a three-month period in Brooklyn.  The album and preview track “Fire” (streaming below) features contributions from sometimes APTBS drummer Robi Gonzalez and guitarist Blaze Bateh from Bambara on select tracks.  With live unprocessed drumming, Farfisa organ, distorted guitar bursts and Dion’s descending bassline, a noisy hybrid of punk, 60’s garage and psychedelia come together on “Fire.”  The title line chorus shares a spiritual connection with Arthur Brown’s 1968 hit of the same name.  The mood here is much heavier though, with lyrics that go “So stressed out from the negative vibes, it sounds like the truth but you know it’s a lie.”  Melodic guitar lines appear in places, adding a more traditional rock structure. The self-titled debut album will be released on June 9th via Agitated Records and will be available via his Bandcamp page. – Dave Cromwell