Brooklyn-based artist Birch‘s new single, "Pick Sides" arrives at an exceptionally divisive point in our country’s history. While most people find themselves plagued with a robust outpouring of facebook fights focused on politics, social constructs, or the full gamut in between, Michelle Birsky–the synth-pop artist behind the musical project–turns her attention to the binary ways of thinking that create the false dichotomies that divide us. The single proves to be a bit more pop-minded than her previous releases, but the gravity of the subject blends seamlessly into her infectious melodies, and truly showcases her songwriting prowess. You can catch Birch live at the Mercury Lounge 2/25 alongside, Controller and Madeline Mondrala, but also click the play button to stream her below.-Olivia Sisinni

Brooklyn-based band, Wild Arrows, crafts indie pop tunes with a seriously dark streak that feels a lot like 80’s goth-pop heaven. Their latest release, "Dark Me" is no exception, combining clean, minimalist beats with harrowing lyricism to create a single that’s as striking as it is catchy. The band is gearing up to release a new album April 14th, and we can only imagine it’s stocked with the same flavor of dreamy synths, moody lyricism and the glittering transe-like aesthetic that we’ve come to love them for. You can catch the band live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg 3/29 alongside Minus the Bear and Bayonne, but before then take a listen to Wild Arrows below.-Olivia Sisinni

Here’s a recap of our Best of NYC Indie Pop Poll, which ended last Friday and highlighted some truly talented emerging locals.

We already celebrated Zuli, winner of the Readers’ Poll, here. 

Ex Reyes, the project of New Orleans songwriter Mikey Freedom Hart, was the winner of the overall chart (and therefore of the "Best of NYC" title for this category – this chart adds to the readers’ votes the points cast by our scene "experts," who nominated all the artists in the list). Rather impressively, this band has been consistently churning out quality, extremely sophisticated, soulful and somewhat loungy tracks that reveal the rich musical background of its singer/songwriter and the city he hails from. Check out the video for their break out single "Bad Timing" below.

Other artists who did really well in the poll are Sam Evian (same juror score as Ex Reyes, less readers votes), Surf Rock is Dead (3rd place overall and 2nd in the Readers’ Poll), and Plastic Picnic (3rd in the Readers’ Poll) – check out their tracks, streaming below.

Find the full list of the Indie Pop Category finalist at the bottom of this post.

	Crying		2%	7 votes
	Cigarettes After Sex		2%	8 votes
	Ex Reyes		1%	6 votes
	Forth Wanderers		1%	6 votes
	Gates		0%	3 votes
	The Lemon Twigs		2%	9 votes
	Pavo Pavo		1%	4 votes
	Plastic Picnic		13%	47 votes
	Sam Evian		1%	5 votes
	Soccer Mommy		11%	41 votes
	Surf Rock Is Dead		17%	61 votes
	Yoke Lore		10%	36 votes
	Zuli		33%	116 votes

Ladies and gentlemen, if you wonder who came up with the term “Nu-Wop Dreamsauce,” we can assure you it wasn’t late Supreme Court judge Antonin Scalia (R.I.P.). The words, instead, are used by NYC trio PEP to describe their Doo-Woop influenced vintage pop. These ladies just released a new single entitled "Get Physical," in anticipation of their debut album, to be released later this year. It sounds like some African influences made their way inside that ‘dreamsauce" – we likey! The band will be performing at Rough Trade on March 16. It promises to be a fun night.

Hard beats, hard lyrics, hard flow; Noochie’s raw, minimalist sound reflects the rapper’s street tough charisma. With songs focusing on his DC heritage, Noochie hopes to be the next DC rap sensation. After grabbing some national exposure with the music video for the song “Gutta”, Noochie is optimistic, telling an interviewer in XXL, “I’m going to be the next one. When he walk into the room that’s him right there, he got it. Like Neo in The Matrix, un-$#%&-witable.”

Here’s the music video for Noochie’s “Gutta”.

-Written by Michael Dranove

Our Best of Nashville 2017 poll began last week with the Hip Hop/Electronic category and after you-the-people cast your vote, we have the results to share with you!

Overall Poll winner (Jurors vote + Readers’ vote): Soft Bodies

Readers’ Poll Winner (Readers’ Vote only): Truitt

Both Soft Bodies and Truitt craft music that bores right down into the soul. Soft Bodies’ dancy, psychedelic sonicsphere nestles right down into the subconscious. Mostly synth-based, their tunes set a mind and body to motion. Rhythm and melody meet in blissful arpeggiating crescendoes, weaved together with deep melanchology vocals that drive the songs forward. Soft Bodies claims the entire atmosphere of a space, setting a tone and collective motion. 

Truitt carries a more structured, pop orientation, influenced by electronic based pop production (take the newest Justin Bieber record, for example). The songs are symmetrical with traditional pop structuring and offer irresistable vocal hooks that seep into your head. Don’t expect a uniform catalog of contemporary radio pop tunes with Truitt, however. Their songs offer a variety of production techniques and sampled instrumentation that shatter expectations and leave you waiting for the next one.

Honorable mentions go to Biyo and Jensen Sportag (tied for second in the overall chart) and PHANGS (second in the Readers’ poll). The full list of nominees can be found under the streaming tracks. 

Here is the list of all the finalists in the Nashville Hip Hop/Electronic category and their readers’ poll results:

	Biyo		0%	7 votes
	Chill Witch		4%	31 votes
	Facemajik		0%	2 votes
	Foreign Fields		0%	2 votes
	Jensen Sportag		0%	0 votes
	Mike Floss		0%	1 vote
	Nightblonde		0%	2 votes
	PHANGS		27%	199 votes
	Stealing Oceans		0%	0 votes
	Soft Bodies		0%	7 votes
	The Trinity Schill Kill		0%	1 vote
	Truitt		65%	476 votes

Is it absolutely necessary to spend Valentine’s Day listening to "romantic" and mellow music? Brooklyn rockers NoPop answer "no’ to that question, by premiering their sophomore 7 track EP “Demons” exclusively here on The Deli. Describing their music as "pink punk, zoo-music, moxy-rock," the band combines driving rhythms and softer pop together in a hyper-crazed mix embracing unhinged wildness.  “Wear The Feeling” taps into Surfer Rosa era Pixies with similar distorted screaming vocals. The under two minutes “Holly” – one of our favorites – chugs along with perky energy as female vocals find the sweet spot between Kim Deal’s charmingly intoxicated sounding lines and bigger girl group background harmonies. “Huffers” is supported by a heavy fuzz bass, alternating chant vocals and shifting snare shot punctuation.  “Number One” pairs syncopated drumming and metal guitar phrasings with alternating hyper-angst vocals and softer passages. First single “Rules” builds off a steady bass guitar pulse before launching into a full cinematic explosion. The near 7 minute “Frederick Fleet” serves as an epic final track. Demons was mixed, engineered, and co-produced by Julian Cubillos of 77 Linden, and mastered by NY legend Kramer, whose work includes the Pulp Fiction’s soundtrack, Half-Japanese and Butthole Surfers. – Dave Cromwell

The Best of NYC Indie Pop Readers’ Poll ended last Friday and we have some results for ya’ll!

The band Zuli, brainchild of the New York native Ryan Camenzuli, got the upper hand in that category’s readers poll. The group plays well behaved pop in the tradition of the Beach Boys and Elvis Costello. Their debut EP "Supernatural Voodoo," filled with intoxicating melodies and witty lyrics, has been growing on us (and many other music fans) since its 2015 release. The band is playing Les Poisson Rouge on February 16th in a very "psych," all NYC bill including Monogold, Shana Falana and Dead Leaf Echo – that’s actually a show sponsored by The Deli, do not miss! Check out the recent video for "Better All the Time," streaming below.

In the crowded Brooklyn garage rock scene, Las Rosas stands out for catchiness, character. and authenticity. The band’s profile has been rising quite a bit in 2016, so much so that they are currently on a European tour that take them through the Check Republic, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, the UK and the Netherlands. They’ll be in Austin for SXSW with a show at Hotel Vegas on March 18th, and then back to NYC for a home performance at Baby’s All Right on April 8th. Check out their recent video for single ‘Boys,’ streaming below.

In anticipation of his three week residency at NYC club Berlin, UK artist Reggie Snow has dropped a highly political new video. The plodding beat provided by Kendrick Lamar producer Rahki is an unsettling backdrop for a disconcerting journey through the darkest alley of our justice system. Tish Hyman, a BX native with pipes of bristled gold, adds further fervor to the tenor of the track. Rejjie has a free art project in the works with Beast Coast magnate Joey Bada$$ called The Moon In You. Catch Rejjie at Berlin on March 1, 8, and 15. – BrokeMC

Blending folk, punk, and early-90s grunge into their own sound, Brooklyn’s duo The Falling Birds are offering an intriguing combination of genres supported by that crucial (and too often missing) ingredient known as ‘quality songwriting.’ We are premiering right here, right now, their new EP, ‘What Is There To Talk About.’ The record, streaming below, is set for an official release on February 17th, and includes single "Anything Worse", which was co-produced by Brian Speaker – who has worked with Crazy & The Brains among others. The release party is scheduled for February 16th at Rockwood Music Hall’s Stage 2 in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. – Will Sisskind

It’s no surprise to see the charismatic loungy indie quartet, Yuma, atop the readers poll for ‘Best Emerging Indie Rock Artist of 2016’. Technically proficient but structurally unfettered, Yuma curates a refreshing dynamic of psychedlic-infused prog rock. The real lure of the group are their live performances which demand a no-gimmick focus on their melodies and choruses yet allows the listener to dance and lose themselves in the band’s intrinsic joviality. Yuma’s momentum continues to snowball, and 2017 should hold a myriad new milestones.