With that good… boy look that’s front and center in all of his press pictures, (Michael) Goodman builds the right expectation for the track we are premiering here, included in his upcoming album "The Vicissitudes," out on Invertebrate Records in February. The young Brooklyn based songwriter can certainly get things rocking if he wants to, but ‘Strangehold’ is a classic sounding pop ballad that requires crooning and a more subtle delivery, since it will, in all likelihood, throw you back in the arms of your teenage crush, on that very special night when he or she ended up slow-dancing with you, and triggering what Goodman refers to in the song as a "strangehold," his word for a love spell. Straddling the line between John Lennon’s more mellow post-Beatles moments, and Blur’s early ballads, this is as Brit pop as it gets, at least here in the Big Apple. Goodman has a remarkably large repertoire on his Soundcloud profile, and will be performing at Sunnyvale on 10.17.

It’s somewhat ironic that one of the hottest and most provocatively stylish NYC bands of this decade is hailing from that strip of land New Yorkers often (always?) look down on: Long Island. The D’Addario Brothers, aka The Lemon Twigs, look and sound like something your average Brooklyn hipster might frown upon, but their predecessors from fifty years ago would have certainly disagreed with that stance. At a time when the majority of local rockers find inspiration in the noisy and boring looking ’90s (by the way, was there a NYC grunge band in the ’90s?), the duo, similarly to what Foxygen did five or so years ago, responds with a visually and sonically striking revival of the art pop of the ’70s, with glamorous references to David Bowie’s androginous look – which, by the way, was born after the frequentation of the promiscuous lifestyle surrounding Andy Wharol’s NYC factory. But, of course, none of this would matter if their songs weren’t powerful and memorable, which they are. Check out the video for single ‘As Long As We’re Together’ (which took them to the Top 10 of our NYC charts for emerging artists on this same page) and the one for previous single ‘These Words.’

Those who enjoy soft, evocative music that lets their minds wander to other places should take a close listen to nu-soul New York based songwriter Warren Wolfe. With its James Blake influences, soft synths and clean guitar arpeggios, his songs can act as a refuge for our melancholia.  In his break out single “Thought’” Wolfe layers a slight falsetto upon slow electronic beats in a way that is comforting and heartbreaking at the same time.  His most recent release “Take The Fall” (streaming) shows the same sensibilities and leaves us with the promise of a soon to come, heart breaking EP. – Madeleine Grossman, photo by André Wheeler 

Returning for it’s third night, Deli NYC sponsored event, The Hum will be back at the Manhattan Inn with another killer line up. The three set event will feature artists like Emmy the Great, Allison Miller, and Shannon Lee to name a few. These are super talented musicians and it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of music will be produced through these collaborations. This is part of the month-long residency – presented by Hypnocraft and sponsored by The Deli, that is aimed at spotlighting female musicians across a wide variety of genres. Check out the full line up below, and catch the event happening every Monday in October. – Olivia Sisinni

Monday, October 17 | 8PM | Artist Line Up:

Emmy The Great + Jo Lampert (tune-yards) + Margot //

Allison Miller (BOOM TIC BOOM) + Domenica Fossati (Underground System) + Kendra Morris //

Melodie Stancato (Swoon Lake) + Sarah Kinlaw (SOFTSPOT) + Shannon Lee (Teen Body) //

Here’s streaming content for the NYC based artists in the list:

Brooklyn by way of Bogota artist, Ela Minus, crafts intricate electronic melodies that feel avant but strangely absorbing. Her instrumentals, which are strong but subtle, are paired with a quirky, gossamer vocal performance, and the combination of the two–especially on standout track "Volcán"–creates an unexpectedly bright track that might make your day. Ela Minus has a new record scheduled for a November release. Catch her live at Sunnyvale 10/22 with Miniature Tigers, and in the meantime stream her below. – Olivia Sisinni

LI punk legend Jeff Rosenstock (Bomb the Music Industry! Arrogant Sons of Bitches, as well as a host of other projects), is dropping another album tomorrow, and rue punks (like us) should be stoked. Worry—the follow up release to 2015’s We Cool?—is an album that balances Rosenstock’s fun, high-energy musical approach, with his skill at penning thoughtful, honest narratives. It’s main aim involves exploring the external forces that contribute to depression and anxiety in the world, but despite the heavy subject matter, Rosenstock manages to pull off self-aware, punk anthems that feel candid yet encouraging. Check out his single for "Wave Goodnight to Me" below, and catch him live at Villian 11/18 with Hard Girls and Katie Ellen.-Olivia Sisinni

Painting moody landscapes that could easily be the backdrop for a dystopian future, Jon Fay‘s music feels effortlessly enigmatic and prowling. His tracks are delicate, but set against growling basslines, they take on more sinister tones and wind dangerously down echo-y corridors. You can check out Jon Fay as a part of the upcoming BEMF festival on 11/5 at the Panther Room with Route 8 and Asquith, but in the meantime, hit the play button below. – Olivia Sisinni

Here’s a video that will send you mixed messages (upliftingly cringeworthy?) by NYC/LA based artist Henry Hall for new single "Dream Lover". It starts off with the artist standing in front of a green screen, gazing into the camera with sympathetic eyes, and singing amidst an escalating rhythmic groove defined by a tight, punchy beat and brisk guitar strums… until the words "I’m in love with my girlfriend’s sister" are uttered, after which Henry breaks out a goofy smile, and begins to dance, his body overimposed on a montage of vintage movies. It is dark, but it’s quite humorous as well. Check it out down below, catch him live at LA’s The Hotel Cafe on October 14, and stay tuned if you want more, there’s an EP underway! – Ashley Muniz

The blurring of the lines between the hip-hop and RnB genres has been an exciting development in recent years. Headliners like Frank Ocean, and Isaiah Rashad have highlighted a generation of emcees that like to sing, or crooners that spit bars on ocassion. deem spencer is an emerging Queens based artist that belongs to this category. Over the past year, the he has maintained a steady stream of output, culiminating in the release of his Sunflowers EP a month ago. Spencer’s appeal as an artist lies in striking, abstract lyrics and tense, atmospheric production. His backing instrumentals, while lush, are also stripped down, allowing for his poetic lyrics and soft vocals, whether they be sung or rapped, to take center stage. If his music puts you in the mood, you can check him out live on 10/16 at Don Pedro. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

girlyboi is back at it again with new six tracks mini-album Good Looks, and the release is an instant stunner. The duo’s vocals are either ethereal or snarling, and set against a bed of ambient synths or folk-influenced indie pop. The tracks work in a way that feels like the epitome of understated ny-cool. What’s even more engaging however is the lyrical content of Good Looks: the record positions the listener as a voyeur pulling back the curtains–it weaves raw, honest emotions in a way that feels (maybe even too-) close-to-home for anyone who’s tried their hand at navigating love and the city. Good Looks is at once intimate, and instantly relatable. Listen to the EP streaming below. – Olivia Sisinni

With fuzzy basslines, bold vocals, and a classic, guitar-driven sound, DC-based The Effects deliver angular alt rock with indie rock vibes. Anthemic, and instantly catchy, the trio’s sound is aggressive but melodic and immediately accesible without being boring. You can check out the band playing DC9 10/14 with Cinemechanica, but in the meantime stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni

With most tracks clocking in at the under 2 minute mark, Knoxville-based Hellaphant is proof that good things come in small pachyderms packages. The band plays high-energy, garagey punk, perfect for your parents-out-of-town party, or the next time you’re vandalizing something. Check them out live at the International 10/29 with *repeat repeat and Mountains Like Wax, and in the meantime stream them below.-Olivia Sisinni