A book review of one of Murukami’s novels once said his work was influenced by so many writers it ended up being incredibly original. There’s some truth to that description, and it might just apply to Boston band Oh Malô as well. They have sound that’s very difficult to pin the tail on, but perhaps taking an index of the components and parts would help. On their latest LP, As We Were their guitars are deeply atmospheric with a light psych feel. The vocals are deeply soulful, and wouldn’t feel out of place on any RnB track. The rhythm section, though, is downright muscular, emboldening the sound with an alt or even prog-rock flavor.  The easiest comparison to make would be to Local Natives, but that doesn’t help much either, considering they to deftly evade most categorization also. Suffice to say, Oh Malô make quality music that sounds familiar and fresh all at once. You can see them live at Great Scott on 8/26. — Henry Solotaroff-Webber

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

After perfecting their nuanced sound via touring and single releases, the shoegaze duo, Shana Falana, impressed critics with a 2015 debut LP titled Set Your Lightning Fire Free. Follow-up album, Here Comes the Wave is scheduled for a fall release later this year. The band’s sound hits all the right sensory marks dealing in positive wonderment and a sense of discovery. Vocals, as sung by singer/guitarist Shana, soar over chiming guitars and tom-tom drums, all of which keep pace with affected, drone-y guitars. 

Read the Delicious Audio Interview with Shana Falana about her creative process.

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

Hailing from Haverhill, MA, Zero Disorder is the bedroom pop project of Joe Bastian. His album Swim was recorded in his bedroom during the cold months of January through March, and was released in April through Public Alley Records. The release puts Bastian’s songwriting abilities on display with interesting instrumentation and lyricism that wastes no time getting to the point. Similar to lo-fi contemporaries Alex G and Elvis Depressedly, Bastian’s vocals are moody, but remain upbeat when – in his songs – he asks movie stars if they feel lonely or sings about a morning cup of coffee. The tracks are dominated by Joe’s guitar and drumming, but unique background noises make subtle appearances throughout the record, like on “Not Myself”. – John Honan

They say not all who wander are lost, but NJ-based alt-folk rockers, Lowlight, want to question why we even wander at all.  Merging with ease the warmth of Western folk and an indie rock sensibility, the band’s latest release, "Why Wander" gallops along with the assistance of a steady, driving drumbeat, conjuring up images of wild, rust-colored stallions rumbling across the plains. The song, a meditation on those who wander and those who choose to stay put, is characterized by the precise intertwining of the electric instrumentation, and the vague fatalism of the lyrics, expressed by singer Renne Maskin with a slight twang. The combo makes for a warm folk rock song rooted in the American tradition – stream it below, exclusively on the Deli. – Olivia Sisinni

Vomitface formed shortly after Hurricane Sandy when two of its members found themselves trapped in their home writing songs about their depressing surroundings, and released two EPs in 2014 and 2015. Evoking the sounds of Nirvana and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the lead single off their upcoming album “Senior Pictures” is a sludgy grungy track that features crunchy spastic guitars over a steady rhythm section. Front-man Jared Micah delivers lines like “I like the subtle way you roll your eyes” in a deadpan tone before erupting into a raw and gritty scream during the song’s final seconds. The trio recently released a music video for the song directed by Jimmy Fontaine and Nick Bilardello. It depicts the group rocking out in a gritty warehouse setting and on the rooftop of a New York City building, through uneven camera movements that match their angsty brand of rock. Vomitface’s debut full length Hooray For Me will be released on August 26th via Help Yourself Records, and they will be celebrating its release on August 28th at Alphaville in Brooklyn! Stream their latest single Dramamine below! – John Honan

There was a time where the metalheads and hardcore kids were separated by their tastes in music and fashion, but as time went on hardcore bands such as Cro-Mags, Sick of It All, and Agnostic Front began to blur the lines between the two genres by releasing metal influenced hardcore records. Today’s hardcore scene is dominated by metalcore bands, and Brooklyn’s White Widows Pact are one of the more pummeling and interesting acts in this scene. On their debut full length True Will the quintet fuses the 90’s death metal and sludge metal with the groove of classic New York Hardcore bands like Madball and Biohazard. Frontman David Castillo’s (also of Primitive Weapons and co-owner of St. Vitus) lyrics are deeply personal, and are delivered in a throat shredding and vehement manner. White Widows Pact will be playing St. Vitus on August 22nd in support of one of their main influencers – Madball! – John Honan

This Long Island teen brother duo is set for an exciting year, having recently signed with legendary British label 4AD. First single—“These Words” b/w “As Long As We’re Together”—is not merely post-modern mischief. It’s full of seventies cliché, the kind which elegizes funky guitars, prog synths, smooth choruses, and metallic band logos (e.g. Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden). In this case, a hypervigilant sensitivity to the past doesn’t detract, but feels freshly imbued with the spirit of youth. Check out the brand new video for the single, streaming below, and don’t miss their upcoming show with Sunflower Bean at Music Hall of W’Burg on October 7 (part of a three week east coast tour). – Brian Chidester

With over 40 bands set to play before the Long Island Indie Rock & Pop Festival is through, you might be more than a little inundated with all the bands there are to see. Well, have no fear because we’ve picked a couple of our favorite groups that we think you should be listening to right now.  

Astronauto seamlessly blends strong soul-bearing folk sensibilities with space-y synths that sound plucked from Jupiter.  The result is dynamic songs that swell and breathe but feel sincerely introspective–edging toward the stratosphere but never truly leaving earth. Listen to their set 8/21 at 89 North.

A New Bug delivers high-energy garage punk with old school vibes. Lackadaisical vocals ooze reserved, New-York cool, but are dotted by flashes of unbridled wildness. The band’s vox are pitted against fuzzy, driving instrumentals that make it near irrestiable to shake something. Mark A New Bug down as your perfect companion for the next time you’re up to no good, and see them play on 8/20 at O’Brien’s. 

It Came From Space is maybe the gateway drug for listeners yet to add math rock tunes to their heavy rotation. The band lays down highly acessible instrumental tracks that unfold in scope right before your ears, and sneak narrative dreamscapes behind your optic nerves. The tracks are consistently sweet sounding, and the band holds solid grooves that never get stuck anywhere for too long. Check out their set 8/22 at Portside.-Olivia Sisinni

Blending catchy synth pop arrangements and sweet vocal harmonies, Retail Space delivers a song ripe for the dog days with "Getting Older." The video, premiering exclusively on The Deli, serves up classic summer vibes and provides the perfect counterpoint to the lyricism, which explores the bittersweet experience of aging. "Getting Older," manages to capture the fleeting nature of not only summer, but the bliss of youth. Despite the weight that the theme may carry, the video manages to explore this in a way that never dwells too long in melancholic territory, and instead provides a postive narrative that lives in the moment and soaks in the sunshine. Watch video premiere below and check out Retail Space’s LP In the Lotia here. – Olivia Sisinni

While the members of Slight have been busy playing in Painted Zeros, LVL UP, and Normal Person, the trio has managed to find the time to drop two EPs and a single in the span of a year. In the fall of 2015 they released their sophomore EP Hate The Summer, which improved on of their 2014 single Run, soaking their catchy power pop melodies in guitar fuzz. In title-track Hate the Summer the band’s fragile vocals, somewhat reminiscent of The Lemonheads, draw memorable pop hooks, while exploding guitars in the choruses channel the raw energy of rock’n’roll. Slight will be playing the Silent Barn on August 21st. – John Honan, photo by Stephanie Griffin

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

Coming at you live from the heart of Long Island, Planet of Sound Promotion presents the Long Island Indie Rock & Pop festival. Featuring 5 days of music and over 40 bands, the fest is set to start tonight 8/18 at O’Brien’s, and will take place at 4 different venues. The music marathon will also be boasting art from local creators, goods from LI vendors, and even henna and face-painting booths! You can check the event here for more information, and in the meantime, be sure to check out some tunes from our favorite bands set to play the festival below. – Olivia Sisinni

It is rare to come across a voice that has the ability to grasp deep inside as much as the one of Brooklyn-based Sam Himself, whose whispered baritone and simple ballads revives memories of early Leonard Cohen. Uncomplicated yet effortlessly dynamic, the Switzerland born artist’s folky new release, “Out of Love” is an honest and raw expression of how we are willing to do anything out of love. His voice is complimented by the tenderness of the female harmonies of Denitia Odigie, giving heart to two sides of a relationship.  Stay tuned for future releases, as this is a voice that is hard to forget. – Madeleine Grossman, photo by Daryl Oh