"Through Being Hip," the latest single to drop from fuzzy surf-pop band YJY, is an upbeat anthem set against the millenial malaise. The song explores the murky territory of navigating trends while still trying to figure out a person’s own individuality–a crossroads many twenty-somethings face. The ironic lyrics are supported by catchy instrumentals with surf rock drumbeats, that have the potential to become our next earworm. Look out for a full album dropping soon, but in the meantime, check out the latest single below. – Olivia Sisinni

Soft Fangs is the lof-fi bedroom pop recording project of singer-songwriter John Lutkevich. His debut album The Light was recorded in the attic of his childhood home, to be then released in March via Exploding in Sound Records and Disposable America. Its lo-fi quality and melancholic vocals breed a warm and intimate atmosphere born from Lutkevich’s desire to alleviate life’s struggles. Evoking the vulnerability of Elliott Smith and atmospheric sonic inclination, Lutkevich wears his heart on his sleeve when talking about growing older, being unable to find a job, and waiting around for someone to love you back. His vocal delivery is desolate, and sometimes borders on a whimpering tone, however, when paired with the tender guitars and lush instrumentation, his songs can provide a cathartic release. Soft Fangs will be playing at the Cake Shop on August 13th and the Throne in Brooklyn on August 19th! – John Honan

After four years, Sleepies are back with a new full length entitled Natural Selection, released on July 16th via Mirror Universe Tapes. The record marks a definite shift for the band towards late ’60s British psych. The opening two songs ‘Chips Left‘ and ‘Genetic Cousins’ (streaming) toy with melodies reminiscent of unforgotten madman Syd Barrett, but fill up the sonic spectrum with a tense and fuzzy blend of garagey distorted guitars. Following song “All Over The Years” follows recycles Parquet Courts’ "Nu-Post-Punk" sound (a recurring influence), although the spacey chord changes never fail to remind us the psych nature of this work. Delirious power-track Sky Chase is filled with urgency and intriguing vocal arrangements, while pushing the saturation of their garagey sound to eleven. Throughout the album, the guitars always lay the groundwork with threatening tones and riffs, but this tension is constantly resolved through memorable choruses and vocal melodies – for a satisfying listening esperience. – John Honan

When The Smell was given notice to close for demolition, news spread like wildfire and galvanized Southland’s music comunity into action. Organizer/musician Gregory Cole (Crescendo) scrapped plans for his summer DreamGaze Festival and concentrated efforts to raise funds for the legendary venue. But he was not alone in that endeavor—Cole reached out to two active veterans for help: Top Acid‘s Chris Gonzalez and guitarist/singer Sophie Negrini (Janelane).

"Gregory messaged me out-of-the-blue because he had read a post of mine [where] I wrote about how much The Smell meant to myself and the rest of the community when the building first received its demolition notice," Negrini recalls. Even though the three ran in different scenes, the DIY venue’s monumental influence brought them together. 

With owner Jim Smith’s blessing and months of planning and outreach, over 30 bands joined with hundreds of fans on August 6th in a converted warehouse space near the San Antonio Winery. The three were rarely in sight—always running from stage to stage, prepping backlines, moving equipment, and keeping the cross streets free of pedestrian traffic and litter. Crowds moshed and nodded in solidarity. Despite minor issues with sound and schedule (it’s never picture-perfect when you’re DIY), the festival came up with over $15,000 raised.

"This is the teamwork & togetherness that saves The Smell. I have no doubt in our community’s ability to achieve [The Smell’s] permanence of address for generations of music lovers of all ages," says Cole in retrospect.

Gonzalez was even impressed by the results. "I think that’s just a huge indicator and a true testament to how much respect everyone has for Jim and the sober scene he’s created at The Smell."

Check out our photo recap of Save The Smell Fest on our Instagram @TheDeliLA. – photo by Rachel Collins

You might not think you know Luke Reed, but odds are you do, at least from the bands he’s in. A member of Bent Shapes, Mini Dresses, Fedavees and Feral Jenny, Reed is deeply embedded in Massachusetts’ music scene to say the least.  He’s an accomplished solo artist as well, having released tracks over the past few years that range from mellow to psych pop to a standalone krautrock track — no kidding! His latest single is called "Without You," and seem to take a nod or two from The Avalanches tune of the same name, sounding almost like a hungover version of it. With tropically inflected guitars, Reed’s vocals add another dimension to the track’s wistful, psychedelic and disoriented, and sing repeatedly "I wouldn’t know which way to go without you." This song prooves Reed’s talent is only matched by how busy he must be with all these projects, and you can see him live solo at Great Scott on 8/18. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Forming as a duo along opposite coasts, Jackal Onasis eventually became a Brooklyn-based fuzz rock trio in 2015. Influenced by bands such as My Bloody Valentine, Autolux, and the Deftones, their music is a fierce blend of shoegaze, post-hardcore, punk, and noise rock. Guitarist Alex Molini and drummer Jordyn Blakely share vocal duties on their debut full length Big Deal Party, creating delightfully mellow harmonies over the band’s chaotic and sludgy tracks. Their fuzzy noise-pop borrows the soft-loud-soft dynamic from grunge, while adopting the wailing ‘wall-of-sound’ element of shoegaze and noise-rock. Molini and Blakely’s melodic and breezy vocals have an hypnotic effect when paired with their crunchy guitar and bass tones and the crashing drum parts. Jackal Onasis will be playing Shea Stadium on August 12th in support of NYC legends Fiasco! – John Honan

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

foster., a NYC based artist blending blues and hip hop, delivers a hard-hitting track to the tune of "Think Me a Fool." The song, which lauches with a soul-quaking guitar line a la Gary Clark Jr., combines hip hop beats, with vocals that feature the warm distortion of an old school radio. The single is catchy, raw and seamlessly mixes two genres in a way that feels fresh. Check out the track below, and click here to hear more from foster. – Olivia Sisinni

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

New York native Davey Jones started Lost Boy ? as a bedroom pop project in 2008, but soon found a rotating cast of musicians interested in playing his music, which, however, never completely gave up its original, stripped down DIY sound, equally influenced by early Ween and Pavement. The band just announced the release their sophomore full length Goose Wazoo on September 9th via Little Dickman and State Capital Records. The record is presented as a concept album (accompanied by a comic strip) centered around the quirky idea of a detective in the shape of a blob named Goose Wazoo. The lead single and title track paints a picture of the main character in a fun and light hearted way by employing the use of jangly harmonies and catchy, cheerful vocal hooks. The group uses their fuzzy lo-fi pop and excitable drumming to craft the eccentric narrative of the song. Lost Boy ? has a string of local shows coming up in August leading to the record release show on September 10th at Shea Stadium. Strearming below also second single It Before. – John Honan

Over the years metal and its sub genres have progressed and increased in complexity thanks to the inspiration from bands such as The Dillinger Escape Plan, Napalm Death, Deathspell Omega, and Meshuggah. New York’s Imperial Triumphant draw on the experimentation of these artists for inspiration to blend black metal with classical, death metal, and psychedelic influences. Their latest full length Abyssal Gods is a dark and innovative album that uses well-crafted compositions to take the metal sound in new directions. The record’s message focuses on the eventual extinction of mankind, which is rather appropriate, since the album’s eerie mood would be the perfect soundtrack to the apocalypse. The group’s drummer Alex Cohen wields a manic and diverse style of playing, due to his background in jazz, that is the backbone of their sound. In the record, Imperial Triumphant fearlessly pushes the envelop in every song with carefully crafted guitar tones, uniquely arranged piano pieces, complex tempo alternations, angular sections borrowed from math rock, and overall outstanding production values – this is a brutal record that’s actually easy on the ears. Those enjoyng this kind of music shouldn’t miss their show at Trans Pecos on August 19th! – John Honan

Where in 2011, DIY noise pop polymorphs Batwings Catwings debuted with the angularities of Peacock Collection, it’s now 2016 and My Chemical Romance is reuniting. Smashmouth is considered a radio classic hit. You can share a song by New Found Glory without getting shamed. As for BWCWs, they now channel the sincerity of skatepunk with a new bassist: Cindy Sukrattanawong (Littlest Sister, Dustin and the Explosions) replaces Joshua Crampton in the quintet led by Clay Johnson. Their new EP "Coast to Coast" shares five earnest remarks toned with emo pop’s histrionic melodicism and textured in gain—dissonance and feedback cameo in songs like "Totally Outrageous" and "1000 Volts". 

Batwings Catwings performs at [redacted]’s mixtape release show on the 12th with Justus Profitt, Love Nothing and Forget It.. Listen to the atavistic title track of their newest EP "Coast to Coast". – Ryan Mo

At the end of last year, Brooklyn’s Fern Mayo released their studio debut, followed last month with EP Hex Signs. The three track release maintains their angular brand of indie pop, labelled by the band as “skronk pop” and “dust punk”. Opener “Pinesol” features off-kilter instrumentation, and a urgent, tense rhythm section, as frontwoman Katie Capri sings about lost love and the numbness that comes with it. On the song “New Ketamine” (streaming) Capri examines and challenges the need to cling on to traditions even when they’re destructive. The tight and anxious guitars and drums on the track seem to reflect the suffocating nature of traditions. Fern Mayo will be playing Shea Stadium on August 10th and Le Poisson Rouge on the 25th. – John Honan

In their new single "Split for the Coast," New York’s Little Racer gives a recipe to pick ourselves up during tough times, with a surf inspired track filled with unpredictable bursts of energy and sudden, soft bossanova-ish breaks (the exotic inclinations are confirmed in b-side track The Town). To let go of all your worries, be sure to check them out at Le Poisson Rouge on August 20th.