While the two are often correlated, it’s not always necessary for music that’s catchy to be pristine as well. Boston band Earth Heart is a prime example of this: with their shout-sung vocals, swampy drums and lo-fi guitars, they do their darn best to produce a sound that’s abrasive, but thanks to the great songwriting, their music is still very satisfying. While mostly sticking to this garage pop sound on their previous tracks, such as recent single "Homesick" (streaming below), the Boston trio has shown the ability to pull off more "avant" stuff as well, like in their nearly nine minute track "BURN" from 2014. This versatility and talent should make their debut LP, due on 8/5, interesting to say the least. Earth Heart also made an appearance on WEMF radio’s Sticky Hits program on 5/28, and will be performing live at the pin Out of the Blue Too Art Gallery on July 13th. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Every time it seems like the emo sub-genre is finally on its last legs, a band swoops in with fresh, revitalizing sounds, and this time it’s Trenton’s own Save Face coming to the rescue with their Folly EP.  Though outwardly emo, the key to their unique sound is their subtle enfolding of other genre influences into their music and inventive dynamic shifting. Huge dynamic shifts are the name of the game in emo, but Save Face take it one step further through further contrasting their loud and soft sections in their musical makeups. Their louder sections of their songs are definitely emo, with screamed vocals, distorted guitars and the whole nine yards, but their softer sections mix in indie folk vocals, indie rock guitar, and a funky rhythm section that allows Save Face’s songs to stand out in how they are strikingly progress and diversely composed. Folly can be streamed now on Alternative Press, and you can catch Save Face live at Gold Sounds on 7/17. —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

Brooklyn band Color Tongue’s latest single "Sprouts" is one of those rare songs where fun and experimentation coexist peacefully, integrating each other. On it, the self-described "dirty psych pop" quartet take an imaginative approach to songwriting, conjuring up dramatic dynamic shifts, unusual song structure and exuberant melodies. "Sprouts" is a strong initial introduction to their debut LP of the same name, scheduled for a summer release. The band should have some shows in August – stay tuned! —Henry Solotaroff-Webber

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

As further proof that youngsters, at some point, tend to "become" their parents, Brooklyn trio EZTV seems to have transictioned to a revival tinged, but richer and more vibrant sound, directly inspired to the psychedelic pop of the ’60s. New single "High Flying Faith" sounds like a tribute to The Byrds, while maintaining a fresh and modern sound. The bright, chiming tone of the guitars is a striking new element, while the guest vocals from Jenny Lewis, whom the band will be supporting on tour this summer, integrate Ezra Tenenbaum’s already dreamy melodies in ways that scream "Flower Power!" EZTV will be playing the Bell House on July 15th in support of Miracle Legion and Out in the Streets Festival on July 16th before heading out with Lewis. Their album High In Place will be released on September 30th via Captured Tracks. – John Honan

We added this song to The Deli’s playlist of Best psych rock/pop songs by emerging NYC artists – check it out!
Read our Delicious Audio Q&A with EZTV’s Ezra Tenenbaum about guitar pedals.
 

The New York-based lo-fi grunge duo Brainfreeze is comprised of NYC born drummer Zoë Brecher and guitarist María Villar of Madrid. The two met when Villar was studying in the US, and have since released a two-song demo and two singles. Their latest single “Role Model” (streaming below) was produced by Diego Garcia of The Parrots, and while it only clocks in at 83 seconds, the song is a burst of frenetic energy and raw emotion that is buzzing with garage rock punk and grung influencese. Brecher and Villar share vocal duties on the track as they shout the lines “I will be your role model”. The band just played a show with fellow Madrid rockers Hinds at the House of Vans in Brooklyn, and will be performing at Aviv on July 8th in support of Baby Birds Don’t Drink Milk. – John Honan

Dazeases rolls into the VA music circuit in an aural aura of colors, at times neon and then muted pastels. Listening to her most recent release, Welcome Back EP (streaming below), feels like walking through a glass house of dreams. Ethereal tinkling and undulating synths permeate the tracks as wispy sighs tread lightly over them and electronic sputters pierce through. The EP becomes a spacey exploration that delves us deeper into our reveries. Listen to Dazeases entrancing tracks below and catch her performing at Strange Matter on July 14. – Adriana S. Ballester

Voted by The Deli as one of the Best NYC Indie/Post-Punk bands of 2015 earlier this year, Big Bliss consists of brothers of Cory (drums, Party of Helicopters) and Tim Race (guitar/vocals, Russenorsk/Narrow & the Brights) along with bassist Wallace May (Young Tides). Their newest single “Old Guard” (streaming below) was just released on the Unblinking Ear Records’ Office Supplies series, and will be also included in their upcoming EP, out in August. Following in the footsteps of their previous material, “Old Guard” elicits the gloomy and disturbed nature of British post-punk acts like The Cure and Joy Division. Race’s somewhat anxious, restless delivery provides the ideal companion for the tense and pressing instrumentation. Big Bliss’ debut EP Keep Near will be released on August 12th via Exit Stencil Records. They will be playing Sunnyvale on July 15th before heading out on a tour in support of the EP in August with fellow Brooklyn natives Language – also a band worth checking out for those who miss the days of post punk, they just released a new cassette EP titled ‘Junket.’ You can see language live at Shea Stadium on August 7th- John Honan

Epic-Nerd-Art-Rock is the closest approximation we can find, as far as genres, to describe the music of Bushwick’s Not Blood, Paint. With their premier full studio album release "Believing Is Believing" they capture the shock and awe of their dynamic live sets. Join them at Bushwick staple venue House of Yes tomorrow July 8th for the release party. Adding to the festivities will be Idgy Dean, That Handsome Devil and Starwood. – BrokeMc

Streets of Laredo, a band we’ve been following since their very beginnings as a trio, rarely disappoint. Originating from New Zealand, the now-Brooklyn based collective has sucessfully created a folk pop sound that’s catchy, fun, but never saccharinous.  Their new single "99.9.%," follows suit, but also seems to manifest a desire to move closer towards the pop end of their sound’s spectrum. A quicker tempo, Courtney Barnett-esque sing-talking, victorious horns and "Hey-ho!"s from the back-up vocals make for a song that, while definitely not out of line with what Streets of Laredo have done in the past, suggest a push towards a wider audience. This isn’t a bad thing by any means, as it’s still a solid track and not even necessarily an indication of what the rest of their next LP, due in autumn, will sound like. However, if it says anything, it’s that Streets of Laredo might not be playing many more shows at relatively smaller, local venues, so catch them while you can at Baby’s All Right on 7/11. – Henry Solotaroff-Webber

One of the easier ways, for emerging artists, to have a first popularity outbreak, is through the endorsement of a celebrity. Yes, because – rather sadly – they are a much more effective promotional vehicles than blogs, which is a reason good enough for all ambitious artists to cultivate their VIP PR skills! NYC songwriter Maggie Rogers knows something about that. We were very impressed by her folky debut album (now pulled from the web) back in 2014, so much so that we interviewed her and booked her for one of our official CMJ 2014 shows (with Margaret Glaspy, who is also getting some buzz as of late). After that, Maggie’s name got a little lost, until this happened (Pharrel stumbled upon Maggie’s new song at a NYU seminar and fell in love with it). Obviously Rogers, who is still in her early ’20s, has spent these two years working hard on a more sophisticated sound (her debut was almost entirely acoustic). The audible results so far – in the shape of new single ‘Alaska’ – showcase a successful effort to step up her musical game, and are certainly worthy of praise. Still, it looks like Pharrell Williams’ promotion of the track was worth about five million Spotify plays, which is a very tall order for even an established artist! The pressure is now on Maggie to make the most of this incredible opportunity, because, to sustain a lenghty musical career, talent and good luck also need to be matched by consistently powerful songwriting. The Deli is with you, Maggie!

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

Although the it’s been stigmatized by many, a new crop of bands are embracing the classic emo sound and proving that the negatives associated with the genre do not define it. For Everest is a five-piece from New York that is breaking down the stereotypes by offering a more relatable version of emo. Their latest single “Autonomy” examines frontwoman Sarah Cowell’s inner struggle of desperately wanting to get out of an abusive relationship, while feeling guilty for leaving. Cowell’s catchy and therapeutic lyrics prove that more mature and complex feelings and thoughts can be channeled through "emotional" melodic punk-rock. For Everest recently played a show with fellow emo revival group The World Is A Beautiful Place… and will be playing Sunnyvale on July 8th. – John Honan

One of the most interesting developments of recording technology has been the creative use of samples, something hip hop anticipated with scratching and vinyls featuring music loops of sample drumbeats – here’s the most popular one of all. Brooklyn producer, songwriter and emcee Kirk Knight exhibits impressive skills in the sampling department on his 2013 release “Dust,” an unrelease collection of songs that was released earlier this year after Kirk soared in popularity thanks to his 2015’s LP ‘Late Knight Special.’ That he will also perform as New York’s lone home-grown representative at this year’s Village Voice 4Knots Fest is something of a coup as well. A total of ten under two minute tracks on “Dust” exhibit a mastery of the Ableton production software, allowing the artist to weave in bits of his own voice samples. The approach delivers a series of dream-like tracks that include electronic, cut up Motown with an easy, breezy, trip-hop-jazz feel to it all. Featured track “The Right Thing” incorporate sampled elements that breakout acts like Charli XCX explored on a number of her debut album tracks like “So Far Away.” Charting single "I Know" (also streaming) features a more aggressive attitude and production. It will be interesting to see how Mr. Knight presents this sound to a live audience at 4Knots. That festival takes place Saturday July 9, returning to its original South Street Seaport location. Other acts performing are Guided By Voices, Strumbellas, Car Seat Headrest and many others. See the full listing here. – Dave Cromwell