In less than one hour, outsider experimental pop artist Meishi Smile will be premiering a free stream of his upcoming EP “(reclamation)”, an 18-minute voyage of ambience and noise that leads listeners from depersonalizing start to cathartic finish. Mixed and mastered by Warren Hildebrand (Foxes in Fiction, Orchid Tapes) “(reclamation)” explores tones opaque and harsh that were once prevalent in Meishi Smile’s former aliases nono. and Yuko Imada.

""(reclamation)” is to represent the affirmation of the capability I once had to find peace within what I loved. The acknowledgement of my own shortcomings and the pain I bestowed upon those I cared due to fear. This serves as both an apology to some and a bout of condemnation towards others. Ultimately, it is about peace of mind and a restored sense of clarity. A warm pillow of static with no further pretension. The musicality is what it is and indicates no specific direction of the project. It is simply an expression."

The EP will be officially released through Zoom Lens on May 27th, along with a free DL link to Meishi Smile’s full discography until the end of May. To find out more about how to stream "(reclamation)" visit the official website, Soundcloud or sign up for Meishi Smile’s mailing list. — Ryan Mo, photography: MAY

People respond differently to tedious daily life—some wallow while others burst out. NYC slack rockers Spit definitely fall into the latter, but do make occasional forays into the former as well. The sound on their 2015 album Dead Broke For Life can be characterized as mostly hard and up-beat, but this isn’t to say their instrumentation and vocals aren’t carefully crafted. Profoundly passionate lyrics and interesting guitar riffs permeate the record, with an occasional twang that makes their music stand out especially. Spit are definitely a band to look out for, and you’ll be able to do so when they play Cake Shop on May 23rd and Palisades on June 1st. – Henry Solotaroff Webber

NYC’s Acid Dad, elected as The Deli’s Best Emerging Band of 2015 just a few months ago) boast an electric sound that welcomes psychedelia, garage rock, and post punk in constantly varying doses, and a rock’n’roll attitude that screams "NYC late ’60s" (and at times "Manchester late ’80s). The quartet has two shows scheduled in June in support of Toronto’s blues rockers Black Pistol Fire on June 4th at the Gramercy Theater and opening for Deli Nashville’s favorite Diarrhea Planet on June 09 at Brooklyn Bowl.

We asked the band a question about their guitar sound, check out the answer on our transgender sibiling blog Delicious Audio.

One Prayer One Sin conjures spirits from NYC’s rock n’ roll past. Whether channeling the street cool of Lou Reed, or the theatrical postures of David Johansen, this band still manages to stay uniquely strange and future-focused. Lead vocalist Johnny Scuotto cuts a strangely charismatic and haunting figure, drawing you in and giving you pause at the same time. The group’s first single ‘Serpents,’ kicks off a marathon run-time (over 8 minutes with every instrument you can think of, except for guitars), and tells an epic story of Scuotto coming to terms with a loss of innocence, and what it’s like to feel ‘hungry and hollow.’ Check it out below, and see the band when they play at Alphaville (140 Wilson, Brooklyn) tomorrow May 20th with Bambara and Ritual Humor. – Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

The members of Nervous Dater are originally from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida, and Colombia, but they currently each reside in a different borough of New York. The quartet bonded over a mutual love for Domino’s pizza, Rick & Morty, and obscenity. The perfect formula for a marvelous band!Their latest EP, ‘A Hundred Bees‘ was just released on May 13th, and while they’ve only been a band for just over a year, it shows a moture and confident sound. The group’s brand of indie rock features a blend of emo and punk tendencies; Rachel Lightner’s vocals have an upbeat and sweet tone to them even when the issue tackled in the song is how happy people make her sick. Her poignant lyrics give the listener more to relish than just a catchy beat, and make their music all the more relatable. Nervous Dater will be playing Shea Stadium on May 19th in with two excellent Philly bands Thin Lips and Hurry. Check out the A Hundred Bees below!

In any creative field, there is really no way to stick around for long without some level or self-reinvention. Interestingly, NYC electronic musician J.Views (previously known as J.Viewz) found a way to make this process less about "self" and more about others: his new full length ‘401 Days’ was in part created by his fans, who participated in its step-by-step compositional process through commenting, adding sounds and images of their own over the course of 401 Days. The record release will be tomorrow Thursday May 19 at Rough Trade, with special guest Nashville’s Wild Cub, who was featured in single ‘Into the Light," – video streaming below.

Check out this interview with J.Views about the creative process and gear behind ‘401 Days.’

Brooklyn punk band, The So So Glos are currently streaming their upcoming album Kamikaze on the A.V. Club, officially out on May 20th. This is the band’s fifth full length release, and it doesn’t show any signs of slowing down; their fast paced punk with catchy pop hooks keeps their sound as youthful and fresh as it was on their first record. “It uses spirituality, sarcasm & metaphoric ‘verbal shotgun shells’ as ammunition. It’s also a party drink, so drink up & enjoy.” – says frontman Levi Zaru about the record. The perfectly described “verbal shotgun shells” featured on tracks like “Going Out Swingin’” contribute to make this a super-fun punk record, complete with tongue-in-cheek humor and singalong choruses. Having grown up in Brooklyn, the members of The So So Glos have gone beyond being just a band, becoming involved in fostering the local DIY scene founding two all ages venues that have helped keep the DIY spirit alive in New York City: Shea Stadium and The Market Hotel (before it closed and recently reopened). The band will be kicking off their North American Tour in support of the new record on May 19th with The Dirty Nil and Big Up. Stream the track "Missionary" below!

Sixties garage and seventies power-pop are ubiquitous these days, in particular in the NYC scene. Jersey City’s Low Doses (who made the list of our best emerging Revival Pop/Rock NYC Artists of 2015) play them straightforward, deviating little; they rely on catchy hooks, hand-claps, and lines like “If I could, you know I would stop thinking about you” to subvert the modern cynic and be idiosyncratic. It works. The band has two shows at the Monty Hall scheduled on July 16th. – Dave Cromwell

In the spring of 2015 we got really into Nigerian, NYC based electronic-soul chanteuse Oyinda‘s debut EP ‘Before the Fall‘ (single ‘What Still Remains" in particular). After a few months spent under the radar, Oyinda re-emerged in early 2016 with a string of shows and two new tracks that, again, marry her soulful vocals with moody, edgy electronic arrangements. Our favorite one is ‘Never Enough’ (streamiing below), a complex, dark and tense downtempo featuring antithetical elements like experimental programming and call and response vocals. More recent single ‘Flatline‘ – as suggested by the title – is a more linear R’n’B ballad. Both songs will be included in Oyinda’s upcoming EP ‘Restless Minds,’ out on June 10th.

It doesn’t seem too often that a band today tackles the dissolution not of a romance but of a friendship. That is just what Brooklyn self-described “folk music band meets ensemble” Goldfeather does, however, on “Spilled Milk” (streaming below), the bluegrass-girded lead single off its forthcoming debut LP ‘Patchwork Quilt.’ Starting with choral swells that perhaps lament the story of friends come and gone that follows, the poignant (even in its title) track is striking and laudable in its potentially underused subject matter: the aching absence of a one-time confidante. ‘Patchwork Quilt’ is scheduled for a September 2016 release, and Goldfeather is scheduled to play Park Slope’s Barbes on June 9th. – Zach Weg 

Don’t let their name fool you too much. The Southern Belles doesn’t feature any women, but their sound is no less sweet. In fact, this Richmond-based jam band is downright awesome, displaying a greaat latitude for blending genres. Their most recent album, which dropped a year ago, is filled with a primordial stew of funk, soul, roots, blues, rock, and Americana, capturing all that’s good about musical styles that originated in the States. The vocals and keys synergize really well, creating a noteworthy, mesmerizing melody. Their next show is at The Camel, 6/3, and they’re playing with Bencoolen and Atlas Road Crew at the 9:30, 6/16. -Jonathan Goodwin