We blogged about Queens/Brooklyn’s psychedelic pop band Steady Sun (and saw them live) back in May. The group just unveiled this video for their single ‘Irises,’ which is a beautiful visual play on their dreamy melodies and flowery arrangements. The band has a busy local live schedule in the upcoming weeks, with four shows in four different NYC venues, including Palisades on July 26th and Baby’s All Right on August 1st.

In preparation for the release of their latest EP, the NYC-based band Controller is taking over with a residency at Pianos, all July long. Their self-described "melodic, high energy dance rock," puts an emphasis on the high energy. You’ll be hard pressed not to dance along to their guitar-heavy rock anthems. The first singles from their upcoming EP deliver upbeat a mix of catchy melodies, gritty sound and punchy rhythm section; check out "Separator" – streaming – and "Flame." Expect their new EP at the end of the summer and be sure to catch them every Tuesday night at Pianos this month. – Sam O’Hara

Friends Records is all about sharing, and have just released a split single from Baltimore bands Sherman Whips (photographed above) and Little Leaguers. Sherman Whips’ sound is brighter and campier than Little Leaguer’s, especially their play with pacing in the featured single, "Baby Go Home," going back and forth between speedy psych-rock and calmer surf music. On the other hand, Little Leaguer’s single, "7", is more of a catchy, punk spirited noise-rock tune, beginning with a whisper and ending in a scream. The split single is available for streaming below.

Michelle Bacon is editor of The Deli KC and plays in bands. She likes Planet Sub. 

 Effortlessly transitioning between laid-back dream pop and rock infused dance anthems, the 4-track debut EP from Shapes on Tape, entitled "Motivational Speakers," is a taste of the duo’s talent. The group, which consists of producer and multi-instrumentalist Adam Kruckenberg, and guitarist and songwriter Jason Matuskiewicz, first began collaborating in 2014 and released the EP in March of 2015 with the help of grammy-nominated producer Justin Craig. The band has been consistently performing around the NYC area and their next appearance will be at the Cameo Gallery on August 7th. The duo is currently at work on their follow-up EP "No Bummer," and you can check out the records first single, "Still Believe in Love," below. – Patrick Wolff 

Steeped in influences both contemporary and classic, orchestral indie pop group The Bone Chimesis a five piece indie outfit from Astoria, Queens, that just dropped their new self-titled EP, the follow-up to their 2013 debut album "In the Muck,". One track that really caught our eye, or rather ear, was "Walk Away," a song that dramatically rises and falls between verses of near-ominous bass lines, piano chords, and vocals, and a chorus of gorgeous harmonies and melodious guitar layerings. The track is streaming below, so be sure to give it a listen. The group is also regarded for their high-energy live performances, which you can experience for yourself at PIANOS on July 15. – Patrick Wolff

The name Erica Eso may sound like some music making beauty, but it’s actually the latest musical brain-child of Weston Minissali, also known as the synth player from Cloud Becomes Your Hand. Erica Eso’s synth-heavy pop melodies are a clear departure from the otherworldly avant-rock sound of Cloud Becomes Your Hand, but Erica Eso’s first singles make it clear that Minissali’s talents as an experimental composer span across genres. As of last week, the first singles from Erica Eso’s upcoming album, "2019," are now available for streaming (below) on SoundCloud and Bandcamp with the full release coming later this year. – Sam o’Hara

Heavenly Beat is the Brooklyn based solo project of former Beach Fossil’s bassist John Peña, and it certainly lives up to it’s title. the project’s latest and third release, entitled "Eucharist," is a glistening 40 minutes of refreshingly laid-back indie pop. Peña’s wispy voice elegantly floats over a procession of airy guitars, drum machine beats, and ethereal pop melodies, resulting in a record that lives up to the heavenly moniker. A fourth LP, tentatively titled either "Designer" or "Latino," is currently in the works and Peña is also gearing up for a new tour in the fall. Heavenly Beat will be returning to New York on October 9th for a performance at Baby’s All Right, and the first track’s from the upcoming LP are expected to be released sometime this summer, so be sure to keep an eye out. – Patrick Wolff

Joel, aka MaG, serves up a fresh slice of humble pie with “Songs for Charles” which he describes as an “open letter to his pops.”  The introspective and plangent vibe prevalent throughout the album conjures the anxiety associated with confronting the expectations of one’s parents.  His flow, somehow simultaneously effortless and thoughtful, leans into his dusty beats as if to procure some lost volume, as if the answer is in there.  He sounds like Kanye mixed with Mos, or maybe Kanye back when he used to rap with Mos.  Or maybe he’s just his own wizard practicing hip hop with respect for it like the alchemy it is.  As he vamps on the jazzy “Better late than never,” “I would rather die than let go of one of my dreams.”  It’s precision wordplay; Charles would be proud.

Helado Negro may be a familiar name in the scene, but its mastermind, Roberto Carlos Lange’s library of work never ceases to surprise. Helado Negro’s sound is a mélange of genres – it’s electronic and experimental, orchestral and atmospheric, and also sports bilingual lyrics and Latin influences. Lange doesn’t shy away from admitting that his music is a product of his identity as both Latino and American, and his live shows are just as much of a undeniably fun mix. His newest singles ("I Krill You" streaming below), released under Sufjan Stevens’ label, Asthmatic Kitty, are just as playful and experimental as he’s always been. Catch Helado Negro headlining tonight at Central Park SummerStage, with Compass and Systema Solar. And did we mention admission is free? – Sam O’Hara

The Dreamgaze Festival is back, and this time it’s happening at Los Globos.

Presented in tandem with DKFM, Dream Wave, Counter Culture, and KXLU, Dreamgaze Festival will feature bands of Los Angeles’ alternative youth scene, including the post-rock quartet Young Lovers, coldwave/post-industrial group Cruelty Code, bi-coastal duo Ablebody, and dreamgazing band Cre·scen·do. The festival will also be graced by Florida’s indie/electronic producer Millionyoung, Arizona’s lo-fi shoegazers Shallow, San Francisco’s dreamy power trio Balms, and more.

Presale tickets are available on the DreamGaze site, and a limited quantity will be sold at Origami Vinyl. More acts will be announced in the coming weeks, so this is looking to be a thoroughly packed show — don’t wait up. The DreamGaze Festival’s last iteration was held near Ontario and featured bands like Tennis System, SHEER, and the Italian dreampop Be Forest. Its organizer, Gregory Cole, is the guitarist/singer for Cre·scen·do and promoter of underground music events. – Ryan Mo

Brooklyn DIY venue Shea Stadium will be hosting a show tonight featuring four local artists, and we found two new intriguing electronic bands we never covered before in it.

Kicking off the night with a fresh set of lo-fi avant indie is Brooklyn natives Operator, with a sound that blends Kraut Rock influences with dreamy guitars. The quartet is new to the scene, having just released their first demos on May 4 and played their first show on May 29. This will be their second performance and they are planning to release more tracks over the course of the summer. 

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Immediately following their act will be Felicia Douglass. Douglass’ music is pure electro soul-pop, combining modern electro techniques with 80’s influenced melodies and a voice that’s reminiscent of many a 90’s R&B star. Douglass has released four tracks thus far and has also collaborated with fellow New York electronic artist BAILE on two tracks entitled “Matter” and “Leaves” for his latest EP. – Patrick Wolff