When a band is labeled by a magazine "The coolest young rock band in Brooklyn" (in this case, the band is The Danbees and the magazine VNDL) you’ve gotta give them a listen – although the term "cool" applied to "band" sounds a little vague. Last year The Danbees released a full length entitled "I’m in Control" of rather energetic alt rock ranging from the Strokes influenced to the bluesy, which gives us the impression of a band with potential but still in search of a defined identity. Our favorite track is vaguely R.E.M.-esque "Love is on the Rise," streaming below. They will be playing live at Pianos tomorrow (May 8).

Bronx born emcee Intikana is an artist of unabashed resistance. Roughed up for demonstrating in the fall 2011 occupation of Zuccoti Park in Lower Manhattan (and then fined by NYPD), he’s been an educator in activism throughout the city. Artistically, Inti has recorded in Cuba with some of the country’s top hip-hop artists (see the incredibly heartfelt single/video “Amistad” from his album "Master Cleanse"), and performed the incendiary Off-Broadway hip-hop show, Penumbra (2009), about his childhood communication with an incarcerated father. “Arizona” (with fellow Bronx emcee Navegante) insists, “We will keep on marching, keep grinding, keep fighting.” “Lil’ Afrika” calls for nothing short of a new revolution, where the poor rise up to overthrow the U.S. government, renaming it, well, you get the point. Fearless shit. – Brian Chidester

Active since 2011, Brooklyn band Double King got some attention in 2014 with the release of the ‘Premonition EP,’ mostly thanks to vintage sounding ballad ‘Battle Cry,’ a song we’ll add right away to our Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists. The trio will be celebrating the release of their debut full length ‘Night Fades’ at Union Pool on May 20th, and you can already preview the record’s first single ‘Bare Essential’ (streaming below), which develops their preference for slower tempos and mellow atmoshperes in a more soulful and groovy direction.

With their unpretentious indie pop-rock, Miniboone has been one of the most fun band in the NYC scene for quite some time (they formed in 2008). The quartet just released a new album entitled "Bad Sports," and today unveiled this video (directed by ex Deli contributor Bryan Bruchman) for single "Wake Up Factory Bouquet," which brings to mind Elvis Costello’s elegant vintage melodies. The band today inaugurates what looks like a "Mid East US tour" spanning from Illinois to North Carolina and a few states in between – no NYC dates announced.

To describe their music, Brooklyn based quintet Imaginary People coined the term "Dance Americana," but their noteworthy new single "Summerstock" (from their upcoming debut album ‘Dead Letterbox’) blends a variety of other sonic ingredients in its very well produced three and a half minutes: for example, we hear garage rock influences in the guitars and heavy rockabilly overtones throughout the song. But it’s lead singer Dylan Von Wagner who steals the scene, with a vocal delivery full of character and confidence that would make Elvis Presley proud. The guy’s presence, already rock solid in the audio realm, gets an exponential boost from the song’s video (streaming below), entirely centered around his antics. If all this translates as well on a live stage, these guys should have some fun times ahead. We can all find out at Rockwood Music Hall on May 11.

Atlanta born, Brooklyn-based producer Time Wharp announced today the release, scheduled for June 9, of an 8 track debut album on buzzy local electronic label Astro Nautico, home to notable acts like The Range (Domino) and RAJA (Ghostly), as well as up-and-comers like Dreams, Dane Chadwick, and Photay. For this occasion it unveiled this groovy FaltyLD remix of single "Cole Dub." Expect a record that "melds New York house, ambient meditations, celestial synergies and smooth synth waves."

Hailed by many as "The New Strokes," the guys in NYC’s Public Access TV look so young, they were probably toddlers when ‘Is This It’ came out. However, the only really important thing here is that they can write catchy pop and deliver it with flair. The quartet, after losing home and gear to the recent fire in the East Village, is releasing today this new, vaguely Jesus & Mary Chain-ish single "All We Want" (streaming) from their upcoming, self titled EP on Terrible records, days before leaving for a US tour with Palma Violets. The NYC stop will be at Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 20.

In their Facebook timeline, Brooklyn’s dream rockers Whitewash wonder: "…not even quite sure how we started getting all these ridiculously large gigs but hey I’m not complaining." As a matter of fact the band has a rather busy May with shows at Brooklyn Bazar on the 8th, Aviv on the 14th, and Baby’s All Right on the 16th (a Saturday). On their bandcamp profile we find a very mellow acoustic single dated 2013, and 2014 EP "Fraud in Lisbon," which, although lacking a little in the production department (it sounds self-produced), showcases a band with promising songwriting chops. Recent singles "Tentacle" – streaming below – and "Member" show us a more solid sounding band with a sound that can appeal to lovers of Real Estate’s chilled pop and Pavement’s slacker aesthetics.

Brooklyn’s Icewater writes songs that are spaced-out, anthemic, and optimistic. Not that the band hasn’t seen its share of tragedy. During the recording of their cheekily titled 2013 LP, "Collectors Edition," guitarist and founding member Grant Martin unexpectedly passed away, giving both its buoyant and small moments of sadness an extra layer of depth. The band released a more upbeat, but not necessarily sunnier, self titled EP at the end of 2014. Check out single "Wisecrack" below and don’t miss the band live at Baby;s All Right on May 13. – Emilio Herce

Echo Park’s post-punk revivalists The Electric West have been waiting for the perfect storm. Since 2013, bassist/vocalist Lee Lewallen and drummer Byron Pagdilao have laid the foundations to their self-recorded Dusty Trails demo, with a style that culls from dance-punk acts like Gang of Four, Bloc Party, and The Dead Kennedys. The induction of guitarist Dee Fuzz has galvanized The Electric West, charging through the rolling thunder with magnetic riffs and a light drizzle of reverb. They’ve played with rising LA acts like the pop-punk WASI, new wavers PANTHAR, and surf punk vets Dustin and the Explosions.

Their debut EP “Verdugo,” released in March by Future Force Records, breaks away from politically charged lyricism of Dusty Trails with songs like “Disco Viking,” “Tesla’s Coyotes,” and a rework of 2014’s “Replicant.” See The Electric West perform during Ghost Noise’s first night of residency at Pehrspace, and listen to the opening track to their new EP, “Portland.” – Ryan Mo

Even though synthpop trio Prinze George pretends to be still based in Brooklyn, they actually went back to their native Prince George County a few years ago. The guys played at our SXSW show this past March and they just unveiled this video for their single "Upswing."

Awkwafina, fresh and clean queen of hipster tRap, boasts about watching “A League of Their Own on Laser Disc” and shopping for things she can’t afford “like a millenial.” She produces her own tracks, was featured in a documentary about Asian rappers, and even just had her first book published. Her brand of crass feminism isn’t uncommon among the hipster rap pack (See Handjob Academy and Nova Rockefeller), but her swagger indicates a brass set of ovaries. Come celebrate her book release at Baby’s All Right this Thursday May 7th, it will be quite “ratchet.” – BrokeMc