Denmark/NC turned NYC pop band Ex Cops is headed to SXSW, on their own terms. The duo recently got in a spat with McDonalds, a multi billion-dollar corporation who, in the name of "exposure," offered to pay them in nothing but hamburgers. At a few bucks per hamburger, that’s not even close to minimum wage… Yesterday Ex Cops rejected the offer in a Facebook post that went viral – we are sure they won’t have trouble finding free lunch (and drinks) in Austin that week.
The band released their second album, "Daggers," in November. The record features collaborators with Ariel Pink (see streaming track "Tragically Alright") and Justin Raisen, a producer known for his work with Sky Ferreira and Kylie Minogue. If you can’t make it to Austin you can dance with Ex Cops (while trying on sunglasses and neckalces) at Brooklyn Night Bazaar on March 13th. – Leora Mandel

Big Neck Police (a band that made our recent Best of NYC 2014 list) is a raw sounding three-piece punk band with metal influences. Their latest EP is a split with fellow New Yorkers, Dog, and is available on Bandcamp. What happens in this EP and who are these people, you ask? Educated guess #1: That cool guy in math class you thought was a total slacker was really just bored because he knew the answers to everything. He grew up and today he spills a bowl of hot soup on himself. At first he screams and falls into things in the kitchen. Then takes a deep breath and stays home from work with a lap of 2nd degree burns. The television hypnotizes him. All of his friends are inside it, only they are all sock puppets on a therapy talk show. They get violent with each other. Dr. Phil helps them talk it out in the end but our guy is already asleep on the couch. You don’t believe me? Check them out live at DIY venue Aviv on March 27. (crazy stuff!) – Leora Mandel

"Arresting" is arguably one of the best compliments a song can receive: a song powerful enough that gets you to stop for a minute; a song that miracolously forces you to pay attention; a song that moves you, that reminds you that there’s still a part inside of you able to feel. NYC songwriter Chris Riffle‘s latest single "Nothing But the Waves" is such a song, and we are proud to premiere its evocative video here on The Deli NYC. Like a new Chris Isaak, Riffle keeps things simple, focusing on the depth of the lyrics and the cadence of the words, while the few chord changes drop effortlessly, but almost surprisingly, and create a melodic opening that boosts the song’s emotional power.
Chris Raffle is set to release his new album ‘Out of Town’ on April 7, 2015, you can see him live at Rockwood Music Hall on March 31.

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

New York anthemic pop-rockers Born Cages are releasing their debut album, "I’m Glad I’m Not Me," on June 2nd, just in time for your summer mix tape! If you’re a weather optimist (stuck in a hopeless NYC winter) and are already compiling those rooftop jams, you’ll find some noteworthy candidates in their debut EP "The Sidelines," featuring five mostly upbeat, soaring, and heavily melodic tracks – which will also appear in the full length. Born Cages is one of the first bands to join new NYC label Washington Square, joining The Hold Steady and former The Virgins singer Donald Cumming. They will co-headline with Dreamers on a full US tour beginning on March 4th heading to Austin for SXSW, and tour again this summer with the 2015 Vans Warped Tour. – Leora Mandel

Brooklyn songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Cat Martino recently unveiled her new project Stranger Cat, an electronic duo with producer Sven Britt. The band has just announced the April release of debut LP "In the Wilderness," which was written by Cat after a difficult period of disillusionment with the music world and its challenges. An accomplished vocalist and songwriter, Cat has collaborated with many noteworthy NYC artists including Sufjan Steven and Sharon Van Etten. Her new project sees her explore the creative possibilities given by electronic instruments, and features darker atmospheres, without abandoning her pop sensibility and soulful style. Stream the single "Sirens" below, and – if you dig – see Stranger Cat live at The Knit on 03.07

A few weeks ago we noticed how Pianos had doubled down in inviting local talent to play monthly residencies, and that observation finds a confirmation in the fact that in March the Ludlow Street venue will host a joint residency involving two Brooklyn bands: Jangula and Ski Lodge (pictured). Both groups have been around since the early ’10s and have new releases in the works. They also share a sound that’s tastefull poppy, with an indie rock edge. Check out their latest singles below and don’t miss them live every Wednesday in March. The first show is tonight 03.04.

What do you get when you combine surf rock and dream pop with the spirit of improvisational freedom? New York City’s High Waisted appears to be hitting those three measurements with an increasingly electrifying energy. Their "Acid Tape Vol. 1" recordings resulted from a single take directly on reel-to-reel tape (in a haunted house down in Nashville no less). A somewhat refreshing approach in this often over-processed digital age. What emerged is a psyched out version of surf rock enhanced by fuzzed-out bass, reverberated guitars and catchy vocal melodies.

Read Dave Cromwell‘s interview with High Waisted.

Ah, the ‘cool’ factor – how do you apply it to music? The Brooklyn based electronic producer behind electronic project Creature in the Woods obviously knows the answer to this million dollar question, since the act’s self titled debut EP delivers four songs of consistently gorgeous downtempo to chillax to (sorry, it’s really the only word that works for this kind of music…). Flirting with soul and hip hop, Creature in the Woods’ tunes are highly textural and groovy, but also atmospheric, often featuring a background of tense sonic elements that add a vein of mystery and creepiness to the tracks, like in our favorite single "Centuries," streaming below.

This artist submitted music for coverage here.

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

 Avers has released a new video via Nylon for "Evil," off their debut album Empty Light. It’s a sinsiter track, full of hooks, with distorted vocals hovering above pounding drums, a driving bass, and screaming guitars. Like all of Empty Light, it’s all analog and masterfully produced. The video is a crazy Carnivalesque basement party, drowned in drugs, and not everyone is having the best of times.

Avers is back on tour this month, heading down through the southeast before taking a right towards SXSW. You can catch them tonight in DC at Black Cat Backstage with Nashville’s ELEL to wiish them luck. –Natan Press    

Those of you who feel nostalgia for the years when NYC’s rock was wearing leather jackets and wooing ears with simple melodies full of attitude should check out The Rotaries, a band that not accidentally calls New York home – not Brooklyn. Active since the beginning of the new decade, the trio has a 2012 full length and a few singles under their belt, and is about to release a new EP entitled "On the Outs" – from which we are premiering the title track, streaming below. The EP will be released on March 10 – stay tuned for live show announcements.

The early 90’s dreampop/shoegaze movement created a style of music that continues to spawn new bands seemingly on a daily basis. The latest entry into this field is New York’s LADY (featuring Deli contributor JP Basileo among its members), who have recently released a single to their upcoming “Washer EP.” “Creatures of the Night” (streaming) captures and reinterprets the combined noisy-yet-pop sound that Mark Gardener and Loz Colbert so masterfully employed with their iconic band Ride. Adding layers of fuzzy guitars and emphatic snare/cymbal crashes, the band creates dramatic peaks as the song progresses, while the extended guitar solo at the end reminds us why classic shoegazer track “Like A Daydream” was so appealing in the first place. With influential bands of this era like The Jesus & Mary Chain and the aforementioned Ride currently on tour, the niche LADY occupies has never been stronger. – Dave Cromwell

With their airy melodies and beautiful vocal harmonies, Jack + Eliza charmed the crap out of NYC in 2014. They are now (not so) secretly planning to accomplish something similar in Austin later in March, during the 6 days of SXSW’s Music Week. The duo just released this new single entitled "Diamonds" from their upcoming debut album "Gentle Warnings" (scheduled to be released in June). They have put together quite a team for this record, produced by Chris Zane, but also featuring the touch of Grizzly Bear’s Chris Taylor in some tracks like the one we are streaming below.