THE DELI

The delicacy of Oakland-based Al Harper’s jangly, soft rock solo project is reminiscent of dreamy vocals of the indie pop duo Tennis, but with her own added edge. Her breezy falsetto carries the listeners through angsty lyrics with ease, like the school-girl sounding “The New You” (streaming below) where she sings about a person that’s changed but “it’s cool, I still want the new you.” There’s an empowerment behind her effortless sound as she embraces femininity in a way that brings her up to the ranks of other beloved female artists like Snail Mail and Evil Seagull. She will be celebrating the release of her tape About Power and to play a few unreleased tracks on June 2 at Abbey’s Tavern. – Lilly Milman, photo by Kelsey McClellan 

The new single, “Heartbreak In A Box” (streaming below), from Boston’s seven-piece group JUICE delivers the dose of sweet, upbeat neo-soul that—at this point—is to be expected from them. The septet met as freshmen at Boston College, and after winning a Battle of the Bands contest in 2014, have been bringing their funk-influenced play on pop to venues all over New England. Their sophomore LP Workin’ On Lovin’ will be released on June 15. They are currently on tour, with upcoming shows in Burlington, VT on June 9, Nantucket on June 12, and Boston on June 15. – Lilly Milman

Brooklyn by way of Tel Aviv artist O Mer employs DAW, synths and electric guitar to create minimalistic pop gems that are as catchy as they are arresting. Started as a one man band, the project has recently expanded to comprise a full band, which has brought the sound to new heights of sonic refinement. O Mer will be performing live at Berlin on May 25th, check out the video for single Icarus, streaming below.

Our friends at Delicious Audio asked O Mer a few questions about the creative process and his favorite gear, you can read the Q&A here. – Photo by Noel Woodford

Already proven adept at hook-heavy alt-pop, in their new EP Isadora Deal Casino progresses their sound into more nuanced approaches to pop. New single “Soft Machine” showcases this clearly. While still working in the alt-pop realm, the tempos drop considerably, opening up space for a more atmospheric production where synthesizers challenge the edgy guitar parts, while vocals double up in intensity, for a more mature and powerful listening experience. THe arrangement accentuates melodies with bell-like glockenspiel, and peaks with a chorus practically inverted by echoing distorted guitar and a slowed down melody. “Soft Machine” is a strong step for the band toward a more matured sound. Isadora Duncan is out May 18, you can listen to “Soft Machine” below and see the band live at the Asbury Park Brewery on May 20th. – Cameron Carr

San Francisco’s Bone Nest creates music for those disillusioned by the overwhelming prevalence of upbeat, pop-influenced tracks in the electronic scene. His single “Fkbyzantm” (streaming below), which is set to appear on a forthcoming debut LP, features experimental production in the form of a beat that is both warm and a bit abstract. With influences from neo-soul, new-wave, and breakbeat and a perfectly imperfect blend of two sets of vocals, the track keeps the listener guessing. We’re eagerly anticipating what’s to come. – Lilly Milman