Who: Jake Emlyn Where he was born: Homerton Hospital, Hackney, East London, England, UK Where he lives now: East London What he does: I do hip-hop pop-rap London-style. What he’s been up to lately: I have just released my debut Mixtape [...]

“I’ve decided it’s better to try and get it wrong than not try at all,” said Victoria Hesketh, aka Little Boots, onstage at Music Hall of Williamsburg. “That’s my new motto.” The U.K. dance-pop artist celebrated the long-awaited release of [...]

Polish trio Kamp! might seem unassuming, but their smooth synth-pop is sure to sneak up on you. The self-titled debut LP they released last year reveals a sound that’s laid back but still dancefloor-friendly, matching crisp beats with plaintive vocals. [...]

Don’t have your scuba diving certification yet? Dutch Uncles will help tide you over (pun intended) with their new video for “Bellio.” It’s a dreamy swim across dark aquatic landscapes that serves as a simple-yet-effective complement to the track. The [...]

The last time I saw Jamie Lidell perform, the electro-soul artist had just moved to Nashville and was getting acquainted with his new city at a tiny venue accurately called The Basement. It was about a year after the release [...]

For a band from Glasgow, garage rockers PAWS sound surprisingly sunny. Following the release of their debut album Cokefloat! last year, the trio has been steadily buzzing, and it’s no surprise. True to its name, it’s a record that slides [...]

Who: Henrik Jonzon of Nervous Nellie Where he was born: Chicago Where he lives now: Stockholm What he does: Musician & hotel porter What he is currently working on: Some new Nervous Nellie demos. One inspired by my dog, that’s [...]

Fresh from a successful run of shows at SXSW, Haerts fêted the official release of their debut single “Wings” at a sold-out show at Brooklyn’s Cameo Gallery. Based in New York, the quintet brings together members from Germany, England, and [...]

Karen Marie Ørsted, aka MØ, is the latest Scandinavian synth-pop sensation to hit American shores. The Danish artist makes songs that sound ambitious, mature without being moody. Pairing her powerful voice with an energetic stage presence, she’s set for big [...]

NZCA/Lines, aka Michael Lovett, makes swoon-worthy electro-pop that will quickly win over fans of Hot Chip and Metronomy. From the pointedly romantic (“Compass Points”) to the quirkily humorous (”Base 64 Love”), the London-based artist’s self-titled debut LP is an R’n’B-inspired [...]

There are a number of indisputable, universal truths in life. How simple they are in theory, only to end up being incredibly difficult to practice. One such principle: “No Scrubs.” Misfit Mod, aka Sarah Kelleher, takes the eternal wisdom of [...]

Out of all the orchestral pop gems that Woodkid delivered on debut LP The Golden Age, it’s the tender, impassioned “I Love You” that’s hit the hardest. The Paris-based artist doesn’t slack off, and neither does fellow French wunderkind Brodinski, [...]

  Photos by Katie Chow

Day 1 Fol Chen   Io Echo   Mitizi   NZCA/Lines   Day 2 Marianne Dissard   Paws   Day 3 CHVRCHES   Diamond Rings   Generationals   Icona Pop   St. Lucia   Day 4 Usher + Afghan Whigs [...]

From Cut Copy to Bag Raiders, Australia is home to plenty of sweet synth-pop. Fresh from the release of debut LP Truly Alive, Mitzi is joining those ranks. Hailing from Brisbane, the quartet has a refreshing, sun-kissed sound. Songs like [...]

Last weekend, New Yorkers in the know donned their coziest sweaters and ventured into the snow to see London’s Veronica Falls at Bowery Ballroom. Kicking off with “Tell Me,” the opening track from the just-released Waiting For Something To Happen, the quartet delivered a [...]

London’s Citizens! made a splash last year with their debut LP Here We Are, brimming with confidence and catchy choruses–just try getting “Reptile” or “(I’m In Love With Your) Girlfriend” out of your head anytime soon. The indie rock quintet is sharp and stylish [...]

It’s hard to believe, but it was just a year ago that Django Django made their American debut at Brooklyn’s tiny Glasslands Gallery. The Londoners are now on their third Stateside jaunt, and on March 6, they played the first [...]

Not every band starts at Disneyland, but Total Warr were always meant to stand out from the crowd. The Parisian duo’s electro-pop stylings are accompanied by an offbeat sense of humor, exemplified on their new video for “Bambastard,” which shows [...]

If you were in New York last week, you may have noticed a little thing called the CMJ Music Marathon going on. As the music industry descended on the city, I was on hand to document performances from acts like [...]

So, how about being that one kind of young person in a metropolitan area right now, eh? Trying to define who you are amidst aimless partying, aborted non-relationships, and the fear of never becoming successful is not the biggest challenge [...]

The Olympics are coming up, but they won’t include the sport featured in Justice’s latest video for “New Lands,” directed by Canada. Combining motocross, baseball, American football, lacrosse, and roller derby, the game takes place in a futuristic arena where [...]

Thursday Armed with tiger masks and face paint, Niki & the Dove got Northside Festival off to a good start. Though their album Instinct doesn’t come out in the US until later this year, they’ve already built up a devoted [...]

A little bit of Scandinavia arrived in New York last week, as We Are Serenades came to town in support of their recently-released album Criminal Heaven. At the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, the band was joined by the Aviation Orange [...]

“It’s good to be home,” said School of Seven Bells frontwoman Alejandra Deheza from the stage at Le Poisson Rouge on May 5.  The duo, formed with guitarist Benjamin Curtis, came back to New York to wrap up its national [...]

Last week, the Drums brought their summertime sorrow to New York City’s Webster Hall on a night that matched the gloomier side of the band’s identity. The quintet brought their retro-prep style to their hometown at the beginning of a [...]

Yuksek, aka Pierre-Alexandre Busson, is not the latest artist continuing France’s strong reputation for electronic music right now. He’s just one of the best. Below is the second half of our conversation. You can check out part one here. It [...]

Yuksek, aka Pierre-Alexandre Busson, is not the latest artist continuing France’s strong reputation for electronic music right now. He’s just one of the best. In addition to two albums of his own, the dance-pop maestro has remixed artists from M83 [...]