Welcome to another installment of our monthly local music feature, New Music NC!
Each month highlights some of our particular favorites, followed by several categories to sift through. Think of it as your virtual record store, except all the music is new and local!
[Pst! Get included in a future issue!]
Top Selections
ColorMeKrazy! – “BIDE_” (feat. American Theory) [Raleigh electronic post-hardcore]
When I first saw the teaser for this single/music video, I commented something along the lines of “this is the Knocked Loose x Denzel Curry collab of the North Carolina scene.” I stand by that statement. ColorMeKrazy! has continued down a more 2000s metalcore path in their recent singles, and this collaboration with Charlotte’s American Theory reinforces that progression. Shredding guitar riffs, soaring vocals, and an absolutely crushing breakdown have made seeing this live with both bands on the same bill a bucket list item.
Jesus Is The Path To Heaven – power ! [Charlotte apocalyptic folk]
I’ll admit, this is one of those “tough sell” records. It’s not something I want to dance or bop my head along to. Instead, I want to be transfixed by it and teleported to the unnerving places it takes me.
But don’t let that scare you away from a listen. What you’ll find here truly feels apocalyptic in how dark and brooding the instrumentals feel. It’s folk and Americana in its instrumentation and vocal delivery; the lyrics use evangelical imagery and hymnal refrains as a means to emphasize their perverse hypocrisy. All of that comes together to envelop you and, if you stick with it, take your imagination for a ride in a way few projects do.
Top Tracks: The Lord Has Bled A Line”, “Bow and Bend”, “Little Lamb”
Khalil Nasim – STILL SOBER [Raleigh hip-hop/rap/R&B]
After impressing with his 2025 debut, THE DISAPPEARING ACT, Raleigh’s Khalil Nasim returns on this vibe-heavy project with his crew of Deviants (anu, Cardigan, Cloud Envy, 9OFHEARTS, sifi!) in tow. Each member brings their own flow, with Khalil serving as a ringleader-meets-executive producer. Production-wise, it feels pulled from eras past (“back home” with 9OFHEARTS plays like a sequel to 2Pac’s “Dear Mama”) with low-key soul beats while bringing more modern records like Anderson .Paak’s Ventura to mind.
Top Tracks: “the lite + cj monet & sifi!”, “get by/okay! + anu & cloud envy”, “back home + 9ofhearts”
Monthly Round-up
Rock, alternative, and punk
Amelia Riggs – MOTHERFUCKERREDEEMER [Durham rock covers]
We usually avoid covers here, but have to make an exception for this fantastic batch from Amelia Riggs. It’s a great variety of artists from John Prine to Dragging An Ox Through Water in Amelia’s stellar new wave rock with a bit of country twang – all in celebration of a year sober.
Creatures of the Sun – “Hell If I Know” [Charlotte garage rock]
Big classic/surf rock grooves with vocals dripping in reverb. Practically readymade for a sunny day at the beach.
The Honeyjacks – “I Live Today” [Washington rock and roll]
Just some good ol’ rock and roll that Bob Seger would probably approve of. Great vocal harmonies and tight musicianship all around.
Leaving for Arizona – Borrowed Faces [Charlotte pop punk/emo]
Two-time Mountains to Sea participants return with three songs that satisfyingly cover the full-range of their sound, from bouncy pop-punk to quiet-loud emo and back to more over a easycore a la Four Year Strong. All three would be fun to hear live.
The Lousy Hitchhikers – Don’t Ask Me How / Algorithm [Winston-Salem punk rock]
Punchy drums and guitars frame blunt, sardonic lyrics across both these tracks. “Algorithm” in particular hits hard in its critique of the social media forces keeping musicians down.
The Old Regime – A Great Weight [Raleigh prog rock/math rock/jam band]
If you were ever looking for a proggier, mathier, more focused Phish, this full-length from The Old Regime will perfectly scratch that itch. “Lucky Day Is Due” is such a jam!
Powell House – Who I Am Now [Raleigh pop rock]
I’ve been anticipating this debut EP since seeing Powell House rock the roof of Slim’s last December, and the band doesn’t disappoint. Both of their vocalists are incredible and offer satisfying range, whether it’s channeling some country-adjacent twang to Hayley Williams. Don’t miss this one.
Purple Cabbage – “Tomorrow” [New Bern indie rock/psych rock]
This debut single from Purple Cabbage flexes the bands satisfying blend of psych rock and alt-country. The band’s dreamy, reverb-heavy guitars sit perfectly behind multi-part vocal harmonies, making for an almost-hypnotizing listen.
Two Plänes – Secret Storm [Asheville stoner rock/post-rock/shoegaze]
If you’re looking for something instrumental that alternates between spacey ambiance and moments of blistering heaviness, look no further.
Metal and hardcore
Born Violent – Rat King [Charlotte beatdown hardcore/metalcore]
An impressively performed and produced debut record, with a sound that brings early Parkway Drive to mind.
Evil Eye – Under A Sabbath Moon [Chapel Hill stoner metal/heavy psych]
A simply gratitifying pair of groovy-heavy songs with crashing cymbals and guitars fuzzed out to the point of sounding like a distorted synth. The way they play with tempo on the B-side is a trip on its own.
Horsemainer – Southern Blight EP [Winston-Salem sludge metal]
Truly sludge metal in its purest form, all recorded live. The instrumentation feels like it could crush you, while Buddha’s vocals serve as a layer of gritty sandpaper.
Lowest Point – LPHCFY [Charlotte hardcore punk/metalcore]
Something’s in the water in Charlotte this month between Born Violent and this Lowest Point EP. The latter is some unadulterated yet well-produced hardcore that wants beat the shit out of you. Just listen to “Cognitive Dissonance” into “Alphabet Boys” and you’ll get it.
Normal American – Any Man This Violent [Asheville hardcore punk]
Meanwhile, in Asheville, Normal American is serving up more of a The Chariot-esque flavor with raspy screams and growls, chaotic guitar riffs, and militant drumming.
Public Acid – Pay No More [North Carolina hardcore punk]
An explosive single that wastes no time getting to the point. Blink and you’ll miss it. I love the guitar solo at the end.
REPO BOYS / EVIL EYE – EVIL BOYS TAPE [Chapel Hill/Charlotte punk]
Big old-school punk vibes on this split EP from Chapel Hill’s REPO BOYS and Charlotte’s EVIL EYE (not to be confused with Chapel Hill’s Evil Eye, above).
Electronic, ambient, experimental, and more
GABUISLOST – Bite Me [Charlotte drum & bass/bedroom pop]
A fun batch of danceable indietronica/digicore songs with standout vocal performances across nearly every track.
i give my friends flowers – A RIVER RUNS THROUGH ME [Asheville electronic soul/art pop]
Everything from the soulful vocals to the lo-fi atmospheric production makes this into a worthy listen, especially if you enjoy the likes of Toro y Moi or Bon Iver.
Jupiter 2 – Bliss Artifact [Chapel Hill electro pop/psychedelic]
What a spacey, groovy return for Jupiter 2, three years removed from their last LP. It’s a complete level up that keeps up the neo-psych/electronica sound but with a noticeable Britpop influence.
Ken Moshesh – Conga Ode to Marshall Allen and the Ancestors [Durham percussion]
If you want to go down a percussionist rabbit hole, there’s few better than Ken Moshesh. Here he turns an ode to a former bandmate and legendary musician into a diverse suite of conga drum tracks.
Social Echoes – Life Is Due [Charlotte new wave/soft rock/synth pop]
I was torn between putting this one in the “rock” bucket, but it feels better suited for a lounge than a dive bar. Jason Dellarusso’s tenor vocals are clear and catchy, buoyed by great instrumentals and a more pop-focused production. Big recommend for any Bedroom Division fans out there.
Folk, Americana, and country
Boygirl Rising & Henry Luther – People Who Hate Each Other [Raleigh folk punk]
I have so much love for Boygirl Rising and their knack for building community. This collaborative record with Henry Luther brings six co-written songs, plus a rendition from each artist of the other. “Bad Dog (Henry’s Version)” manages to take an already great song and completely remix it, which kicks the record off perfectly.
Dear MariBella and the Pigkickers – Red Goes With Everything [Wilmington country folk/bluegrass]
A genuinely heartwarming batch of tracks from this six-piece family band out of Wilmington. The finger-picking banjo and fiddle work immediately stand out on songs like “Cold Shoulder Blues” and “Sin Eater” (the latter feels pulled from The Chicks discography), but it’s the shared songwriting and vocals that wins me over.
Second Home – Kind of a Bland Thing [Wilmington folk pop]
Beautiful acoustic guitar work with earnest folky/borderline emo vocals. It has an odd warmth to it, despite the sparse instrumentation.
Hip-hop/rap, soul, jazz, and funk
Kev-O – Sincerely Yours, Kev-O [Chapel Hill hip-hop/rap]
This record from Kev-O is packed with tracks that feel like they would’ve thrived on 2000s hip-hop radio. Take a ride back in time.
T.E.E – Hits & Haymakers [Goldsboro hip-hop/rap]
T.E.E bottles the energy of a two-week trip back to Goldsboro into something authentic and alive, sliding from slick talk to smooth hooks and genuine heart without losing his footing.
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