Deli-rious beings,

In our insanely convoluted (but SUPERBLY accurate) system governing our Year End Poll for Emerging NYC Artist, our writers have a rather influential vote. Here are the results of this specific poll (top 3 positions only).

Quite unexpectedly, indie guitar-pop trio Skaters (pictured) took home the gold (the band is currently recording their debut LP, needless to say we are looking forward to it!), with the silver going to electro-pop masters St. Lucia and 10 bands getting a sliver of bronze.

BEST OF 2012 FOR EMERGING NYC ARTISTS - DELI WRITERS' POLL RESULTS -

ARTIST VOTES   1 Skaters 4 2 St. Lucia 3 3 Ambassadors 2   Anya Skidan 2   Black Taxi 2   Clementine & The Galaxy 2   Foxygen 2   Hot Sugar 2   Life Size Maps 2   Spirit Family Reunion 2   The Stationary Set 2   Turkuaz 2

Final results out on Monday!!!!

The Deli's Staff

With so many bands working their way through Brooklyn these days, it can apparently be easy to miss something. Guilty as charged when it comes to Haerts (no spelling mistake there for a change). Formed from veteran producer/label mate St. Lucia (pictured) and Nini Fabi (the former frontwoman of folk-tacular duo NINI + BEN), the two have now come together in one of the most exciting blends I've heard from a local group in quite some time. One part synth-pop, one part country croon, out comes an adoring blend that transcends both universes.

Latest single 'Wings' promises exactly that kind of flight. A trip through the clouds that not only shows off Fabi's soaring soprano, but promises to re-kindle your long-lost relationship to Country music... or at least the process of healing can begin. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This song was added to our curated SoundCloud playlist of the best songs by emerging NYC bands - listen to it here.

Although rock and pop stars are among the least religious human beings on earth, since the 90s there hasn't been a shortage of band names starting with "St." -  most of them belonging to the electronic pop hub. Currently one of the most successful new electro acts out of NYC, St.Lucia offers music as ethereal as its name suggests ("Lucia" means "light" in Latin, so combined with "St." it conjures up images of angels singing somewhere around the the 7th heaven). The band just released the new single "September" (streaming below), which is an appetizer of their new upcoming album produced by James Iha of Smashing Pumpkin memory.

P.S. The track sounds great but we wish one man band Jean-Philip Grobler gave us a press shot that showed the other side of his face! 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.

Jean-Philip Grobler rejects the idea that he is a synth-pop artist, citing his equal use of electronic and non-electronic instrumentation to support the claim. There are prominent piano chords, wandering guitar riffs and the odd sax solo littered throughout his sound, but with programmed beats providing the heartbeat and earthly synths bringing the soul, the NYC based South African – who releases music under the moniker St. Lucia – does create instrumentals of great electronic beauty. The comparisons to Temper Trap and Empire of the Sun are appropriate, but to my ear, Peter Gabriel is the most fitting comparison. A wonderful thing, I’m sure you’ll agree. St. Lucia is heading towards an important couple of weeks, with a show at Terminal 5 opening for The Shins and then a European tour which will take him to the UK and Paris. - Read Dean Van Nguyen interview with St. Lucia here.

Prefix Mag apparently is about to join The Deli in the effort to highlight emerging NYC artists through a series of free shows at Cameo co-presented by Golden Ratio Presents. The first show will be at Cameo on December 2, featuring 3 artists we are familiar with and a group we haven't covered yet: St.Lucia is a one man band by the way of South Africa who offers dancey electro with world and chill components - yes, "chill" is officially a musical genre people, so was decided by us. You can definitely hear some Africa in these tracks, and some reggae as well. Also on the bill Zula, which we did blog about a couple of times and have a new EP of remixes which rings awesome to our ears. What's this, a gentler version of Soul Coughing with Elvis Costello influences or something? Fun! Check out the song streaming below, it's worth a listen. Also on the bill 60 pop revivalists and Deli ex Artist of the Month Starlight Girls (who have a new song for streaming here) and Savoire Adore femme fatale singer/keyboardist DEIDRE (who has a new video here).