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The Band: The Noisettes
The Buzz: London band fronted by the awesomely named Shingai Shoniwa temper Motown melodies with indie rock sensibilities, crafting sweeping, soulful numbers with just the right measure of guitar snarl. Their cover of the Killers’ “When You Were Young” should be hunted down immediately.
Listen If: In your record collection, the Supremes come right after Superchunk.
Key Track: Never Forget You,” a sassy soul two-stepper that starts small and cannonballs into a grizzled, gritty chorus, lit up by Shoniwa’s rye whiskey vocals.

The Band: Pocahaunted
The Buzz: We’ll cop — what originally got us was the punny name. But close listening was not disappointed: this is haunted house music, full of inhuman howls and stark, skeletal guitars. The duo recently played live for a classroom of third graders. So in about 20 years, there should be 30 or so very happy therapists.
Listen If: You’ve still got that old Ouija board and copy of the Satanic Bible. Or, apparently, if you’re in the third grade.
Key Track: The eerie, outta tune “Riddum Queen,” which sounds like the interstitial music to some weird, lost David Lynch movie. Disembodied voices howl and moan, clock tower bells gong on cue and the weirdo western guitars curl up like paper in a fireplace.

The Band: Tiye Phoenix
The Buzz: Tiye — who swiped her name from King Tut’s mother (apparently, she was no longer using it) has an impressive resume, having collaborated with everyone from Public Enemy to Little Brother to Mos Def. Her solo debut is called “Half Woman — Half Amazing,” but trust us: she’s being modest. Her nimble delivery and white-hot flow make “Amazing” sound like an insult.
Listen If: You know “Lyte as a Rock” frontwards and backwards, or still harbor fond memories of Lady of Rage.
Key Track: All of ‘em, really, but start with “Just Go!” where a curlicue guitar and hazy horns serve as backdrop for Tiye’s verbal acrobatics. Or, to put it her way: “Fall back, evac-uate the premesis/ why is rap in a wack state? It’s womenless/ call me a feminist/ ‘cuz you’re faced with my venemous/ flow with the balance and the grace of a gymnast.”