Who | Porches
When | Tuesday, May 31
Where | Kantine am Berghain

For fans of: Miike Snow, Majical Cloudz

Porches is the current moniker under which NYC musician Aaron Maine works. The synthpop project didn’t begin as such; their 2013 debut album erred much more on the side of experimental folk than the chillwave sound they’ve now adopted. Released at the start of this year, Porches‘s latest album Pool marks this major shift in direction with a sleeker overall production. Instead of the guitar and grit of Slow Dance in the Cosmos, we hear a dreamy mix of relaxed downtempo beats, (tastefully used) autotune, and jazz-inspired Fender Rhodes and saxophone solos. One of the few remnants of outfit’s origins is the presence of Frankie Cosmos singer Greta Kline on backup vocals (fun fact: she’s also Maine’s girlfriend). Water is a recurring theme not only lyrically but also musically, as the melodies effortlessly flow, buoyed by smooth synthesizers. Essentially, Porches is the ideal summer cooldown and chillout music.

Who | Mothers
When | Thursday, June 2
Where | Badehaus Szimpla

For fans of: Angel Olsen, Alvvays, Courtney Barnett

What with the insanely high number of talented musicians in Athens, Georgia, I’d venture to say that the temptation for collaboration is nearly irresistible. So what began in 2013 as Kristine Leschper’s solo project during university, has—unsurprisingly—since blossomed into the full-fledged indie ensemble Mothers. Their debut LP When You Walk A Long Distance You Are Tired released this past February starts off with a chamber folk ballad of sorts, Leschper’s tender, heartfelt crooning floating amidst the intimate lilting of violins and mandolins. As the album unfolds, however, Mothers introduce driving, just-distorted-enough guitars to act as a foil to the wavering and fragility of the vocals, creating the perfect sweet-sour balance. The final result is a collection of songs that shimmer delicately yet still pack a punch, making for an incredibly rewarding listen.