Intimate shows in living room (or other comfortable small spaces not strictly set up to host live music) are gaining steam these days - and not only in NYC. In Brooklyn, Hypnocraft has booked several shows for series held at the cozy (as in charmingly small) Manhattan Inn restaurant in Greenpoint. Gone are the old-school pianists entertaining diners with watered down cover songs, replaced by respected local artists like Sam Cohen and Shilpa Ray playing songs from their original repertoire. Crowds are often so reverent you can hear a pin drop. Hypno’s second series is called “The Hum.” Its mission, says founder Rachael Pazdan, “is to connect a diverse community of women making music in New York City.” Those words couldn't fall on deaf ears here at The Deli, therefore, we decided to sponsor these events!

On The Hum's first night this upcoming Monday (10.05) half a dozen of talented local ladies will grace the stage of the Manhattan Inn - we are particularly excited because the majority of them has received generous coverage in this very blog. Being a collaborative night, the performances are organized in couples: accomplished singer-songwriter Larkin Grimm (previously a member of Dirty Projectors) will perform together with drummer Lia Simone (ex drummer for The Butcherettes and Gothic Tropic). Mercurial singer and composer Alena Spanger of Tiny Hazard (a band we celebrated in 2013 with a "Deli NYC Video of the Month") will surely try something quirky during her shared performance with dreamy folksinger Adrianne Lenker of Big Thief. After them, we should expect some electronic instruments on stage, when Nandi Rose Plunkett of Half Waif and Johanna Cranitch of White Prism will join forces (and their beautiful voices) to entertain us. 

Hear each artist's own music in the playlist below, and don't miss their creative interaction on Monday October 05 at the Manhattan Inn - we'll be there!

Last year's album, 'Kotekan', (with highlight "Low Blind" streaming below) proved Half Waif (pictured) as forceful, otherworldly music experience. Her ethereal vocals and the spiritual synth pop sound are a welcome, soothing break from all the loud garage-rock coming out of Brooklyn right now. Half Waif is the project of Nandi Rose Plunkett, a Brooklyn native, who also performs in NJ mellow indie rock band, Pinegrove. Catch them both playing the last of a series of shows together this Friday the 17th at Shea Stadium. - Sam O'Hara

We added this song to The Deli's playlist of Best mellow songs by emerging NYC artists - check it out!

We were very impressed with Half Waif's performance at our B.E.A.F. Fest this past June. The duo led by American/Indian/Irish/Swiss songwriter and programmer Nandi Rose Plunkett treated us to a nuanced and weell performed set of electronic, mostly mellow tunes. This new video for single "Ceremonial" perfectly translates in visual terms the band's simple but creative approach to pop music.

Merging disparate influences comes natural to Half Waif's Nandi Rose Plunkett, maybe because of her Indian, Irish, Swiss and American roots, as well as classical training, love of electronic instrumentation, and a natural inclination towards a pop hook. New track 'Ceremonial' (streaming) might take a while to enter your system, but once it does, you'll be transported by its grace and unexpected depth. From globules of bouncy pop to classic low string style synths, the song shifts through genres with surprising dexterity. There’s a slight off beat to the 4/4 rhythm underpinning the various sonic layers, suggesting a slight element of conflict between the inner and outer, a transience, like that of the waif. Even her voice constantly shifts - crisp enunciation falls on the beat, punctuated with chanting gasps, followed by a soaring bridge with stretched vocals. A downshift in tempo two minutes in does not seem out of place in a track only 4 minutes long, but instead augments its simple symphonic quality. Featured in our latest Best of NYC year end list, Half Waif is currently working on her first full length album, and you can see  live on Friday 11th July at Cameo Gallery in Brooklyn. - Francesca Baker

NYC mellow synth-pop outlet Half Waif exudes indie-tronic beauty. The subtle keyboard parts and calming vocals of Nandi Rose Plunkett are the clear center of attention - and rightfully so - while the delicate background arrangement holds the songs together like magic glue. You can listen to their latest EP titled "Future Joys" here. Check out single “Wooden Horse,” streaming below! They’re set to play Brooklyn’s The Rock Shop on January 29. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

Full results of the Best of NYC 2013 Indie Pop Submissions here.