Being a musician in a city with high rents, small apartments and expensive practice spaces can be tough, but fortunately, for Brooklyn-based song writer Noah Stitelman, those limitations have not slowed his creative process. In fact, Stitelman’s latest project could be called a homage to those on his street that don’t seem to mind living in close quarters with musicians.

“The band name is simple,” says Stitelman. “I have awesome neighbors.”

Formed in 2009, Neighbors came together following the break up of Stitelman’s former band. Joined by Mark Shaw, Brian Harney, Steph McParty, Sam Broe and Julie Noyce, Neighbors signifies a more focused vehicle for Stitelman’s song writing. “I’ve really been able to sit and work on parts for a long period of time. One song could take four months to write, but as long as I am actively working on writing, something will come out,” he says. And the change in process is clearly evident on Neighbors’ debut full length, "Good Luck, Kid"

Produced by Kyle "Slick" Johnson (Modest Mouse, The Hives, Rogue Wave), at Johnson's studio in Philadelphia, "Good Luck, Kid" features a smaller range of instrumentation than Stitelman’s past work, but with a bigger sound. “Really, the focus here was on trying to just make great songs with as little as possible. I just knew what I wanted to make” he says.

Neighbors’ lush, layered blend of synth and guitar, coupled with Stitelman’s stripped down delivery, channels subtle reminders of ’80s UK new wave and ’90s synth pop, but never drowns in a sea of obscure influences from another era. “I really wanted this record to be grounded in the present,” says Stitelman. And as a testament to Stitelman’s vision, the rigors of present day life are reflected: caustic daily relationships, deadpan advice, wrong turns. “The lyrics focus on growing up and relationships you have with friends and co-workers, and how to communicate,” says Stitelman.

And clearly, Stitelman and Neighbors are taking their own lyrical advice seriously: “Having been in a lot of bands, I know what the pitfalls are. We’re just trying to have a good time and make good music.”

In a word, you couldn’t ask for nicer Neighbors.

Silent Rider is the moniker employed by Brooklyn-based electronic producer Reed Kackley. He assembles dark, melancholic progressions and tones that forge a fusion of several genres, including trip-hop, electronic pop and downtempo. The self-titled debut album 'Silent Rider' was released digitally, for free, on September 18th of this year. Kackley, along with co-producer and vocalist on the album, Michael Santiago, utilizes melodramatic vocals, swelling synths, somber piano tones, heavy bass lines, and hard hitting drums.