AVA LUNA's Carlos Hernandez, Ethan Bassford, Felicia Douglass

Where we found them: Drom in the East Village, pre-showcase.

Their CMJ favorites: Doldrums, Sinkane, Butter The Children

On being musicians and trying to make it in New York: Carlos: We all have a million jobs. Music is what I think we are all most excited about doing, but it's not the only thing that we do, because we have to make money too. [Laughs] CMJ is a little funny for us, because when we're on tour, it's like the music part of our lives takes over. But when we're doing six shows in one week in our hometown, we have to go to work and live our lives and then run to our shows in between. Ethan has a band staying at his place. Julian, our drummer, broke his foot! So we're playing with a substitute drummer who is actually pretty amazing and we've been lucky that they picked up some of the complicated stuff pretty fast. But, yeah, I've turned my basement in Crown Heights into a makeshift studio and Julian and I are helping other bands record. It's not great, very makeshift, but it's really great to work with music from home. I've also been a brunch pianist! [Laughs] This week I'm working with a non-profit to help register people to vote. Ethan: I have a 9-to-5 ... I work at non-profit so they understand that I have to run away for shows and things. Felicia: I've worked the odd-job circuit doing catering and things. I'm a freelance graphic designer and artist too.

On their favorite cheap eats in New York: Carlos: The Indian spot on 1st and 1st, Punjabi Deli, is great. I have to say Vinnie's and Oasis in Williamsburg, too. Lately I've been getting to Mr. Kiwi's for the smoothies a lot, too. Oh and that taco truck on Myrtle Ave and Bedford in Brooklyn! Get a chorizo burrito and you're set for the day.

MISUN's William Givens, Misun Wojcik, Andrew Wallace aka Nacey

On their sound: Misun: It's all-over-the-place electro-pop! Will: Aquawave!

On playing in New York: Misun: There are attractive dudes everywhere. Will: Having less of our friends here than in our hometown of DC makes playing more exciting. It's tight to meet people who came out just to see us, people we've never met. Nacey: This was our first time playing both in New York and CMJ, so both were important to us in different ways. It was sort of a coming-of-age experience. We're going through band puberty.

On keeping the peace: Misun: We keep it pretty light-hearted and fun. We take a lot of breaks and kinda let everyone do their thing when they're feeling it. Will: Having a "two against one" rule makes decisions easy. I'd say my role is to be a translator between Misun and Nacey. Usually they're talking about the same thing and don't even know it. Misun: I just yell at Will and Nacey until they do what I want.

On their musical spirit sisters: Nacey: Will's a big DFA fan, Misun crushes hard on the Strokes, and this group Rubblebucket reminds me of our own dynamic. We had Sammy Bananas on our last single, "Met You," and we were really stoked about that. Misun: Julian Casablancas has given me a huge boner since I was 16.

On their CMJ survival kit: Will: A book I thought I'd read, 5-Hour Energy, cash for tolls, a bottle of Jameson, and Misun's makeup. Misun: These slackers didn't have to drive.

The most-played songs on their iPods: Major Lazer - "Get Free," Rubblebucket - "Triangular Daisies," Grimes - "Genesis," Santigold - "Disparate Youth," Disclosure - "Latch," Ween - "Bananas and Blow."

ZAK DOWNTOWN's Zak Perris

Where we found him: Elizabeth and Grand

On being an NYC born-and-raised, NYU student at CMJ: Yeah, I know that it's meant for college music journalism, but it doesn't necessarily feel that way. I still don't know if I understand what exactly CMJ is. The shows are all spread out, I'm not sure what's official and what's not, but it doesn't matter so much to me. It's awesome to have free shows and music all over the city.

On his collaborator Hoodie Allen and the college-rap stigma: You know I don't try to be this white guy making college rap but I don't try to separate myself from [Hoodie or Asher] either. I grew up in the city; I'm going to NYU but never lived in the dorms. I'm much more of a city kid -- I grew up in the Village and will probably always live here. I get the whole frat-rap thing, I don't necessarily think that's what I am but I can understand why their fans would like my music. I'm trying to be this hybrid of New York's real hip-hop and electronic music, which is something that college kids would be into right now anyways.

On performing at bottle-service bars: I've recorded a video at GoldBar and am playing Lilium for CMJ but I'm definitely not a bougie kid. It's great when anyone wants me to play at their spot, and I wouldn't say no; I appreciate whenever anyone likes my music and wants me to do a show. I also kind of have this mentality that you should always shoot for the best. I mean, my friends and I go to these bars and then can have a great time and fuck the place up during a show, and if we can do it there then we can do it in Brooklyn or anywhere else, you know?

On getting into rap: The first show I ever went to was an Outkast show, which I thought was so tight. But by 10th grade I was listening to pretty much everything but I really wanted to start making my own music when I was listening to Kanye West and Dipset in high school. Cam'ron on Purple Haze, I listened to that every day.

Favorite local hangs: There's this bomb Mexican place called Lupe's on 6th Ave. I eat there like at least once a week. Their super chicken burrito is the jump-off. To drink -- it's not really a dive bar, but I always like to go to my homie Adam Kirsch's bar Blind Barber on 10th and Avenue A.

What he's listening to now: I've been listening to Dom Kennedy, he's this L.A. dude who just put out this album called Yellow Album that is dope. I always fuck with Theophilus London because he crosses genres really well and stuff. Action Bronson, too.

SINKANE's Ahmed Gallab

Where we found him: Outside of Carmine's Pizzeria, Williamsburg.

On his birthday: Well today is my birthday and I've played a show on my birthday every year for the last five years [while on tour with Caribou, Yeasayer, etc]. I really like it; I've made it a goal of mine to be on tour for my birthday. I don't really celebrate my birthday. I'm the oldest child of three and it became less and less important to me as I was learning how to raise my siblings -- it's my sister's birthday too. She's two years younger than me.

On his new record: Mars comes out on October 23rd and I'm not as nervous as I am relieved. I've been done with this record for two years. I've been really stubborn about releasing the album and now I feel like there's a family and a team of people who really care about the music and want to see it released and reach the ultimate height that it can.

On getting involved with DFA: DFA came to me actually. When I released the "Runnin'" single initially it was on Bandcamp and was a pay-what-you-want type of thing. I saw that they had purchased the song and I was like, "Man! That's awesome! DFA Records!" A week later I got an email from them saying they really liked it and wanted to hear more music. One thing led to another and all of a sudden we were all working together. They're a great and supportive label. It was very organic.

On making authentic, honest music: I think my ultimate goal is to make music that is universal. Music that anyone and everyone can listen to. I think the only way you can do that is if you're making honest music and really drawing from yourself and not thinking about anyone else. You're doing it because you like what you're doing. When I was recording the record I was listening to a lot of music from my youth. I realized that a lot of the music I was making was in direct correlation to the music I was brought up on. A lot of reggae music, a lot of jazz, a lot of pop, and a lot of Sudanese music. It's very easy and clear to hear that in my record. I was listening to a lot of Pharaoh Sanders, Alice Coltrane, Brian Eno, Radiohead -- I really wanted to bridge the gap between music that was incredibly esoteric like spiritual jazz, and weird music that was successful in the pop realm. It's a weird gap to bridge because it kind of cancels each other out.

On Sudanese music: Sudanese music is kind of a blend of Middle Eastern, African reggae, and Indian music. It has a strong sense of rhythm and the melodies are very organic. Similar to Bollywood soundtracks or Middle Eastern music, there are a lot of strings. It's all based on the pentatonic scale and a lot of Eastern African music is influenced by Sudanese music.

What he's listening to: I'm really into Delicate Steve. I think he's one of the most talented musicians I've had the pleasure of working with. All of us in the Sinkane band are into Matthew E. White and Father John Misty. There's this really cool contingent of music that is really organic -- there's this resurgence of bands or the idea of the band, which is cool.

REZOUND aka Jamie Granato, ALEX BLEEKER (Real Estate / Alex Bleeker & the Freaks)

Where we found them: Williamsburg, outside of the Fader Fort.

On Tumblr: Jamie: I actually got paid to curate this Tumblr showcase this year, so I got Mykki Blanco, Prince Rama, some others. We tried to get Kitty Pryde because she's the big Tumblr thing. Everyone had to have a Tumblr page. We tried to get Kid Mero to host it and everyone got all mad because he had a Blogspot. I didn't know that Tumblr was a social networking thing for like two years. Alex: Yeah if someone Tweets at me I will go to their Twitter page and then go to their Tumblr, but I don't know how to work a Tumblr. Jamie: It's definitely for people who are younger than me that understand the Internet. Alex: No, it's so weird. It's just like so much. There seems to be a flow to it, seems kind of open-source. But then there are those pages that are just crazy images and you look at them and can't figure out what they're trying to say exactly. Jamie: For real though, I want a flowchart of a Tumblr kid's brain.

On playing CMJ shows: Alex: I'm not playing any CMJ shows, I said no to all of them. I thought it was a little hectic. Real Estate got asked to play a few shows but we're not doing anything because everyone's away -- Martin's on his honeymoon, Matt's in Europe. I was like, "Do you want me to spin this for Freaks," and then no one ever got back to me. [Laughs] So basically they were like, "Uh, nah." I would have liked to do something a little closer to home, more grassroots now that we're in it; Underwater Peoples' or something less intense than a place where there are suited men at the door. Jamie: We're doing a post-CMJ show though at 285 Kent. Bleeker's playing with Secret Colors who's coming out here from Seattle. We're putting out a new record for him, too.

On trying to keep up with trending bands: Jamie: I used to be way more into that than I am now. For me I'm really into what Arca is doing right now, the whole Uno label really. That weird electronic music with some London and some rave shit -- stuff that I've been into for a long time. But I don't know, I also feel like stuff like Mac DeMarco is also really getting back in. Alex: Mac Demarco is the golden child of CMJ. I think one of the underrated gems of Captured Tracks is Chris Cohen. I like the Mac Demarco record a lot too but Chris Cohen is probably my favorite release of the year.

THE PRESETS' Julian Hamilton and Kim Moyes

Where we found them: Turntable.fm HQ, prepping for their guest set.

Their CMJ favorites: Strange Talk

On the current EDM trends: Julian: We're aware that it's there, certainly in Australia where we've been doing massive shows. It's nice that kids are getting into dance music. But as far as the world of pop -- where everything is starting to sound like '90s techno -- it thankfully is removed from what we're doing. Kim: It's definitely a movement in Australia. Luckily we've experienced enough of these things with, like, nu-rave and electroclash and every other trend that we're a bit more resilient than caving to it. What we do is influenced by dance music and techno and stuff but it's a much more weird, particular hybrid. I think it made us want to stay more true to ourselves, honestly. That stadium techno is best for festivals. It's just pop music of the day.

Where they eat in New York: La Esquina, Balthazar, Prune

What they're listening to: Julian: In all honesty, if I were to go home and look at my most-played at my iPod in my kitchen, it wouldn't be some wacky dark album. A Tribe Called Quest, Thelonius Monk: It would be all old music. For me, I find it very hard to listen to music. All that music is kind of warm. When we're working on music in the studio and it's loud and all high-fidelity and such, the last thing I want to listen to when I get home is techno or whatever. I find I like to listen to warmer, softer music. Kim: Yeah, something a bit more gentle. Stuff you can have on while doing things, stuff that isn't so demanding. It's hard for us to listen to music while we work because that's what we're doing all day. I get jealous of our graphic design friends because they can check out new albums all day long. I've been listening to these guys called Prefab Sprout lately. They're kind of this new-age band from the '80s. They're the kind of band where, if I were an adult in the '80s, I would have absolutely hated them. They're smart-asses. Their lyrics are almost like Sondheim musicals, but in this day and age it's very refreshing -- they're all witty and wonky. And also this band Blue Nile, which is like a Swedish version of Ice House.

ICONA POP's Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt

Where we found them: Backstage at Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg

On playing 12 shows in a week: Caroline: It's a bit hectic, yeah. It's definitely overwhelming but we're in this chaos and embracing it. Tomorrow we're on the plane to go home, and relaxing I'll probably get sick or something. [Laughs] But for now, bring it on! Aino: We've had a couple of crazy months right now but we're also so happy. There are not many people who can say that they've gone through what we've been through, and so we're embracing how amazing it is that people want to hear us enough that we can play this many shows! Caroline: Especially when you're doing it with your best friend. Aino: And the reception from the audience too! When you see them, you don't need to eat or sleep; you can survive on their energy.

On tour fashion: Caroline: We have two big bags that are very mixed with both of our clothes. When we start out in Sweden, we try to plan and organize outfits for the tour but then everything fails because you're staying in hotels and you're still drunk when you're packing and it's just chaos. Aino: Sometimes we borrow from people traveling with us. [Laughs] Right now I'm wearing a leather jacket that belongs to our camera man. Often when you're drunk and packing and throw random stuff in your bag, they end up working really well because you never would wear them otherwise.

On living everywhere and nowhere: Caroline: We're based here but we don't really live here. We rented an apartment but we ended up being there for four days total. We were like, it's better for us to live in a suitcase and if we're in New York we can stay with friends or in hotels or whatever. Aino: Hopefully, one day when things are less crazy, we will have that apartment! Caroline: We haven't even had enough time to properly hang out in the neighborhood or anything. We love the corn on the cob at Cafe Havana though! Aino: Oh that is the absolute best. That and American candy, which seems to be a very special candy. Yeah, at the moment we only ever hang out with our crew in New York or at Milk Studios.

On being inseparable: Aino: We never get sick of each other. It's the opposite really. Caroline: She's the only one that I feel I can really talk to or even relax with. Some days we don't talk, we just hang out and when it's starting to get close to dinner we talk about what to eat. When you live so much of your lives together you know when to talk and when to keep your distance. Aino: We have a very healthy friendship. It's almost strange considering how much time we've spent together over the last three years, but it seems to work perfect.

On their survival kits: Aino: I have this thing that my mom's friend who died gave me. It's a little angel. She got cancer and died very quickly. I carry that with me all the time -- in my bra, wherever. You just need to put your energy into some pieces to keep things in balance. Caroline: I got a small leather bag with pearls on it when I was a kid from my mom's friend. It's full of little stones and trinkets to bring me luck. I hate to say it but we love coffee and beer. Aino: And cheese. Cheese is the best thing. We're both half Finnish, and in Finland people drink a lot of beer. It makes you beautiful.