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Nalani and Sarina

An effervescent soul-pop duo from Flemington

These twin rocker chicks are no gimmick — each is a multifaceted musician and together, their harmonies and dueling riffs unfurl a mature, blues-influenced sound. Their style shines on their June EP "Scattered World," one of the more intriguing local rock releases of 2015.

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The Vaughns

An alluring, turbulent, female-fronted rock band from Springfield

A year of performances in the New Brunswick and Asbury Park scenes has improved this four-piece significantly, and their new fall EP "Tomfoolery" is wonderfully confident. Singer Anna Lies' quivering, idiosyncratic vocal stands out in the state and the young group's upside is palpable in 2016.

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Wyland

An atmospheric, experimental rock foursome from Kearny

Since winning the extremely competitive Break Contest in 2014, beating out dozens of bands to play the mainstage at Skate and Surf, Wyland has been performing and recording constantly in hopes of its next big opportunity. Frontman Ryan Sloan has proven a force on stage, and the group's ambient rock style will return with more music — and a new album — in 2016.

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Dollys

A refreshing, effortless pop trio from New Brunswick

The smooth sounds of Dollys — a group who gigs relentlessly around Central Jersey — were recorded in the "old way," on to analog tape, as their muses The Beatles or the Beach Boys would have done. The band clearly doesn't care what everyone else is doing, and as they continue to release singles led by traded vocals from drummer Natalie Newbold and Jeff Lane, all signs point to a positive 2016.

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A savvy Wall songstress doling pop with substance

Cari Fletcher, who finished ninth on "X Factor" in 2011 — as part of a country-pop quartet — has since molded herself into an up-and-coming solo pop contender, with a massive debut single under her belt. Her first track "War Paint," released this past summer, caught fire on Spotify and has been listened to more than 13 million times. 2016 could be massive for the Jersey Shore blonde.

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The Scandals

A searing punk-rock outfit from Bayonne

Hudson County punishers The Scandals saw a banner 2015, that allowed them to tour the country opening for fellow Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem. More success should ride the horizon for one of the area's tightest punk-rock bands.

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Modern Chemistry

A poignant, gritty alt-rock band from New Brunswick

On the strength of opening slots for frnkiero andthe cellabration and Taking Back Sunday, Modern Chemistry continues to build its name as one of Jersey's strongest rock outfits. Led by the raspy, lamenting vocals of singer Joe Zorzi, the group should continue to push this year.

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Deal Casino

An infectious, driving pop-rock band from Asbury Park

Who can question Deal Casino's work ethic? The band played 12 Sunday nights in a row at The Saint in Asbury Park last summer, and in November they went from playing to a few-dozen patrons to 1,000 when they scored an opening spot for Nate Ruess. The group's sound is easily digestible and more tunes are on the way this year.

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Hodera

A contemplative, folk-influenced rock act from Montclair

Matt Smith's excellently crafted, anguished single "Feel Better" was another Spotify success story, scoring more than 100,000 listens in a just few days. The rest of Smith's group Hodera's LP "United By Birdcalls" is worth a try, too, with its blend of melancholy college rock and folk.

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Gatherers

A relentless, ascending post-hardcore band from Bayonne

It's difficult to discern a difference between Gatherers' razor-sharp package and that of a band playing main stage at Warped Tour. The group signed to Equal Vision Records in 2015, a label that manages Saves The Day, We Came As Romans and Say Anything, and their upside for the new year feels huge behind Matt Popowski's versatile delivery.

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Black Collar Biz

A sharp, socially cognizant rapper from Trenton

A mainstay of the city's annual Art All Night event, Black Collar Biz has not abandoned Trenton, despite fair success as an emcee. His zealous, community-conscious style music is injected with soul, gospel and R&B. He hopes to be remembered like James Brown, he says.

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Williams Honor

An intriguing, powerhouse country duo from Asbury Park

"Country can come from anywhere," assures Reagan Richards, the commanding female voice behind the Jersey Shore's dynamic new duo Williams Honor. The group's debut LP dropped in October and features a sound well-matched for the state's growing obsession with country music. Williams Honor could have a big 2016 on the summer circuit.

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Owen Mack and the Immaculates

A quick-fingered, eccentric jazz-pop trio from Closter

It doesn't get much more unique than the stylings of teenage frontman Owen Mack, whose buoyant, traditionally influenced musicianship is paired with the punkish head-butting of his own keyboard in between solos and live performances. Such a display sounds completely unhinged, but the jazz-pop trio's studio recordings are more reasonable, and relentlessly catchy. Mack is a wildly talented gem stashed in Bergen County.

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Pinegrove

A warm, confessional indie-folk group from Montclair

This intimate five-piece caught the eyes and ears of Spin Magazine last year, who named the group's rustic single "New Friends" as one of its 101 best songs of 2015. Led by the visceral wails of Evan Stephens Hall, Pinegrove seems poised for indie success on Run For Cover Records in 2016, among artists like Man Overboard and Modern Baseball.

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Brick + Mortar

An energetic, electro-psychedelic rock act from Asbury Park

After a bitter legal battle to reclaim its own tracks from a record label, Jersey Shore mainstays Brick and Mortar returned with the bass and drum electro-buzz of July's "Dropped." The EP reminds of how singer Brandon Asraf can control a track, and the band will surely continue to tour on its chart-climbing release this year.

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Thank You Scientist

A progressive meld of rock, metal and jazz in Rochelle Park

Anyone who arrived early for Coheed and Cambria's October set on The Stone Pony Summer Stage caught a glimpse of Jersey's wildly talented progressive rock band Thank You Scientist. Innovative melodies and a mash of influences compliment singer Salvatore Marrano, whose tone isn't so different from Coheed's Claudio Sanchez. The group's 2014 release "Maps of Non-Existent Places" is sensational — hopefully more is on the way.

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Gates

A smooth, ambient post-rock outfit from New Brunswick

Gates may be the next New Brunswick band to truly make a name for itself outside the region. The post-rock band's 2014 LP "Bloom and Breathe" has received plenty of notice — more than one million plays for lead single "Low" is a great feat — and was well-reviewed as a fair successor to New York's Moving Mountains. A few national tours in 2016 could put these talented Jersey guys over the top.

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Cold Weather Company

A wistful, harmony-laden folk trio from New Brunswick

The product of a two Rutgers students' chance encounter, Cold Weather Company has blossomed into a shrewd folk trio, reliant on pinpoint vocal compliments and the strong pipes of lead singer Brian Curry. Their 2015 album "Somewhere New" was surprising and wonderful.

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Honah Lee

A rollicking punk-rock band from Trenton

Honah Lee has been on the scene a while, plowing through gigs with a sound too fast for rock and too polished for punk. But in that space, Honah Lee is unique to the area, and their most recent release "33 on 45" is as fun as a fast drive down Route I-195.

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Accidental Seabirds

A sweeping, stylized folk band from Asbury Park

Asbury Park has over the last few years become filled with local, folk and americana-influenced acts, and the traipsing melodies of Accidental Seabirds have certainly stood out. Check out the foursome's EP "The Greenpoint Spill," it's a great collection for a cold night in.

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Roy Orbitron

A slightly eccentric indie-rock group from Trenton

Everyone loves a rock band with a violin player! But Roy Orbitron, a quirky group from Trenton offers more, with musing melodies and a towering delivery from frontman Conor Meara. Jersey's west side touts plenty of great groups, and with the jangly EP "Elston Allen Gunnn" the band seems to be strengthening its sound for 2016.

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Bobby Mahoney and The Seventh Son

A bounding hard-rock band from East Brunswick

Mahoney's Bruce Springsteen "Thunder Road" tattoo rings true in his act's music — a chest-thumping collection of rock romps built for the Jersey Shore. The band released released its latest album, a cool LP called "The Outskirts" in July, and as the band continues to gig around New Brunswick and Asbury Park, they gain a bit more steam.

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The Amboys

A smoky, dance-happy folk band from Asbury Park

Though 2015 was quiet for the shore scene's veteran banjo-rockers, The Amboys expect to release a new album in early 2016, which mixes their folk roots with a more alternative sound. If the product is half as infectious as 2011's "Led Into the Woods," the guys' followers will be thrilled.

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Suburban Scum

A brutal, traditional hardcore punk band from South Plainfield

Within New Jersey's tight-knit hardcore scene, few groups are more well-traveled and viciously dominant than Suburban Scum, led by the ravaged screams of Ryan Taylor. "Ultimate Annihilation" is expectedly lethal and should keep the guys raging around Jersey in 2016.

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Those Mockingbirds

A cool, confident alt-rock band from Montclair

Who can fault a band that works tirelessly to create grungy, crunchy rock tunes for the masses? Those Mockingbirds, fronted by the strong pipes of Adam Bird currently tout the new, electro-tinged single "How The Story Goes," ahead of more music coming in 2016.

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A ferocious progressive metal band from North Jersey

In July, we wrote: "Gyre's caustic, experimental sound is not exactly foot-tapping music. Its complex melodic structures and hairpin tempo turns are wonderfully woven around the brutal screams of frontman Ying Chee, and are better enjoyed with a thrash or devil-horned gesture." Six months later, Gyre was one of the best heavy acts we discovered in 2015.

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SOF

A blossoming singer-songwriter from East Brunswick

Sofia Khorosh, a clever singer-songwriter who goes by SØF, continues to build a name for herself as one of the strongest girl-with-guitar newcomers around. Check out her sharp track "XO" (not the Beyonce song) and sit tight, as she promises more music will follow the new year.

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Tru Fam

An inventive alt-hip-hop brother team from Paterson

Paterson became known in 2015 as Fetty Wap central, but within the North Jersey city also resides Tru Fam, identical twins Shareef and Tyreef Nealy, who pride themselves in their commitment to alternative hip-hop, and making sure no song sounds like another. Their interesting style has landed them opening spots for Yelawolf, Hoodie Allen and Neako.

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Oh Honey

An airy, optimistic pop duo from Bedminster and New York

Over the past year, Oh Honey and their bright-eyed pop tracks have worked to build off the band's single "Be Okay," which appeared on an episode of "Glee." Since then, Bedminster native Mitchy Collins and singer Danielle Bouchard have signed to the popular label Fueled By Ramen, and their 2015 EP "Wish You Were Here" is sweet as pie.

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Franchise

A tenacious post-hardcore four-piece from Bloomfield

The coolest thing about Franchise thus far has been their pragmatic approach to breaking into the North Jersey scene. The band embarked last year on a "mobile tour," where they pushed a video of a live performance to different social markets on varying dates. They saved money — no gas or hotel fees — and still got their killer sound to the masses.

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A sultry, urban pop artist from Montville

As the fire-haired, sensual songstress Alus continues to win over fans in New York, the Jersey native has released her fair share of singles in 2015, most recently the thumping "Good Over Here," which sample's TLC's "No Scrubs." Taking cues from Aaliyah and Janet Jackson, the classically trained musician hopes for a breakout 2016.

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Rob Crews

A breezy, burnished singer-songwriter from Voorhees

Since leaving his raging rock band Hold Your Own last year, South Jersey singer Rob Crews has taken to acoustic writing, and as a solo artist, he released his debut EP "Recollect" in August. His smooth, pop-inspired tracks are refreshing, and will hopefully score him plenty of new listeners in 2016.

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An upcoming, moody alt-rock band from Asbury Park

Bounders was well-placed for several big shows in Asbury this year, including a main stage at the massive Skate and Surf festival and May and opening for a sold-out crowd at River City Extension's farewell show in November. Behind the strength of Matt Basilotto's taut vocals, the band's EP is due out soon. Check out this first single.

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Rocky Catanese and The Chapter

A punchy pop-rock band from New Brunswick

Like Bobby Mahoney, frontman Rocky Catanese and crew are a straightforward, rockin'-till-the-sun-comes-up sort of band. The group has earned local respect for a great live show, and their August release "Better Now" is a whole mess of fun.

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<a href="http://ghosthousenj.bandcamp.com/album/sorry-about-everything" data-mce-href="http://ghosthousenj.bandcamp.com/album/sorry-about-everything">Sorry About Everything by Ghost House</a>

Ghost House

A propulsive punk-rock band from Asbury Park

Yes, there's a heavy dose of Asbury Park on this list, but we'd be remiss to leave many of these bands off, and Ghost House simply needed to appear here. And that's because their pounding tunes are a great reminder of Jersey's punk heritage, namely The Bouncing Souls and Lifetime. Fans of a raucous record check out the band's EP "Sorry About Everything."