NYS Music 20​19

Blog

  • Toro y Moi Unveils ‘Soul Trash’ for Sold Out Run at Brooklyn Steel

    Toro y Moi (aka Chaz Bundick) has been going strong ever since he broke onto the scene at the start of the decade, and 2019 has proven to be no exception. Back in January, Chaz released the excellent album Outer Peace and has been touring on and off since. Now, just as the fall tour was wrapping up with two sold out nights at Brooklyn Steel, Chaz dropped a surprise LP, Soul Trash.

    Toro y Moi at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Support for the fall tour came from exciting newcomer Channel Tres. His infectious blend of hip-hop and deep house kept the packed Brooklyn Steel dance floor moving for the entire opening set. Flanked by two backup dancers and thunderous house beats, Channel Tres performed his entire 2019 release Black Moses, including the hit “Sexy Black Timberlake.” The set was rounded off with other singles like “Topdown” and “Jet Black.” The future is incredibly bright for Channel Tres, including much anticipation for a full length LP. He has several West Coast dates coming up, with a show at Elsewhere’s Zone One next May.

    Channel Tres at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello
    Channel Tres at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Toro y Moi has a very unique blend of styles. One of the few surviving bands from the chill-wave movement, Toro has maintained success by mixing elements of classic R&B and disco with more modern electronica and indie palettes. Each release takes a new approach to these sounds and keeps the ever growing Toro y Moi discography fresh and exciting.

    With so much material to draw from, including the new LP Soul Trash released just two weeks before, the set provided by Toro y Moi was truly representative of his entire discography. The title track “Soul Trash” opened the show, while tracks from Outer Peace included “Ordinary Pleasure” and “Freelance” (which closed out the show). A personal favorite, “Rose Quartz” from the incredible 2013 LP Anything in Return, echoed effortlessly around the room. The band glided through a 21-song set without a single dull moment.

    Chaz Bundick of Toro y Moi at Brooklyn Steel – Photo: Joseph Buscarello

    Saturday night was the last show of the current tour, with a late night DJ set at Elsewhere just to top it all off. Chaz has some DJ sets scheduled out west in December, but for now, we just look forward to what he has in store for 2020.

  • WARMCharts offers alternative, transparent system for music charting

    Copenhagen-based tech startup WARM have launched WARMCharts.com, an alternative to mainstream charts like Billboard and Rolling Stone. With a goal to change how artists are discovered, WARM uses a scoring system different than that of existing charts, giving artists a better chance at breaking through.

    By introducing transparent music charts, WARM hopes for a system where everyone gets a fair chance. WARMCharts uses a 1 for 1 method – one airplay on the radio equals one count. With no obscure scoring system, an audio fingerprint technique collects all airplays from more than 27,000 radio channels worldwide into one chart.

    warmcharts

    From the above image, notice that Lizzo, who has the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, is actually just only in the top 10 of most radio airplays worldwide based on the 25,000+ radio stations WARM monitors. Likewise, Ed Sheerans ” Don’t Care” (ft. Justin Bieber) and “Beautiful People” (ft. Khalid) are ranked 11 and 14 on the Hot 100. However, WARMCharts reveals that those tracks are actually the two out of three songs with most airplays worldwide.

    An alternative to current music charting system, WARMCharts offers a unique formula that can level the playing field and offer another method for artists to garner insight into their rise in popularity among fans. CEO of WARM, Jesper Skibsby, discussed his vision in “No one told us we had a radio hit in Poland!,” via Medium, and spoke with NYS Music to discuss how the platform will become a utilized system.

    Pete Mason: Noting that WARM Charts is a new ranking system for airplay, how does it hope to become a trusted, reliable source that is used by marketing companies and labels?

    Jesper Skibsby: We have an extremely solid music recognition and audio fingerprint technology running WARMcharts as well as the largest coverage of radio channels globally. This means that everything is updated automatically, without any manual interference. This makes the charts equally fair and reliable to anyone. The charts are completely transparent, as we are counting plays, instead of having an intransparent weighting/scoring system. We are launching close to 35 new and different charts, e.g. “Global Rock”, “North American Electronic” and “Scandinavian Jazz”, this mean many more charts will be relevant to many more artists, bands and labels, and in the end this will hopefully mean that many more will start using WARMcharts as a trusted source, and as an extended and much more accurate chart structure. 

    Pete Mason: How did WARM first come together? What caused the creation of the site, in addition to changing how artists are discovered?

    Jesper Skibsby: The idea to create WARM was brought to life based on my personal frustration, of signing a band to a major label in Denmark, and then experiencing that results outside Denmark were not relevant to my, at the time product manager. It was clear to me that there was a very big missing link in the music industry, called radio data, which clashed with the “local office major label mentality” of primarily looking at local data, in each country. There is a fight between the independent sector wanting and needing global radio data also from smaller radio, as they are often the ones supporting the indies and upcoming segment, and the major label sector, primarily working with local data principles, for then to share this between the offices. I also quickly understood, that a major label A&R in country A, can have difficulties to convince another A&R in country B and C, to prioritize a new artist or band. From an indie perspective, you should want to find your emerging markets and engaged audience regardless of where they are. Music is globally available instantly, with the help of streaming, but the majors are still primarily focusing on local data. 

    WARMCharts

  • Premiere: The Big Takeover’s lively and soulful”Where Did I Go Wrong?”

    New York reggae-pop band The Big Takeover have released ‘Where Did I go Wrong?,” off the band’s upcoming fifth album Spilling Water. The track was self-produced by The Big Takeover and mixed by Pete Hanlon, and is due out on Friday, November 15.

    Fronted by the charismatic Jamaican-born singer/songwriter Nee Nee Rushie, The Big Takeover blend Jamaican pop traditions with the spirit of Motown and uptown sophistication of the 21st-century retro soul and R&B revival scene. Rushie says of the song:

    “‘Where Did I Go Wrong?’ is a personal experience about being rejected by someone that you know wants to be with you. It explores the complication of feeling someone pushing you away, but reaching out to you at the same time.”

    Where Did I Go Wrong

    The Big Takeover’s sound channels melodic, big band arrangements of 60s and 70s soul music, with high-energy grooves of popular Jamaican music. This rich sound and rigorous touring schedule has led the band to share the stage with The Wailers, Sister Sparrow, Jefferson Starship, Pete Seeger, The Slackers, Toots & The Maytals, and many more. The group’s first single off Spilling Water, “Shy,” was released earlier this summer. An album is expected in 2020.

    In 2018, the band shared a cover of Sophia George’s 1985 dancehall hit, “Girlie Girlie,” which was recorded as part of a UK compilation album featuring 40 covers of classic Trojan Records hits from artists around the world.

    The Big Takeover Tour Dates

    Nov 22 – Battleboro, VT @ Stone Church

    Nov 29 – New York, NY @ DROM

    Jan 10 – Boston, MA @ The Beehive

    Jan 11 – Cambridge, MA @ The Beat Brewhall

    June 13 – Hampton, VA @ Supernova Ska Festival

  • Metalcore band Destroy//Create shed light on mental health and addiction through “Hang On” and “Let Go” videos

    Rochester five-piece metalcore band Destroy//Create have released “Let Go,” the companion video to the recently released “Hang On.” Taken together, the two-part single/video series focuses on mental health and addiction. Both tracks were produced by distinguished metalcore guitarist, Justin Deblieck (Ice Nine Kills).

    This visually captivating music video is directed by Josiahx (Ice Nine Kills, Sirens and Sailors, Like Moths To Flames) and shows the aftermath of part one’s story of two intimate individuals, both struggling with similar situations: coping with depression, anxiety and past trauma that has manifested itself into a psychosis. 

    One character uses art as an outlet to express and endure her pain, the other takes a more destructive path and turns to drugs and alcohol as a coping method.  This video is Destroy//Create’s way of using their art as an opportunity to shed light on the issues of addiction and mental health, which are clearly prevalent in today’s society.

    Destroy//Create was formed in 2016 by lead vocalist Adrian Blackwell, guitarist Jimmy Gardner, and drummer Jeff Cole. Shortly after their inception, the trio added Mike McCann on bass. After about a year of playing together, the 4-piece band added Dylan Borrelli for another layer of guitar and for songwriting abilities as well as on-stage performance. With the band’s energetic live performances and positive lyrics, Destroy//Create push to bridge together the old school and modern metalcore sound for everyone to enjoy.

  • Turkuaz enters new phase, ditch color for ‘Kuadrochrome’ EP, due out November 22

    A new era dawns for Brooklyn’s Turkuaz, who have shed their bright rainbow hues as they prepare to enter Kuadrochrome, the title of their new EP due out November 22. In support of the new release, the band has added additional tour dates for early 2020, with all upcoming dates branded as part of the Kuadrochrome Tour.

    turkuaz kuadrochrome

    “As autumn continues to set in, the change around us is impossible to ignore,” Turkuaz frontman, Dave Brandwein, shared in a statement. “As with all aspects of life, nothing ever stays the same. Things come and go, and change itself is the only thing we can all count on. For the past five years, Turkuaz has been on a colorful journey all across the U.S. and more recently, around the world. But the time has come to move on to a new era.”

    What the band dubs a “visual palate cleanser” ushers in an epoch of black, white, grey and tan. Turkuaz is excited to keep things fresh, for both themselves and the fans, as they look forward into the future.

    “The band is more collaborative than ever before and seeks to unite our energy in a different way,” Brandwein added on the change. “The four tone scheme with chrome accents sets the mood for an era harkening back to the funk and soul that the band’s music was born out of.”

    As many fans are already aware, the “colors” age is now forever encapsulated in the band’s feature concert film, None’s a Ton, slated for wide release sometime this winter. The film showcases how the nine monochromatic band members each individually brought their own style, talent and presence to the Turkuaz stage as the band moves towards an era of more cohesion and collaboration. 

    A special fan pre-sale for the newly announced 2020 tour dates is going on now with general on sale beginning Friday, November 15th at 10 AM local time. Find a full list of upcoming dates below and head over to the band’s website for tickets and more info on specific dates.

    Turkuaz upcoming tour dates:

    12/5 – Fairfield, CT – Warehouse *
    12/6 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of The Living Arts *
    12/12 – Kalamazoo, MI – Bells Brewery ^
    12/13 – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue Theater ^
    12/14 – Nashville, TN – Exit / In ^
    12/27 – Fort Collins, CO – Aggie Theatre #
    12/28 & 12/29 – Frisco, CO – 10 Mile Music Hall #
    12/31 – Boulder, CO – Boulder Theater #
    1/7 – 1/12 – Miami, FL – Jam Cruise
    1/15 – Birmingham, AL – Saturn ~
    1/16 – Savannah, GA – Victory, North ~
    1/17 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre ~
    1/18 – Athens, GA – Georgia Theatre ~
    1/23 – Chattanooga, TN – Songbirds ~
    1/24 – Covington, KY – Madison Theater ~
    1/25 – Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theatre ~
    1/30 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon ~
    1/31 – Chicago, IL – Park West
    2/1 – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line Music Cafe ~

    * w/ Great Time
    ^ w/ Paris Monster
    # w/ Swaktins & The Positive Agenda
    ~ w/ Neal Francis

  • Michael Franti and Spearhead Deliver Positive Vibes to the Wellmont Theater

    The audience was told to hug a neighbor at least five times. Lyrics such as “They say that miracles are never ceasing / And every single soul needs a little release” were heard. This positive vibe radiated from Michael Franti and Spearhead, a hip hop-reggae-funk fusion band from California, as they performed at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ last week. The band also brought awareness to social issues and sparked authentic human interactions in the Garden State.

    Carl Young and Michael Franti

    The band members include Michael Franti (guitar, vocals), Carl Young (bass), Manas Itiene (Drums), J. Bowman (guitar), Mike Blankenship (keyboards), and an unidentified female vocalist.

    Gun violence statistics of every mass shooting in the USA scroll behind Michael Franti and Spearhead.

    The positive message and awareness to social issues stood out in a meaningful way. Franti’s recent song “The Flower,” a tribute to victims of gun violence, featured a video with survivors and scrolling gun violence statistics. Songs like “Just Work Hard And Be Nice To People” and “Good To Be Alive Today” brought a positive message mixed with short jams.

    Franti and an unidentified vocalist sing “Life Is Better With You”

    Strong musical skills were displayed during a flawless switch from Lionel Ritchie’s “All Night Long” to “Life Is Better With You.” The band was joined by an unidentified guest vocalist for this sequence, which included the original video of “All Night Long” by Lionel Richie on an LED screen behind the band.

    Franti was engaged with the entire audience, not just those in the front row. He sang two songs while on the floor, in the middle of the crowd. He also took a quick adventure to the balcony for a few verses. A myriad number of fans were brought on stage, including a couple who got engaged, and all the children on the floor during “Say Hey (I Love You).”

    The band has a couple of tour dates left in 2019 and will be on tour with Kenny Chesney in 2020. Head over to their tour page for more details.

  • Vevo and Jadakiss Release Performance Videos for “ME”

    Vevo has announced rapper Jadakiss as the next artist in their Ctrl series, with a performance of “ME.” Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians, both emerging and established, making an impact in today’s music scene . These artists demand attention and Vevo’s Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Shot in Vevo’s Brooklyn studio, Jadakiss’ performance follows sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Jeezy, A$AP Ferg and more, according to their official website. Veteran hardcore rapper Jadakiss—known for his distinctive gravelly voice—made his mainstream debut in 1994 as a member of the East Coast rap trio The LOX.  Born Jason Phillips in Yonkers, NY, he got his start as a teenage freestyle rapper before joining with fellow emcees Sheek Louch and Styles P to form the Warlocks. After signing with Bad Boy Entertainment, they simplified their name to The LOX, as label head Sean Combs thought it would be more marketable. After the release of their debut, they jumped from Bad Boy to Ruff Ryders as a result of contractual disputes. They issued the sophomore effort We Are the Streets in 2000, before Jadakiss released his debut solo album, Kiss tha Game Goodbye in August 2001. Since then, Jadakiss has gone on to release four solo studio albums and four more as either a member of The Lox or or alongside the rapper Fabolous. In addition, he has released seven total mix tapes, as well as two extended plays, alongside Sheek Louch and Styles P. He is not only known for his voice but for his for his hard-hitting lyrics about life in the inner-city, exemplified in his highly successful protest song  “Why,” off of his sophomore effort Kiss of Death, making him a prime candidate for this series. Vevo is the world’s largest all-premium music video provider, which connects artists with their audience globally via music videos and original content. Artists work with Vevo to find unique ways to bring their music to life. Vevo also works with emerging artists, providing them with a platform of global scale and reach, to find and grow their audience.

  • Pink Talking Fish Announces Nationwide Winter Tour

    Hybrid Tribute Fusion Act; Pink Talking Fish, has announced a new tour that will span a total of two months and take them from coast-to-coast. The Pink Floyd, Talking Heads and Phish, tribute band is currently touring throughout the country, with these new dates giving an opportunity to those who haven’t gotten a chance to enjoy a live show.

    After a two-week break from their last performance of 2019, the tour resumes at Pickle Barrel Nightclub in Killington, VT, and will see them perform throughout the West-coast, the South-west, and the Mid-west, with the tour ending on the East coast.

    Pink Talking Fish’s entire slate of tour dates for the remainder of 2019 and 2020’s winter tour can be found below and tickets can be purchased here.

    Remaining Pink Talking Fish 2019 Tour Dates: 

    Nov.13 – The Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC

    Nov.14 – Charleston Pour House – Charleston, SC

    Nov.15 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL

    Nov.16 – Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale, FL

    Nov. 21 – Winstons – Ocean Beach, CA

    Nov. 22 – Winstons – Ocean Beach, CA

    Nov. 30 – The Strand Ballroom – Providence RI – Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 4 – The Rex Theater – Pittsburgh, PA – Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 5 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH

    Dec. 6 – Otis Supply – Detroit, MI

    Dec. 7 – The Ludlow Garage – Cincinnati, OH

    Dec. 13 – The Caribou Room – Nederland, CO

    Dec. 14 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO – PTF Are Beastie Boys w/s/g DJ Logic

    Dec. 27 – Sherman Theater – Stroudsburg, PA

    Dec. 28 – The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY – Dark Side Of The Moon Phish Afterparty

    Dec. 29 – The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY – PTF Are Beastie Boys Phish Afterparty w/s/g DJ Logic

    Dec. 31 – Paradise Rock Club – Boston MA

    PTF 2020 Tour Dates: 

    Jan. 16 – Pickle Barrel Nightclub – Killington, VT

    Jan. 17 – Nectars – Burlington, VT

    Jan. 18 – Nectars – Burlington, VT

    Jan. 30 – Terrapin Crossroads – San Rafael, CA

    Jan. 31 – Crystal Bay Casino – Crystal Bay, NV

    Feb. 1 – Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA

    Feb. 4 – Crazy Horse Saloon – Nevada City, CA

    Feb. 5 – Humbolt Brews – Arcata, CA

    Feb. 6 – Volcanic Theatre – Bend, OR

    Feb. 7 – Mississippi Studios – Portland, OR

    Feb. 8 – Nectar Lounge – Seattle, WA

    Feb. 9 – Wild Buff House Of Music – Bellingham, WA

    Feb. 12 – The Depot – Salt Lake City, UT

    Feb. 14 – Last Concert Café – Houston, TX

    Feb.15 – ACL Live – Austin, TX

    Feb.16 – Deep Ellum Art Co – Dallas, TX

    March 5 – The Vogue Theatre – Indianapolis, IN

    March 6 – Park West – Chicago, IL

    March 7 – Woodlands Tavern – Columbus, OH

    March 13 – Flying Monkey – Plymouth, NH

    March 14 – Putnam Place – Saratoga Springs, NY

    March 15 – Infinity Music Hall – Norfolk, CT

  • Aria Wunderland brings the nostalgia with her music video for “In My Head”

    Alternative-pop singer/songwriter Aria Wunderland has released the music video to her newest single, “In My Head.” The track embodies the feeling of a first love with the music video providing an appropriate teenage atmosphere to go along with the tones of the song.

    The music video was filmed along the Coney Island boardwalk as well as in Luna Park, formerly known as Astroland, a staple of many New Yorker’s childhoods. The classic setting provides the viewer with a nostalgic ambiance to add to the feeling of young love represented. The juxtaposition of the location mixed with Aria’s wistful vocals generates the full message behind the single. 

    Aria Wunderland

    The Washington Heights born Wunderland now calls Brooklyn home, and Aria has been making her mark by releasing her own music, which has received high-profile placements on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Oxygen’s Bad Girls Club. Regarding what she hopes fans get out of her music, she told Beyond the Stage magazine in 2018:

    “I hope my fans feel liberated and a sense that they’re not alone in their feelings. I was a lot younger than my siblings and the only girl. I spent a lot of time alone listening to music and would always identify with the lyrics. I hope my music and my overall themes in my artistry can do the same.”

    Watch Aria Wunderland’s recent music video for “Risk it All.”

  • Andrew Vannorstrand shares video for “Boy with the Gray Eyes,” performs in Syracuse and Auburn this week

    This September, Andrew VanNorstrand released his debut solo LP That We Could Find A Way To Be and this month premieres the video for “Boy with Gray Eyes” off the album. Americana Highways premiered the audio for “Boy With The Gray Eyes” and said of the track, “In a song about hope and hesitation, VanNorstrand constructs comforting, introspective guitar sounds, and the low vocals, clarinet and fiddle are the icing on the cake.”

    Andrew VanNorstrand, a musician, singer, songwriter and producer living in Upstate New York, has performed on festival stages, concert halls, dance floors and living rooms all over North America and beyond. For eighteen years, he toured and recorded with the popular dance band Great Bear which also featured his brother Noah VanNorstrand and mom Kim “Mama Bear” Yerton. Andrew and Noah continue to perform together in the bi-coastal folk quartet Wake Up Robin and acoustic power trio The Faux Paws.

    His debut solo album, That We Could Find A Way To Be, focuses on the complicated intersections of love, faith, loss and uncertainty, queerness and the search and struggle for understanding from the rust belt to the Blue Ridge, from a cold spring in New England to a summer’s night in Charlottesville. Andrew blends traditional folk, old-time and country music with indie-roots-Americana and a passion for shared connection and a song well sung.  

    On November 13, Andrew will make his solo, live television debut on Central New York’s ABC affiliate, WSYR Channel 9’s Bridge Street. He also performs a few shows around CNY over the next two months. Click for details below, or visit Andrew’s website for more details.

    Friday November 15
    Andrew VanNorstrand with Anna Patton and Dana Billings
    Auburn Public Theater, Auburn, NY  

    Saturday November 16
    Andrew VanNorstrand with Anna Patton and Dana Billings
    Rochester House Concert

    Thursday–Saturday December 5, 6 & 7
    Andrew & Noah VanNorstrand
    Annual Solstice at the Cathedral Concert, Syracuse, NY