NYS Music 202​0

Author: Annaliese Happ

  • Autumn Nicholas Strives to Make a Difference Through Music

    Autumn Nicholas, a soul-pop singer-songwriter from Raleigh, NC, is a talented young musician that makes her listeners only want more. Growing up with a father who played drums and a brother who played guitar, music was always prevalent in her family; however, Nicholas never thought she would make a career out of it.

    Autumn Nicholas
    Autumn Nicholas Promo

    To say Nicholas is passionate about her music is an understatement. Not only is she passionate about her music, but she is passionate about making a difference in our society. She strives to make her music unique and relevant, singing about love and loss as well as hope and pain—which has been very pertinent in today’s civilization.

    Recently inspired by the #BlackLivesMatter and LBGTQ marches, her new single “Side by Side” shows both the positive and negative sides of these movements in hopes to try and get people to stand up and take action. She says the single “is focused on how we are all uniquely beautiful, beyond our gender, circumstance, and skin, no one more than the other.” Autumn Nicholas is proud to be and sing about her sexuality. The gay, biracial artist stands out among other young artists because she sings about her own life in a way that can relate to anyone. She also sings to the masses where she offers inspiring messages through her lyrics and gives her listeners something to think about.

    I can’t understand why we all just keep taking sides

    Why can’t we sympathize?

    If we really care about each other’s lives

    Then let’s go and make it right

    Standing side by side for equal rights

    Autumn Nicholas – ‘Side by Side’ Single

    Both the song’s lyrics and production capture her goal of coming together as people to stand up for what is right. “I want it to focus less on me and more on the words and the art and the community,” said Nicholas. She even said the official music video of ‘Side by Side’ was rushed because they had to make it before the artwork was taken down, and that there will be a second version of the song that shows even more street art as well as other artists of different races from around the world.

    When performing her song live, she starts by talking about #BlackLivesMatter and how it relates to her song. “It grabs the attention and captures the importance of those words,” She explains, “it is deeper than that – it’s about equal rights and LGBT, but it ties in as a whole to unity, something during these times we do not have a lot of, especially since we are feeling like we’re trapped in our homes, like we are divided, whether it’s by sickness or by color. I hope this song can bring some unity to our time period.” In times like these, Nicholas wants to bring hope to our world, something in which our world needs right now.

    Autumn Nicholas is also in the process of developing a clothing line titled Unbrand.d where their motto is “No Genre. No Gender. No Rules.” She wishes to create a style that can be worn by anyone no matter the gender. Her first item from the brand is a T-Shirt in which the proceeds will go to a food bank.

    Not only will Nicholas continue to show the world her vibrant personality and talents, but she will continue sending the messages of unity and equality in her second EP Shades of Beige coming out this November.

  • Get Familiar with Lucas Garrett and his new EP ‘Familiar Floors’

    Lucas Garrett, a 27-year-old musician from Glens Falls, NY, has just released his album Familiar Floors. Since his EP Evening’s Come, but It’s Not Dark in 2017, he has come out with a few powerful singles. However, this album marks a transition in his career where he sings about his life in a new, but confusing light.

    Lucas Garrett
    Lucas Garrett’s ‘Familiar Floors’ Album Cover

    Consisting of four songs – “Wires Humming,” “All Around Me,” “Inside Out,” and “One More for the Road,” – his album’s lyrics speaks volumes. With a mixture of rock and roll and folk, Garrett shows his talents with great musicians by his side. Bandmates including Kevin Kosach on bass, Emmett Rozelle on drums, and Cassandra Pratt and Bob Bates on Violin, all who contribute to Lucas Garret’s musical vision.

    Where am I right now?
    I cannot pretend
    To know where this room starts and
    Where it will end
    I have a strange feeling
    I’ve been here before
    Nervously make my way
    Across familiar floors

    Lucas Garrett – ‘Inside Out’

    The album’s name, Familiar Floors, resonates with anyone who has ever felt befuddled in their own life, not knowing what got them to where they are now or where it will take them in the future. Garrett has made this clear through his music that life takes you on unexpected journeys, but you always have to make the most out of where it takes you.

    Two Tails Graphics and Consulting

    Lucas Garrett has not had an easy life, but he is also very aware of how fortunate he has been. The singer-songwriter suffers from Pompe Disease which makes him wheelchair bound and in need of respiratory aid, but still he gets to live his dream of producing music. He understands the meaning of music and how music is different for every ear listening. Garrett says, “Music is an equalizer, ‘cause everyone gets it, you know? I play a lot better than some people, I play a lot worse than some people, and it has nothing to do with what I got goin’ on health-wise. And no matter what you do in life, there’s always gonna be someone better than you—and someone worse than you.” He does not let his condition define him, which continues to speak to his identity as an individual and as a musician.

    I can see your ecstasy all around me
    We have eaten, now we wait for the new day

    Lucas Garrett – ‘All Around Me’

    In his new song “All Around Me,” he sings about ecstasy which expresses his feeling of great happiness. Not only does he speak of happiness in his lyrics but he demonstrates all emotions: sadness, anger, and enjoyment, to name a few. On “Wires Humming,” you can hear these emotions come to light.

    My mind is burning
    The world is burning
    What the hell can we do?

    Where do we go?
    Gone before tomorrow
    We’ve been wasting
    Away our days
    Unrelenting dreams

    Lucas Garrett – ‘Wires Humming’

    It is not an easy task making lyrics that resonates with not only himself, but his listeners as well, and Lucas Garrett shows his talents better than ever in this new album.

  • Oliver Wood Covers “The Battle is over (But the War Goes On)” as his Solo Career Takes Off

    Oliver Wood released a single of the cover, “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” on September 4. This classic protest anthem cover is only his second solo single, the first being “Soul Of This Town.” Both are found across all streaming outlets. To donate to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), you can purchase the song now at Bandcamp.

    Oliver Wood
    Oliver Wood (Photo by Come To Life)

    Recently branching out on his own as a solo artist, Oliver Wood has been a part of an American folk band, The Wood Brothers, since 2004 and has released seven studio albums with them since. The Wood Brothers have played in high profile shows such as Red Rocks and Bonnaroo and even earned a Grammy Award-nomination. Check out more about The Wood Brothers on thewoodbros.com. He has also been a part of Medeski, Martin & Wood where he opened for them and sat in on their show.

    Now, stepping into his solo career, the release of the cover “The Battle Is Over (But The War Goes On)” follows his original genre of American folk/Rock to get the message out about standing together. In his recent interview about the single, Oliver Wood stated, “With all that’s going on today, it felt inspiring to put this song out in the world again and help keep the momentum of a movement that really needs everyone’s help.” This song has a great rhythm and powerful lyrics that make you think about the message he is trying to convey as well as the emotions that go with it.

    “If talk was money, you’d be a millionaire
    If thoughts could kill, there’d be no one here
    So many thinking’ evil and talkin’ jive
    But its in only true love, this old world cans stay alive”

    This verse is moving, and you hear the truth through Oliver Wood’s voice. Keeping the song fun and upbeat, listeners get tied into this single and only makes one want more from the new solo artist.

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