NYS Music 202​0

Author: Yafet Andemariam

  • Crash the Calm,”Devils” sets the tone for Upcoming LP

    Long Island group, Crash the Calm, have released their debut single, “Devils,” from their upcoming sophomore album, A Town Named Nowhere.

    crash the calm

    Crash the Calm entered the scene in December 2014, and released their debut single “Holes.” It was considered their demo at the time, and was followed by the band signing to indie label, Downport Records. They eventually recorded their debut album, How’ve You Been?, at VuDu Studios with Nick Starrantino, Dom Nastasi & Mike Watts. They also released an EP in 2018, titled Split. It was recorded with Anthony Lopardo and Ray Marte at Westfall Studios.

    The band have played in many shows locally and across the East Coast. They have opened up for and shared the stage with bands such as Pianos Become the Teeth, Save Face, Capstan, Elder Brother, Belmont, Bay Faction, Head North, Heart Attack Man, Kayak Jones, The Republic of Wolves, bloom., Gatherers, Stories Untold, and the Sparrows. Crash Calm have also had stadium experience in Queens and opened up at the Citi Field in Flushing, NY.

    Following the EP, a third of the five members left for personal reasons. Remaining members, Brian Dowling and Patrick Smith, had almost lost hope for the band. However, an idea blossomed from the moment, and the concept for their second album, A Town Named Nowhere was soon in the works.

    The album is centered on the fictional town of “Nowhere,” which captures the different perspectives of the townspeople. Each perspective must resolve and contain their own inner struggle, in addition to the rampant dust storms and destined economic ruin they inevitably face. The record wants people to find their way through life-altering experiences and restore situations that seem beyond repair.

    The concept of “Nowhere” came to guitarists Brian Dowling (also a singer) and Patrick Smith when they felt at a place where their only option was to rebuild from nothing. They went to the studio to record the album in 2019 with new members Dan LeBrun (Guitar), Johnny Pots (Drums) and Dave Van Nostrand (Bass). They recorded their 2nd LP with Anthony Lopardo and Ray Marte of Westfall Studios, which was a familiar ground for the band.

    Their first single, “Devils,” is also accompanied by a dark lyric video, visualising the experiences of the Dust Bowl era. Crash the Calm have been juvenated for their upcoming release, and will tour once health conditions permit. In the meantime, the band plans for a number of music videos and digital performances to support the album. Their new single is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.

  • Ok Cowgirl descends into a fuzz-laden abyss with “Get Gone”

    Ok Cowgirl, the lofi indie rock project of Leah Lavigne, a Brooklyn-based multi-instrumentalist has released their debut single “Get Gone.” The song describes the desire to abandon younger insecurities with appearances, wealth, and beauty. It could also be described as an unimpressed response to a superficial culture.

    Ok Cowgirl

    They discussed the various topics associated with the track, speaking about radical-self acceptance, beauty standards, and capitalistic norms. Lavigne said, “At a certain point I knew I needed to let these emotions be what they were. I needed to stop filtering them and stop judging myself for feeling these things.”

    Look At My Record praised Lavigne’s “powerful and domineering vocals” of song, and mentioned her strong expression of the frustration with our current cultural values. They also described it as “descending into a fuzz-laden abyss” and finally being able to release the pent-up emotion. Ok Cowgirl has an artistry that goes into the idea of the musician and the role we provide to this world, especially with our modern challenges.

    Ok Cowgirl

    This project also represented a major change for Leah Lavigne. Her earlier solo career up consisted of a more softer energy. People would come up to her in shows and say that she was their favorite sad girl. The Detroit native realized there was so much more to her style and has expanded her lane. Lavigne used to play the piano and switched her focus towards the electric guitar.

    Since the summer of 2018, Lavigne performs alongside long-time collaborator and percussionist Matt Birkenholz, bassist Jase Hottenroth, and lead guitarist Jake Sabinsky. They have been noted for their lyrically-driven rock tinged sound, with a soft synth and melodic, angsty influence.

    Their new single will surely not disappoint fans of the Brookyln-based group. Their follow up single, “Don’t Go,” will also be out on November 20. “Get Gone” is out now on Spotify, Bandcamp, and Soundcloud.

  • Brooklyn Duo Fake Dad serve up new single “Breakfast in New York”

    In preparation for a new EP in 2021, Brooklyn group Fake Dad have released a new single to close out the year. Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford found inspiration for their single “Breakfast in New York,” from a very interesting and unusual source.

    Fake Dad

    The song is a mid-tempo electronic/R&B track, inspired by a knock off Jurassic Park ride in the middle country. “Fake Dad” used that exact backdrop for another music video, bringing a new inspiration to the duo. When de Varona and Ford wrote the song, they were fixated on the idea that the things we wish we could change is exactly what make our lives meaningful.

    The Brooklyn duo, Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford, have made music in their tiny studio apartment since 2018. The duo had designated their roles within the band and have worked with a variety of up and coming artists. Andrea and Josh come from different musical backgrounds, but they do share a common goal. That goal is to create something that understands the listener. Both Andrea and Josh wanted to create music that comforted people, especially if the listener had a rough day in life.

    Fake Dad

    “Fake Dad” has received many plaudits from media outlets. The Wild Honey Pie wrote, “Fake Dad take listeners on a trip down memory lane — but it feels closer to a cautionary tale than a fond retelling.”

    EARMILK felt “Fake Dad” knew how to express their concepts with their single “Summer Hill.” EARMILK wrote “I tend to reject the saying, “Life is hard.” Not because it is not, but because it glosses over the very real hardships and struggles that so many of us face, tying it up with a bow in just three short words. I do not want to gloss over it. I want to dig deep and uncover what makes the simple act of existing so challenging for all of us. Fake Dad, comprised of Andrea de Varona and Josh Ford, sonically and visually conceptualize all of these ideas.”

    “Fake Dad” looks to comfort and share their conceptual ideas with listeners, and their new single will surely do that. “Breakfast in New York” is out now on Spotify. To check out more of “Fake Dad” and their work, visit their Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, or Instagram page.

  • CLAVVS take a new approach with their latest single “Dance in Place”

    CLAVVS have released a new single, “Dance in Place,” coming off of rave reviews from the release of their latest EP No Saviors in 2019. Along with an extended version of their EP released in February, CLAVVS are looking to capitalize on these releases with their brand new single. The single is also accompanied by a music video and was shot in their neighborhood in Brooklyn.

    CLAVVS

    They made their own music video, looking to capture the strong presence of the sun and the vibrant colors of the autumn weather. Amber describes the video saying, “For the past few years I’ve been imagining visuals that capture my experience of moving through New York but with this fantastical element of suddenly connecting with strangers in some unexplainable moment of celebration.” Especially in the wake of the pandemic, Amber adds, “Having lived through Co-vid here, we both feel even more bound to this city and our neighbors. So, this video is a socially distant version of that daydream.”

    CLAVVS

    The single represents the criticism of capitalism and “grind” culture. Amber described the song as a call for radical self-acceptance and finding joy in a joyless culture. “I wrote this song in February, so it was super weird when we were all kind of forced to closely examine those things in March,” she said. “We couldn’t have guessed how on-the-nose this song would feel now.” It features great production work and a very catchy hook. “We aren’t taking ourselves very seriously anymore,” said Graham. “We just want to have fun with our band.”

    Going forward from their previous EP, the Brooklyn via Atlanta duo really wanted to challenge their sound. They have shifted from making disruptive pop songs to reflective music. The duo embraces their flaws to reinvent themselves. “The question became, how do we make CLAVVS songs that we can dance to and smile to?” Amber said. “We really wanted to challenge ourselves to make something we had never made before, something that, for a long time, didn’t feel at home to us. We didn’t know how to write happy songs that felt genuine.”

    “Dance in Place” has strongly built on the success of their recent EP. The new song is out now on Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp and various other platforms. Their new single is also accompanied by a music video, which is out now on YouTube.


  • “Rock The Border, Stop The Wall” looks to break more barriers

    A 2,000 mile border wide concert is being planned amid the upcoming 2020 election. The event “Rock The Border, Stop The Wall.” Over 30 musicians, activists, and artists, will perform in a CO-VID-safe online concert. The concert will take place on Friday, October 23rd at 5PM CST/6PM ET in the bordering states of California, New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.

    Rock The Border Stop The Wall

    Tension at the southern U.S. border has peaked in the past few years, due to U.S. immigration policy. To downplay and unite in spite of all the controversy, musicians gathered togther in high spirits to perform and play music. “Fandango At The Wall” was a film centered on gathering musicians on both sides of the Tijuana-San Diego border.  Musicians played big band jazz arrangements and enjoyed the harmonious music on both sides of the border.  Another border-related concert is coming soon, although it’s not exactly a film.

    The event aims to motivate young latinos for the upcoming election and aid efforts in stopping the controversial border wall project. The event is a 2,000 mile border-wide concert and it will be hosted by the “#No Border Wall Coalition” in Laredo. Formed in February 2019, The #No Border Wall Coalition is a network of community members, artists and activists who oppose the border wall. With this upcoming election, the youth latino vote may be crucial to the final results.

    The number of Gen Z latinos likely voting for the first time may surpass numbers from the 2016 election. Adrian Quesada of the “Black Pumas” says “The time is now to make our voices heard against injustice, oppression, division and hatred. Joining together to stop the border wall is the first step, and voting is more important than ever to head in the right direction.”

    Rock The Border Stop The Wall

    The concert has garnered plenty of support from artists. “The border wall is the physical manifestation of everything we have to mobilize against in this election: hate, fear, xenophobia and division,” guitarman Beto Martinez says. “This concert is a show of solidarity and a statement of hope against all those things that would divide us.” In addition to being a performer, Martinez is also the creative organizer of the event. 

    The concert will be at 5PM CST/6PM EST. The full line up of the event includes the Black Pumas, Aloe Blacc & Maya Jupiter, Ozomatli, La Santa Cecilia, Grupo Fantasma, Gina Chavez, Making Movies, Trans-Border Orchestra (Orkestra Mendoza + Mexican Institute of Sound), Anais Mitchel & the Cast of Hadestown, Las Cafeteras, Superfónicos, XIXA, B Side Players, Amalia Mondragon, Tiarra Girls, Bidi Bidi Banda, Radio La Chusma, Nosotros, Nohe y Sus Santos, Native Creed, Esther Martinez, Papaya Con Chile, Baracutanga and Rizu X.

    For more information on “Rock The Border Stop The Wall” the organization has a website along with a Facebook and Instagram page. Navigate through the details of the organization, their mission statement, and relevant news.

  • Magic Dance gets us into the Halloween spirit with new EP “From Death To Life!”

    Magic Dance, the solo project of singer/songwriter Jon Siejka, is releasing a new album this December titled Remnants. However, the band decide to couple the release of the album with a new EP From Death To Life!

    Siejka does not stop there and pleases fans with also a new music video for the first single “Zombie Breath Surprise.” Siejka had fun writing and recording the song, as he wanted to create an AOR celebration in the spirit of Halloween.

    Magic Dance

    Formed in Long Island, NY, Magic Dance was started by Jon Siejka in 2012. Siejka is a self-taught musician and producer. Siejka wanted a platform express his synth-wave music, which was influenced by iconic-synth 80’s pop and movie soundtrack music. His sound has evolved over time, and has now become a heavier, guitar-oriented style, reminiscent of classic AOR music. The songs also have strong elements of mid 80’s music.

    The line-up for the EP consisted of Jon Siejka on the vocals, guitars, and synths. Kevin Krug, Gabor Domjan, Luke Anderson, Emanuele Moretti were on the bass as Kevin Mcadams was on the drums. Gdaily was credited for the saxophone, and Tim Mackey provided guitar solos on “Zombie Breath Surprise” and “No Light (Hand Of Death)”. Ziy Shalev also had a guitar solo, for the track “Oh No”. For more information, you can find Magic Dance on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Their new EP, “From Death To Life!”, is out now!

    Key Tracks: Zombie Breath Surprise, No Light (Hand Of Death), Oh No

  • Laura Jinn announces feverish, ear-catching, new single “Sick!”

    Laura Jinn has revealed the title of her debut extended play, “Sick!” and relased the first single off the EP.

    Jinn wrote “Sick!” from the perspective of a feverish girl’s plea for love and affection. The girl within the song is aware that she’s not well enough to be in love, but still chases after that feeling. Jinn also plays on the word ‘sick’ , which can mean feeling unwell, or how some younger adults use sick as a placeholder for awesome. Jinn duly expressed the duality of the feeling on the goth-pop track, and is filled with synth, electronic influences.

    Laura Jinn

    Laura Jinn is an artist and producer born and raised in Cincinatti, OH and is now living in Brooklyn, NY. Jinn spent her early years listening to emo music and hanging out with older girls on LiveJournal. Jinn eventually left home and had faced a new, difficult reality.

    Despite the challenges she encountered on her journey, her experiences carved out her creative and interesting spin on music. Jinn expressed her music through a friendly, calm tone. However, the twist of her music is the underlying themes that focus on horror, violence, and etc.

    Jinn wanted to see how people defined what being sick was, and how the culture perpuated these thoughts. Jinn wrote the demos for the EP in 2019. However, when the pandemic began, Jinn made some obersavtions and noticed how much stronger the feeling was.

    Jinn eventually produced the final versions of the extended play with co-producer Tatum Gale while quarantined in Brooklyn. The two poured themselves into the music while grappling with bigger issues: the devastation happening around them, their fear for themselves, and the privilege that kept them safe.

    The EP date is TBA, but the track ‘Sick!’ by Laura Jinn is out now on Spotify, Soundcloud, and Bandcamp.

  • Lucinda Williams cranks her Jukebox and Shares New Music

    Lucinda Williams‘ latest endeavor, Lu’s Juke Box, is a six-episode series that will feature a themed set of songs, arranged by Williams herself. The in-studio performances are mostly full-band and will also feature a new song that fits each episode’s theme. 

    In the midst of the pandemic, the series of songs and stories will benefit struggling independent music venues. A percentage of each ticket will go directly to the venue. These venues had encouraged and helped her throughout her career and wanted to return the favor. “My hope for this project is that we’ll be able to help as many venues as we can,” Williams says. “They’re our homes, as artists. We have to take care of them, for the sake of live music to come.”

    Lucinda Williams

    Lucinda Williams is an award winning, respected singer/songwriter, and is about to set upon a musical journey consisting of multiple genres.) Over the course of her career, she released fourteen remarkable albums, received three Grammy awards, and countless accolades, including Time’s Songwriter of the Year of 2001.

    Lucinda Williams

    The performance is tracked live by Grammy award-winning producer, Ray Kennedy, and captured in HD video by Neighborhoods Apart Productions (John Prine, Jason Isbell). You can stream the episodes individually or view the ticket bundles offered. Digital audio downloads, CD, and vinyl pre-orders, are available for purchase. For more information, please visit the website for schedule and ticketing information.

  • “Heartbeat” from Middle Part sets a Reflective Tone for Upcoming EP

    The new single “Heartbeat,” just released by Brooklyn-based Middle Part is upbeat and catchy, with a dreamy sounding synth. Middle Part says the song is centered around that chaotic feeling somebody in their 20’s can feel when they’re learning to navigate life or what is “the point of it all.”

    “Heartbeat” is the new single from his upcoming EP,  Wish I Was Alive. His new EP was inspired by his personal experiences, his shortcomings, his struggle with depression, dissociation and overall loss. 

    Middle Part

    “Middle Part” was born when singer Andrew Selkōw needed time to self-reflect, and moved to the deepest parts of Northern Alaska after experiencing a major meltdown. Selkōw had turned a new lead and even in the Alaskan wilderness, expressed his strong passion for music and literature. “Art is important, Andrew says, no matter how you decide to approach it. There’s no age or formula so just create. It’s the most healing form of therapy I’ve ever experienced.”

    His last single was added to Spotify’s popular Fresh Finds and Indie Fresh Finds and received many plaudits from many outlets such as American Songwriter, Earmilk, Culture Collide and much more. “& Cry” has both a 90’s and modern approach, with either influence not drowning the other one out.

    The song’s message insists on emotional release through the pitfalls of that said emotion. Selkōw explains, “I think it’s supposed to be a very romantic plot but it has this dark side of not being entirely there if that makes sense.

    You want all these things, you think it’s great, but you’re mentally unfit to take it on. You don’t understand why, so just cry, it’s okay…I’m here.” The song is out now on Spotify and Youtube. You can also find out more about Middle Part on Instagram and Twitter.

  • Haunted Walking Tours Arrive in Albany for Halloween

    We have entered the beginning weeks of October, and Halloween is coming very soon. In sight of this, Proctors and the Capital Repertory Theatre are presenting two haunted walking tours in Schenectady and Albany. theREP have partnered with the Original Albany Ghost Tour’s Maeve McEneny-Johnson for their outdoor “City Séance” ghost tour.

    Albany Halloween

    The walking ghost tour paints a mystifying lore of some important people in Albany’s history. Dates are scheduled for Oct. 14, 16, 21 and the 23 at 7 pm. There is an alternative date of October 28 at 7 pm, in case of any inclement weather.

    Proctors will also close the month with a two-day interactive event. The event will take place on the October 23rd and October 24th. The event titled “F.F. Proctor & the Case of the Missing Deed,” leaves guests with the task of saving Proctors from rival greedy bank.

    Per the site, “guests have the mission of saving Proctors from certain destruction by a greedy bank due to a missing deed that Mr. Proctor himself hid. Locked in the building, guests scour the dark corners and passageways of the historic venue in search of cyphers and clues left behind over 90 years ago. “

    The tour is part escape room and part haunted tour and will allow guests to explore and experience areas of Proctors. Guests also have the chance to look for clues and solve puzzles on the interactive tour.

    Albany Halloween

    The event list the tours will run in 90-minute increments with scheduled tour times on October 23rd, at 6 and 8 pm, and October 24th, at 4, 6, and 8pm. Each tour will accommodate 10 people. Participants are also required to wear a mask due to CO-VID 19 regulations for both tours.

    For more information regarding either event, visit the City Séance and the Proctors event sites for ticket prices, event information, and safety protocols. A great alternative for those who want to leave the house, but also desire a safe, fun, Halloween experience.