NYS Music 202​0

Category: New York Singles

  • Hawkins Release Debut Pop Rock Anthem “Lights Off”

    Hawkins has released their debut single, “Lights Off,” having arrived on the local music scene in New Haven, CT in May 2019. Hawkins is known for balancing energetic rock ‘n’ roll mixed with infectious hooky pop sophistication. The band consists of Hawkins French (vocals), Joseph Frank (guitar), Richard Frank (bass), and Joshua Frank (drums). 

    hawkins

    Their debut single is a pop rock anthem that blends soaring guitars, thunderous drums, and melodic bass lines along with the catchy hooks that you’ll hear in contemporary pop music. The subject matter of this track discusses the current superficial state of relationships and wanting more than just a one-night stand. This song intertwines their ability to create memorable pop hooks, lyrics that compel you to sing along, all balanced under a monumental sound that instantly demands the listener’s attention. 

    The band has performed on countless major stages across the East Coast. Notable performances include Mohegan Sun Casino, The Bitter End, Foxwoods Casino, and the Pleasantville New York Music Festival. In Pleasantville, the band shared the stage with illustrious acts such as ​Blues Traveler​, ​Suzanne Vega​, and​ Living Colour​. In November they are still planning to headline at the Toyota Oakdale Theatre. 

    Speaking on “Lights Off” the band explains:

    “This track evokes the feeling of when relationships don’t have a clear direction and are solely based upon superficiality. This is our commentary on the common tug of war that can occur in tumultuous relationships that people in their youth experience.” 

  • Philly Pop-Punk Outfit Goalkeeper Release Heated New Single “Happy”

    Philadelphia band Goalkeeper have come through with “Happy,” an upbeat pop punk banger of a track just in time for the dog days of summer.

    Goalkeeper

    Full of crunchy power chords, and catchy melodies, “Happy” is the bands first release off of their upcoming EP Life in Slow Motion which will be released this upcoming September 25th on the Lost Music Collective independent label. “Happy” encapsulates everything Goalkeeper have been about thus far; writing nostalgic-flavored pop punk songs from the early 2000s coupled with roaring vocals and hefty breakdowns.

    Goalkeeper have proven themselves to be a group who is constantly seeking out new sounds in an effort to push the genre they operate in to the next level. Opening for bands such as State Champs and Real Friends, Goalkeeper are determined to leave their mark on the east coast pop punk scene.

    Pre-save the Life in Slow Motion EP here and visit the band’s webpage to learn more!

  • Council Release Internally Charged EP “Haunts Me”

    A trio of brothers came together to form the band, Council. Now, they have a powerful new EP under their belt, Haunts Me.

    Council
    Cover art for Council’s new EP Haunts Me.

    From Farm Life to Musical Talent

    Pat, Doug and Andy Reeves hail from Baldwinsville, just outside of Syracuse, where they worked the fields on their family farm. While they worked during the day, they had time to practice at night.

    The three musically educated themselves by listening to their father’s record collection. They say they were athletes growing up, so they never performed as kids. They decided to perform together nine years ago at a local library.

    “We were so nervous we asked them to not record us, as we were expecting the worst,” says the band.

    Council band members Pat, Doug and Andy Reeves.

    Family Knows Best

    The idea of working and playing music with family might mean fun all the time, but that’s not what the guys say. In their experience it could be very difficult at times.

    “We have 3 different opinions about everything and have no issue with arguing over everything. We often times find two of us huddled together creating secret pacts against the third so an idea gets passed or someone catches more of the blame than the others,” They say.

    That doesn’t mean a family band is bad, though. The trust between the three of them is strong and they all grew up with the same musical past. They say if anyone tries to join the trio, it never ends up well.

    The First Council Release was a Success

    The Reeves brothers continued to work on their musical career over the years, with their first release of, “Rust to Gold,” that both American Idol and the Winter Olympics featured.

    Haunts Me Empowers Internal Battles

    While “Rust to Gold,” symbolized an introduction to their band, they say Haunts Me is “internally based”. One of the tracks, “Born Ready,” came out of their personal struggles they were dealing with at the time. It embodies the idea of being able to handle whatever life throws at you because you are born ready.

    The current state of the world made many feel a bit detached from society. Haunts Me guides not only the listener, but also the mind to a more powerful outlook on how life has become.

    Council expanded their live streaming from their website to BOSE, Twitch and Sessionslive. Because of the global pandemic they are currently on tour, so live streaming will be their outlet to perform and connect with fans. Haunts Me is set to release on Aug. 4.

    https://youtu.be/6e_k5w6V5OE
    Get Numb is on Council’s latest EP, Haunts Me.

  • Folk Legend Arlo Guthrie Encourages Equality with Release of “Hard Times Again No More”

    Protest-folk music icon of the sixties, Arlo Guthrie, collaborated with Solo Pianist, Jim Wilson, to release, “Hard Times Come Again No More.”

    arlo guthrie Jim Wilson
    Arlo Guthrie, Jim Wilson and Vanessa Bryan create a stunning, folk rendition of, “Hard Times No More.”

    The single is a rendition of the Stephen Collins Foster Song, which originated in 1854. The original was Foster’s, “empathetic look at the increasingly dire, pre-Civil War world around him,” according to Rolling Stone.

    Guthrie has been a staple for the political movement in music since the 1960s. His idea came from the current state of the world. The global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter Movement inspired him to create this rendition. He wanted to remind everyone to pay attention and to help everyone to be equal as one.

    “I grew up in a family that cared about the hardships of others. My father was well known for writing and performing songs to offer hope. ‘Hard Times Come Again No More’ resonates with me, and I know it did as well with Woody. Though it was first released around 1900, the message endures with the calamities of today being utterly unjustifiable. We must come together not only as a country, but all across the globe in this dire moment.”

    Arlo Guthrie

    Guthrie and Wilson collaborated remotely due to COVID-19. They have never met. but this didn’t stop them from creating a beautiful tune.

    Along with Guthrie and Wilson, many musicians, like Vanessa Bryan and Stanley Clarke came together for this rendition.

    Together, the musicians composed a touching outlook on why everyone needs to unite in hard times, such as these.

  • Danielle Ponder Releases track to Combat Racism

    Danielle Ponder and Karate Boogaloo team up to create “Look Around,” a meaningful single to focus the public’s attention towards BIPOC being oppressed and murdered throughout the world.

    Danille Ponder, an artist and activist from Rochester, started out this year by laying down a track for “Look Around,” a song that responds to the literal fires eating away at the continent of Australia. When she returned home to the US, she was, unfortunately, given even more dark events to add to those described in the song. The killing of George Floyd and countless other African Americans has ignited a call to action in many, Danielle Ponder included. On July 24, Danielle Ponder and Karate Boogaloo released the updated and finished version of “Look Around” as a way to remind everyone in the world of the deadly issues currently happening in America and across the globe. 

    Danielle Ponder spoke about the inspiration she had for “Look Around,” saying, “fires were raging through Australia and smoke covered the sky. It felt like all of our human sins had gotten the best of us and we were paying a price. I didn’t know that when I arrived back home in the U.S, the world would only get darker. I feel like my past self wrote this song for my future self knowing what was to come.” Danielle Ponder’s powerful soul vocals and visible writing talent make her voice memorable. This song was made in solidarity for all BIPOC. 

    Danielle Ponder Photo by Hannah Betts

    Although they come from different continents, it was no problem for Danielle Ponder and Karate Boogaloo to make a connection. Their chemistry is clear in the music, as it flows naturally like they have been collaborating for years. The vocals and instrumentals together pack a powerful punch that effectively delivers the song’s message of unity for global justice. 

    Although Black Lives Matter is a US-based movement, it has a presence in Australia where Indigenous people undergo similarly harsh treatment. In July and August, sales of “Look Around” will be donated to the Equal Justice Initiative in the USA and Warriors Of The Aboriginal Resistance in Australia. Stream or buy “Look Around” now to support those in need.

    For more information visit Danielle Ponder’s website.

  • J. Cole Drops Two New Singles And Announces New Album

    J. Cole dropped two singles following a string of Instagram Story posts hinting towards an upcoming release. The singles are the first confirmed tracks on the southern rappers upcoming album, The Fall Off.

    On Wednesday night, J. Cole made an Instagram post announcing the upcoming release of “The Climb Back“, produced by Cole, and “Lion King On Ice“, production arranged again by Cole aided by T-Minus and Jetson. The Fall Off will be Coles first solo project since 2018’s KOD.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CC6mFLeFC02/?utm_source=ig_embed

    The first of the two singles, “The Climb Back” has J. Cole performing in his pocket, spitting bar after bar over a sparkling piano melody and a high-pitched vocal sample leaving plenty of room for Cole to switch up his flow which he finds himself doing several times. The song is missing a strong hook however, the understated vocals Cole croons out serve towards the emotional potency of the track.

    The second track released, “Lion King on Ice” is a J. Cole track by the numbers. Cole is again operating in his comfort zone; with an stripped back trap instrumental beat featuring similar pitched vocal sampling present in “The Climb Back”, Cole is able to ride the beat comfortably verse after verse.

    Cole has made it clear that he has an album coming on the way. However, he is seemingly under little pressure to release the album because he has also made it clear he has no planned release date for the album.

    For more information visit J. Cole’s website.

  • Joe Bonamassa Releases Revamped Classic “Colour and Shape”

    With a dramatic entry into the world of blues opening for B.B. King in Rochester at the age of 12, Joe Bonamassa has carved out a place in blues history for himself which spans a decades-long career that has produced 15 solo albums, 11 of which reached #1 on the Billboard Blues Charts.

    Twenty years ago the first of those albums A New Day Yesterday was released and the fan-favorite track “Colour and Shape” was introduced to the world. Now with a more evolved style listeners can experience Joe Bonamassa’s artistry all over again with the 2020 release of “Colour and Shape”.

    Coming August 7 via J&R Adventures, Bonamassa will be releasing a revamped version of his debut album A New Day Yesterday with both new vocals and mixing remastered by long-time producer Kevin Shirley. Listeners can pre-order the album now.

    This revamped album will include not only six of Bonamassa’s original tracks but also six cover songs from historically renowned blues and rock artists. The cherry on top is that three never before heard bonus songs will be added, produced by Stevie Van Zandt for Bonamassa.

    To get live updates of Bonamassa’s new exploits be sure to visit his website, Youtube channel, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, as well as checking out Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, a charity established to support musicians and the musical arts.

  • Karolina Rose Releases Music Video for Power Anthem “Runaway Angels”

    NYC-based alt-pop artist Karolina Rose has released the music video to her new single “Runaway Angels,” a deeply personal place of experience from the nomadic artist, split between NYC, Los Angeles, and Europe.   

    Karolina Rose

    Rose’s previous singles include the glittery upbeat rhythms of “Greytopia” and the dusky grooves in “Objection.” “Runaway Angels” is the latest installment of Karolina’s versatile brand of ‘noir rose pop’ and step three in her visual EP project.

    Speaking about “Runaway Angles,” Karolina explains: 

    Runaway Angels is more ballet-inspired with a graceful, haunting feeling. It balances between this place of healing and a place of hell—running from a dark, painful abyss of memories that mostly only come up while you’re dreaming. I started releasing the EP last year and these last two songs were quite personal to me. I took some months off on a sort of spiritual journey to look within and do some healing; Runaway Angels helped me process a part of my life that was really difficult for me. It’s euphoric to exercise this part of me out and share it. The chorus was written in my apartment and the rest of it was finished on a vacation during the thick of the #metoo movement. I wrote parts in the middle of the night and tweaked it on the beach with a mini Taylor I had with me and my laptop.      

    Karolina Rose’s compelling track inspires listeners in an empowering way while on their own journeys of finding love and healing.

    https://soundcloud.com/karolinarose/

  • Falling Water Wonders “When Will We Be Saved”

    Falling Water have release “When Will We Be Saved,” their first single since 2014. Led by Long Islander Mark Rechler, the rock band wrote and recorded the song from a distance while in quarantine. The lyrics are about navigating chaos, specifically through the current pandemic, and dealing with feelings of anxiety and loneliness.

    Clocking in at nearly four and a half minutes, “When Will We Be Saved” is an anthemic power ballad. Despite its conception in quarantine, it sounds engineered for lighter-waving at a physical concert. Its backup singers, busy instrumentation, and dramatic lyrics also evoke a number from a rock opera. While the song has a lot going on, its standout is the piano, which has a solo at the halfway point.  The song’s lyrics begin rather pessimistic, but the band ultimately comes to terms with the new circumstances. “Now the angel of death, well she’s having a feast / changes are forced by this ominous beast” becomes “I’m gonna kick back and let it all go” in the outro.

    “‘When Will We Be Saved’ is a true quarantine song,” said singer-songwriter and pianist Mark Rechler in a press release. “My whole life is trying to keep up with my to-do list, get stuff done, complete tasks. I have often said out loud, ‘If we could only get a time out for a month to catch up on all these projects, everything would be fine.’ Well, like a bad Twilight Zone, that gift was granted. During the first two months of quarantine, I found myself riddled with anxiety, exhaustion, and much fear […] ‘When Will We Be Saved’ is more about isolation and finding your best self in that quiet, lonely world.”

    50% of the song’s profits will go to the PLUS1 COVID-19 Relief Fund. PLUS1 works with nonprofits such as Sweet Relief, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, World Central Kitchen, Partners In Health, and Trans Lifeline to support vulnerable communities. So far, the band has achieved over $8,500 of their $10,000 goal. Other artists who have partnered with PLUS1 include Arcade Fire, The National, St. Vincent, and CHVRCHES.

    Falling Water plans to release their next full-length album in 2020. Stream “When Will We Be Saved” here:

  • Hallie Spoor Releases Inspirational New Music Video for “City Angels”

    Brooklyn based folk/rock singer-songwriter, Hallie Spoor releases her newest music video which inspires joy, youthfulness and unity despite the global shutdown.

    Cover art for Spoor’s newest album, “New Ground.”

    Spoor’s song “City Angels,” promotes a feel good attitude, during a time that many of us are struggling emotionally because of the pandemic.

    “The idea I had was that during this time of isolation and separation, I thought we could use more joy,” Spoor said.

    Growing up in Denver, the young musician is now based out of Brooklyn. She has played at several famous music venues like, Sunny’s Bar in Red Hook and Rockwood Music Hall.

    Spoor completed her first national tour last fall through playing small performances in unique locations with the well known music events start-up, Sofar Sounds.

    Spoor’s website describes her as an “old soul,” who possesses similar sounds to Joni Mitchell. That part of her personality comes out in the music video where she created a collage of pictures and video clips sent to her by friends and family. The collage promotes memories and a cheerful outlook on life in the city.

    According to her Youtube page, Spoor wrote “City Angels,” after experiencing a lonely day in NYC. Her mood changed after running into a few, “New York characters.”

    “All these very human moments made me feel like I might belong after all. So, this video is dedicated to them- the city angels that make us feel like we’re home in this exciting, scary, beautiful place called New York,” Spoor wrote.

    Hallie Spoor asked her friends and family to send her nostalgic pictures and video clips.