NYS Music 202​0

Category: News

  • Taylor Swift drops Second Surprise Album of 2020, “Evermore”

    Taylor Swift took to Twitter to announce her second surprise album of 2020. Out at midnight on December 11th, Evermore is the successor to Folklore. While the album’s contents are a mystery so far, it seems to have a similar aesthetic to Folklore, with continued collaboration with The National and Bon Iver. The video for “Willow,” Evermore’s opening track and lead single, drops at midnight alongside the album.

    Swift continued her announcement, saying, “To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs. To try and put it more poetically, it feels like we were standing on the edge of the folklorian woods and had a choice: to turn and go back or to travel further into the forest of this music. We chose to wander deeper in.” ‘We’ refers to Aaron Dessner, frontman of The National, and frequent collaborator Jack Antonoff, both of whom co-wrote and produced the songs on Folklore.

    Evermore is Swift’s ninth studio album, and the first to seemingly retain the spirit of its predecessor. Up until now, her album releases have been very distinct “eras”: Reputation was her dark and dramatic album, Lover was pastel and political, and Folklore was cottagecore. Swift has never stuck with an album’s main themes or imagery for too long, which makes Evermore unique even if it came out less than five months after Folklore.

    Evermore

    Swift isn’t done with Folklore just yet—she released Folklore: The Long Pond Studio Sessions on November 25, a concert film for Disney+. Filmed in the Hudson Valley, it was the first time she performed the album’s songs face-to-face with Dessner and Antonoff. Folklore garnered Grammys five nominations including Album of the Year and Song of the Year for “Cardigan,” breaking a short snub period. While the awards aren’t until January 31, 2021, Evermore won’t be eligible until next year.

  • Non-for-Profit Venues in Upstate New York Call for Aid With #lightsUPstateNY Initiative

    Non-for-profit venues across upstate New York call for aid from Governor Cuomo and their state elected leaders during the COVID-19 crisis. They are calling for aid through their #lightsUPstateNY initiative, trying to bring light to the hardships these performing arts centers are facing. 

    #lightsUPstateNY
    Bardavon interior photo by Tim Lee.

    According to Chris Silva, Executive Director at
    Bardavon 1869 Opera House, the new protocols, requirements and re-staffing caused by COVID-19 will require not only time and capital, but every month these closures continue the costs of these eleven venues add up to a collective $1,500,000 dollars, with no significant revenue to offset it. This is a huge amount of money to these smaller local economies. These venues hope to bring light to the reality of their dim situation, as many venues across the United States are pledged with Save Our Stages campaign.

    The venues involved call for aid with the #lightsUPstateNY initiative are: The Bardavon in Poughkeepsie, UPAC in Kingston, Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, RBTL’s Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, Smith Center for the Arts in Geneva, Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, Stanley Theatre in Utica, Proctors Collaborative in Schenectady, Palace Theatre in Albany, State Theatre in Ithaca, and the Clemens Center in Elmira. 

    These venues estimate the cost to reopen themselves, if a spring 2021 opening is possible, will be at least 15 million dollars – more if the “pause” caused by COVID-19 continues. As a group they bring over 250 million of collective, local economic impact to Upstate each year, which has come to an abrupt halt. 

    Silva explained the reasoning behind the union of #lightsUPstateNY initiative saying, “The large theatres of Upstate so often share similar realities. As we think about our restarts sometime in 2021, we decided to come together to speak with one voice about our needs and challenges as we get back to being at the heart of our cities and communities.”

    #lightsUPstateNY

    All of the venues involved  operate as 501(c)3 non-profit organizations – committed to serving their communities – and have worked together to create a network across Upstate for bands and theatrical performances to take place. They do this by offering a variety of live entertainment for all audiences, including concerts, comedy, dramatic and family events, as well as offer a mixed-use space for local performing groups, graduations, recitals and other presentations. 

    The hope of #lightsUPstateNY is to bring awareness to the dire need these venues are experiencing, while also calling on Governor Cuomo and their state elected leaders for aid. 

  • Bob Dylan Sells Entire Songwriting Catalog to the Universal Music Publishing Group

    Bob Dylan has sold his entire songwriting catalog to the Universal Music Publishing Group. The catalog includes over 600 songs including the classics “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “The Times They Are A-Changin’” and “Like a Rolling Stone.”

    At the age of 79, Bob Dylan is one of the most well known folk singers in the world and selling the catalog of his music, which the rights have been held by him for most of his career, is huge news, not only in the music realms but in the world as a whole. It has been a trend for musicians to sell their catalogs of music during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

    Just last week another big name, Stevie Nicks, sold a majority stake in her songwriting catalog for an estimated $80 million to Primary Wave Music which is an independent publisher and marketing company. It’s unclear if these buyouts are directly influenced by the ongoing pandemic but it’s hard to believe they aren’t connected. 

    It’s unclear how much Bob Dylan received in compensation for his songwriting catalog but according to The New York Times, it is estimated at more than $300 million.

    The deal covers the entirety of Bob Dylan’s long career. All the way back to his earliest work right up to his latest album, Rough and Rowdy Ways. This deal was struck directly with Bob Dylan by Universal Music Publishing Group.

    Bob Dylan at the Civil Rights March on Washington.

    The deal leaves Dylan with 100 percent of rights for all the songs of his catalog. What this means is that he will still collect the income he receives as a songwriter and will still be in control individual song copyrights. So what is Universal Music Publishing Group getting out of it?  Universal Music Publishing Group’s division of the French media conglomerate Vivendi, will collect all future income from the songs. 

    Dylan has made no public comment on the deal. 

  • The State Theatre of Ithaca Wraps up their ‘Save Your Seat’ Campaign

    The State Theatre of Ithaca announced it’s ‘Save Your Seat’ campaign as a way for the community to help keep the Ithaca staple afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ‘Save Your Seat’ campaign was announced on November 10, 2020 and will continue to run until all 16,000 seats are sold which happened on January 5, 2021. 

    The State Theatre of Ithaca was built back in 1915 and has been an entertainment staple of Ithaca, NY since 1928 and has served as one of the most significant venues for performing arts in the Finger Lakes region. Their  mission is to enhance the cultural life of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes by preserving, operating and promoting the historic State Theatre as an active venue for national, international and community performances and programming according to their website. 

    How the ‘Save Your Seat’ campaign worked is that people donated $100 per seat and will get a personalized plaque affixed to a seat in their honor. This campaign will offer a visible way to commemorate their support of this vital arts venue.  

    Executive Director Doug Levine of the State Theatre explains that, “Without show revenue to help sustain this facility, we are looking at a deficit close to $160,000 for this fiscal year. The State Theatre of Ithaca seats 1,600 people. If 1,600 of our amazing supporters and patrons bought at least 1 seat for $100 each, that would help us close the gap that the pandemic has created.  Our goal is to sell out the Theatre, just like we have so many times in the past.”   

    All proceeds raised from the ‘Save Your Seat fundraising campaign and benefit concert will help sustain the not-for-profit State Theatre of Ithaca. The aide will help the theatre remain at the center of Central New York’s performing arts scene while their doors remain closed. For more information visit the the State Theater’s website here.

    Updates made on 1/7/2021: The State Theatre of Ithaca announced on 1/5/2021 that all 1,600 seats within the Theatre have been “saved,” as part of their “Save Your Seat” campaign. The campaign has helped close the budget gap the Coronavirus shutdown has created for the Ithaca staple.

  • Albany Symphony Nominated for Grammy

    The Albany Symphony announced that their world premier recording of Christopher Theofanidis‘ Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra has been nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category. The Concerto was recorded on January 8, 2018 at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall and released by Albany Records. This is the fifth Grammy Nomination in seven years for the Albany Symphony.

    albany symphony orchestra

    “We are thrilled to receive this nomination, which brings attention to Christopher Theofanidis’ magnificent concerto, inspired by Navajo poetry,” said Music Director David Alan Miller. “It’s not every day that a viola concerto gets recognized, but this is arguably the finest concerto for the instrument written in many years. We are so grateful to Richard O’Neill, our astounding viola soloist, and to Silas Brown, our extraordinary producer and engineer. I deeply appreciate the work of our brilliant Albany Symphony musicians. Thanks also to our staff, board and friends at Albany Records, and to all our supporters.”  

    Composer Christopher Theofanidis also expressed his appreciation. “I was so delighted to receive the news. Richard put so much of himself into the performances and recording of the concerto, and David Alan Miller and the Albany Symphony’s commitment to excellence doing new work shines through in this announcement. It is an honor to have the piece nominated,” he said.  

    Albany Symphony Grammy
    Portrait of Christopher Theofanidis

    The Concerto for Viola and Chamber Orchestra was originally written for Kim Kashkashian who sent Theofanidis a collection of Navajo poems that were wildly different in character but had in common a supernatural sense of nature and an extremely evocative vocabulary. Each of the four movements is serious in sentiment, in turns foreboding and volatile, melancholic and questioning, lyrical and dramatic. Theofanidis wrote this work during the tragedy and turmoil of 9/11, starting the piece before and finishing it afterward, and was influenced by being in midtown Manhattan that day.  

    Viola soloist Richard O’Neill said, “In this dark time for musicians the world over, to receive this nomination for Chris’ moving and important work brought me to tears.  David’s vision and unstoppable energy, the beautiful musicians of the Albany Symphony, and the great work of Silas Brown; these forces came together to create a dream team the envy of any musician. I am so incredibly lucky to have such friends and colleagues. In the absence of live performance throughout the US, I hope this recording can give comfort and joy to all that listen.” 

    Albany Symphony Grammy

    The Albany Symphony recording of John Corigliano’s Conjurer with world-famous percussionist Dame Evelyn Glennie won the 2013 GRAMMY for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. The Albany Symphony was then nominated in 2015 and twice in 2019.

  • SAMMYS Opens Submissions for 2021 Awards Show

    The SAMMYS (Syracuse Area Music Awards) announce their submissions opening for 2021 awards show. The call goes out to local musicians, bands, and artists encouraging them to submit their 2020 commercially available recordings for consideration before January 6, 2021. 

    The Syracuse Area Music Awards show celebrities local music to the Syracuse area. It’s become a beloved staple to Syracuse and the surrounding areas. Artists interested in entering for consideration must select one category they wish to be judged in. Only commercially released albums or EPs, released between January 1 – December 31, 2020 by artists in the Syracuse area are eligible for the 2021 SAMMYS. All entries must be available on Apple Music, Spotify or Tidal and no physical recordings will be accepted this year. Categories subject to change at the discretion of the judges. The entry form is now available here: syracuseareamusic.com/submissions and must be submitted by January 6, 2021.

    The 2021 SAMMYS will take place on March 5, 2021 and will be streamed live for free and live from SubCat Studios. The awards show will include musical performances by area artists/bands. Awards will be presented in 12 recording categories, in addition to the People’s Choice awards in four categories, Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist, Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the SAMMYS Award, and our Community Spirit Award.

    The SAMMYS wouldn’t be possible without the help of its many sponsors. The 2021 supporting sponsors include: The Rebel Rocks, Bridge Street, SubCat Music Studios, CNY Alive!, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, KMASE Productions, Joshua Johnson Design, Skinner & Associates Realty, 315 Music, American Vintage Productions, NYS Music, News Channel 9, 95X, 93Q, and 92.1 The WOLF.

    For more information on the SAMMYs and the 2021 submission process visit their website here or follow the Syracuse Area Music Awards on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

  • Spotify and NIVA Announces Partnership for Annual Wrapped Campaign

    Spotify and NIVA (National Independent Venue Association) announced their partnership on Spotifiy’s annual Wrapped Campaign to help preserve independent stages across the United States on December 1, 2020. 

    Spotify NIVA Wrapped Campaign
    Photo Courtesy of NIVA/Spotify.

    The annual Spotify/NIVA Wrapped Campaign unveiled the top artists, albums, songs, playlists and podcasts that more than 320 million people around the world listened to and discovered audio this year. This year’s Wrapped Campaign will be a little different. Spotify will be in partnership with NIVA this year trying to bring light to the detrimental state live independent venues are experiencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Spotify NIVA Wrapped Campaign
    Photo Courtesy of NIVA/Spotify.

    Stephen Sternshein, co-founder / treasurer of NIVA, and managing partner of Heard Presents in Austin spoke on the partnership saying, “As 2020 draws to a close, the live music industry enters month nine of no shows, no income, no federal support, and ever-mounting debts. Music is what connects us all – as Spotify shows us, it’s what helped our friends, our families and our communities get through this tumultuous year.” 

    Spotify NIVA Wrapped Campaign
    Photo Courtesy of NIVA/Spotify.

    Spotify is attempting to help support these independent venues by trying to shine a light on their plight by taking over space on the marquees of more than 30 COVID-shuttered music venues and donating a total of $500,000 to those stages and the NIVA Emergency Relief Fund. So far the announced artist and venue and artist pairs include Alicia Keys at the Riverside Theater, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Lady Gaga at the The Ritz Ybor in Tampa Florida, Childish Gambino at the The Aladdin in Portland, Oregon, The Weeknd at the The Orange Peel, in Asheville, Tennessee, and Jessie Ware at the Center Stage, in Atlanta Georgia. The partnership will be rolled out across the next few weeks announcing more artists and venues.

    Spotify NIVA Wrapped Campaign
    Photo Courtesy of NIVA/Spotify.

    “In a year that has taken on so many twists and turns, a first reaction might be to look forward and forget the challenging times. However, that would discount all of the amazing work that creators, fans, venues and activists have poured their hearts into this year,” said Dan Brill, Global Group Creative Director at Spotify. “That’s why, instead of turning our backs on 2020, we wanted to give our appreciation for those who gave us hope — the people who, despite challenging circumstances, found ways to infuse magic into our world and give us hope for a better tomorrow.”

    Photo Courtesy of NIVA/Spotify.

    For more information on NIVA and their mission with Save Our Stages visit their website. 

  • The Doobie Brothers Release Video Stream of Beacon Theatre Performance

    The Doobie Brothers have announced their release of a video of their 2018 Beacon Theatre performance to stream via longform rental and download on major video streaming platforms. The performance included playing their albums, Toulouse Street and The Captain And Me in their entirety, for the first time in 25 years. 

    The Doobie Brothers

    The Doobie Brothers are a roots-based, harmony-laden, and guitar-driven rock and roll band that formed back in the 1970’s. The Doobie Brother’s  have three multi-platinum, seven platinum, and 14 Gold albums. Best of the Doobies album has sold more than 12 million copies and is considered a rare “diamond record.” They are four-time GRAMMY Award winners and 2020 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees. 

    The performance at the Beacon Theatre offered an opportunity for fans to hear entire albums and songs never-before performed live by the band, such as “Mamaloi,” “O’Connelly Corners,” “Ukiah,” and “The Captain And Me.” The show begins with the ten songs from the group’s second studio album, Toulouse Street. The album was released back in 1972 and is certified platinum. The performance also included  songs from the third studio release, The Captain And Me. Originally released in 1973, it reached number 7 on the Album Chart and certified double platinum. 

    Earlier this year, The Doobie Brothers rescheduled their 50th Anniversary Tour originally slated to begin this past summer to now begin July 17, 2021 in Palm Beach, FL. For more information and tour dates visit here.

    The Doobie Brothers Live From The Beacon Theatre was initially released last year on CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. A video for “Toulouse Street,” featuring a live horns arrangement is available now and can be found here. 

    For more information onThe Doobie Brothers visit their website.

    Live from The Beacon Theatre Video Track Listing:

    Five Corners, Listen to the Music, Rockin’ Down the Highway, Mamaloi, Toulouse Street, Cotton Mouth, Don’t Start me to Talkin’, Jesus is Just Alright, White Sun, Disciple, Snake Man, Natural Thing, Long Train Runnin’, China Grove, Dark Eyed Cajun Woman, Clear as the Driven Snow, Without You, South City Midnight Lady, Evil Woman, Busted Down Around O’Connelly Corners, Ukiah, The Captain and Me, Take me in the Arms (Rock Me), Black Water, Listen to the Music (reprise)

  • Hannah Sumner Pays Homage to Brooklyn on “Only You”

    Hannah Sumner released her new track, “Only You” on Friday, November 20. The song features over 10 NYC artists and attempts to pay homage to Brooklyn and the feelings of isolation during COVID-19.

    Hannah Sumner is a Brooklyn based writer, producer and performer who is a mainly alternative artist. She has released two EP’s: To The Almost, containing five songs, and Guesthouse containing four songs. Sumner has been singing since she can remember, but came into producing after graduating from Berklee College of Music. She messed around with Logic, popular production software, and taught herself how to produce when she no longer had musicians to play with post college. This is when she found her voice.

    Hannah Sumner
    Hannah Sumner photo provided by press release.

    Every musician has a different writing process and for Sumner, she prefers to write songs by improvising over her own productions. Her single, “Only You,” came out of this process. The chorus of the song contains the original first improvised take. “I use my first take a lot, as the songs come out almost finished. They help me understand what I’m feeling, usually before I even understand myself,” she explained. 

    She uses her music as a way of journaling her feelings and experiences. “Only You” was written back in April of 2020 when she, like many people around the world, was missing connection. She poured these feelings into a creation that ended up featuring 10 New York City artists, that she considers to be her ‘music family.’ 

    The song features: Steve Bone of VICE audio who mixed the track and performs guitar on it; Adam Neely, Youtube star playing bass; Ella Joy Meir of Iris Lune on vocals; Curtis J and Jackee Frome on vocals; Jacqueline Kerrod playing harp; Joey D’Alessio on vocals; and  Markus Roessler on vocals.

    The music video was shot on an iPhone, creating beautiful transportations, It is something Sumner aims for in her music, propelled by an underlying interest in film. 

    The song is somber and eerily-beautiful, which is perfectly mirrored within the music video. It starts with a simple chord progression on guitar with lyrics floating in subtly. Then the song builds up until the full lineup comes together to create a haunting melody. The different musicians featured on the song show up within the video in their own little screens chiming in on the chorus. It’s a song that’s very fitting and universal during these COVID-19 times and definitely worth listening to if you are feeling isolated or alone.

    For more information on Hannah Sumner visit her Facebook.

  • Flushing Town Hall Jazz Programming Swings into December

    Flushing Town Hall announced a jazz lineup which started back on November 11 and will run through December 20. The program currently includes five different performances throughout both months. A sixth event will ‘spill over the bar-line’ into 2021. The first two programs have come and gone, but the jazzy fun is far from over. 

    The Town Hall is a Smithsonian affiliate and is located in Queens in New York City that presents multi-disciplinary global arts to engage and educate global communities. They are a member of the New York City’s Cultural Institutions Group (CIG). They have restored and managed the historic 1862 landmark on behalf of the City of New York. Specifically they try to embrace the history of Queens as the home of jazz, by presenting the finest in jazz performance. Although the historic venue’s doors have been temporarily closed due to COVID-19, Flushing Town Hall continues to pursue its mission of bringing people together by providing global arts for a global community through its online series, FTH at Home! Which will be presenting the November and December programming. 

    Town Hall. Picture from Wikimedia Commons.

    Upcoming:

    On Thursday, November 19, 7:30 p.m. EDT Flushing Town Hall will present “Lioness: Women in Jazz Concert Series Featuring Lauren Sevian’s LSQ” The series featured Lauren Sevian’s LSQ with Lauren Sevian (baritone saxophone), Helen Sung (piano), Christian McBride (bass) and E.J. Strickland (drums). Tune in to YouTube for a free pre-recorded streaming performance, taped just for this event, followed by a LIVE Q&A with the musicians. 

    On Wednesday, December 9 at 7 p.m. EDT the Virtual Jazz Jam “Holiday Party” will be taking the stage. This is the Flushing Town Hall’s free Virtual Jazz Jam: Celebrating the Legacy of Louis Armstrong. Open to amateur and professional musicians, including high school students, jammers are invited to perform their favorite holiday song, and recall any memory around their tune. Participants can also show-off their family’s traditional holiday treats and drinks, and toast the season.

    The programming will wrap up on Sunday, December 20 at 5:30 PM EDT with “New Music Horizons – Collaborative Artists in Concert.” This will be part 2 of the Bruce Arnold & The Mark Wade Trio New Music Horizons Part II presents two more dynamic jazz composers Bruce Arnold and Mark Wade. Bruce Arnold will present a set of solo acoustic guitar featuring his style of lyrical melodies and raw dissonances. The Mark Wade Trio will follow with their brand of group interplay and expressive improvisation that has brought them an international following.

    To participate, musicians should email education@flushingtownhall.org and identify a three- to four-minute tune they intend to play (live or pre-recorded). Only 15 musicians will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone is invited to tune in to the LIVE VIRTUAL jam and listen on Facebook or Zoom.   

    The Lioness: Women in Jazz Concert Series Featuring the Lioness Ensemble was scheduled for Sunday, December 13 at 2:30 p.m. EDT but has been postponed until 2021. This women in Jazz Concert Series will feature the  Lioness Ensemble with Alexa Tarantino (alto saxophone), Jenny Hill (tenor saxophone, flute), Lauren Sevian (baritone saxophone), Amanda Monaco (guitar), Akiko Tsuruga (organ) and Sylvia Cuenca (drums). Tune in to YouTube for a free pre-recorded streaming performance, taped just for this event, followed by a LIVE Q&A with the musicians.

    Catch Up on Past Events:

    On November 11, the Jazz Jam celebrated “November Gratitude.” This event celebrated the Legacy of Louis Armstrong invited musicians and jazz aficionados to participate or simply listen during its monthly jam session. In November, musicians will choose songs that fit into the theme “November Gratitude.”

    The “New Music Horizons – Collaborative Artists in Concert” took place on Saturday, November 14, 7:00 p.m. EDT. It featured part-I of the David Shenton & The Mark Wade Trio who are two dynamic jazz composers.  David Shenton is a classical composer and Mark Wade is a jazz composer. 

    To attend the programming or get more information on it visit Flushing Town Hall’s website.