NYS Music 202​1

Author: Samantha King

  • NYC Native Mae Krell Opens Up in New Single

    NYC Indie singer Mae Krell peels off layers of their personal story as they release their newest single “are you sure?” on March 5.

    Mae Krell
    Mae Krell by Sarah Midkiff

    Krell is more than a singer, they entered the music industry through photography and traveled around the nation capturing pictures. They wrote poems and aspired to become a performing artist one day and found the courage to do so. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, they find ways to connect that with her artistry. Krell is also an advocate for mental health and incorporates messages surrounding the topic within their music.

    Before this new release, they created and dropped their singles “Monsters” and “Scars” when they were just a teenager. Their debut EP Anabasis released in 2018, resulted in a nationwide tour at the age of 19. They took a two-year hiatus from music and returned in March 2020 releasing four new folk-pop singles and receiving about 500,000 streams on all of them.

    At the time, it helped me take a step back and learn about myself and why I was really doing all of this. I was so worried about what other people thought for so long that I forgot to enjoy making music- I was so overcome with anxiety all the time. I write songs to figure things out, get closure on situations, or just to express how I’m feeling. Releasing those songs is scary, but I’ve learned that I can’t be too much of a perfectionist or else I’ll never put anything out.

    Mae Krell

    These new releases start a new era for the artist as they confront past hardships, self-love, self-truth and reflection. Some of their influences are Bob Dylan, Phoebe Bridgers and Gregory Alan Isakov. When the 21-year-old returned from their hiatus they came back with a more mature and understanding approach.

    “are you sure?” is their first single of 2021 and it was written on the two-year anniversary of their sobriety. The song explores cognitive dissonance and feeling stuck even though they made a lot of progress. It dives deep into the low moments that make you forget how far you’ve come. Krell pours their emotions into the song singing over a guitar loop with pain in their voice. The lyrics honest, raw and intimate. Although spreading awareness wasn’t their initial thought about the track, they hope releasing this “personal and intensely emotional” song will bring discussions about it to normalcy.

    More so than raise awareness I want to normalize talking about feelings. Why don’t we share how we feel when someone asks? What’s wrong with being honest and open? I think the world would be a much kinder place if we all had an open mind when we asked someone how they’re doing.

    Mae Krell

  • Afro-Cuban Musician Bobi Céspedes Releases New Album “Mujer y Cantante”

    Cuban singer Bobi Céspedes releases her new studio album Mujer y Cantante in celebration of her 40-year career and experience. 

    Bobi Céspedes

    Bobi Céspedes represents and promotes Cuban music from the Bay Area in California. She specializes in Cuban son and is a composer, bandleader, and educator. She fronted the band Conjunto Céspedes creating unique music staying true to her roots. Her music fuses Cuban folklore and modern sounds. In the 90s her work with Conjunto Céspedes was notorious in the local music scene and internationally. She took a break from the band and toured with Mickey Hart of Grateful Dead and played the drums on his album Supralingua.

    Throughout the past few years, Céspedes performed at several events and been a part of powerful lineups. She performed for the launch of the Smithsonian’s Museum of African American History and Culture at the “Freedom Sounds Celebration” along with international legends Angelique Kidjo and Meshell Ndegeocello. Her music has been used in some television series and was a part of soundtracks for a few movies as well. 

    Céspedes tribute to Celia Cruz in 2016 started a connection between her and SFJazz. She performed another tribute for Celia Cruz in 2019 and her band was a part of their series “Fridays at Five” and the performance was released on Oct. 2, 2020. Last year after the pandemic began, she appeared on the Kennedy Center’s “Couch Concert Series.”

    Mujer y Cantante, which translates to “Woman and Singer” is her latest release. It was initially released in June 2020 but has recently been officially introduced to the public. The album is personal, consisting of eight songs inspired by her family, upbringing, culture, spirituality and experience. Her sound returns to her Afro-Cuban roots and is led by Cuban son. The messages are drawn from the Yoruba-Lucimi traditions she practices and, prays to the Orishas to bring strength and guidance during these times. During the initial release, the pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests were taking place and she wanted the album to be uplifting.

    The rest of Conjunto Céspedes worked with her on Mujer y Cantante as well. It was co-produced by the Latin Grammy Award-winning producer, Kenya Autie and mixed as well as mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer, Oscar Autie. Céspedes takes another step in her acclaimed 40-year career with her newest work.  

  • The Supper Club Returns to The Hollow Bar + Kitchen in April

    On March 10, tickets for The Supper Club at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen in Downtown Albany go on sale, ahead of the series’ return in April.

    the supper club the hollow

    Michael and Dora Philip opened The Hollow Bar + Kitchen in 2013 and its unique setup and great location caused it to gain notoriety. The establishment received four stars for its restaurant and has gained notoriety for live music held throughout the week.

    When the pandemic hit, The Hollow faced a shift in business and was shut down for five months. It reopened in August 2020 with indoor and outdoor dining at reduced capacity. While the restaurant was able to open, its other half, live music, was still missing and it took a toll.

    The Supper Club shows were originally launched in October 2020 by Guthrie/Bell Productions The shows gave local artists an opportunity to perform and it also gave a boost to the establishment. The first performance was from local musician Girl Blue on Oct 9, 2020, and continued for four more Fridays. The audience is socially distanced and the Hollow abided by guidelines to ensure safety for every show. However, they took a break in November after coronavirus infections increased.

    Following the winter hiatus from the surge, the Supper Club at the Hollow Bar + Kitchen resumes this April and May. The tickets go on sale on Wednesday, March 10 with a full lineup for April. The shows begin on April 2 with Justin Henricks, Beau Sausser and Bill Carbone. The rest of the performances for the month consist of local artists. The performers for May will be announced soon.

    Tickets are sold for tables of two or four guests. For a table for two the price is $30 and a table of four is $60. The price for the tickets is for the performance only, guests are able to order food and drinks from the menu. However, according to NYS regulations, attendees must order food if they order alcohol. Every show consists of seatings from 6-6:30pm, a short first set at 6:30pm, a time to eat from 7-8pm and a longer set at the end from 8-9:30pm. The tickets are sold through Eventbrite and serve as the reservations because no tables will be sold at the door.

    Attendees must adhere to all social distancing guidelines and masks are required when not seated at your table. Reservations are required through a ticket purchase; no tables will be sold at the door the night of the show so staff can properly plan for the number of guests.

    The Supper Club at The Hollow schedule

    April 2: Justin Henricks, Beau Sasser and Bill Carbone – Tickets

    April 9: Murky Currents feat. Tom and Max of the Ominous Seapods – Tickets

    April 16: Laura Paigo with Nick Ferrandino & Jeff Sohn – Tickets

    April 23: Girl Blue – Tickets

    April 30: Erin Harkes – Tickets

    May 7: MP3: Al Schnier , Vinnie Amico and Tom Pirozzi SOLD OUT

    May 14: Knot Dead Duo Tickets

    May 21: The Age Tickets

  • Rob’s School of Music in Rockland County Thrives Nationally

    Musician Rob Spampinato from Rockland County turned his multigeneration music program Rob’s School of Music into a virtual success despite the pandemic.

    Rob's School of Music founder
    Credit: Rob Spampinato

    Growing up in Rockland County served as the foundation for his love of music.  “Rockland County was an incredible play to grow up for a young musician. I remember places to see and perform music for all ages. Some of my first live music memories were watching the bands play the Fourth of July Fireworks at RCC every summer with my whole family. My band heatedXchange actually played that same event back in 2017, which was an amazing full-circle moment for me,” said Spampinato.

    When he was a teenager he would hang out and perform at the Nyack Center and Rockfest in New City. In high school, his band was the very first rock band that was allowed to host a show at the Suffern Community Center. In the early 2000s, they rented out the Antrim Theater and hosted sold-out events. The music scene in his younger years shaped him into the musician today. For adults and before COVID-19, he credits Rockland as a place where you could go to a bar in any town and see live music. 

    Spampinato has been a professional artist for over 20 years. He’s been on tour with bands In Question and Diecast as a guitarist. He is currently recording and performing with his band Heatedxchange. Spampinato has also worked with several corporations across the nation including Dos Equis, Mini Cooper, and Joe’s Crab Shack, to name a few. Rob’s School of Music is his current endeavor which he founded in 2017. It is a music education program for people of all ages to learn and achieve musical skills. The students can receive lessons in guitar, ukulele, drums, bass, piano, singing, violin, DJing and even audio production.

    My mission statement with Rob’s School of Music is to give people the skills to play music forever. I tour extensively around the county in my 20s and when I opened the school I wanted to give that knowledge back to the community.

    Rob Spampinato

    Before the pandemic teachers went to different schools and hosted seminars within the county to discuss how music boosted confidence, dedication, and expressiveness. The students would perform live at Suffern Street fairs. When everything shut down in March 2020, Spampinato had to find a way to keep the school going. Rob’s School of Music became even more of a success as it went virtual. While it’s based in Suffern, students from all over the country take lessons leading to 4,500 virtual lessons since the beginning of the pandemic. Students in Rockland County and Bergen County in New Jersey receive in-person lessons. 

    New technology and software allow lessons to be designed for each individual student’s specific learning style. There are multiple cameras set up that allow students to see their teacher and receive guidance from all angles. In April 2020, an Instagram was made for Rob’s School of Music and now there is a Youtube interview series with notorious musicians to give students more guidance. Some guests include former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick and Alice Cooper guitarist Nita Strauss.

    Spampinato wants to eventually expand to a second physical location somewhere else in Rockland and continue to grow the virtual lessons. Students are able to focus more on playing their instruments from the comfort of their homes without other distractions.

    When I say ‘My goal is the give people the skills to play music forever,’ my intention is to break down the preconceived notions of what music education is and make it a highly personalized, fun experience so that students have the skills to make music a part of their life forever.

    Rob Spampinato

    Although he is the teacher, he becomes inspired by his students and seeing their growth and reactions to achieving their musical goals, no matter what age. “Not only do I get to take people through their musical journey, but every day I get to play music and grow as a musician. Every day I learn something new while teaching which I then make part of my lesson programs,” said Spampinato.

  • Consider the Source Release Radiohead Cover

    NYC-based trio Consider the Source released the video for their in-studio performance covering “Exit Music (For A Film)” by Radiohead.

    Consider the Source “Exit Music (For A Film) performance

    Consider the Source is an instrumental band that formed in 2004. Over time the band members changed but the current members are the guitarist Gabriel Marin, the bassist John Ferrera and drummer Jeff Mann. Over the course of their career, they’ve released several studio albums. Their music style ranges as they receive inspiration from various bands and have studied genres from all over the world.

    The band covered Radiohead for the first time years ago. They took on the challenge of performing instrumental arrangements of their songs on sets of shows and festivals, and even a tour with Papadosio. Consider The Source first did a studio performance of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” and received a positive reaction. With the mixture of the feedback and feeling like the song matched their sound, the trio decided to go further into covering the notorious rock band.

    On March 2 they released their video covering the song “Exit Music (For a Film)” that was originally made for the 1996 rendition of Romeo and Juliet and also appeared on the album OK Computer. They all used their instrumental skills to resemble the compositions within the single. Marin was on the double-neck guitar to imitate the vocals, Ferrera played the bass and the organ and Mann was on the drums and acoustic guitar.

    This isn’t the only project the trio has in store for this week. Consider the Source announced that they’re having a free live-streamed concert on March 6. They are performing music from their own catalog on Saturday from the Ardmore Music Hall and giving away a Nate Mclennen poster. The performance consists of two sets and airs at 8 p.m. from Ardmore Music Hall’s website.

  • NY Comptroller DiNapoli Outlines Drastic Decline in Arts and Entertainment Sectors

    On February 24, New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli outlined COVID-19’s harsh impact on the arts and entertainment industry. 

    When the pandemic hit and caused a shutdown in March 2020, it took the world by storm, especially in NYC. It began a public health crisis and as a result, anything that required people to gather together was put on pause. Isolation became the new reality and with social distancing as a requirement, many sectors faced unprecedented circumstances. The arts and entertainment sector had the biggest decline and impact on the economy since the pandemic began.

    Arts and Entertainment graph
    Arts and Entertainment Decline Graph from State Comptroller Website

    This devastating decrease comes after the progression within the industry in 2019. From 2009 to 2019, employment grew by 42 percent. Establishments grew by 28 percent, with a major rise seen in Brooklyn, Staten Island and Queens. The total amount of wages increased by 78 percent across the city in this sector alone compared to the average of 64 percent for all sectors. The average amount of primary earnings for 128,400 residents was $63,100 in 2019. They were artists, musicians, actors and producers and about 31,000 of them were self-employed.

    Despite the success from the decade prior, COVID-19 pushed the sector in the opposite direction. As of February 2020, there were approximately 87,000 employees within the arts and entertainment industry in NYC. That number drastically changed to 34,100 in April and further declined in December 2020 by 66 percent. In comparison to its progress in 2019, this is the largest decline of any of the sectors in NYC’s economy.

    arts and entertainment
    photo by Joseph Buscarello

    Currently, many establishments in performing arts aren’t allowed to reopen, turning to the virtual world in order to gain revenue. Those who reopened were forced to make budget cuts due to less income from limited capacity. Broadway Theatres may open in June 2021 and other establishments such as the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Ballet don’t expect to open until September 2021. These reopenings are dependent upon the number of vaccinations and venues evaluation of ventilation systems and compliance with guidelines.

    While everything is still uncertain during these times, there are attempts at saving the industry. In December 2020 the New York City Council allowed the creation of the  “Open Culture” program. The program allows organizations to hold free and ticketed outdoor cultural and arts events from March 2021 until October 31, 2021 or possibly through March 2022. Governor Cuomo recently announced the New York Arts Revival, an initiative designed to restart live performing arts events.

    DiNapoli believes that there is much to be done in order to keep the lights on. He suggests extending unemployment benefits including for those who are independent contractors. As the weather becomes warmer, he thinks more outdoor spaces should be utilized through rapid testing, the rise of vaccinations and safety guidelines intact. DiNapoli sees progress being made if the City and State work together and communicate with these establishments about achievable milestones. 

  • Chatham’s Crandell Theatre Gets Closer to Renovation Goal

    The Crandell Theatre, Columbia County’s largest and oldest theatre located at 48 Main St. in Chatham, has raised $2 million towards their $3 million renovation goal. 

    crandell theater
    Inside the Crandell Theatre. Photo via crandelltheatre.org

    Built in 1926 by Chatham native and banker, Walter S. Crandell, the building designed in Spanish Renaissance style opened on Christmas day in 1926. The sound system was installed in 1929 and they played movies with audio called “talkies”. Anthony H. Quirino purchased the building in 1960 and stayed within the family’s possession until his son Tony died in 2010. 

    In 1998 film enthusiasts organized Chatham Film Club to regularly bring more independent and foreign films to the area. They made arrangements with Tony to rent the theatre out on a monthly basis on Sundays. Two years after, they collaborated with the Columbia County Council on the Arts and created the FilmColumbia festival which is a weekend of films shown in the theatre. After Tony’s passing, the CFC raised $600,000 to fix the theatre after its closing and purchasing it with the help of the community and Ellsworth Kelly Foundation, Lael Locke and Judy Grunberg. The CFC name officially changed to the Crandell Theatre in 2018.

    The Crandell is a single-screened theatre that contains about 534 seats with over 422 auditorium seats and over 112 balcony seats. In 2013 they rebuilt the projection booth on the balcony to adopt digital projection and sound equipment. The current renovation plan includes upgrading the audio system, lobby and concession expansion. Additionally, they will make restrooms more current, replace seats and organize functional storage and workspace. The money made towards the renovation so far comes from fundraising and a $1 million pledge. 

    The theatre closed because of the pandemic but may reopen this summer if the state guidelines and their finances allow them. They plan to produce the FilmColumbia Festival this fall and hope to start reconstruction next January. If things go as planned, they can reopen with the renovations and host the FilmColumbia later next year.

  • Eddies Awards Second Show Rescheduled for the Second Time

    The second annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (The Eddies)  is rescheduled to air on May 2 from the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga.

    The Eddies Awards Logo

    The Eddies Awards show was founded in 2019 by marketing and corporate development director, Jim Murphy and program coordinator, Salvatore Prizio, at Proctors Collaborative. It was created to empower, recognize and celebrate musical professionals in the Capital Region. The show includes performances and award winners from 34 categories.

    This is the second rescheduling for the Eddies. It was originally supposed to be held in spring 2020 in front of a live audience at the Proctors MainStage. The pandemic interfered with the first plan and then came the plan to broadcast it from the UPH in December. An increase in COVID-19 infections at the end of the year led to the current rescheduling. Prizio believes that the third time is the charm and anticipates the upcoming award show.

    The lineup of performers and panelists is to be announced in the coming weeks. They hope that those who were set to be apart of the show in December will be able to commit again. According to Murphy, two Eddies ceremonies are likely to take place this year. There are already organizers about to begin judging for the third awards. The adjudication process is going to be different due to the pandemic and its effect on the local music scene.

    The second Eddies Awards is going to filmed by Chromoscope Pictures based in Troy. Collaborative Studios’ will broadcast from their Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV apps, public access channels in Albany and Schenectady and Youtube and Facebook. The show airs on May 2 at 7 p.m. and can be found for free on-demand after.  

  • Check Your Head with Mari Fong’s Podcast

    Music journalist and life coach, Mari Fong, advocates for artists’ mental health through the podcast Check Your Head.

    The podcast aired in 2019 and is hosted by Fong who worked within the industry for years. Her fuel for starting the podcast was the news of Chris Cornell of the rock bands Soundgarden and Audioslave and Linkin Park’s vocalist Chester Bennington’s suicides in 2017. Fong felt like she had to do something which led her to executive produce and present Check Your Head. It features candid and transparent conversations about mental health, wellbeing and recovery with musicians and experts. 

    While musicians tend to express their emotions through the lyrics of their songs, most times there are no further actions to help them. “Musicians can often find it easier to express their emotions through music, with lyrics and melodies guiding the way. Therefore, one-on-one conversations about their feelings may be more difficult for them, making ‘going to therapy’ not a natural first choice when experiencing a mood disorder,” said Fong. She noticed that with the deaths of Cornell and Bennington that while they sang about their emotional turmoil, people perceived that they were happy due to their success. Their internal battles with depression were overlooked by the perceptions of their external appearance.

    We’ve been losing artists for decades to mood disorders (which can include addiction) like Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse. The focus of the industry has been more toward profits than the welfare of musicians causing mental health to be overlooked. To improve this, wellness should be prioritized to include regular visits with therapists, psychiatrists, life coaches and doctors.

    Mari Fong

    The taboo of artist’s mental health pushed Fong to create a platform for artists to speak openly about their mental health. Each episode consists of a conversation paired with mental health experts and a musician. The goal is to find solutions for these issues through discussion. Some of the notable musician guests include Gilby Clarke, Emilio Castillo, Fred Armisen and most recently, Linda Ronstadt. Some of the top experts that have visited the show are Dr. Dan Reidenberg, Michael Friedman Ph.D., Dr. Ish Major and more.

    Check Your Head currently has 19 episodes out and is continuing to raise awareness each time it airs. The podcast streams on its self-titled website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Amazon Music.

  • America Sings Returns to Caffe Lena After Shutdown from COVID-19

    Saratoga Springs company, Opera Saratoga, has announced that their series dedicated to highlighting BIPOC talent, America Sings, returns on February 21 to Caffe Lena.

    America Sings Caffe Lena
    America Sings Headliner Luis Alejandro Orozco

    The free concert, America Sings, takes place at Caffe Lena after months of being paused due to the pandemic. America Sings was created to lift up the voices of the unheard and underrepresented racial groups on the opera stage. Texas native baritone, Luis Alejandro Orozco, is the first performer for this comeback, along with pianist Michael Lewis. The program will also feature music from classical composers, Schubert, Brahms and Piazzolla.

    Orozco is a Mexican-American opera singer and was apart of Opera Saratoga’s Young Artist Program. He is noted for his baritone and legato. For several seasons, Orozco performed in several shows for a plethora of operas. Due to COVID-19, the 2019-2020 season was short-lived, he performed at the Opera in Williamsburg and Opera Roanoake. While he has already performed nationally and internationally, he made his Swiss debut recently at Theater St. Gallen.

    America Sings debuted in November 2020 with Mezzo-soprano Deborah Nansteel as the headliner for the first concert with pianist Giovanni Reggioli. COVID-19 put the series to a halt, however, it is ready to be put back in action. It is live-streamed and free to the public but viewers are encouraged to donate through a virtual tip jar. The tips are split evenly to support the Opera Saratoga and the performing artist since both parties have been financially impacted by opera shutdowns.

    The series comes back this Sunday at 7 p.m. Future performers include soprano Brandie Sutton, baritone Justin Austin and composer and pianist Damien Sneed, who were originally supposed to perform in December and January. Leadership support for the show comes from Greenburg Traurig, LLP and hospitality sponsorship from The Hampton Inn & Suites Saratoga Springs. America Sings live-streams on Caffe Lena’s Youtube channel and Facebook and Opera Saratoga’s Facebook.

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