New York State has an abundance of talented musicians. While music is their main priority, artists also use their creativity to produce coveted merchandise lines so that fans can rep their favorite bands all day in a variety of ways. This page features band merch collections from artists across New York State – browse these items and support the next generation of hard working musicians from across the Empire State.
From Rochester, this indie band is known for their beautiful, calming melodies that are easy on the ear. Their newest music to date is a single titled “Private Eye” that was released in May. The Demos have promising potential to become big around the nation, not just around New York State. Their merchandise consists of t-shirts and CDs of their EPs.
Coming from Troy, Dark Honey‘s music is lyrically-rich, indie-pop-rock with an emphasis on guitar notes. They are currently selling their creative merchandise in a variety of forms including T-shirts and sweatshirts.
Melt the Band is based out of New York City and their music has been described as “One groovy super organism.” They are soulful and funky and are currently selling epic merchandise, such as beanies, posters, hoodies, and more.
From Rochester, Mikaela Davis continues to prove her outstanding talent with every new release. Her alternative sound pulls from rock, 70s and 80s pop, and funk vibes. This fabulous artist is currently selling physical copies of her full-length album.
Sean Rowe is an indie singer-songwriter from Troy. His music evokes emotions from listeners that they have never felt before because of his stunning vocals and peaceful guitar blends. He is selling physical forms of his four albums.
From Troy, The Sea The Sea is a powerful indie folk-pop duo featuring Mira Costa and Chuck E. Costa, who make a lovely couple in and out of the studio. Their merchandise is currently physical albums, signed posters, and various clothing items.
This alternative band from Buffalo, is known for their ability to entertain everyone, regardless of musical preference. They have gained many fans over the years, performing at major music festivals and winning multiple awards in Buffalo. Funktional Flow‘s merchandise consists of t-shirts, pins, and stickers.
Although this singer/songwriter from Syracuse, just recently began her career, she has already been nominated for three major regional music awards. Sydney gets inspiration from artists including but not limited to Taylor Swift, Tom Petty, and Post Malone. She is currently selling merchandise such as t-shirts, tank tops, and buttons.
Bandits on the Run is a staple band in the Metro NY music scene, both below and above ground. They released their debut indie-folk-pop album in 2017, and have become even more adored ever since. They are currently selling merchandise items such as t-shirts, bandanas, and stickers.
Architrave is a husband and wife duo from Ballston Spa. Their alternative music is heavily reliant upon post-punk guitar and basslines. They also incorporate a funky 80s flair into their tracks. They are currently selling t-shirts with differing logos on them.
Lucas Garrett is from Queensbury and is known for his catchy hooks that don’t necessarily fit under one category. He started playing his original music at local coffeehouses and eventually released his debut EP in 2017. He is selling physical copies of his music as well as t-shirts.
Eastbound Jesus, from Greenwich, is an Americana/Bluegrass Northern Rock band comprised of six males. They have five albums that they are currently selling in CD format.
From Brooklyn, Fake Dad is a band that will leave listeners assured that everything will be alright, almost as if they were giving you a tight hug while blasting their tunes. The electronic tracks that the duo creates have a calming effect when mixed with their peaceful vocals. They are currently selling two epic variations of a t-shirt.
From Buffalo, Intrepid Travelers is a musical quartet that is rooted in friendship, fun, and freedom. Their music can be described as upbeat, groovy jams with roots in jazz, funk, and a hint of bluegrass. They treat every show as an interactive experience with the audience rather than a typical performance. The merchandise that Intrepid Travelers currently has on sale includes shirts, koozies, and pins.
Noon Fifteen is Ithaca’s genre-bending soul combo that produces forward-thinking jams with old school instrumentalism. Their sound has been compared to Lake Street Dive as well as The Beatles, with elements of gospel, funk, and hard rock. They are currently selling a band logo t-shirt.
moon kissed comprises of New York City natives Emily, Khaya and Leah. Their debut album was self-released and tells stories of youth and heartbreak. Their sound is inspired by artists such as Charlie XCX and St. Vincent. The trio is currently selling t-shirts and vinyls.
Girl Blue is the project of vocalist Arielle O’Keefe who is based out of Troy. Her angelic voice paired with her songwriting capabilities leads her to have an extremely positive outcome on every listener. She has tons of merchandise available now, including shirts, vinyls, and buttons.
Originally from South Africa, Sulene started her music career out of Brooklyn. She is most well-known for being the the lead guitarist for Nate Ruess of Fun. She is active in the indie-pop Brooklyn scene and has performed on stages all across the world with all kinds of people. Her aesthetically pleasing merchandise collection features t-shirts and vinyls.
Vaporeyes is a progressive rock band from Syracuse. Their sound can be described as an actualized collective of overactive subconscious. Merchandise for Vaporeyes comprises of hats, buttons, stickers, and more.
Based in Buffalo, Grosh is an energetic four-piece rock band. They are known for frequently selling out local Buffalo shows, and fans love them for their heavy-hitting rock style combined with their vulnerable lyrics. They recently released their second full-length studio album, Not Down For Long. They are now selling t-shirts, koozies, bracelets, and more.
The Jess Novak band is from Syracuse, and is known for their powerful, fierce vocals (by Jess Novak herself) and their engaging songwriting capabilities. They can win over any crowd with their unmatched energy and soul-pumped rock sound. They are surely on the rise and have made a great impression on New York State audiences thus far. Their merchandise includes stickers, mugs, shirts, and more.
From Albany, E.R.I.E. can be described as “Not yer Dad’s dad-rock.” The motivational messages behind their lyrics helps them stand out from other rock bands. Their first full-length album, Don’t Wanna Live, Don’t Wanna Die, was released in August 2020. They are now selling one t-shirt and physical copies of their album.
The Erotics, from Albany, take a very straightforward approach to rock & roll. They released their first full-length album in 1997 and fans have loved them for their constant political incorrectness ever since. They have a comprehensive merchandise list, ranging from t-shirts to dog tags to shot glasses.
Mike Grutka describes his music as, “acoustic based funky modern roots rock-n-roll.” His most recent album takes listeners on a journey through loneliness and pain to find happiness and peace. His merchandise is currently physical copies of his albums.
Organ Fairchild is a highly admired organ trio from Buffalo. Their music has been described as a party that never quits. Their vibe makes you want to jump out of your seat and jam along until the sun comes up. They are currently selling their own shirts, posters, and stickers.
On May 18, Mister Rajers’ Neighborhood dropped the new trippy summer anti-anthem “Cinco Uno Eight“ a psychedelic song about the Capital Region of Upstate New York.
“Cinco Uno Eight” is originally written, composed, and produced by L Niño. An idea to combine various local artists he had previously worked with in order to properly honor the 518 led to the development of this song. Whether it be the appearances of Mike Guagliardo and Showerpanther adding a distinctive synth sound, to including soothing ambient noises from artists from the local area.
Perhaps the highlight of the track however are the two local MC’s, Justin Sedefian aka SavandWord ClassakaMajor Capers. “Each individual layered on an instrumental or vocal to create a truly odd, strange, ode to our beautiful homeland.”
Cameos were also made by Will Fredetteof the Albany band El Modernist. The final edition of Kevin Lovely, who has known L Niño since they both attended Guilderland High School, took over mixing duties, while sound engineer legend David Tyo refined the track as the mastering engineer.
L Niño wrote the initial song and produced it and left “gaps” for people to spit verses on, and then had friends each add “layers” which which was chopped up and collaged by L Niño.
“L Niño” isa singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based out of Troy, NY. He remained in the underground scene until achieving some local traction in the Albany area for his work with Major Niño which was recently in the running for an Eddie Award.
L Niño played violin all throughout highschool. But really didn’t start getting into production, until returning to Troy around 2015. He has taught himself guitar, bass, drums, and production. “My favorite thing to do is produce though, so this was a really neat opportunity to “produce” other musicians and have them spit on a track that was designed to be uh….spitted on?”
He has released music under numerous monikers and projects such as L Niño, Mister Rajers’ Neighborhood, Major Niño, and Jacques in the Bag. Featured in the Times Union and Floated Magazine with features on 102.7 WEQX-FM and local radio stations such as WCAA-LP 107.3 FM, L Niñohas also played at well-known local Capital Region venues such as The Fuze Box, The Low Beat, and Troy Kitchen.In the wake of Covid, as venues start to open back up, L Niño hopes to bring more compositions from different projects and artists to the stage.
In L Niño’s other video, “Trumpistani Breakfast,” he compares peoples obsessions with McDonalds to others obsession and fascination with Trump in this wacky video.
“I guess the tongue-in-cheek metaphor would be like…imagine if there was an individual or a whole group of individuals who for some reason thought that McDonald’s makes the BEST burger ever! Which works since Trump LOVES McDonalds. (Not saying that there’s anything wrong with a McDonalds burger, there’s a time and place where it sure hits the spot, but to believe that it’s THE BEST EVER is uh….is something) So the video was just trying to convey being disturbingly obsessed with McDonalds…..or other things.”
L Niño
You can stream the new single here and find out more by visiting the label’s website.
L Niño will be returning to gigging this summer and will begin doing small shows around the Capital Region as things start opening back up.
Marco Benevento tended to his muster of peacocks near a seemingly innocuous building in Saugerties that serves as a porthole into the inspirational playground of Fred Short Recording. Later that week, he’d play at Westville Bowl for the third time this summer with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead before prepping for his upcoming 2021 solo shows, including one at Roots Rock Revival, and opening for moe. at Apple Valley. Amidst a wall of keys, eight-track players and plastic microphones, Marco discussed his creative process, upcoming tour, new music, tools of the trade, and life after shutdown.
Marco Benevento
A show and tell concluded the hour long chat. Marco shared some of his favorite devices that helped him access the mind that created his genre bending and catchy latest album Let It Slide. The whole experience felt like a movie filmed in the past, that took place in the future.
Upcoming Tour
Em Walis: How’s it going here with your tour about to start?
Marco Benevento: I was looking at my calendar and I just swipe to the right and I saw August and I was like, “Oh no, I’ve got lots of gigs.” Yeah. Which is great because, you know, gigs are back baby.
EW: I was thinking it might be a cool thing to talk about would be the idea of wearing different hats, shifting from home hat to tour hat. What does shifting from the creative process hat to, “Okay, business time. Let’s get it out there,” hat look like?
MB: I wear a bunch of hats in that regard. Because you’re like, weird musician guy. And then you’re like, also booking hotels and flights. So then we’re here, you record and how, how, you know, when that you comes out, and yeah.
Octagon Discs
Fred Short Recording
EW: Do you find for your flows, because I see you have almost different zones here, that if you’re working you have one place that’s your business zone and separately have an “I’m making stuff now” zone?
MB: I basically do it all in this one zone. I mean, here’s the headquarters right here sit behind the piano move and the piano tape machine all the gear here recording, but then here’s the laptop for music and stuff. Also dealing with manager emails. This is the office in studio basically. Yeah, this is the always curious, just how to change literally. Luckily, I have a booking agent and a manager. So there’s a lot of behind the scenes, those guys are making my days easier. That’s really so I can just focus on the music and that’s cool. And everything and even just being around the kids. Yeah, hanging out.
EW: So how many you have kids? Two kiddos?
MB: 14 and 11. One just went to a friend’s house. My other is inside just playing Legos. She’s like, “Okay, when you’re done with your interview…,” Daddy comes and goes. So it’s nice that people like helped me out. You know, making my life easier. So I enjoy being a dad.
MB: Yeah. It’s cool place. I did it last year. I just did a day workshop there. It’s just like, music camp. They have a lot of artists come in. People talk about music and improvisation. And, you know, everybody needs camp. I mean, I went to like, some heavy jazz camps growing up and learned a lot from cool clinics, you know, sleepover camps, or music all day. It’s immersion. And then you’re picking each other’s brains about stuff. On a loose level. You don’t get a lesson from a guy and you have an hour and that’s it. You’re at a camp that lasted for a week and, maybe later at night when you’re hanging out. You know? Yeah, just sort of shoot the shit about some questions you might have. Yeah, totally.
Outdoor Live Performance Experience
EW: How do you feel about like being in the “cool outdoor environment” places? I imagine with the electricity and things like that, it might be hard to like play the kind of music you want to play, or run into difficulties with like sound and light conflicts, or is it worth it when you’re in out in the middle of the woods playing at a place like Full Moon?
MB: I love that. I’m all about it. The outdoor stuff is cool. I always prefer playing outside because you’re not fighting the venue and the walls are the collection of all that stuff. Sometimes you get into a room and you’re like, “Oh, just sounds weird in here at soundcheck,” and they’re like, “Oh, when people come in, it sounds better.”
EW: The bodies right?
MB: Yeah, that does help. But for the most part, the trees in the open air, no walls by us, it’s so nice. That’s better. I’ve always wondered whether it’s preferred or not. For me, I like outside better. I’m curious to see what other musicians would say, but yeah, there’s nothing like playing an outdoor stage.
EW: What would the word be for it? If it’s not a room for us? It’d be really great woods out there. You know, the trees really just sounded great.
MB: We played this festival called Pickathon in Oregon. And they had this tree branch stage. It was just made out of branches, it was so cool, a little stage in the middle of nowhere. Yeah, it was just all these tree-like branches are all over you and around they make a dome that has branches and it’s really cool.
Marco Benevento’s Fred Short Recording
Creative Process: Starting
EW: Let’s talk creative process.
MB: I mean, creatively, I’m just in here writing and recording all the time. Yeah. It’s kind of funny, because most people, when they do their job during the day, and they come home, they want nothing to do with their job. When I do my job, and I come home, I want everything to do with my job again. Yeah, put the kids to bed and then hang out with my wife, and then she goes to bed. And then I’m in here writing and recording.
EW: The best hours?
MB: Yeah. The creative process for me is writing with playing along to a drum machine. Recording keyboards to a drum machine and then adding drums and then adding fade and then figuring out the lyrics after, if there are lyrics. Yeah, figure those out sort of, after the fact. But basically writing. Writing groups.
The creative process for me is writing with playing along to a drum machine. Recording keyboards to a drum machine and then adding drums and then adding fade and then figuring out the lyrics afterwards, if there are lyrics.
marco benevento
Marco Benevento finding inspiration in the Octagon
EW: Writing groups, that comes first. The late night is just the best creative time it seems like. Is it something about inhibitions that are just lessened at that time?
MB: Yeah. And talk about immersion. You’re just like, in here, and you almost spend too much time on one little particular thing. But then you get to the next morning, and you listen back and you’re like, “Oh, I’m glad I spent time dialing in. Yeah, that weird drum machine sound or there’s a mission.”
EW: Yeah, exactly an hour for the paper focus. Lasering in on something instead of having to have that bigger picture that seems like we feel so much pressure.
MB: Yeah, the bigger picture sort of comes after. I’ll get the groups baseline, I’ll figure out the arrangement, and then the bigger picture starts coming in.
Creative Process: Finishing
EW: How do you know when it’s time to like, start wrapping something up?
MB: It’s a good question. I find that like a lot of musicians. I guess it maybe it’s like, almost 50/50 I feel like there’s musicians that are just like, putting shit out, no problem., and not getting too hung up on certain things. Then I feel like there’s another side of musicians that says, “How long do you work on this record?” Two, three years in some cases, that’s a long time. You put that out, or even like longer, like 10 years, right?
EW: At what point does it start to deconstruct?
MB: I’m the kind of person that’s almost to the point where I should maybe be spending more time with it. But I’m like, “You know what? This is done.” And the good thing about being “This is done” is that you’re like, OK, you get excited for the for the next thing. So yeah, keep things fresh. that’s why. Recognizing when the freshness is starting to fade. I made this COVID record basically, over the last year. Now it’s starting to, fade, I’m like, I gotta put this out, because it’s just time for this to be out. I’m excited to be done with it. It’ll be done very soon.
Creative Process: Prioritizing
EW: How do you prioritize?
MB: I like deadlines. Especially when you’re planning your whole touring schedule and everything like that. If you want to know the music, you want to know the music’s ready and you want to time it. So when you do that tour, you have a new record. So by saying, “August 15, it needs to be done,” the signal will come out. Maybe the whole record comes out in the winter, but then you want to do a tour in the spring. So you time it all out. If you hold it up and the records are done, then you mess up everything down the line. So that makes so much sense, like planning a baby. Yeah, exactly. Keeping the ball rolling, that’s really it. I’m working like with all sorts of other folks, which is fun, on side projects. Specifically one with my friend Leon Michels, who lives across the river, and Ryan Cliff. He has his own thing called El Michael’s Affair. Check it out. He moved up from the city, we made my last record together and he’s just doing so many things with different folks, so he’s always having me over to like record on something that’ll eventually be used. He’s producing, having songwriting sessions at his house, it’s super fun and brings us to the Hudson Valley, it is nice to be up here. There are so many people with studios around here.
The Hudson Valley
EW: It’s the place where the real stuff is happening. This is where the people that have done well enough for themselves to make a home and be outside. And a lot of really, really amazing artwork.
MB: And there’s a lot of home studios, there’s a lot of people that are recording themselves in their side house studio, or their room or their garage or their basement and they’re really tasteful. They make great music. There’s so many folks around here and then even just professional studios. Applehead is nearby, and on the other side of the river where Leon lives, actually not far from him, it’s called The Clubhouse, which is another great studio.
Marco talks home studios and shutdown
EW: Especially after this year. It’s the home setup, for sure, and be glad if you have already had a place in the Hudson Valley.
MB: Absolutely. I know. I couldn’t have quarantined at a better place. It was ridiculous. Some of my musician friends were going through a really hard time. I couldn’t even imagine… I was like, “Okay, I’ll be stuck here for how long?Actually don’t even tell me, I’ll just do this.” I was so productive. Anytime anybody would like call me or FaceTime me. I’d be like, “Yo, what’s up?”
Live Streaming
EW: My family did a fake music festival with live streams. So when we were done texting we would be like, “Alright, I’m going back to camp and my sister would be like, get me a flannel and beer!”
MB: Online streaming things from festival stages, that was a kind of cool platform, and there’s a really successful tipping system where it’s really easy for people. You can scroll by all these comments, sitting here playing in my house, feeling like I’m playing and people just rolling through, so I liked it. Not a live show, it’s just something else, right? People are watching you on their computer, and we all know what that is. So it does feel somewhat rewarding, but it has its limitations, obviously.
EW: Well, if the home is interesting now, do you see an evolution happening with home fans that still will follow musicians around but not actually physically? Like, seen/listened to every show?
MB: I think that those platforms are hoping that artists don’t stop doing their online streams. It was funny, because I did a bunch of shows with StageIt and then things started opening up and my schedule got pretty busy again. I was playing shows and they were like, “Do you still want to do a StageIt show?” I thought, “I don’t know. Should I? Everyone’s going to shows, do people still watch stuff on their computers?” And they were basically like, “You know, that’s how we make our living.” So yes, of course, it’s still happening. I did one the other month, it was kind of fun. It’s still fun to do, because this room just looks cool with keyboards.
EW: They see where you hang out every day, and it can be funny when your cat knocks something over.
MB: It’s definitely more connected. Yeah, people want to go out to live but yeah, it’s more personal. It seems cool. It seems like at least I know for myself, like the gates opened a little bit more. It’s kind of cool to still feel like part of something. It’s definitely interesting.
Making memories
Return to Touring
EW: Have you found you’ve played a lot since reopening?
MB: Yeah, I play with this band called JRAD which is, which is Joe Russo’s Almost Dead and it’s like all the music of the Grateful Dead. I’ve done it a couple of shows with them in that place in New Haven at a new spot. It’s pretty awesome – Westville Music Bowl. I do love tennis and played so much tennis because of the quarantine. I’ve been playing with them, smaller shows, some smaller solo outdoor gigs which has been cool. I played with my band with Karina and Divi at Brooklyn Steel and cool stream from there. That was really, really fun. It’s fun to be able to capture the venue and do what I do, go into the venue and have a sound person that you know and everything, helping you out and doing it safely felt really good.
Connecting Post-COVID-19
EW: With the upcoming tour, do you anticipate there being a different energy or headspace in the crowd?
MB: Well, it’s not full capacity. For example, Westville in New Haven holds I think 12,000 people or something. If there were actually 12,000 people in that venue it would feel a lot different than it does now because I think they’re literally only letting in like 3000. That’s gonna be a little… it’s kind of like you’re aware but kind of wandering around a little because you have a little bit of wiggle room.
EW: Gratitude. In my experience, like it seems for some people it’s almost more of a religious experience than it’s ever been. Because artists that have been there for them through stuff, your streams kept people happy.
MB: I did feel that way, which was a nice feeling. Like, oh, I can I provide something that people like, they really love, and they really needed love, even if it’s not live, they need it through somewhere, somehow, and even as a musician, I also need that outlet as well. Even though I’m playing here all the time anyway, but just to have a concert where you’re like, actually emotionally connecting.
Cheap Keyboards
EW: And we’re like, “Yeah, music. It’s fun. It’s creative. This is who I am.” But then after it becomes like any relationship, where you were there for me, when I was going through this thing, and your music was there, almost saying “I got your back.”
MB: Yeah, I did feel that way. I also taught some lessons. I was like, I’ll just put my name out there. And if it’s just one person that wants to take a lesson every week, that’d be awesome. And they’re so stoked, they’re so stoked, right? This one guy, still takes a lesson with me. He just wants to shoot the shit about music and talk about how things roll and writing everything. It’s really loose, it’s been really cool. Now we have this connection and never met before. Now I know how smart he is. How great of a musician he is, and that’s so cool. I know that he was at this show, and for certain songs of that show, really freaking out that night.
This one guy, still takes a lesson with me. He just wants to shoot the shit about music and talk about how things roll and writing. It’s really loose. It’s been really cool. Now we have this connection, and never met before. Now I know how smart he is. How great of a musician he is, and that’s so cool. I know that he was at this show, and for certain songs of that show, really freaking out that night.
Marco Benevento on Teaching music
The Future
EW: What are you excited about right now?
MB: I’m excited. I’m very excited. I’m playing this weekend with JRAD. I played at the Newport Jazz Festival on Sunday with Christian McBride, John Scofield and Joe Russo, and some other people will probably sit. It’s like the the grand jam at the end. So I’m doing that and then I’m playing with my band at Levon Helm Studio.
EW: When you are into something, do you go so deep until the point where you’re like, “Alright, I’ve done enough in order to do more. Do I have to give up something else and therefore move on?” Or do you have different psych levels, where you have many things that you’re sort of slow cooking?
MB: That was that was a good way of saying it. Just lots of things that are still simmering in this. Song ideas. I rarely look back and think, “I spent too much time on something.” Getting a sound, maybe I look back thinking I spent too much time on maybe the arrangement of the song that seems to take me a long time to figure out which parts of where it feels like if it’s too scary or too much. For example, I had a song that was like, basically three parts in it, the whole thing repeated as a song form and it was an instrumental song, you know, whatever A, B and C, then I edited it, I listened to it and was like, this doesn’t sound right. So I flipped it around and see it was C, B then A – I was like, that’s on the song with the ending that I thought was the ending but it should be the beginning of the song. The middle of that regard, this is where it’s pretty awesome.
Four Track
Fred Short Show and Tell
EW: Then mixing and mastering – is that your people that do that for you?
MB: I love using tape machines and I have a four track recorder. I basically get all my tracks down to four tracks and I’ll have drums on one track, one bass. one vocals and then put it back in the computer. This is an essential tool for me.
EW: Do you find having a lot of gear can get overwhelming? Or do you love having tools and things around?
MB: I know how they all work. So yeah. If anything, I always love more.
Random Note
MB: This is called Random Note, it just does whatever you can adjust. You can adjust the speed, and then you can adjust the world. There’s the gear shelves too. This is a favorite too, this is a Wurlitzer kind of a classic sound. I mean, you’ve heard this. Oh, this is this is another new thing. You’ll like this one. This is cool. I just got this. I do like the cheap keyboards. I love these cheap keyboards.
“I do love cheap keyboards” Marco Benevento
You can adjust the speed, and then you can adjust the world.
Marco Benevento
EW: Why is that?
MB: It sounds so cheesy, but when you hear right, I use a lot of drum machines. This keyboard plays these discs, and it’s called the octagon, it uses a light. That’s why it’s called the optimal use of the optical sensor. It has these cool grooves and then you can play along with your right hand. So they all have these funky little album covers too that you get with it. These are cool, just found on eBay. So for example, your special effects, tambourine covers, track sandbox, and that’s what this one sounds like.
I spent a lot of time over here with this keyboard because it helps me get inspired right away. This sound is awesome, then it just helps me, like that. Even though maybe at the end of the songwriting process, this might be eliminated, at least it got me there. I might not use the original drum track that inspired the song, at least in the moment this is drum sound inspired me to write something, which is what everyone’s looking for when they’re being creative.
The Octagon
EW: It’s an intervention, sort of.
MB: Yeah, this is just a quick way, an intervention. Getting started really quickly. I’ll just randomly do shit like this.
EW: What is the story with the artwork in the corner over there?
MB: That’s Billy Martin from Medeski Martin Wood. The donkey is from my friend Battista Ebar, who actually made the artwork for my first record, Invisible Baby. I’m a fan of just making weird art. My record cover, obviously. I just like doing drawings like a staple in your book, and it’s the cover of our record called The Story of Fred Short.
Up-and-coming neo-soul artist Kristen Merritt paired up with NYS Music to create a summer playlist for fans to enjoy, leading up to the release of her debut album on Sept 14.
NYS Music x Kristen Merritt Playlist
Detroit native turned New York local, Kristen Merritt has taken advantage of the creative energy the city has to offer. Since 2019 she has released an EP and various singles all leading up to the formation of her debut album Joi. The latest release from the artist is the single “I Don’t Think About You,” which is the second taste of the upcoming album after “I’m Done” was put out this May.
“I Don’t Think About You,” has a little bit more of the flavor that you’ll see present throughout the album. I say that because “I Don’t Think About You” is a little bit more of a love song. While “I’m Done,” is a love song in a way, it’s a breakup song, love was there at some point.” said Kristen adding, “Generally, the tone of the album is love songs that explore the different parts of love. Whether it’s beginnings, endings, something in between, just to describe how it feels to have love and to carry that love for someone.”
While writing this album, Kristen went about it the same way she goes about life, “I’m very hype as a human being so I like to bring hype to everything that I’m doing. In addition to being hype, I’m very “go with the flow.” I hadn’t always been this way– and don’t get me wrong, I like the list, but for the most part, I am pretty free flowing and so I carry that into my writing process as well.”
“I will hear a melody in my head, sometimes that melody is on guitar and sometimes that’s a vocal melody. I’ll go ahead whether it’s vocal or guitar and record it in the recording function on my iPhone. Then I will freeform, stream of consciousness, let the thoughts flow. Then after the fact, I’ll go in tweak some metaphors, make sure things make sense, and make sure that there’s a story within what I’m expressing.”
For specific songs and their meanings, Kristen always makes sure to focus on storytelling and the emotional weight, “On the smaller, micro level, different lines that hit me emotionally like, “Wow. Okay, that that came from a deep place, a vulnerable place.” Then on the macro level, when there is a story being told, and it feels like it started, in a way that is going to pique someone’s interest, and ended in a way that didn’t have to be completely resolved, that still felt like there was some level of finality then I know that I have written a good song.”
“I Don’t Think About You” featured on the Kristen Merritt playlist
This summer NYS Music and Kirsten Merritt have teamed up to give the people a “Summer Jamz” playlist to fit everyone’s newly liberated and fully vaccinated plans. Filled with songs like “Feels Like Summer” by Childish Gambino, “Toothache” by Topaz Jones, and of course Kirsten Merritt’s own tracks.
“What I ended up doing to create the playlist was going through my liked songs on Spotify and any song I found that immediately brought a smile to my face I added it to the playlist. I have about maybe 300 songs on my liked songs so I made sure to comb through. The ones that really stood out to me where I loved this song, I loved the way that it feels, or the lyrics, or the message it imparts. I added that to the playlist. I wanted to share good feels with everyone.”
While it is technically a summer playlist, for Kristen at least, that is just a state of mind. And that state of mind is put on repeat, “You could blame it on me being a Taurus. One time I saw a Zodiac thing that said, “Taureans, we love playing the same song 15 million times. You never get tired of it.” That is true for me. Where often I will play the newest songs that I’ve added because I’m so excited about that and then occasionally I’ll shuffle through. Unless it’s a colder or a rainier day outside I generally go for higher energy music and then if it is one of those other days I might do a little bit more chill music.”
As a growing artist, Kristen has been setting and making goals for her various works, “My biggest goal now– you know if you had asked me this a year ago, it would have been to release more music. So, that’s what I’m doing now and to get more comfortable with releasing music, because previously, while I felt there was an expectation and a standard that I was holding myself to with releasing music. It was good and I liked it, but there was a level of enjoyment and joy, if you will, that I hadn’t yet accessed in terms of feeling comfortable releasing music. At this point, that’s not the case with this album. I feel very excited to release the album.”
At any level of performing, getting in front of a crowd can be intimidating. Despite that feeling, Kristen can’t wait to give it another go, “Previous to the pandemic I was working on doing some sets with open mics and gigs like that. And while I was pretty comfortable, I was getting much more comfortable with my instrument because I haven’t been playing guitar for too long. There was still just a part of me that really wanted to be present in those performances. It may not come off as it but I feel internally stilted in a way that I want to tease out and untether a little bit.”
“Moving forward, I want to work on having fun at the live performances and feeling really present. So whether it’s busking in Washington Square Park, doing a gig at a small cafe, or all the way up to a larger venue. Having bandmates accompanying me, I want to enjoy performing. My work moving forward is allowing myself to be open and have fun with it.”
“I’ve been very fortunate that the first song, “I’m Done,” got added to some Spotify playlists and I’m hoping the same for “I Don’t Think About You.” I want to let people know that I’m so happy that I’m getting to meet people digitally, even if it’s digitally for now. Being able to have my music out there and hopefully affecting people, whether it’s positively or negatively, I’m open to all types of effects just as long as it’s there. “
The next single “Breathe,” is except to hit all platforms in late July or early August, while the album, Joi, will drop on Sept 14.
To stay informed, follow Kristen Merritt on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, and Apple Music and be sure to listen to the Kristen Merritt playlist “Summer Jamz” linked below.
Togs, a new band formed in Brooklyn, are self-releasing their debut EP More of Your Favorites today. Set to a groove-laced indie rock jam, a cyclist out for a cruise gets mugged and chases his attackers into a twisted disco nightmare. The release is accompanied by the adventurous music video for lead single “Disco Ball Shoes”.
“Disco Ball Shoes” via YouTube
After first coming together in 2018, Togs found a new stride while living through the pandemic by playing socially-distant shows from their stoop in Bedford-Stuyvesant. The stoop was upgraded to an outdoor, backyard venue where full-day shows became regular programming. Back in May, Togs headlined a party for a full-house and played the final version of More of Your Favorites for the first time. The band has natural chemistry and were noticeably “at-home” playing in front of friends, family, and strangers who heard the music from the street.
More of Your Favorites Cover Art, Designed by Graci Mills
Specializing in “angular music suitable for aqua-aerobics, wave simulation, and so much more,” the original 4-piece lineup consists of Graci Mills on guitar and keys, Colin Vallee on guitar and vocals, Abbie Krinsky on drums and vocals, and Justin Birmingham on bass and vocals. New member Tony Catalano joined the group in 2021 to round out the live show on guitar and effects.
You can see Togs this Friday, July 16th, headlining a release party at Gold Sounds in Bushwick with support from Night Coast and Plastic Hag. You can find the EP on their BandCamp or Spotify pages.
Togs Headlining the Doomyard, 5/22/2021 – Photo By: BuscarPhoto
Check out more photos from May’s Doomyard show below and keep your eyes peeled for more shows to come this summer.
Based in Bovina, NY, Esquela released their fifth studio album A Sign From God on June 25th. The album features 10 tracks, produced by Eric “Roscoe” Ambel, and was recorded entirely remotely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic which prevented members from getting together to record during the Spring and Summer of 2020.
Esquela, via bandsintown.com
Over the course of several months, Finn wrote all the songs on the record, except the final track, “Wait For Me” which utilized a poem by Konstantin Simonov and was arranged musically by Becca Frame and Brian Shafer. He then sent bits of songs to Roscoe, involving Keith Christopher on bass, Brian Shafer on guitar, Becca Frame on vocals and Matt Woodin on guitars and mandolin, and Mike Ricciardi on drums with the audio engineering accompaniment of Jeff Stachyra. Their individual parts were woven together by their brilliant engineer, spinning a 70’s style overdub in a completely remote 2020 world.
Once the reality of COVID 19 hit us, nobody knew what was going to happen and for how long our normal routines would be disrupted. Since I was homebound for the duration – I decided that I should get my home recording studio up and running again. After weeks of technical frustration– I was finally able to get my home setup cobbled together with a Universal Audio Apollo interface and my MacBook, using Protools recording software.
Bandleader John “Chico” Finn
Amidst a race war and global pandemic, the album captures the cultural conversation surrounding the time, including addressing sensitive topics that unfolded during the year like racism, sexual assault and climate change. The first track on the album, which premiered ahead of the others, addresses climate change and humanity’s impact on Earth. “Not In My Backyard” was inspired by a conversation that transpired between Finn and a friend about fracking in West Virginia. Between the rhythmic guitar riffs and pulsing drum beat, a larger message lies at the core of the song.
The bottom line is that energy is cheap right now…in order for the climate to improve will mean people will have to pay more for their energy source, and I am afraid it won’t happen anytime soon, sad to say.
John “Chico” Finn
Premiering as Esquela’s first album since 2017, the band chose to tackle pressing issues about the world, spreading a message while telling a narrative throughout each song. The last song, “Wait For Me,” has a more stripped sonic atmosphere with soft acoustic guitar and less processed vocals. The song tells the story of Konstantin Simonov and a poem he wrote as a homesick Russian soldier during World War II. Esquela uses the poem as a vessel to acknowledge racism in the deep South, much like the French village of Oradour Sur Glane destroyed by Nazis within the poem.
With Esquela, challenge brings creativity. The album is a true testament that challenge breeds creativity amidst the pandemic. Even prevented from taking a band photo all together for the cover art, they crafted a creative solution to replicate images of them in a fun illustration pictured below. While COVID-19 forced the members to send over the tracks individually, the cohesiveness of these tracks expands beyond Roscoe’s phenomenal work as a producer. These songs tell a narrative about what we need to change as a society in 2020 (and now, its roots have spread into 2021).
The album is now available on Bandcamp or Spotify, with a music video for “Not In My Backyard” on Youtube.
Inspectah Deck, born Jason Richard Hunter on July 6, 1970, and an infamous member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface, celebrates his birthday today.
Photo Credit: Coup d’Oreille on flickr
As a rapper and producer, Inspectah Deck has developed the sound for many Wu-Tang tracks and members, his own solo endeavors, and movie soundtracks. Throughout his career audiences have known him for his intricate lyricism and his verses on many of the group’s most revered songs.
Born and raised in Staten Island, Inspectah Deck routinely mentions the Park Hill Projects in Clifton, Staten Island, where he grew up and went to school with the future Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, and Remedy.
His on stage persona of being laid-back, quiet, and low-key, was a counterbalance to the antics of Method Man, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and RZA. Apparently, that also translated to his day to day personality as well, as that is what fellow members of the Wu-Tang Clan know him for.
Wu-Tang Clan
Photo: Jonathan Weiner
2014
For RS1223 Story
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As the second most featured member on Wu-Tang’s debut album Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), Deck provided highly acclaimed verses for the singles “C.R.E.A.M.,” “Protect Ya Neck,” “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta Fuck Wit,” and “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’.”
On Wu-Tang’s second group album, Wu-Tang Forever, which debuted atop the Billboard 200 and was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 1998 Grammy Awards, Deck produced the track “Visionz” and contributed a solo track, “The City”, as well as writing one of the most critically acclaimed verses in hip-hop on the group’s hit single “Triumph”.
Inbetween contributing to the later albums of the Wu-Tang Clan, including The W, Iron Flag, 8 Diagrams, and A Better Tomorrow; Deck worked on several other projects.
Along with features on fellow Wu members’ solo projects, including Method Man’s Tical, Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, GZA’s Liquid Swords, and Ghostface Killah’s Ironman; Deck also provided production for Method Man, RZA, and GZA throughout the years.
In 2013, Deck formed Czarface with Boston duo 7L & Esoteric. Their debut album featuring the legendary DJ Premier was called Czarface. The group has collaborated with names like MF Doom and Ghostface Killah. With albums including Every Hero Needs a Villain, which was released in 2015, and A Fistful of Peril in 2016.
Deck’s work in film has included composing for movies such as Meet Dave, The Wackness, and Nerve.
Deck’s debut solo album Uncontrolled Substance was initially set to release in 1997, however, due to a flood in producer RZA’s basement studio, which destroyed over one hundred beats, including all of the instrumentals made for the album, it was finally released in 1999 and featured more of Deck’s own production.
In 2003, Inspectah Deck released his second studio album, The Movement, which he later stated did not live up to his expectations despite having popular songs like “City High” on the tracklisting. Three years later, in 2006 he released The Resident Patient, which was intended as a prequel to The Movement. The mixtape turned album was a slight divergence from Deck’s previous discography due to its cinematic themes and homages.
In 2010, Inspectah Deck released his third solo album Manifesto, which features guest-appearances from Raekwon, Cormega, Termanology, Planet Asia, Cappadonna, Kurupt, and M.O.P.’s Billy Danze.
The album Chamber No. 9, which was released in 2019 will reportedly be his final album as a solo artist. Whatever the future holds in store for Inspectah Deck we’ll all be waiting to hear and enjoy. Happy birthday, Inspectah Deck!
Born and raised in the New York City area, rising singer songwriter Ella Isaacson has been making waves with each new release.
Photo accessed from Bong Mines Entertainment
Isaacson was raised in the arts. As she started writing songs and discovering her passion for music around age 13, Isaacson made sure to infuse personal experiences and raw emotion into her lyrics. Isaacson does not shy away from addressing body image, mental health and other aspects of her inner monologue, making her music uniquely intimate.
I’ve always been an over-thinker, it’s my curse and my blessing. I’m not sure if there’s a moment where my brain really rests, sometimes words and concepts just come to me as I go about my day. If one strikes a chord with what I’m currently going through in my life then the stream of consciousness starts to flow.
Ella Isaacson
Once Isaacson’s career began taking off, managers and industry figures tried getting her to change her image and appeal to the pop landscape. Isaacson instead took a trip to Sweden where she began centering her authentic self. She has continued to release songs with a personal flair and does not fit into a strict genre box.
“Expectations”, one of Isaacson’s latest releases in collaboration with Gallant, saw viral success and has been featured in popular TikToks as well as Spotify and Apple editorial playlists like New Music Fridays, Young Wild & Free, Pop Edge, Pop Right Now, Mood Booster, and Fresh & Chill.
Isaacson’s latest single “Maybelline” explores a love story with truthful transparency. In her own words, her artistic process generally focuses on showcasing relatability and emotional confidence.
I can easily say falling in love for real for the first time, changed everything about my writing. It made me look at myself in a whole new way. I always need my music to say or question something real now. We all want to make the right choices, have the right job, the fairytale love, skyscraper high confidence, the right amount of success but reality exists in the grey and the nuance and I guess that’s something I hope people take away when they hear my music. That we all feel a little lost, a little behind, a little too rough around the edges when you get close.
Ella Isaacson
Isaacson now lives in Los Angeles but continues to take inspiration from her free spirited New York upbringing. You can learn more about her on her website and connect on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. Her music is available on streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music.
Warwick native and 18-year-old college freshman, Grace Yurchuk, released two singles from her dorm room at NYU during the Spring semester. Written, recorded, and produced all from within the confines of the Covid quarantine.
A student of the Vocal Performance program at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, she recently received The Josh Goldfaden Award for writing from NYU College of Arts & Sciences and expects to make the Dean’s List this year.
If you need a song to play in the car that your friends will actually like, Grace Yurchuk is an artist to watch. So far with two singles out, she hasn’t missed. Following the rise in feel good music, these bedroom pop tracks are a good addition to playlists with similar artists such as Beach Bunny, Mitski, Phoebe Bridgers, and girl in red.
While it’s not unusual for a young musician to release a song, this effort was unique. When faced with the grim prospect of social isolation, online classes, and staying healthy, Grace turned to her music as a creative outlet. “Need Me” was a solo effort—written, recorded, mixed, mastered, and released from her dorm room without assistance from other artists or a professional studio.
The second single Grace released on May 21, titled “Good Together,” has careful thought put into everything from backing vocals to synth, which were still hand-picked, mastered, and everything in between by Grace herself. If you thought “Need Me” was good, wait until you hear “Good Together.” The progress made in between songs can be heard and it is a pleasure to know this is only the start.
“I think I had a lot of time, more time than usual– I’m sure everybody did because of the pandemic– to do different projects. The way that the first single happened ‘Need Me,’ it came to me kind of suddenly when I was out and about. When it became something I couldn’t put down and I spent all that time on it, I was just like you know what I worked really hard, this one feels ready. I felt it, I kinda knew.”
Both singles that have been released so far deal with interpersonal relationships, released at a time when those were hard to find and maintain for everyone. “I’m from a really small town and the city was different, it was jumping into a totally different experience especially in the middle of a pandemic, and all of my online classes,” Grace explained. “Making new friends was a struggle at first, all I wanted was to make something that was long lasting, meaningful, and making friends that would matter to me.”
When times were particularly tough for the college first year, she turned to music. “I’ve always fallen back on recording, that’s why I’ve done it for so long. I could always depend on it, so when it came down to that– in Manhattan living alone, I was like ‘This is it. This is what I do,’ I did what I know.”
A self-proclaimed Swiftie, Grace draws her inspiration from her pop idol. “I like different artists for different reasons and I like [Taylor Swift] because she has the ability to tell a story that I really admire, like with her lyrics. But then I also like bands like Beach Fossils, I like the atmosphere they create. Other than that I like Ariana Grande because who doesn’t like insane vocals like that. There are so many different factors that make a band or an artist great and for me whenever I make music I just want to tell a story somehow with the instrumentation or with the vocal, with the lyrics.”
But more important is the driving force that kept her going, and got her start, for all these years. “I record and I write alone, but the fact of the matter is, nobody ever does anything really alone. My parents have always pushed me to do this. They’ve never once told me to think about it, they’re always like, ‘No, this is your dream, go for it.’ All of my teachers along the way, I’ve played piano forever and my piano teacher was a big propelling force in that too. My sisters too. I say that I’m the big sister but I look up to both of them, more than they probably look up to me. They’re incredible and I play all of my music for them first. I love them.”
For her dream lineup to perform with, she chose Taylor Swift, obviously, and her new college friends. “I don’t want to sound cheesy but the first people I want to perform with are the people I met at school. Because I know I’ll get to see them again and they’re so insanely talented. As soon as I can go back to any New York venue I’ll want to perform with the people I’ve met and have encouraged me to do this too.”
As for future plans, “First thing, I just want to go out with all of my friends, I want to get a couple of gigs book. Everyone else has been not performing for a year but I am really desperate to get back in there. As long as I’m out and about and getting to live life again. Everywhere you look in the city there’s going to be something to do and I want to do everything.”
Look out for Grace Yurchuk and her debut EP before the summer is over. “I’m looking forward to getting the EP out because I think it tells a really cool story.”
The two released tracks are available on all major platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora, TikTok, and Tidal. The song, entitled “Need Me,” has already been streamed thousands of times since its debut on April 16.
Today, talented singer, songwriter, actress and LGBT+ activist, and pioneer in music Cynthia (Cyndi) Ann Stephanie Lauper celebrates her 69th birthday. From her residence in New York’s Upper West Side to childhood in Ozone Park, Cyndi Lauper is a true New Yorker through and through.
The perpetually campy orange haired princess of pop like her image in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun“, Lauper is underrated as a master across genres. With one of the greatest rock voices of her generation, she described her struggle even to emerge as the pop artist she was labeled as.
Cyndi Lauper in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun/ credit: MEDIAPUNCH
Despite misogynistic barriers that initially barred her from entry into the industry, Lauper’s album She’s So Unusual was the first debut album by a female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Top 100s, earning her a Best New Artist Grammy award in 1985.
Iconoclast who revolutionized the role of women in rock and roll
Songwriters Hall of Fame
Lauper’s discography spans across genres, movie soundtracks like The Goonies, and even Broadway numbers like Kinky Boots, earning her Grammys, Emmys, Tonys, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, and American Music Awards. She’s one of the few singers to have earned 3 out of the 4 EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Throughout her entire career, Lauper has consistently taken on serious topics including racism, homophobia, spousal abuse and AIDS. Her sincere advocacy for gay and transgender rights even earned her an invitation as a special guest to attend President Barack Obama’s second-term inauguration. As the co-founder of True Colorshttp://Nysmusic.com/tag/LGBTQ United, Lauper sought to eliminate youth homelessness among LGBTQ+ young people and even uses her iconic song True Colors to raise awareness for issues among the gay community. A true humanitarian, she was even presented the High Note Global Prize in 2019 by United Nations Human Rights.
As we all wish Cyndi Lauper a happy birthday, let us not forget all her contributions to the music industry and human rights alike!
