NYS Music 202​1

Category: New York Singles

  • Girl Blue goes to “Heaven” with her Newest Single

    The latest single from the Capital Region songstress Girl Blue, “Heaven” was released today, the second single off her uupcoming full length album, slated for release in Fall 2021. The warm, uplifting single is well timed for spring, with a late 80’s indie-pop feel, and follows “Just a Dream,” the first single, released in February.

    girl blue heaven

    “Heaven” was written and produced by Girl Blue and recorded at White Lake Studios in Albany. Girl Blue is joined on the track by Albany’s Dark Honey – Jimi Woodul (electric guitar), Dan Dekalb (piano), Ben Woodul (bass) and Josh Morris (acoustic drums). 

    The light, grooving, harmony-drenched pop track is juxtaposed by lyrics that are dark, introspective and sometimes scathing about cellphone addiction. Making a statement about how our relationship with technology has come to replace our deep connection with spirituality, other people, the earth, and ourselves, the song will have you singing along and bobbing your head with ease.

    Arielle O’Keefe (Girl Blue) satirically celebrates the fact that “No one can stop me from hating myself, nothing can make me forget it,” and deems herself “the queen of my cellphone” in an angelic, serene tone of voice that only hints ever so slightly at the loneliness inherent in those statements. 

    Listen below or on various platforms, and visit Girl Blue’s Bandcamp for more music.

  • Marc Ribler Shares Heartfelt “Shattered” off Upcoming Solo Album

    On February 26th, singer-songwriter, producer, and guitarist Marc Ribler released “Shattered,” a single from his upcoming solo album The Whole World Awaits You, set to release in June of this year.

    marc ribler

    Ribler’s unique ability to balance emotion and logic enables him to infuse his music with raw passion laced with a clear-headed understanding of the complexities of life.

    “Shattered,” channels the heartbreak rock sound of Tom Petty, but has its own unique twist. Ribler’s guitar playing is outstanding on this track, as well as his vocals. The lyrics are catchy and will have you singing along by the end of the song.

    Ribler, music director for Stevie Van Zandt, has written and produced over 40 songs for major label recording artists throughout the world and his songs have charted in Billboard’s Hot 100, with Top 10 hits in Canada and abroad.

    He has played with many of the great over the years, including Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Paul McCartney, Darlene Love, and Elvis Costello to name just a few.

    Additionally, he’s written popular jingles for brands like Trojan Condoms, Office Dept, V8 Juices, Bell South, Activia Yogurt and Green Mountain Coffee.

    Reflecting on the beginning of his love of music, Ribler recalls, “One of my first memories was at age 5 waking up to the radio alarm clock with WABC pouring out tunes like Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow,” Tommy James’ “Crimson and Clover,” The Beatles’ haunting “She’s Leaving Home” and The Byrds’ rendition of “Mr. Tambourine Man.”

    “Those pop ditties melded deep into the fabric of my very being, with great hooks that the artists seemed to be singing straight to my soul.”

    “Shattered” and The Whole World Awaits You is co-produced and arranged by Marc Ribler and Stevie Van Zandt and mixed by Ribler.

  • 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.

  • Spaghetti Eastern Music Blast Off With “Blues For a Lost Cosmonaut”

    Spaghetti Eastern Music returns with the maxi-single, “Blues for a Lost Cosmonaut.” The solo project of  NYC and Hudson Valley-based musician Sal Cataldi, Spaghetti Eastern’s latest releases have ventured into ambient music. The sprawling new track occupies almost ten minutes of time and space, taking the listener on a peaceful star trek through the galaxy.

    Despite lacking lyrics and hooks, “Blues for a Lost Cosmonaut” still makes room for a narrative and recurring themes. While an overall peaceful auditory experience, suspense and uncertainty creep up on the listener between stretches of serenity. In its most tense moments, “Blues” evokes the eerie prog-pop bookends of Gary Wright’s 1975 “Dream Weaver,” but this time the dissonance is in the middle. If Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain had a secret chill detour, this would be the soundtrack.

    The inspiration came from watching some old videos of the early Soviet space program, especially the first space walk by Alexei Leonov. It was about recreating the contrasting moods and feelings that the film of this moment imparts. There’s peace, wonder and weightlessness combined with the realization that this could spin out of control at any moment, as it did for some early Soviet space explorers.

    Sal Cataldi

    Another clear inspiration is Fripp & Eno, an ambient side project consisting of Brian Eno and Robert Fripp. “Blues” is the third offering in a trilogy of similar pieces: in 2020, Cataldi released “Her Lemon Peel Raincoat” and “Peace Within.”

    It’s just a fun exercise in soundscapes, in impulsive sound painting recorded in the wee small hours during the lonely moments of the COVID quarantine.

    Sal Cataldi

    Cataldi released his first album under Spaghetti Eastern Music in 2015, titled Sketches of Spam. He recorded “Blues for a Lost Cosmonaut” on his houseboat in Port Washington, Long Island, Houseboat Garlic Knot Studios, as well as at Sonic Garden in West Saugerties, New York. “Blues for a Lost Cosmonaut” is available for download and streaming on Bandcamp, CD Baby, iTunes, Spotify and elsewhere.

  • Guitarist Ryan Dugré Hones his Technical Mastery on New LP

    Ryan Dugré is a New York-based multi-instrumentalist and composer. originally from Holyoke, MA. On February 19, the artist released his nostalgic LP Three Rivers.

    Photo Credit: Annette Wong

    Beginning in 2019, Dugré wrote the album’s instrumental pieces. Dugré’s work established shadowy undertones and an introspective melody. His utilization of guitar at the forefront of his work built the calmness of Three Rivers. He also supported this sound with piano, synth, strings, and sparse percussion. 

    The song-writing process behind Three Rivers was relatively fast-paced. Dugré developed an exercise where he created a new piece of music each day. He did this in order to build a routine of writing and creativity. The work he had to compose daily consisted of an improvisation, loose sketch, or a fully orchestrated piece. 

    Three Rivers Album Artwork

    Dugré’s techniques allowed him to be vulnerable with his many colleagues who performed on the album alongside him. Three Rivers was re-recorded in October 2019 in Brooklyn with engineer Adam Sachs. This LP featured string arrangements from Ian Mcllelan Davis and contributions from Brett Lanier, Sean Mullins, Adam Dotson, and Will Graefe. Also, Leo Abrahams mixed the album.     

    The artist initially forced himself to commit to ideas without leaving time for second-guessing. He strived for an honest depiction of his original thoughts. Despite Dugré’s fast-paced process, he was able to develop intimate pieces throughout his work. Each track encapsulates the musician’s cinematic guitar-led instrumentals. He builds a simplistic mastery that is especially evident on his solo guitar track “Glace Bay.”

    Ryan Dugré on “Glace Bay“:

    Over the past year, I have spent time looking through what records I could find about my ancestors. It has always intrigued me to try to picture what their lives were like. Hearing about their struggles and the relative poverty they endured puts things into perspective for me. Glace Bay is where my great-grandfather Edward Macmillan was born. It’s a coal mining town on the eastern tip of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. His father died in the mines in 1897 when he was three, leaving him as the eventual provider of the family. This piece is named in his memory.

    Previously, Dugré has shared his elegant music at Le Festival d’été de Québec, Bonnaroo, and Haldern Pop Fest. He even has performed at NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series and on BBC 6 Radio. Dugré is on the rise, and his new LP is nothing short of this. Make sure to check out Three Rivers available now on major platforms.

  • L’FREAQ Drops Dark Synth-Pop Single “Make Me Move”

    L’FREAQ has returned after a two-year absence to share her newest single, “Make Me Move.” Described as having a “sexy, neo-goth, synth pop sound,” the track features an intimate look into the hardships of a long distance relationship in the midst of quarantine. The artist sets aside vulnerability to express an experience that most, if not all of us, can relate to, after a year since the quarantine began.

    L'FREAQ
    Photo Credit: Kelly Cappelli

    More commonly known under the alias L’FREAQ, Brooklyn and LA-based singer/songwriter Lea Cappelli has caught the eye of many with her gothic and soulful presence, alongside an impressive vocal range and a talent for writing lyrics that strike a chord, attracting an inclusive and diverse audience.

    I wrote this song before quarantine about deep yearning for my long-distance partner. It was my challenge to strip everything away to primal instincts. When quarantine hit, it forbid us from seeing each other and the relationship ended, causing a spiral into craving and a deep dive into intimate voicemails that have been sampled on the song.

    L’FREAQ describing the single, “Make Me Move”
    L'FREAQ
    Photo Credit: Kelly Cappelli

    Some highlights of her career include a private performance for Muhammad Ali, sharing the stage with Jakob Dylan, and performing alongside Grammy-awarded artist India.Arie. Recently voted “NYC’s Favorite Emerging Artist” in a poll sponsored by The Deli Magazine, she pays homage to her Brooklyn roots. She cites her love of music as being nourished by her artistic mother from a young age, growing up in a music studio in the midst of the punk scene of NYC.

    You can find where to stream her newest single, “Make Me Move,” on various platforms here, and keep an eye out for any new quarantine-inspired releases on her website.

  • Fiona Glenn Teams Up with Award-Winning Composer David Baron

    Mid-Hudson Valley Native Fiona Glenn worked with award-winning composer David Baron on the upcoming single “Don’t Give Up.” On February 26, this motivational piano ballad will release.

    At just 16 years old, Fiona Glenn has sung with various artists such as Pete Seeger, Natalie Merchant , and Simi Stone. She even appears throughout David Baron’s Whisperers album, including the title track where she sings the lead vocals.

    Watch the “Whisperers” Music Video Here

    As a composer, arranger, engineer, and producer, David Baron has worked with some of the most notable musicians. His influential Woodstock sound has merged with Lenny Kravitz, The Lumineers, Shania Twain, Vance Joy, and many more.

    With previous experience collaborating, Fiona Glenn and David Baron delved into their new single head-on. “Don’t Give Up” blends Glenn’s rich voice with Baron’s piano performance. Also, the composer integrates a 40-piece orchestra and a throwback rhythm section throughout. The duo’s talent produces a retro-modern production with high fidelity and antique recording gear. As if the single didn’t already have enough expertise featured, the song was even mastered by Chris Athens, whose credits include Drake and The Beastie Boys.

    “Don’t Give Up” was written for Baron’s wife, who stood by him during his health issue. Baron wrote these lyrics as a testament to an isolating and hopeless experience. These feelings are probably familiar to many in the circumstances of today. “Don’t Give Up” serves as a light in these times of darkness. Keep a lookout for the new single later this week.

  • Alt-pop Artist Sulene drops new single, “i still think you’re so fake”

    Addressing past-heartbreaks during the midst of post-Valentine’s Day gloom, Sulene dropped a new indie-pop single off of her upcoming EP, he·don·ic, set to release on March 5.

    Sulene
    Photo Credit: Spencer Kohn

    I wrote it after I got a text from an ex that he was getting married. I guess I hadn’t thought about this relationship for a long time and it brought up all sorts of things. Sometimes the gift of time and growing up is being able to look back and sorta see things differently, more clearly. I found myself feeling angry. My friend group is really close with this person so I constantly hear about him, and I’d always act like it doesn’t bother me even though I felt hurt by the things that had happened surrounding our breakup. I wrote this song after that text and I guess I stopped pretending that I feel the same way all my friends feel and just said my truth.

    Sulene, on “i still think you’re so fake”

    The definition behind the EP’s title, he·don·ic, implies that the album as a whole relates to pleasant or unpleasant sensations, a theme that is present in the newest single. The topic of past heartbreak is never easy for an artist to revisit, and even harder to express through song. Sulene cites a painful and difficult process behind he·don·ic, but also a liberating aspect to exploring new music styles and providing closure. You can stream her newest single, “I still think you’re so fake” here on platforms such as Spotify and Apple Music.

  • John Roberts Releases New Single With the Legendary Debbie Harry

    John Roberts teams up with legendary Blondie frontwoman, Debbie Harry, to release his newest single “Lights Out” produced by Junior Sanchez. The single is accompanied by a trippy animated video directed by Kris Baldwin.

    John Roberts

    Roberts, a long time Blondie fan, was thrilled when his friend Debbie Harry accepted his invitation to be featured on his new song. “Lights Out” follows “Freaks” which came out last fall, an innovative and quirky dance-pop song that was also produced by Junior Sanchez. Both “Lights Out” and “Freaks” are the follow-up to Roberts’ 2019 self-titled EP. Produced by Big Black Delta, it featured his UK club hit “Looking.” Both singles are to appear on Roberts’ debut album which is set to drop sometime in 2021.

    Born in Edison, New Jersey, Roberts has always had a deep-rooted love for music. At the onset of the 90’s he fell in love with the New York City rave scene and frequented the storied warehouse parties mythologized in movies like “Go“. Robert found himself as the frontman of the band Opti-Grab where he toured relentlessly and released an studio album. In 2019 Robert release his club banger “Looking,” which would go on to land at #19 on the UK Club Charts.

    Working with someone as professional and legendary as Debbie Harry is something I will never forget. She came in and nailed it and this song is a dream come true.

    John Roberts, Musician

    Roberts has gone viral from YouTube clips like “The Christmas Tree.” Robert has made appearances on “The Tonight Show,” “Archer” and more in addition to multiple tours alongside Margaret Cho. He currently stars as apart of the EMMY Award-winning “Bob’s Burgers” as lovable & loud matriarch Linda Belcher which landed him first EMMY nod in the category of “Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance” in 2015. The show is now in its 10th season with a feature film to be released in spring 2021.

  • X Ambassadors Release Mesmerizing “skip.that.party” with Jensen McRae, Part of (Eg) Project

    February 12 marked the premiere of “skip.that.party,” a collaboration between multi-platinum-selling rock band X Ambassadors and Los Angeles-bred singer/songwriter, Jensen McRae.

    The moody and mesmerizing track is the latest release from X Ambassadors’ (Eg) — a recently launched multi-part project featuring collaborations with an eclectic mix of emerging artists.

    A detailed meditation on longing and regret, “skip.that.party” spotlights the sensitive yet incisive songwriting that McRae’s previously shown on tracks like her unforgettable 2020 single “Wolves.”

    As McRae and X Ambassadors lead singer, Sam Nelson Harris, trade off vocals, “skip.that.party” takes on an undeniable and immersive power, sharply contrasting its understated beauty.

    As with all of the artists featured on (Eg), X Ambassadors approached McRae out of deep admiration for her one-of-a-kind artistry. “My wife showed me ‘Wolves,’ and I was immediately devastated by how good it was,” said Harris.

    “I hit Jensen up on Instagram and asked if we could write together, and everything took off from there. It blows my mind that more people don’t know about her or any of the other artists on the project, and I’m so excited to share their music with our fans.”

    “skip.that.party” arrives as the follow-up to “ultraviolet.tragedies” by X Ambassadors with Terrell Hines, the euphoric yet explosive lead single from (Eg).

    Like “ultraviolet.tragedies,” “skip.that.party” is accompanied by a documentary-style visual that breaks convention by integrating elements of commentary and off-the-cuff conversation.

    To that end, the “skip.that.party” video finds Harris and McRae remotely discussing such topics as poetic realism, the struggle for presence in chaotic times, and McRae’s experience growing up caught between the wild glamour of Los Angeles and the utter boredom of the suburbs.

    (Eg) came to life as X Ambassadors completed their third full-length effort, due out later this year. According to Harris, the project has already had an indelible impact on their evolution as creators.

    “All the artists we’ve worked with on (Eg) have reminded me how important it is to make what you love and not think twice about it,” said Harris. “When people hear the project, I hope they come away with that same sense of freedom, and also just feel the pure joy that comes from the art of collaboration.”

    “skip.that.party” by X Ambassadors with Jensen McRae is available now at all digital outlets via KIDinaKORNER/Interscope Records.

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