The launch of a summer concert series in the Hamptons will kick off at legendary venue Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett on August 31st. A portion of the proceeds from the shows will go to benefit USA Warrior Stories, a not-for-profit organization designed to record, archive, and share videos of veteran stories online to help veterans make a connection with one another and to help us all better understand their sacrifices for our freedom.
The first installment in the series will feature Grammy-nominated guitarist and innovative songwriter Marcus King. New Orleans multi-instrumentalist Ivan Neville, “badass and beautiful” vocalist and songwriter Lisa Fischer, and Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Louis Cato will join King as special guests.
Known for his soulful vocals and the wisdom of his lyrics, King has earned rave reviews for his kinetic musicianship. His debut solo album, El Dorado, topped the Americana radio charts and has received critical acclaim. Son of the great soul singer Aaron Neville, Ivan Neville is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and singer. He has released four solo albums and had a Top 30 Billboard hit with the first single “Not Just Another Girl” from his debut solo album If My Ancestors Could See Me Now.
Portuguese-born, Carolina-bred, and current Brooklyn, NY resident Louis Cato is a Grammy-nominated and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter. He has recorded with Beyonce, Q-tip, John Legend, and Mariah Carey, among other household names. He has toured with some of the most influential acts in music. And is currently featured nightly on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a member of Jon Batiste and Stay Human.
Along with their frequent collaborator and partner John Varvatos, Williamson and Rechter ( The show’s organizers) were the first to bring music with a live audience back to New York City after the coronavirus pandemic shut down live entertainment around the world. The show, which featured an array of world-class artists including Jon Bon Jovi, Sara Bareilles, Gary Clark Jr., Yola, and many more, truly brought the city full-circle, as the team’s Love Rocks NYC show in 2020 was the last concert in NYC before the shutdown. In December 2020, the two also worked with Varvatos, rapper and Rock the Bells founder/CEO LL Cool J, actor Kevin Bacon and CBS This Morning anchor Anthony Mason to produce Play On, an extraordinary benefit concert that raised millions of dollars for transformational racial, social, and food justice.
Wednesday, August 4 kicked off the Capital Concert Series at the Empire State Plaza in Albany and it did not disappoint with headlining act 90s favorite R&B singer, Ginuwine and opening act Freedom Stratton.
Gracing the Albany stage for the first time in 25 years, Ginuwine kept the crowd dancing and smiling with hits like “In Those Jeans” and “Pony.” While a large crowd was drawn to the Plaza with the chance to see an old school performance on a warm summer night, they had the perfect warm-up in the form of an opening act that came across as an artist with years in the business.
Setting off the night of dancing was a young local artist Freedom Stratton. Popping onto the stage with an energy that reached beyond his stature, his vocals and movements took up the massive staging area. Slated to do two 10-minute sets, Stratton focused on his newly released singles. During the first set, listeners got to hear Stratton’s singles ‘Ray Banz’ and ‘Prophecy’, which gave them a taste of Stratton’s clever lyrical power.
Born and raised in Albany, Freedom Stratton very recently celebrated his 21st birthday only days before the performance but is no stranger to the struggle and beauty of making music in the 518. At an early age, Stratton fell in love with musical theater, which led to his participation in high school plays, studying modern dance at Berkshire Ballet, and also a slew of performances in community productions across the Capital Region.
During the second set, he got the crowd dancing to more r&b/pop inspired singles ‘Tell Me What You Need’ and ‘New Things’. The audience bounced and grooved along all the way until Ginuwine took the stage. After Stratton’s second performance NYS Music had a chance to sit down with the budding artist.
NYS Music: What started your career in music?
Freedom: About three years ago I started working with BChaps. Then I had this idea to get a bunch of artists together for an album called “The Future” and it broke over 400,000 streams in less than a year. Then I knew.
NYS Music: What sets you apart from other artists?
Freedom: The drive. The drive to know that nothing is going to happen without you doing something to make it happen.
NYS Music: Do you have a dream collaborator and why?
Freedom: Anderson Paak. Oooh. He’s spicy. He’s spicy right there. I feel like that’s one of the most influential people to me in the music industry. It’s like that newer version of the old school.
NYS Music: Do you have any music that you often listen to these days? And who are the musicians that inspired you?
Freedom: Jason Derulo, gotta throw him in there. Ariana Grande. Justin Bieber, I ain’t gonna lie. I really mess with pop, like Dua Lipa. It’s the kind of music that I’m pushing for. More mainstream but at the same time they can make a heartbreak song, or a happy song, or a love song. I just love the diversity pop brings.
NYS Music: How would you like to see music help the community?
Freedom: Bringing people back together, you feel me? People are literally scared to be around each other. Music can bring us back together.
Things shifted in 2018 though once it became clear to Stratton that pop stardom would achieve his goal of leaving “a legacy. Something that will carry on forever and be able to touch people for generations”. Stratton began working with local music producer, Brian Chiappinelli(B.Chaps) to capture music that makes people happy. All the hard work has already begun to pay off. Just last year Stratton released his first full-length studio album dubbed “The Future”. With a loaded roster of other 518 artists, Stratton pushed himself out of his typical style comfort zone. Not only did the success of the album cause him to release a deluxe version that included a whopping thirty songs but “The Future” was also picked up for distribution by record label Rexius Records in Sweden.
Already back in the studio, Stratton has 2 singles set to be released this month. ‘First Love’ with Kortnee Simmons is dropping on Empire Media on August 13 and ‘For The Summer’ with B. Chaps and Money Montage is dropping on Foundation Media on August 20.
Freedom Stratton is available on all major streaming platforms (iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Google Play).
There was one overall concensus from Sunday’s show at Lark Hall on August 1st, and that is Sammy Rae is going to be big. The energy that this young woman brings to the stage is really unmatched at her level. Sammy’s voice and the band’s energetic soul would have been given a warm welcome at the Copacabana in the 50’s.
Lark Hall played host to one of its biggest crowds to date as hungry fans filled the great hall. Sammy Rae had them roaring on their feet from before she even came on stage and with every note and gesture they sang her praises. The band itself was exceptionally tight with a pair of backup singers who were actually front and center, and a duo of saxophones with a full band behind them. Sammy moved around the stage like a conductor, feeding off of the crowd and the band.
If you missed out then fret not as they have an extensive tour ahead of them and this was only show number three. After finishing up their summer tour and festival season at Green River Festival in Greenfield, MA, the band moves it’s way to a few shows in the southeast and then a massive run in the Northeast including stops in Brooklyn and Syracuse. Keep this young lady on your radar, because she is coming in hot.
Brooklyn-based funk band Turkuaz has announced their safe and triumphant return to the road with a 2021 fall tour across the United States alongside the Los Angeles-based quintet, Thumpasaurus.
Turkuaz and Thumpasaurus will be kicking the tour off at Jazz Fest in New Orleans, Louisiana on October 8 with shows continuing throughout the South for the majority of October. The band then comes home for two Halloween shows at New York City’s own recently renovated and reopened Webster Hall before they make their way down the East Coast through November until early December. They will be making Two more stops in New York on November 16 at Empire Live in Albany and on November 18 at the Town Ballroom in Buffalo. Following their East Coast stint, Turkuaz will then hit the Midwest and West with plays in Omaha, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado before they wrap up in Chicago at Park West.
“We’re ready to be back on the bus, trekking around the country, and bringing that energy that only live (and loud) music brings to us and our fans alike.”
Turkuaz frontman Dave Brandwein following the band’s recent summer tour
To top off the year, Turkuaz will also be celebrating 2022 with their annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop event in Hartford, CT for two nights at Infinity Hall. General tickets are is now on sale via the band’s website with some free showings available. Be sure to listen to Turkuaz’s latest music and releases on Spotify HERE
Turkuaz Fall 2021 Tour Dates, with Special Guests Thumpasaurus
Aug. 11 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge * Aug. 12 – Victor, ID – Music On Main Series * Aug. 14 – ParkCity, UT – Canyons * Aug.15 – Huntsville, UT – Blues, Brew, & BBQ * Aug. 16 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up * Aug. 17 – Vail, CO – Hot Summer Nights Series * Aug. 18 – Cheyenne, WY – The Lincoln Cheyenne * Aug. 24 – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Plaza Aug. 26 – Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Company Aug. 27 – Austin, TX – Mohawk Aug. 28 – Houston, TX – Last Concert Cafe Oct. 8th – New Orleans, LA – Tipitinas * Oct. 19th – Charleston, SC – Pour House Oct. 20th – Savannah, GA – District Live Oct. 21st – Atlanta, GA – Terminal West Oct. 22nd – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel Oct. 23rd – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl Oct. 24th – Birmingham, AL – Saturn Oct. 27th – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre Oct. 28th – Washington, DC – 9:30 Club Oct. 29th – New York, NY – Webster Hall Oct. 30th – New York, NY – Webster Hall Nov. 4th – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Nov. 5th – Boston, MA – Big Night Live Nov. 6th – Portland, ME – State Theater Nov. 16th – Albany, NY – Empire Live Nov. 17th – Harrisburg, PA – HMAC Nov. 18th – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom Nov. 19th – Cleveland, OH – House of Blues Nov. 20th – Detroit, MI – El Club Dec. 2nd – Richmond, VA – The National Dec. 3rd – Philadelphia, PA – TBA Dec. 4th – Columbus, OH – Bluestone Dec. 5th – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation Dec. 9th – Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line * Dec. 10th – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room * Dec. 11th – Denver, CO – TBA Dec. 14th – Madison, WI -Majestic Theatre * Dec. 15th – Louisville, KY -Gravely Brewing * Dec. 16th – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall * Dec. 17th – Indianapolis, IN – The Vogue * Dec. 18th – Chicago, IL – Park West * Dec. 30th & 31st – Hartford, CT – Infinity Hall *
Restless World Music returns with the first of 5 songs to be released over the rest of 2021 and into 2022. “I No Go Play” was released on all streaming platforms July 24.
The new song perfectly represents Restless World Music’s brand of writing songs that combine different cultural influences and musical genres by combining Afrobeats, Reggaeton and R&B. Here’s the recipe for “I No Go Play”: start with an Afrobeats musical base. Add a chorus inspired by Nigerian slang. Sprinkle some pop and RnB in the bridge and a dash of reggaeton in the verse melody. Top off with a brilliant West African vocalist, and you have Restless World Music’s latest single. Listeners who like artists like Mr. Eazi, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, Davido, and Wizkid will like the romantic, energetic, and confident vibe of “I No Go Play.”
Earlier songs from the artist include “Precipice”, “Cyclone, “Ashes”, and “Stratosphere” with often collaborations with Candance XYZ. The follow up to the debut tells the story of complicated love. Whereas the theme of the earlier songs was natural elements and how they relate to human emotions this new track takes a more direct approach to discussing topics.
The name “Restless World” Music is inspired by the world around us, in which an ever-moving ocean of events, people, and beliefs shape each day. Songs can tell this story, and in telling it, can take us on a journey through joy, sorrow, and a thousand emotions in between. Just like the constantly evolving mix of different cultures in the world around us, songs by Restless World Music blend different musical elements, styles, and genres. Additionally, in Restless World songs, melody resides not only in musical notes, but in the sounds, syllables, and shades of meaning of each word in the lyrics.
For more information visit the Restless World Music website.
Singer, songwriter, trumpeter, and producer Tony Glausi released his new single “The Ominous Blue,” featuring singer and saxophonist Braxton Cook. The track comes right off of Glausi’s upcoming album, Everything At Once out September 3 via Outside In Music.
Tony Glausi | Courtesy of Sofia Alvarez
Raised in Portland, Oregon but currently based in New York City,Tony Glausi is widely known for his accomplishments as a trumpet player. Now, on Everything At Once, Glausi breaks free from simply being an instrumentalist and firmly establishes his prowess as a bandleader, producer, songwriter, and singer. The new full-length album features straight-to-the-gut pop jams and R&B-influenced tunes taking inspiration from a bevy of sources all while still remaining uniquely true to Glausi’s vision as an artist. The album was announced last month alongside his singles “Lot of Enough” and “Jada Jada.”
“Writing Everything At Once I felt like the project wasn’t about me. It wasn’t about Tony, the trumpet player. I just wanted to make fucking songs… I sing on three of them, but I just wanted to produce the music and ultimately let my collaborators shine.”
Tony Glausi
Everything At Once is a cinematic full-length production brimming with confidence, introducing Tony Glausi the polymath. It is an album of places, faces, and interactions. Simply put, Tony Glausi has created a mixtape to his life, thanks, in part, to his willingness to try anything. Along with Braxton Cook, guests on Everything At Once include Latin Grammy-nominated Nana Mendoza, Brooklyn-based singer Elysse, rapper Charlemagne the Goddess, and UK vocalist Max Milner.
“Coming out of high school and studying music in college, I was pretty fixated on jazz trumpet playing, and my earlier releases were heavily oriented around improvisation and swing, but as I continue to write and explore new sounds, I feel like I get closer and closer to my true voice, one record at a time. The album is literally a two-year snapshot of my life. Each story is like a scene from a film, or I guess 10 different films”
Glausi continuing on creating‘Everything At Once’
Everything At Once will be released on September 3 through Outside In Music. Until then, fans should listen to Glausi’s latest releases, including the masterfully written and recorded Lot of Enough and Jada Jada. These songs are just snippets of the eclectic and exhilarating sound Tony Glausi has uncovered for himself with his latest album, and show why he deserves the spotlight on today’s musical stage
On Wednesday July 21st, Albany’s Alive At Five Concert series returned to the rain location under the 787 overpass. This week featured Albany’s own Funk/soul band, Hartley’s Encore, as well as Yam Yam, a Jam/Funk/soul group from Harrisburg, PA.
Check out the Setlists and photo gallery of the evening below. Alive at Five will hold their final FREE concert of the season on Wednesday, July 28 with 80s hair band Warrant, with Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band opening the night.
Hartley’s Encore: Feels So Good, Burnin, Mary Jane*, Bright Light Shining, Eyes Open, All to You, Move on Up*, Hartley’s Encore
Yam Yam: Cashew Reprise, Cashew, Juice Box, Big Bird, Grease Trap, Star Dog , Vulphie, Boogie On Reggae Woman*, Not My Dog, Central Station, Roy, ’94, Dinnertime, Kamal, Cory Wong*, Sizzle, Medusa’s Crisco, Treason, I’ll Be Right Here
The Historic Grassroots stage in Trumansburg, NY hosted Syracuse outfit Sophistafunk and Grammy Award winner Cory Henry and The Funk Apostles on Saturday, July 17.
The rainy weather pushed the performance to the site’s grandstands stage. The precipitation didn’t stop the grassroots audience from dancing to the grooves emanating from the bandstand. Don’t let the rain get the best of you and don’t let it saturate your brain, it comes as fast as it passes through so why fear the rain?
Sophistafunk hit at 7PM and immediately got the soaked masses moving. The original trio included a full three-piece horn section to add extra layers of funk. Drummer Emmanuel Washington’s neo soul beats resonated on the bodies in motion. They ended their set with a unique mash up of Sly and the Family Stone’s “If You Want Me To Stay” with a Notorious B.I.G. sample of “Juicy.”
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles spoke with NYS Music about some influential shows they personally saw live in New York State before their set.
Cory Henry: I saw Stevie Wonder on his 2014 Songs In the Key of Life tour at Madison Square Garden. That completely changed my life. That’s what inspired me to play the harpejji instrument that he uses.
Isaiah Sharkey: I would say Joey DeFrancesco at the Blue Note in Manhattan.
Josh Easley: Cory (Henry) actually at Rockwood Music Hall in Manhattan.
The funk apostle ensemble that came through Trumansburg on Saturday consisted of Dave Wood on Drums, Joshua Easley on Bass, Isaiah Sharkey on Guitar, Denise Renee and Matia Washington on backing vocals and Cory Henry on lead B3 Hammond Organ and vocals.
This was Henry’s second show this July after splitting the bill with Lettuce in Lake Dillon, Colorado. The band hit at 8:30 and played till 11 PM with only one break before the encore.
Brooklyn native Cory Henry is a true front man. His stage presence was the lightning to the pouring rain that evening. A nod to the evening’s soul climate was expressed on Henry’s “Don’t Forget” with his lyrics, Sunshine don’t come without rain, and that’s ok, love ain’t magic without pain.
He had a dynamic interplay with all of the other musicians on stage that kept hitting the audience with waves of emotion. He visits the strain of love with a sassy groove during his tune “Switch” singing, I miss the way we were before you flipped the switch and never flipped back.
He celebrates the sunnier side of love during “GawtDamn.” His words show the delight of having the right one by your side. Cause when the girls see her they say Gawtdamn (gawtdamn) and when the boys see her they say “OOEE” they better know I keep her next to me, I never met a girl who made me wanna keep her near oh.
The other musicians on stage all had a chance to stretch out as well. Guitarist Isaiah Sharkey hit all of the ascending musical notes like a crashing wave. Some in the crowd recalled his performance with John Mayer two July’s prior at Albany’s Times Union Center.
Josh Easley truly came full circle on stage with Henry after seeing him from the audience at Rockwood Music Hall years ago. Drummer Dave Wood ended up shirtless, digging trenches of groove on stage. Denise Renne and Matia Washington helped keep the vocal section ablaze the whole performance.
During the encore, the band channeled the woman who can’t stand the rain, Miss Tina Turner. They performed their own improvised groove of “Rolling on the River.” The river beat trailed off of Henry’s words to the audience before closing, “So I encourage you, no matter what you’re going through, no matter what’s going on around us that life…keeps on rolling.” “Say that a life’s got to keep on rolling…” jam went on for eight minutes to end the encore.
Musically it got to a level where everyone on the bandstand was having fun and could hear each other with the audience locked in, launching the performance to a spiritual level. If you came to this show Saturday night, you were allowed to miss church the next day.
The Grassroots 30th anniversary music festival keeps rolling in Trumansburg this weekend July 22-24 with headlining sets from hometown heroes Donna The Buffalo and a slew of other acts. Isaiah Sharkey will be at The Blue Note on August 9 & 10, and Cory Henry will be part of a four-night residency at Manhattan’s Legendary Blue Note on September 23 through September 26.
Cory Henry and the Funk Apostles 7/17/21 Trumansburg, NY Setlist: Testify, Trade it All, In the Water, Our Affairs, Gawtdamn, Don’t Forget, Switch, Rise Encore: Rolling on the River/ Life’s got to Keep on Rolling
Buffalo’s Organ Fairchild has released their latest single “Cherry Tomatoes” this past week, and announced an upcoming performance at Sportsmens Tavern on August 28.
“Cherry Tomatoes” is the second single from the forthcoming full-length debut release (coming in September 2021) from Buffalo jam favorites Organ Fairchild. The eight-minute single, mastered by fellow Buffalonian Alan Evans of Soulive, follows “Seepin’” which landed the band on the Jambands.com Radio Charts Top 30 list in February, 2021.
Shortly after, Organ Fairchild won NYS Music’s March Madness of Bands competition and being invited to perform at the prestigious Borderland Festival of Music and Arts alongside Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, The Revivalists, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, The Infamous Stringdusters and many more.
You’ll be up and moving to “Cherry Tomatoes” in no time – this funky, organ-driven single looks to shine at live performances. Written by guitarist Dave Ruch, “Cherry Tomatoes” was arranged by the band (Joe Bellanti, Corey Kertzie, Dave Ruch) and recorded and mixed at Kertzie’s home studio. Stream the new single on all platforms here.
The band’s upcoming show at Sportsmens Tavern will take place on Saturday, August 28 at 8pm, with tickets $15 available here, Fetauring Organ Fairchild – Joe Bellanti (organ), Corey Kertzie (drums) and Dave Ruch (guitar). Thanks to the recording studio located next door to Sportsmens, Joe will be playing a Hammond B3 organ (with Leslie Speaker) during the show this evening.
Listen to the last time Organ Fairchild performed at Sportsmens Tavern, back in early 2020.
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.
