NYS Music 202​1

Tag: New Single

  • Young Jazz pianist Joey Alexander releases his new single “SALT”

    Young Jazz pianist Joey Alexander released his new single “SALT” after his major-label debut album WARNA, and will release two more singles in April and May.

    Joey Alexander

    Alexander has already made a name for himself and has had an eventful journey throughout his career all before turning 18. For about seven years, he has taken the jazz world by storm and achieved an extraordinary amount of success that is rarely seen. He already released five studio albums, My Favorite Things, Countdown, Joey.Monk.Live!, Eclipse and Warna. Alexander received three Grammy nominations and even performed at the preshow and during the 58th Grammy Awards. Also, two of his albums reached the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

    Along with his charting success, he is respected by legendary Jazz musicians and gained attention from mainstream media. Alexander has performed at major events alongside other talented artists. In 2016, he performed with Wayne Shorter and Esperanza Spalding at the International Jazz Day in the White House for President Obama. His show for his debut at Carnegie Hall sold-out as well as the Rose Theater at the Jazz Lincoln Center. While these are significant accolades, there is more in store for the prodigy.

    After his first album release from Verve Records, Warna, which translates to color from his native tongue Bahasa, he has more music on the way. Warna was a reflective body of work describing unfolding his experiences and feelings while on the road. His newest singles “SALT,” “Under the Sun” and “Summer Rising” were written during Summer 2020 while he was in Manhattan during the pandemic. 

    Alexander’s inspiration for “SALT” was the essential use it has in our lives and compared it to blues in jazz, which he believes we need in these worrying times. Each new single is made with the intention of evoking hope, positivity and peace through the blues. The song is the first recording Alexander did with a Fender Rhodes piano. He is accompanied by Daniel Winshall on the electric and upright bass, Tyson D. Jackson on the drums and Jaleel Shaw on the alto saxophone and Gilad Hekselman on the electric guitar.

    “SALT” was released on March 19 and is the first single of 2021 from Joey Alexander. His other two singles will drop within the next two months. 

  • Brooklyn’s Dräger Chases Thrills on “Light Years”

    Brooklyn based musician, Dräger, released his new single “Light Years” on March 11 and announced his debut album Goths à la Discothèque comes out May 7.

    Dräger
    Dräger Credit: Andrew Segreti

    Spencer Draeger founded Dräger as the essence of his modern dystopian era. “Light Years” is an upbeat song with a message about choosing the road less traveled and following the unknown. According to Under the Radar this is the perfect example of his “synthedelic pop” sound. Synthedelic pop is a mixture of modern pop, ‘80s new wave and the underground dance scene. The single explores the excitement of chasing thrills on the journey to the future.

    Goths à la Discothèque delves into the many universal themes of modern times including technology, love and society, and makes it his own. His album was inspired by 2020 and the effect it had on the world as it switched to a digital reality and caused people to forge new ideas. He portrays the present-day issues and fuses it with a party sound.

    The album consists of 11 songs which were all produced, written, recorded and mixed by Dräger in his home studio. “Light Years” is now available for streaming and the lyric video is on Youtube. The album Goths à la Discothèque drops in May under Trash Casual.

  • Versa the Band Release New Political Single

    Long Island’s Versa the Band, releases their politically reflective first single of the year entitled “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy).”

    Versa the Band
    Credit: Derlis Chavarria and CK Productions

    The band started in 2019 with a mission to create music that is out of the box and not tied to just one genre. While they are called a band, that is not quite the dynamic. The name originated from when the creator Ethan Fezzilari was brainstorming band names with his best friend for their cover band. The name Versa came to him after driving on the Long Island Expressway and seeing a Nissan Versa in front of him. The name stuck with him even though Versa the Band is a solo project.

    Versa the Band describes themselves as a “music collective” Fezzilari collaborates with other artists of different backgrounds. With influences from various artists such as Bon Iver, James Blake, Sam Cooke and more, Versa the Band has a versatile catalog. They tap into multiple sounds consisting of Hip Hop, Alternative, Pop, Jazz and more. He also draws inspiration from natural sounds and from things humans do regularly that create sound.

    With his El Salvadorian background, music has played a major role in his life. He recalls being around music all the time and seeing his mother cook with music playing in the background. While his parents aren’t musicians, their creativity influenced where he is today. The piano was the first instrument that he played when his mother made him and his siblings take lessons. Piano remained a constant throughout his career as a musician. He began his career in the entertainment business as a child actor in community theatre and progressed to short films and commercials. Versa the Band really fell in love with music through singing and the art of it.

    Versa the Band is signed to founder Fezzilari’s own Indie label CK Records. The company broadens to different aspects of entertainment including film and theatre. His executive involvement made him yearn for more creativity and his experience as director contributes to his writing skills. His journey with song writing began about two years ago. Versa the Band’s songs “Chelsea in the Spring,” “Barefoot,” “Just Friends,” and “Don’t Be Alone” were all released under the label. It allowed him to stay true to their sound and proved their individuality and creativity.

    The newest single “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy)” is another step further in not conforming to just one sound. It derives from a meme, specifically a meme that said “All my homies love Celine Dion.” The song is written from the perspective of the United States during the era of Trump’s administration and the issues resulting from COVID-19. He saw the way certain communities were struggling and lacked resources during a time when they needed it the most. Fezzilari says this is the most unique song the band has come out with. It captures the frustrations that many people felt during these times and they hope it will get people to think and receive the deeper message.

    The first half of the song calls out the current state of the political climate, while the second half serves as a cry for help. The single is produced by LOGO, mastered by Colton Lava, mixed by donSMITH along with Cliff 41 Studio. “ROLL (Homies Love Democracy)” is one of the tracks on Versa the Band’s upcoming album Free Thinker, which is releasing in June. Free Thinker is a 16 track project, containing five interludes and two more singles coming out shortly. This first single along with the video releases on March 12.

  • Interview: Zola Opens up About Misogyny in New Single

    18-year-old singer-songwriter Zola releases her new single “Not Like Other Girls” today, March 12. Building her fanbase in the New England area, the young artist blends indie, pop, and R&B. Zola integrates her raw and honest lyrics within her work also.

    Zola

    Zola’s music is oriented around her vulnerability. The way in which she can unapologetically be herself is what resonates with many fans. Although, at such a young age, Zola has had to face hardships within the music industry. Zola shares with NYS Music:

    I think, especially being a woman in the industry, there’s a completely different set of expectations placed on us than on our male counterparts. Women in music constantly have to reinvent themselves in order to stay relevant and, in general, face way more judgment on whether or not we’re ‘basic.’ If you’re basic, that has a sort of negative connotation, but if you’re ‘alternative’ you’re trying too hard. It’s an impossible battle to win.

    Zola

    This “frustration and relationship between judgment and identity” had a major influence on how she wrote the new song. Being a young woman in this industry places a microscope on one’s work. Zola takes this scrutiny, though with an enlightening and mature perspective. She aims to fit no one’s narrative but rather create her own.

    Zola

    Calling Out Misogyny

    “Not Like Other Girls” sets a haunting tone with penetrating piano keys, moody guitar chords, and a synthesizer. Layered over this is Zola’s riveting vocals that effortlessly glide with the beat. When constructing this single, Zola shared that she first began with the lyrics and then built the additional instrumental sounds around that. As this single is very personal to Zola, she wanted the song’s tone to be reflective of the meaning.

    The song deals with “finding the courage to stand up for one’s self.” This phrase ‘not like other girls’ is inherently misogynistic because it instinctively devalues other girls. Zola purposefully utilizes this phrase in order to bring attention to this popularized but damaging mindset.

    The ‘Not Like Other Girls’ trope is very interesting and complicated, and there is definitely a growing discussion about how the whole concept is rooted in misogyny. The whole thing started out as women trying to remove themselves from femininity, in order to set themselves apart and prove superior to other women. Oftentimes it’s even just a ploy for male attention. I think in order to break down this harmful trope and mindset we need to educate people on what it actually means, and have conversations with other women about it. Being into popular things isn’t bad, and being into unpopular things doesn’t make you better. Everyone should be able to like what they like, but if I see a girl with a superiority complex, I’m not going to think twice about calling her out.

    Zola
    Zola

    Breaking Down Barriers and Building Connections

    Zola values the importance of her individuality and has expressed that freely in her work. Being personal with her fans has built a relatability that is hard to find. Her new single is one of many that encapsulates her artistry and vulnerability.

    I’m just a very vulnerable person, so my music and what I write directly represents who I am. I’m driven by everything; life experiences, relationships, hardships. Life’s too short to not be vulnerable, because what’s the point if you don’t let yourself feel, isn’t that what music is all about? I like to think so.

    Zola

    Check out “Not Like Other Girls” out now on major platforms.

  • NYC Native Mae Krell Opens Up in New Single

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

    Mae Krell
    Mae Krell by Sarah Midkiff

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

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

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

    Mae Krell

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

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

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

    Mae Krell

  • AJA Creates Inclusivity Through Diversity

    International role model AJA (they/them) has broken down barriers in their new single titled “21 Roads,” featuring Katie Jobes. The revered artist and performer has brought non-binary visibility into the music industry, while also building a safe community among their fanbase. AJA is of an ecletic Puerto Rican, Nigerian and Egyptian background. Being an adopted Afro-Latino from Brooklyn has also had a lot of influence over their music and this new single. 

    AJA
    Photo Credit: Tanner Abel

    “21 Roads” is the first single off of AJA’s upcoming sophomore album CROWN. The song delves into being stuck at a crossroad, re-evaluating and learning to prioritize yourself. Protecting your happiness and being at the forefront of your own destiny is what AJA preaches.

    The artist used three tracks on the single: an interlude, the actual song, and recorded drumming. AJA shares that “the beat of the song, the interlude sample of the drums as well as the instruments, singing, and chants that are on the drumming — these are traditional songs for Esú Elegba, who is the gatekeeper, and opener of all roads in the Lukumi Faith; which stems from Nigeria.”

    Watch the Lyric Video for “21 Roads” Here

    Later this spring, AJA will release CROWN. The album incorporates themes of back spirituality, fame, race, class, gender, and sexuality. CROWN deals with AJA’s hardships and their adjustment to vulnerability. Following their critically acclaimed debut album, Box Office (2019), CROWN has high anticipation. 

    AJA
    Photo Credit for CROWN Album Cover: Tanner Abel

    AJA constantly uplifts their fans through inspiring perspective, fashion, and activism. They have taken their positive outlook to over 180 live shows and even sold out venues worldwide. The new single is nothing short of AJA’s empowering insight.

    “21 Roads” (featuring Katie Jobes) is available on major platforms. Listen to the single below.

  • 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.

  • Saint Free Gives off that Valentine Fever with New Single

    Saint Free, also known as Bradley Freedman, picked up his first guitar at age 12. He always had a love for music, especially after watching his uncle and cousins play guitar. After getting the courage to perform in a school talent show, he knew that he found his way. This Rochester-based musician is known for his magnetic blend of pop, rock, punk, and reggae. His new single “Bond With Bondage” displays his free-spirit and energy. 

    saint free

    Saint Free released his new song today, Feb. 14. As the first single off of his upcoming second album, “Bond With Bondage” explores various moods. The artist shifts between gritty vocals and a soft falsetto. With catchy pop hooks and playful lyrics, Saint Free builds a lively tempo that’s sure to make this Valentine’s Day groovier. 

    Bond with Bondage takes you on a journey from broken heart to whips and chains in the dungeon. Its exploratory, the message mirrored by the tempo and chord changes. It never lacks for inspiration or excitement, a song that keeps you interested as much by the musical content as by lines like, ‘I’m like a modern-day Shakespeare’s demented little cousin.’ It’s a wild ride from start to finish.

    Bradley Freedman
    saint free

    “Bond With Bondage” will appear on the new Saint Free album, set to release later this summer. Made with producer Sam Polizzi, the album is an open forum on how to love music and play with an open heart. Saint Free applies his creative vocal range and rhythmic guitars into each of his songs, similarly to the work of The Mowgli’s and Sublime. While waiting antically for new work by Saint Free, make sure to check out his first EP.

  • Indie-Pop Artist Gerald Slevin Begins Solo Journey with ‘Kiss To the Future’

    NYC indie-pop artist,  instrumentalist and visual artist, Gerald Slevin, releases his new single “Kiss to The Future” from his upcoming album Quantum Jitters.

    Gerald Slevin
    Picture of Gerald Slevin from Infraredmag

    “Kiss to The Future” is Slevin’s first single, with a message of unity and optimism during these uncertain times. His inspiration came from his 4-year-old daughter during a hike when he saw her look to the sky and blow a kiss. She told Slevin that she was blowing a kiss to the future and that touched him. That accidental yet wholesome moment resulted in the song’s creation in 15 minutes.

    The song is the first step towards Slevin’s solo career after fronting Brooklyn’s artpop group, The Color Bars. They gained attention from their psychedelic performances filled with layered vocal arrangements and instrument swapping. Slevin aims to do different and new things with every creation resulting in the band exploring vocals, art and instruments. While most of the group’s recordings were done by him, any time he was around other musicians it pushed him to explore new sounds and learn new instruments and skills. His innovative and unique productions will not change in his solo endeavors.

    What does feel different, though, is the promotion side of it. It’s very liberating to be able to put music out under my own name, as simply an artist in the world, without the complications of describing the music as coming from a ‘band’ or a ‘project’. Having done that for so long, it feels very empowering to be more straightforward about it all

    Slevin is an NYC native, however he recently moved to Ithaca, NY which inspired him while creating his album. In Ithaca, he is surrounded by nature with gorges and waterfalls all around and tall pine trees on his street. “Great horned owls live in them and sometimes I stalk them in the middle of the night. It sounds weird, but these kinds of experiences almost always cause melodies to start playing in my head. I sing them into my phone so I don’t forget them, and eventually that turns into a song,” said Slevin. There was a major shift from living in the social, chaotic city to living Upstate filled with tranquility and focus.

    “Kiss to the Future” releases everywhere on Feb. 12 and is accompanied by a colorful music video. As a visual artist, Slevin creates his own cover art. The visuals match the message about looking forward to the future. This single is Slevin’s debut as a solo artist and he is starting with a message about being actively optimistic. This is the beginning of his solo journey and a taste of what is to come from his album Quantum Jitters.

  • Serge Bulat Releases His Newest Single ‘Digital Guillermo’

    Maldovan-Ukrainian musician, Serge Bulat, releases his new single “Digital Guillermo”, his first song after his most recent album Wurmenai.

    Serge Bulat
    Serge Bulat Cover Art for Digital Guillermo

    Bulat came to the U.S in 2009 to start his music career. He currently resides in New York and Virginia. His creativity expands further than just music, he experiments with many mediums consisting of video games, sound design, theater productions and more. Wurmenai is actually the soundtrack for his video game Wurroom and serves as the video game in album form. The game gives music a new and interactive experience. The album was his first full-length album after four years since releasing his album Third World Walker.

    The work from Wurmenai was his most diverse, featuring artists across the globe who contributed their own sound. More of his notable projects include Queuelbum that gained him the Best Electronic Album of the Year from the Independent Music Awards. Also, he is the creative behind the multimedia Inkblot, the psychological test that appeals not only to seeing but also to hearing.

    His artistic expression has only increased throughout the years and he has more in store this year. “Digital Guillermo” is Bulat’s newest release and it further explores his musical ability using several instruments throughout the song. The song is on the soundtrack for the psychological horror video game Isolomus.