NYS Music 202​2

Author: Alain Clerine

  • Austin Jay Brings the Passion to R&B With ‘Loving on You’

    Manhattan-born pop/r&b singer, Austin Jay, brings the heat with his latest single, “Loving on You.” Released in anticipation of his debut EP, “Loving You” follows the release of “All I Wanna Do,” his debut single. In a short period of time the passionate wailer has amassed over 50 thousand streams on each of his singles.

    After graduating from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Austin Jay embarked on his musical career. Classically trained in piano and voice, he earned his promising newcomer status in 2019 with covers of Khalid’s “Location” and Billie Eilish’s “Ocean Eyes” gaining a significant following on Instagram for his soulful and imaginative Gen- Z reinterpretations of popular songs.

    Stylistically, Austin Jay can fill a void within the r&b realm. While the too-cool-for-school crooners have their place, they don’t fully encapsulate the love and vulnerability that r&b is rooted in. A proper love ballad requires a certain kind of indifference to public perception. A generational trend that Austin Jay is aware of, yet embraces.

    Loving on You is about the infatuation of new love. It’s about finding someone that you really care about and telling them, and not being ashamed of love. A lot of people think dramatic declarations of love are corny/cheesy, but really it’s healthy and needed more in life.

    – Austin Jay

    On “Loving On You” Austin Jay reverts to the impassioned, romance-laden croons of r&b’s heyday. In fact, the music video itself is a nod to r&b hits of the past, as Jay shirtless-ly serenades his love interest on a secluded California beach.

    Despite his r&b talents, Austin sees himself growing into the likes of Dominic Fike, Khalid, and Bruno Mars, an aggressive, all-genre artist with strong vocals. He performed as the lead singer of the nationally touring band ‘Earth to Mars’, growing his fanbase and earning his performance chops. Now a more complete artist, Austin Jay looks to cement himself as a player in the r&b world.

  • Byron Bay Bluesfest Announces First Lineup Including Joe Bonamassa and Greensky Bluegrass

    The 34th annual Byron Bay Bluesfest Festival’s initial lineup has been revealed. Featuring international artists for the first time since 2019’s pre-pandemic festival, the first lineup released features over 40 artists.

    Joe Bonamassa

    Set for April 6-10, Bluesfest will see some of the finest contemporary and legendary blues, roots, soul, rock, hip hop, r&b, world and americana artists take the stage. This will be the first original style Bluesfest since the world re-opened. Last year primarily featured Australian and New Zealand Artists. Among those making their way down under are Utica’s own and renowned blues guitarist, Joe Bonamassa, bluegrass music innovators Greensky Bluegrass and jam-band favorites, Southern Avenue.

    Joe Bonamassa
    Bluesfest 2022 daytime

    What is Bluesfest All-About?

    Bluesfest is held over five days at the Byron Events Farm each easter long weekend. Event facilities include seven performance stages, nine licensed bars and two undercover food courts. There are many independent food vendors, car parking for over 7,000 vehicles and camping for up to 6,500 people.

    In the coming weeks, Bluesfest will release more of the line-up, along with artist performance dates so that both day-trippers and 3-day ticket holders can make an informed choice. There will also be further announcements on two special satellite events happening in Melbourne and Perth.

    And more good news is that ticket prices, camping and VIP tickets remain the same as 2022’s prices. That’s despite the significant increase in cost of international flights and freight logistics, with artist fees also on the rise. Bluesfest will also invest in upgrading the VIP area in order to give its supporters the best experience possible. For the campers that seek a “class above” experience you can upgrade to the Rainbow Tipi accommodation this year.

    Whilst there are still plenty of Aussie artists listed in this first and upcoming announcements it is wonderful to once again in 2023, after four long years be able to bring back some of the greatest Blues, Roots, Soul, Rock, Hip Hop, R&B, World and Americana artists (and so much more) back to our shores after so long. As well as, of course, the stars of tomorrow.

    – Peter Noble, Festival Director

    Tickets for Bluesfest are now available and can be purchased on their official website. While only the 5-day passes are on sale for now, Bluesfest also offers 3-day and single-day passes.

  • Pras Michel The Reason Behind Fugees Reunion Tour Cancellation Due to Money Laundering Charges

    In September, 2021 The Fugees and Pras Michel made headlines with a performance at Pier 17. It was their first show as a group in 15 years. With the trio later announcing a world tour of very selective dates and venues. In Fugees fashion, the tour was later canceled to the chagrin of fans. Lauryn Hill broke the news in January of 2022 with a statement.

    Embed from Getty Images

    Although a disappointment, Covid-19 complications seemed reasonable given the major cities the tour was due to hit. The addition of international stops in France, UK, Nigeria, Ghana along with their varied covid regulations made things more arduous. Rather, the Fugees, who each have gone through legal troubles, find another one of their own entangled with the law.

    This time it seems as if Pras Michel’s legal hardships are what is holding up the much-anticipated reunion tour. In 2019, Michel and Malaysian financier, Low Taek Jho (known as “Jho Low”), were charged  in a four-count indictment. The duo were accused of illegally funnelling (money laundering) foreign campaign contributions into the 2012 U.S. presidential election. After pleading not guilty and rejecting a plea deal in 2019, Michel was once again charged by the federal government. In 2021, Michel and Jho Low were accused of running a back-channel campaign to get the Trump administration to drop the investigation and getting a billionaire dissident returned to China.

    Pras Michel served as the group’s business mind. Executive producing their hit-album, The Score.

    Michel’s primary charges stem from the misuse and money laundering of Malaysia’s 1MDB slush-fund, run by Jho Low. According to the indictment, between June and November 2012, Low directed the transfer of approximately $21,600,000 to Michel. Michel’s role includes the disbursement of the money in $865,000 increments to about 20 different straw donors, whose jobs were to make the donations in their own name, in order to hide the source of the funds. Michel was reportedly paid at least $8 million and up to $40 million in his role assisting Low.

    Where Does Michel Now Stand?

    Despite his previous and latest charges, Michel performed alongside Hill at and Jean at the September, 2021 Pier 17 show and was scheduled to partake in the reunion tour.

    However, according to Puck, it was the Justice Department that would not allow Michel to leave on an international tour, which included performances in Paris and London. Michel’s trial will take place in Washington D.C. on November 4. Always considered the third Fugees, Lauryn Hill and Wyclef Jean reunited at this summer’s Essence Festival in New Orleans. The duo performed a medley of hits without Michel.

    Embed from Getty Images

  • Vevo and Pusha T Present Live Performance Videos for ‘Dreaming of the Past’ and ‘Brambleton’

    Vevo, the world’s leading music video network, has announced Pusha T as the next artist in their Ctrl. series with performances of “Dreamin of the Past” and “Brambleton” from his critically-acclaimed album It’s Almost Dry. Pusha T has previously worked with Vevo for a “Vevo Presents” performance in 2011. In 2018 he gave Vevo an exclusive interview focusing on the making of his Grammy-nominated album called, “How The Purple Tape Shaped Daytona.”

    Pusha T gave a live video performance of his record “Brambleton”

    Vevo’s Ctrl series highlights the work of hard-hitting, cutting-edge musicians making an impact in today’s music scene – both emerging and established. These artists demand attention, and Vevo’s Ctrl shines a deserving spotlight. Pusha T’s performances follow sessions from Rick Ross, Common, Rapsody, Fat Joe, Jeezy, Jadakiss, Fabolous, A$AP Ferg and more.

    It’s Almost Dry arrives as the highly-anticipated follow up to 2018’s highly touted Daytona. In a recent interview with Charlamagne The God, Pusha explained, ”

    I had the best of both worlds in regards to production and in regards to two people that actually understand who I am and they like two different things from me that I feel are both really great…this body of work is untouchable because it doesn’t lean too heavy on either side…you get the whole spectrum. It’s my most well-rounded body of work.

    Sonically, this album was a change of pace for Pusha T. He experimented by combining his luxury rap style with contemporary melodies and flows, with features from Don Tolliver, Lil Uzi Vert and Kid Cudi. Nothwithstanding, It’s Almost Dry still provided some of what made Daytona such an excellent album. Records like “Dreaming of the Past” — where Pusha T blends his eccentric drug kingpin persona with real life anecdotes — are now a staple of his discography and the Kanye West assisted song is one of the highlights of the album. Whereas “Brambleton” sees Pusha T get a bit more personal, with stories of his days in Virginia and addressing figures from his past.

    We was out in Brambleton after Pooh got hit Club Entourage in that new drop six

    – Pusha T

    My brand is all about creating masterpieces,” Pusha recently told Complex.

    This is a legacy thing with me. This is all about being great. This is the realest real estate in hip-hop, and I’m the Martin Scorsese of it.

  • Rising Alt-Rock Band The Vindys to Perform at Rockwood Music Hall

    Northeast, Ohio natives, The Vindys, continue on their upwards trajectory with a Stage 3 performance at New York City’s Rockwood Music Hall on Monday, August 22. Having recently performed on the West Coast for the very first time, the band is brimming with confidence.

    “We are so excited to be returning to New York City for the fourth time,” says the band.

    The Vindys West Coast expedition saw them play a series of shows with a full band plus a horn section (trumpet, saxophone, trombone) in Oceanside, L.A., San Francisco and Carson City, where they performed in front of well over 3,000 people.

    The Vindys have been touring the West Coast.

    The Ohio natives are led by singer-songwriter and guitarist, Jackie Popovec, while John Anthony serves as lead guitarist, with Rick Deak on rhythm guitar.  All are classically trained musicians who combine their skills, Popovec as the primary songwriter, while collaborating on musical arrangements, resulting in an in-depth and intricate sound that is mature, yet relatable. 

    The Vindys Rockwood Music Hall performance comes as they continue to tour off their latest album, Bugs, which has garnered rave reviews. They released a series of singles ahead of their album including the title track “Bugs,” with its mesmerizing and throbbing beat, mixed by Ryan West. Other tracks include the tempting groove  “Want Your Heart,” the sweltering ballad “Morning Light,” and the anthemic “Are You Ready.

    Northeast, Ohio radio station WKSU called the album “a 10-track rock ‘n’ roll triumph that fuses the group’s vintage jazz aesthetic with a more straightforward blues-rock sound.” 

    Brad Savage, program director of The Summit 91.3 FM (OH), explains, “They’ve got depth and substance and are instantly likable. Their songs get stuck in your head after one listen.”

    Rockwood Music Hall has been such a wonderful place to play. The energy that the club brings every time is so amazing!

    The 7 p.m. performance will see The Vindys share the stage with singer-songwriter, Claire Vandiver. Tickets for the performance can be found here.

  • Wiz Khalifa and Logic Vinyl Verse Tour to Make Stop at Saratoga Performing Arts Center

    Wiz Khalifa and Logic are bringing their Vinyl Verse Tour 2022 to Saratoga’s Performing Arts Center on August, 23. Featuring special guests 24kGoldn, DJ Drama, C Dot Castro, and Fedd the God, the 28-city tour kicked-off on July 27 in Irvine, CA, before making stops across the United States. The August 23 date follows a performance at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on August 16 and preludes their last New York stop of the tour on August 25, at the Darien Lake Amphitheatre.

    Since bursting his way onto the scene with his 2011 full-length debut, Rolling Papers, and the classic hip hop record, “Black and Yellow,” Wiz Khalifa has continued to elevate his status among the mainstream elite. Records like “23,” “Or Nah,” “Payphone” and “Young, Wild and Free” have not only maintained replay value, but has solidified Wiz Khalifa as one of the most popular hip hop acts across the world. His 2015 record “See You Again” — which served as a tribute to Paul Walker in the movie Fast 7 — earned him Grammy and Golden Globe nominations while amassing over 5 billion views on Youtube.

    Since his emergence in 2010, multi-platinum GRAMMY® Award-nominated Logic has separated himself from the pack as one of the most prolific and prevalent artists of the past decade, a New York Times Bestselling author, and a positive force for change. His record “1-800-273-8255” is the previous phone number for the American National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL) and earned the Maryland native two Grammy-award nominations. With a sizable discography to his name, Logic has progressed from a now-legendary run of cult-like mixtapes to three number one albums, sold out arena tours on multiple continents, and 6 billion streams and counting.

    Produced by LiveNation, tickets for the 6:30 p.m. performance can be found on their official website.

  • Beach-Hop Artist, Cully, Quenches Summer Thirst on ‘Aquafina’

    The best summers are commemorated with a great soundtrack. Often times the memory is triggered by what songs were playing during the late night strolls, road trips and summer parties. Traveling beach-hop artist, Cully, looks to capture this very essence with his latest single, “Aquafina.” A snazzy, laid-back record, “Aquafina” has all the feels of a staple summer hangout song, with its infectious chorus, Cully’s effortless flow and quick-witted rhymes.

    If Cully’s style seems more refined than others, it’s because he’s been working on it nearly all of his life. The musical seed was planted at just two-days-old when he attended his first music festival with his mother and father. An intoxicated onlooker proclaimed him “the smallest baby” they’d ever seen.

    Yo I was Frontin’ on a beach like I was lying in the sand. And I was trying to keep the peace and now she crying in her hands.

    Developing an early knack for free-styling, Cully would hone his skills at his catholic elementary school playground (which in reality was just a parking lot) about the strife of a 10-year-old. No one could really beat-box yet, so he did it mostly a-cappella. Why a pasty 10-year-old attending catholic school was remotely talented at free-styling is anyone’s guess.

    His high school years saw him for a rap trio with friends Patio and Sammy V. Their group, Tribe Style, earned thousands of views on Youtube. Cully’s musical journey saw him earn a a B.A. in Music Industry in 2017. While in university in upstate New York he met friend and frequent collaborator MC Righteous and joined Professor Joe Pignato’s avant-garde jazz troupe, Bright Dog Red, for two albums on Ropeadope Records. Cully has now come full- circle, as he quenches his musical thirst with “Aquafina,” as this beachy bop is a sleeper hit waiting to catch a wave.

    “Aquafina” is also getting the splattered color vinyl treatment. Four remixes of “Aquafina,” produced by a slew of Cully’s college buddies who are successful musicians in their own right, will also be featured on the vinyl as well as released digitally.

    Additionally, “Aquafina’s” upcoming video — set to drop on August 5 on Cully’s Youtube channel — is executively produced by Cully and co-directed by Salvatore Rubino (whose worked with the likes of Dom Kennedy, Smoke DZA, Cozz) and Dave Prokopec (Wiz Khalifa, Mac Miller), channels a classic California aura with a ’62 Impala strolling down the Pacific Coast, chipped toothed model in tow.

  • Nas Executive Produced ‘Supreme Team” Doc Premieres on Showtime

    The Supreme Team documentary, chronicling the rise and fall of the infamous organized crime syndicate, premiered on Showtime on July, 10. The three-part docu-series — which was made available on the Showtime streaming service on July, 8 — explores the inner-workings of the criminal enterprise and its mob influenced structure.

    In addition, director Peter J. Scaletarr (who holds producer credits on the Wu Tang Clan documentary, Of Mics and Men) probes into Queens history and their community ethos. Painting a vivid image into just how the men who made the Supreme Team famous came to be. Nas narrates (and Mass Appeal produces) and interviews Queens native LL Cool J throughout part 1 of the docu-series. While various members of the Supreme Team — including leader Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff and underboss Gerald “Prince” Miller, who are both serving life sentences — shared insider details.

    The Supreme Team served as the influence for many of hip hop’s premier and most recognizable rhymers. LL Cool J, who is considered one of hip hop’s first superstars, mimicked the Supreme Team’s style and would frequent their parties and events in order to rub elbows with the popular hustlers. 50 Cent, who also hails from Southside neighborhood of Jamaica Queens, was fairly close to the Supreme Team’s leader, Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff. He was also a close mentee to one of the organization’s lieutenants, Black Just.

    The Supreme Team’s mob like structure was a rarity among street gangs, as their aura gained them recognition throughout all of New York City. In reality, they were much more than a gang but rather a large syndicate with a meticulously planned out infrastructure.

    Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted for the murder-for-hire of Eric “E MoneyBags” Smith and drug trafficking. Gerald “Prince” Miller was indicted on federal drug charges in 1992 and is currently incarcerated.

    Part 2 of the “Supreme Team” documentary-series will air on Sunday, July 17 at 10 p.m. eastern.

  • Piper Page Refuses to Settle For ‘Breadcrumbs’

    Navigating relationships as a young adult is akin to walking a maze blindfolded, often never knowing where you truly stand. While the term “dating” remains a pseudonym for two people getting to know one another, Gen-Z has developed its own distorted relationship standing, where the two parties are neither “just friends,” nor committed, yet are dependent on one another. On the single “Breadcrumbs,” Piper Page brings transparency to a messy situation.

    The song came right from a personal experience with my ‘ex-who-wasn’t-really-my-ex.’ We had an on-again, off-again relationship for several months and it inspired me to write about the concept of ‘breadcrumbing’ which I had just come to learn about.

    Breadcrumbing is defined by Urban Dictionary as “the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages in order to lure a sexual partner without expending much effort.” The song “Breadcrumbs,” is a soulful ballad that sees the 21-year-old Brooklyn native cleanse herself of her situation-ship. Remaining brutally honest about her standing within this cycle of ambiguity.

    Piper Page’s songwriting paints a vivid picture as she recounts a common tale within the current social media based dating scene. While infidelity has alway played a part in relationships, Piper Page captures the essence far less desirable role of “best-friend, with a little romance and flirting in the DMs.”

    The meanings are supposed to be completely obvious and relatable. Navigating dating is recognizing that at a certain point, you just have to say what you mean. Instead of always thinking someone is going to know what you mean.

    The record is one in a slew of singles from the songstress in anticipation of her upcoming album, Based on True Events. Singles like “Do You Want Me Or Not?” and “Risk” follow similar themes of “experiences with dating and exploring relationships as a young adult for the first time.” Yet, Piper Page’s polished vocals gives each record a mature feel.

    https://youtu.be/TLKaCFMZsM4

  • Pixies announce Special 4-Date October Tour

    Alternative rock pioneers, the Pixies, have announced an intimate 4-date U.S. tour set to kick-off on October, 1. After being benched for nearly two years due to COVID, this set of performances will come on the heels of a massive global tour that begins in June. During that time, the Pixies will perform at a number of festivals throughout Europe, Asia and South America. Their return will be quickly followed by the September 30 release of their 8th studio album, Doggerel (BMG).

    Embed from Getty Images

    Their October run will see them perform at four intimate venues between California and New York. Beginning on October, 1 at SOMA and concluding on October, 5 at New York City’s Terminal 5 venue. As is the Pixies’ “standard,” the band will draw from their extensive catalogue to perform a different set every night. Attendees can expect the band to perform not only some of the most beloved Pixies songs, but also, new tracks from Doggerel.

    Doggerel album cover

    Pixies have been acclaimed as the most influential, pioneering band of the late 80s alternative rock movement, having served as a major influence for bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, the Strokes, Weezer, and many more. The group has released seven studio albums including the Gold- certified Surfer Rosa, and the iconic Platinum, Doolittle.

    Dates for the Pixies October slate can be found below, while tickets are on sale here.

    Pixies October Tour dates

    Sat. October, 1 – San Diego, CA – SOMA
    Sun. October, 2 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues

    Mon. October, 3 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern

    Wed. October, 5 – Terminal 5 – New York, NY