NYC-based artist Alexa Dark released her new Old Hollywood-inspired indie rock single “Cool For You” from her upcoming debut EP.
Photo by West Webb.
Alexa Dark is a Spanish/American multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter raised between Barcelona, Munich, London, and NYC. Her music takes inspiration from her multi-background upbringing. She started writing music and poetry at a young age. Dark began performing live in London, then moved to NYC and released her first song “Fade to Black and Blue” in 2021.
Her upcoming EP will focus on her villain origin story through the lens of a â60s, Bondlike, French new wave film, where the singer goes from heartbroken starlet to a dark feminine, mysterious siren. Through this new era, Dark comments on the nature of feminity and the shadows of oneself, where the enemy is someone’s life is actually them.
“Cool For You” is a dark indie rock anthem, with Dark’s haunting vocals shining through. The song is produced by Matt Chiaravalle, who has worked with the likes of Warren Zevon and Debbie Harry. The lyrics are vampy and set the tone of the Old Hollywood scene. The lyrics “You’re nostalgia/In a black velvet suit/I pick my persona/Like you pick your shoes,” help create a scene in your mind as you listen. Dark tries to be an interesting person to the other person she is describing as she sings “I try to be cool for you/I try not to break in two/But I do.”
Alexa Dark is making a name for herself coming up on her new EP, as she is creating a cult following on apps like TikTok and Instagram, and she doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon.
Native to New York City, Craig Greenberg has been heavily involved in the region’s music scene for over a decade and a half. Greenberg has channeled the spirit of classic alternative and soul musicians, such as Billy Joel, Ben Folds and Randy Newman, while blending their influences with new narratives concomitant to his experiences, in his music.
Craig Greenberg
While his performances on stage in New York City-based venues have harnessed crowds of music fans in the Metro area, the timeline of his works begins in 2007, after the release of his rock debut EP The World and Back. Three years later, his second debut EP Spinning in Time receiving national airplay helps to conjure momentum to his career, following his third release (as well as his first full length album) The Grand Loss & Legacy being covered by Huffington Post and ranking the top of RELIX’s Top 30 Radio albums chart.
2015 “The Grand Loss & Legacy” Album Cover
His 2020 album Phantom Life carries tracks conveying a blend of sounds derived from pop and rock, and lyrical sentiments wielding an axis on life obstacles and opportunities. The Between the Sea and the Sky EP is set to be released on December 16, 2022.
Greenberg’s most recent piece is his single “Quarantine Queen” from September, 2022, which emerged from the period of the COVID-19 pandemic and touches on the frustrations he experienced in his dating life, living in NYC. Craig sat down with NYS Music to discuss his discography and upcoming release of Between the Sea and the Sky.
Heather Occhino: I came across your website and I was reading your bio just to find out more about your background as an artist, so I wanted to ask you, what made you initially pursue a career in music?
Craig Greenberg: Well I actually feel the path chose me.. When I graduated from college and I was mainly just a guitar player I didn’t think I was up for the lifestyle of being a musician. I tried out other creative areas (including comedy writing) and also considered studying creativity for a graduate degree in psychology. It wasn’t until I finished my first few full songs that it started to click in my head that I could actually do it. And then a couple years later when I got my first gig singing in bars (while living abroad in South America), that was my no turning back point.
HO: I read in your bio that your independent work of pop/Americana music started with your ‘The World and Back’ EP back in 2007. What drove you to make music within that genre (were you involved in that music scene growing up?)
CG: I didn’t set out to make music in that genre.. I just got labeled that way. I actually think “Americana” is used as a default when there isn’t a more apt description or if the reviewer is lazy (lol). As far as the “pop” description, I think I’ve always had a good sense of writing hooky melodies, so maybe that’s where that came from.
HO: Going more into your biography on your website, I also saw that your debut album, “The Grand Loss & Legacy” was included in a publication by the Huffington Post and received national airplay and was ranked in another publication as being in the Top 30 Radio albums. (Congratulations) How did that momentum impact you and what did it mean for your career, moving forward from that point?
CG: Well it certainly put me on the map in terms ofindustry recognition.. especially from the singles “That Girl is Wrong for You”, and “Death on the Liberty Line” that got praise from the HuffPost and Relix magazine and received airplay around the country. And that album also gave me confidence to move closer to what my band sounds like live, a more raw and rocking sound. That was rewarding and liberating!
HO: Your latest single that came out last month on the 30th is called “Quarantine Queen”. Is it intended to be about anyone in particular, perhaps someone dear to you in your life?
CG: Well, sometimes my songs are true stories, sometimes they’re based on a true story, and sometimes they’re complete fiction. Quarantine Queen would fall in the last category. It came out of a lonely period during the early days of the pandemic in NYC. I was frustrated with the reality of dating during those weird times and wrote a song about my dream companion to spend lockdown with.
HO: Is this song set to be part of your upcoming EP to be released in December?
CG: Yes
HO: I read that your music reflects the experiences you are going through. That leads me into my next question, which is, do you find that the emotional tones you inject in your music are part of a more spontaneous creative process or do you usually plan prior on what type of energy a project is going to deliver?
CG: I find that the emotional feeling in my songs can come out of my experience, but also could be just a mood I’m in, but for sure it’s never planned in advance–I never sit down and say I want to write a song about this or that topic. Generally I sit at the piano (or guitar) and just see where the feeling in the moment takes me. Though when making an album, the songs I choose to record may be based on wanting to have a variety of mood and energy to give it range.
HO: When and where do you plan on performing next?
CG: Rockwood Music Hall, Dec 21st – it will be the EP release show!
HO: In the last part of your bio, I read that you performed with prominent musicians such as Mike Gordon of Phish, Jackson Browne and Victor DeLorenzo from Violent Femmes. Do you plan on working with musicians like the ones just mentioned again and what has the experience of performing with big names given you?
CG: Well, I would jump at the chance to perform with any of them again. Aside from Jackson Browne, who I’ve had the extreme privilege of getting to know a bit and performing with a few times over the years, the others were more random occurrences. Victor DeLorenzo was at a songwriting event I attended for many years in the mid-west, and we have many musical friends in common, so there’s a decent chance our paths will cross again.
The simple definition of a troubadour is that of a poet bringing lyrics to song. Gene Casey’s music has been captivating the East-end of Long Island for decades. During the first week in November, I had the honor to interview Gene Casey on The Long Island Sound podcast. A self-defined Roots-Rock, Alt-Country musician, Casey and the Lone Sharks deliver a show to behold. Gene’s deep baritone voice smoothly moves between covers of Cash and Presley to his vast catalog of original songs.
The Lone Sharks – The Bar Band of the Hamptons
Most of my interviews are done virtually, which provides a speed-dating type of vibe, which allows a deep dive into the artist behind the music. As luck would have it, Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks were playing in my backyard, at a venue in Bay Shore, called Fire Island Vines. The crowd thoroghly enjoyed the show and could not wipe the smiles off their faces.
Well-known as the “Bar band of the Hamptons” Gene and his troupe ventured West. The Lone Shark’s lineup includes Chris Ripley (drums), Tom Hopkins (Upright Bass), Paul Scher (Tenor Sax) and Gene Casey (Lead Guitar). Gene’s performance harkened my mind back to a time when a 1950’s four-piece could provide the big sound and the simplicity of arrangement that draws you into another time and place, allowing you to forget the troubles of the day.
Stellar Performance
I was captivated by Friday night’s performance. Gene is a master entertainer, connecting and cajoling the audience as several danced to his Rockabilly rhythms. His song, “I love what I do”, is a memorable diddy well worth the download.
During Gene’s podcast episode, we were able to gaze into his songwriting process, his sojourns to Nashville, and adventurous career.
In 2014, Gene and the Long Sharks received the Long Island sound Award by the Long Island Music Hall of Fame, “for contributions to the Island’s musical landscape.” Over the years, Gene’s music has been on the soundtracks of television shows and featured films. Gene Casey has shared the bill backing legends of Rock & Roll acts such as The Band, Wanda Jackson and Bo Diddley
Songwriting Style
I queried Gene about his Alt-Country and Roots-Rock writing style:
Writing a country song. And I liked that, because, you know, just get to the point, back up the point and move along. Lyrically, yep. And it’s not easy to do. Because there’s no filler, no waste, you got to be every syllable, every syllable in a Hank Williams song is there for a good reason. There’s nothing, no waste.
Gene Casey
Gene and the Lone Shark’s dance card is full these days. Besides the various gigs and shows Gene hosts “Down Home Country” on WUSB 90.1FM, as the alternate host for this long running radio program covering a century of Country Music every other Sunday.
If you want to Rock the Town during the holiday season, there’s one Rock & Roll Christmas show not to be missed at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, NY. This annual holiday event dubbed “A Rockabilly Christmas” features the great Jason D. William, his pumpin’ piano along with Gene and the Lone Sharks.
For most 15-year-old musicians, playing Carnegie Hall is a feat, marked by years of strife, effort, apprehension and excitement. It’s the event of a lifetime, a venue that represents decades of tradition in music and excellence. Most 15-year-olds won’t know the pressure of playing Carnegie Hall. But for bassoonist Dmytro Tishyn, playing Carnegie Hall on November 20 with the New York Youth Symphony is far from the first thing on his mind. In February 2022, Dmytro Tishyn hoisted a backpack and his bassoon onto his back and boarded a 24-hour train ride to Poland as a refugee, leaving his Ukranian home, parents, grandparents and brother behind.
Instead of looking at it as an evacuation, Tishyn looked at his three month departure from Ukraine — the days long train ride, the cab ride across Poland’s border, the three month long stay in Berlin — as an adventure.
That adventure has culminated with Tishyn taking the stage with the New York Youth Symphony, under Music Director Micahel Repper, with violinist Francisco Fullana. The concert will feature Gabrieela Lena Frank’s “Escaramuza,” Édouardo Lalo’s“Symphonie Espagnole,” featuring Fullana, Ari Sussman’s First Music Commission “I hope this finds you well” and Georges Bizet’s “L’Arlésienne Suite 1 & 2.”
The show is on Sunday, November 20 at 2 p.m. and tickets are starting at $18. Even though Carnegie Hall is a long way from Ukraine, Tishyn still manages to keep his family close. When he takes the stage on Sunday, it will be with his father’s bassoon.
After interviewing dozens of music industry up-and-comers to bonafide professionals, there is certainly much to learn from Gregory Dwane who is a music industry veteran worth emulating. I was captivated by his song, “When You Say California”, which has a Tom Petty feel to it and was a great introductory track exposing me to want to dive deeper into his catalog. You can find Gregory Dwane on Spotify.
I had the pleasure to interview Mr. Dwane on The Long Island Sound podcast. This minstrel hails from a small town in North Carolina and ultimately settled into the New York City music scene in the 90’s.
He’s a sort of a utility man in the music industry where the road to success is littered with its own detours and off ramps, Gregory Dwane is a survivor whose skill was to not only be good at his craft, but through an honest demeanor, made the best of the opportunities set before him.
A Road Well Chosen
Touring the world with Alanis Morrisette, Gregory Dwane worked with David Navarro, Macy Gray, Jane’s Addiction and Joan Osborne. The serendipitous twists and turns, set him on a trajectory from alcohol abuse to sobriety.
“I went from thinking my world was over to touring the world”
Gregory Dwane
Dwane’s resume would detail skills in record engineering, producing, fine art, singer/songwriting, jingle writing, and Country music entertainment. Sojourning from New York to Nashville, and from L.A. to Connecticut, provided this multi-talented music industry professional with a multi-dimensional group of experiences. HIs keen ear manages to guide an artist through the wormhole of production frustration to a fully produced album ready to launch on the market.
Alternative Country, a place worth the visit
With a firm footing in the Alt-Country genre, Gregory Dwayne’s songwriting presents an artist weathered by life’s experiences moving from rebellion to redemption. After a short hiatus from the music business, it was his reinvention as a fine-art painter that would eventually lead him back to songwriting.
I want my MTV
When I read Gregory Dwane’s EPK, I thought I spied a misprint. How could this rural North Carolinian be inspired by a combination of MTV, and the movie Beat Street and then move to New York City in the 90’s, finally settling in as an Americana and Alt-Country Singer/Songwriter?
I believe what separates the creatives in our world from the rest of us, is that an artist acts on the muse and opportunities they find within reach. Gregory Dwane’s humility and good-nature seemed to open doors, as his cohorts recognized his honed craft, ultimately opening doors to further expose his art.
Gregory Dwane is unstoppable. While continuing to produce his own music, he has also applied his expertise as a producer for Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls as well as other artists.
During the interview, I found a skilled artist whose creativity could not be contained. Dwane mirrors the desire we have to find understanding and equilibrium in our lives. Enrich your playlists with his music, and you will not be disappointed.
Yes, it’s only October, and yes the high in Syracuse today was in the 60s, but some might say it’s never too early for Christmas music. On October 21, NYC-based Grammy winner Joanie Leeds and Grammy-nominated Fyütch released their first original song, “Every Day’s a Holiday.” The two released the song with an accompanying music video in advance of their holiday music project, Oy Vey! Another Christmas Album, releasing on November 4.
When Joanie Leeds discovered that most of our most-loved Christmas songs were written by Jewish people, it was particularly inspiring to her as a Jewish singer much lauded for her songwriting prowess — in addition to her Grammy, Leeds claimed first in the USA Songwriting competition and International Songwriting Competition as well as finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting competition.
Leeds was moved by the dichotomous spirit behind those Christmas tunes and thought the perfect way to honor the work of their original Jewish songwriters was through continuing their practice; so she started writing her own holiday music. The upcoming album will feature four covers of classic Christmas songs written by Jewish songwriters and two originals, co-written with Fyütch.
Though it feels early for Christmas, this new angle on the holiday season couldn’t come sooner, with Ye’s recent interviews and tweets that spread anti-semitic rhetoric to an avid audience of music devotees.
“I love our contribution to the holiday season and was excited to share my passion project with the world and write some new ones too, especially as anti-Semitism is on the rise,” Reeds said.
“Every Day’s A Holiday” is a fresh and fun take on a traditional Christmas song. It retains the classic choral sounds of the classics, but with a twist: it’s not just a Christmas song, it’s a song dedicated to all holidays. In “Every Day’s A Holiday,” Christmas trees, dreidels, thanksgiving turkeys, fireworks, easter eggs all exist in musical harmony. The video itself is campy and engaging, with Leeds and Fyütch dancing around each other, with props and instruments as cartoon holiday animations flash over the green screen behind them.
The album will be out November 4, and you can stream the single here and watch the video below.
Bands largely based in Chautauqua and Erie County show up on a bi-weekly basis to take the stage at the Main Street Studios venue in Fredonia. Initially making cassettes for local bands, Foxhead Record Company rented out the building.
Foxhead record company logo
Follow the closure of the North Pole Strip Club (NPSC) house venue on Main Street, Felix Kellogg, Jake King and Liam Powers, the founders of the Foxhead label, talked with the owner of the space about their idea of launching DIY-shows. “Since we got to Fredonia, there was always live music going on”, explained King, “and it was always upperclassmen running it”.
(Credit: foxheadrecordco Instagram)
He pointed out there being a need for people to organize shows and Liam Powers also added in a prior lack of places for shows to happen, following the the North Pole Strip Club closing. The recognition of a need for performance outlets in town led to the transition of the company from focusing on making cassettes for bands to extending their business, bringing live concerts at one of the most popular venues in Fredonia.
Listen to Jake, Liam and Felix discuss more about the formation of their record company, the Fredonia music scene, and more in an exclusive interview below.
Interview with founders of Foxhead Record Company:
https://youtu.be/EG0mNXaG9Hw
A Fredonia-based artist, under the moniker Soup Kale and lead singer of the alternative band Karrot Kake, who performed at Main Street Studios on Saturday, 10/15, commented on the shift in the Fredonia music scene. In an interview below, he described a lot of jam bands being active in the area, along with reggae sounds being notable several years ago, before pop-punk more recently turned into the predominant element integrated in the scene.
Interview with Karrot Kake band musician Soup Kale:
https://youtu.be/t0kZki2MBDI
Interview with musician Soup Kale of Karrot Kake band
SAINT BLIND, real name Aaron, is another artist part of the line-up who performed at Main Street on the night of 10/15. He described working with many people involved in the Fredonia music scene, having joined multiple bands, including one with Jake King of Foxhead when he was in his teenage years, as well as composing a group known as the Blind Orchestra. The alternative/indie rock and synth-pop artist details more of his musical involvement and both upcoming and released works of his in an interview below.
Interview with musical artist SAINT BLIND:
https://youtu.be/RBNFz06i5TI
Interview with artist SAINT BLIND
Make sure to follow Foxhead on Instagram at @foxheadrecordco for updates on when shows are happening at Main Street Studios and original cassette releases. Also, follow Karrot Kake on Instagram @karrotkakemusic and on Spotify @Karrot Kake, and Kaleh @soupkale, as well as SAINT BLIND @saint_blind on Instagram to keep up with the latest news on their musical releases and performances.
How To Find Yourself is a new film produced by rapper Dylan Owen and directed by Brian Petchers. In it, the two try to answer that very question by following teens through those familiar coming of age film tropes: traipsing through wheat fields, impromptu fight clubs, screaming for joy on a roof in slow motion, motorcyling through back alleys. The characters speak over those portraits of adolescence in interviews — airing the regrets, joys and discoveries their juvenile years brought them.
And playing underneath it all is a heartfelt acoustic score by Dylan Owen, of the same name, made for the film and featured on the artist’s upcoming EP, Take Care Of Yourself.
Dylan Owen found himself moving all around Upstate NY as he grew up. He’s from Orange County, NY, and has lived in Goshen, Middletown, Circleville and Chester; Owen now calls himself proudly a “nowhere kid from a nowhere town.” Now living in NYC, Dylan Owen’s poetic songwriting and sensitive style has found him a wider audience and prompted comparisons to icons such as Mac Miller and Wiz Khalifa. How to Find Yourself is Owen’s foray into film making, and fans who know of Topaz Jones’ short film – that paired with his album Don’t Go Tellin Your Momma which looks at Jones’ own upbringing in Montclair, NJ – will connect with Owen’s film.
Through the testimonies from the film’s characters and the emotionally evoking scenes of innocence juxtaposed with violence and sudden danger, the film creates a space for people to openly share their stories of growing up, with an emphasis on those working through mental health problems. How to Find Yourself focuses on the harrowing journey to love and know other people and yourself while working through obstacles of anxiety and depression.
The short film will be released on October 25, and Owen’s album will be out in November.
They say there is no such thing as coincidence, well that was before Artificial Intelligence was deployed in our browser searches. In the case of Rock Voices and Tony Lechner, its founder, I’m grateful either way.
The Collision of AI & Coincidence
The impact of harmony cannot be denied when you discover a new ways to connect in community with Rock Music. I spied the Rock Voices advertisement on Facebook, combing the Internet for potential guests on my podcast The Long Island Sound. Intrigued by the YouTube video of various people singing a choral arrangement of Rock songs, I am reminded of the Playing for Change, Songs Around the World videos, which began on the web during the Covid quarantine. Leave it to the musician community, who will not be deterred from delivering their art to the masses, while endeavoring to draw communities together. Ever amazed at the seeds of creativity, I am drawn to unpack Rock Voices, an amazing program. Taking a stab at an invitation and reaching out to Tony Lechner, we were drilling down on the particulars after a couple of days for an interview.
Follow the full conversation with Tony Lechner, a music professor turned entrepreneurial rock coral arranger on The Long Island Sound Podcast.
Professor Tony planted the seeds of a rock coral group ten years ago in Hadley, MA. Our cousins across the pond in England had flushed out the idea and Mr. Lechner knew the time was right to start a no-audition Rock chorus in America. He was so amazed with the early impact and results, he told the pioneers of Rock Voices that he’d quit his full-time job as music teacher and pursue the dream of bringing a Rock-based choral group to life.
Recalling the many Zoom calls we all engaged in during quarantine, and recognizing the need to stay connected to the community, Rock Voices is well worth investigating. The program seems to be a prescription to allow singers of every skill level re-enter the local collective and have some fun along the way.
I don’t even like to call it a choir, I’d like to call it a Rock Band with a ton of singers
Tony Lechner
Communities Making Connections
Today, Rock Voices has chapters in six states, and there is a waiting list for new locations as the vetting process for directors continues. New York State has chorus’ in Albany, Brooklyn Heights, Saratoga Springs, Syosset, and Syracuse. They perform concerts in the Spring, Summer and Autumn seasons.
The various Rock Voices Choral Groups have performed selections from the Beatles, James Taylor and the Foo Fighters to name a few.
I was amazed at the arrangements, in particular, the cover of “Somebody to Love ” by Queen, raised the hair on my arms and pulled at my heartstrings.
A choral group is a great place to hide and learn in a no judgment zone
Tony Lechner
Healing Harmony
Tony spoke about the various studies which highlight the mental health benefits for the participants who engage in harmony singing. The positive feedback from the choral group members is an endorsement of the healing powers that music can bring to a community. Rock Voices flings the door wide open and provides an easy entry point for everyone to participate in a fun-loving learning experience. So if you’re ready to Rock, this just might be the therapy you need.
When Sid Seth moved to NYC from Ahmedabad, Gujarat in India five years ago to attend the Manhattan School of Music he shortly found that “the city that never sleeps” seemed to have gone into hibernation. In a new city, at a new school and without friends, Sid Seth turned to art and music, his longtime companions. It was during this time that Seth wrote “Simple Yet True,” his just-released debut single.
“Simple Yet True,” trickles in with acoustic guitar and Seths clear vocals, before building to a cathartic emotional release. The song is yearning but bright, a song for slow mornings, paired with coffee and cream.
Seth made the song using his own multi-instrumentalist talents on guitar and piano and with the help of Kris Crawford — who has produced for Ariana Grande and Shawn Mendes — and Alex Psaroudakis — who has won a Grammy for master engineering. In addition to these industry veterans at his back, Seth has experience playing live in NYC at such venues as the Bowery Electric, Feinstein’s 54 Below and the Green Room, and at venues in India as well.
But he’s not just a musician. Seth’s inspiration for “Simple yet True” actually came from painting first. In his room during the pandemic, when the city seemed to stand still, Seth felt drawn to the page, he said. He ended up painting a long-forgotten scene from his childhood onto the canvas, and that artful nostalgia translates in clean sweeps off the canvas and into his music.
Sid Seth’s next show is at Kobrick Coffee Co. in NYC on October 20 at 7:30. He will be playing with Justin Charles, an 18-year-old song-writer and producer. Tickets are available here. And, on December 8 Seth will play Rockwood Music Hall.
