NYS Music 202​2

Category: New York Singles

  • Premiere: Long Island Artist Logan Whaley Releases Old-School Single “Funky Tonight”

    Long Island artist Logan Whaley is releasing his new old-school style single “Funky Tonight” on March 4, and a planned full-length album. NYS Music today premieres the single below.

    Best known for performing all over NYC and his work with Vana Liya, Logan Whaley continues to make a name for himself as a solo performer and mesmerizing stage presence and deeply-felt lyrics.

    His music refuses to be categorized, as it is a fusion of multiple genres at once, utilizing pop, rock, classical, and R&B.

    Logan Whaley
    Logan Whaley’s new single cover “Funky Tonight.”

    Whaley’s new single “Funky Tonight” comes a little after a year since his debut album On The Cusp. With a live line-up secured, he was ready to go into the studio. After working on an old project, he decided he was ready for something fresh. Magic was born in the studio with this one, and after performing it live, it became an instant favorite.

    NYS Music contributor Nick Codina shared the following thoughts on “Funky Tonight”:

    When the music is too loud to exchange words, musicians and their fans exchange facial expressions. A simple smirk or stank face speaks volumes by silently saying, “I dig this, I’m here for it and want more of it.”

    While listening to the new single by Logan Whaley I found my self in that stank face expression. From the first note to the last horn, the perfect combination of funky peaks and breakdowns flow seamlessly into eachother and make for a perfect formula of eccentric surprises and delights. From the synthesizer chords to the perfectly placed horn section this new single has the makings of a funk classic. If you’re looking for a groove to make you move and get you into that dancing mood, “Funky Tonight” will not disappoint.

    Accompanying the album release, an Indiegogo is launching which will serve as a pre-order for his brand new album, also titled Funky Tonight. The money from the preorder will go towards merch and touring.

    Also accompanying the release of the single and new album announcement, the band will be playing three shows in NY.

    Logan Whaley’s new single “Funky Tonight” will be released March 4 on all streaming platforms. Listen below now exclusively on NYS Music.

  • Indie Band El Modernist Release Music Video for “New Waves”

    The Albany based indie band, El Modernist, released a new single, “New Waves” on Friday, February 25. Their release also features an accompanying music video, a first for the band.

    El Modernist

    El Modernist’s single release arrives as they prepare for NYS Music’s March Madness 2022 Tournament. The competition will begin on March 1.

    The new single address a theme common to many musicians: the struggle to fit in.

    “New Waves” is a song about never fitting in but loving yourself regardless,” El Modernist said in a press release. “We have all felt alienated at some point in life, but it is important to remember that there is no “right” way to live, and all you can really do is try and be happy as you are.”

    Despite its potentially heavy subject matter the music video for “New Waves” is more of a romp than a meditation on individuality.

    In the video for “New Waves” a mysterious masked man chases the band’s members. Killing them one by one. The assassin’s goals remain unclear. He might be a symbol for how a boring life can kill you, or for how you’re not really alive unless you’re true to yourself, or it could just be an entertaining narrative spun into a music video. Either way, the light-hearted tone and comical ways the killer takes out the band members make for an enjoyable watch.

    El Modernist defines its music as featuring “pulsating hooks and lush melodic waves of psychedelia” combined with “upbeat, catchy garage-rock” that is fused “with a modern alternative hip-hop sound”.

    Their website elaborates by explaining “[which] is a fancy way of saying they sing and play guitars and sometimes raps happen and it’s fun”, displaying the sense of humor and self-awareness displayed in the “New Waves” video.

  • Joanie Leeds and Her 6 year old Daughter Release ‘Fauci Ouchie’ Single

    NYC based 2021 Grammy winner, Joanie Leeds, and her six year old daughter have released ‘Fauci Ouchie,’ a duet written to help kids feel better about getting vaccinated.

    2021 Grammy winner for Best Children’s Album, Joanie Leeds (a notorious Phish head), and her newest collaborator, her 6-year-old daughter Joya, have written “Fauci Ouchie” a song about a critical message, getting vaccinated. 

    Joanie Leeds, NYS Based 2021 Grammy Winner, and Her 6yr Old Daughter Release 'Fauci Ouchie'

    Leeds, like many others, had her daughter registered without hesitation the moment Covid-19 vaccinations were made available for children 5 and up.  She states:

    After living through almost 2 years of a deadly pandemic, adding an extra layer of protection for our kids was a no-brainer and personally brought the anxiety layer down to ‘normal levels.’

    Joanie Leeds
    Joanie Leeds and Her 6yr Old Daughter Release 'Fauci Ouchie'
    Joanie Leeds and Her 6yr Old Daughter Release ‘Fauci Ouchie’

    After receiving her 1st vaccine, Leed’s daughter was gifted a book about Dr. Fauci and she could not put it down. Soon after, the two were playfully referring to her upcoming second shot as her “Fauci Ouchie.” Joya loved the name so much that they decided to write a song with the goal of preparing and encouraging other children to feel better about getting vaccines. 

    Joanie Leeds and Her 6yr Old Daughter Release 'Fauci Ouchie'
    Joanie Leeds and Her 6yr Old Daughter Release ‘Fauci Ouchie’

    Joanie and Joya hope families find it refreshing to hear about the experience in a helpful and positive way from child to child.

    Knowing some kids might be scared, Joya’s inspiration for the song is to get the point across that “it wasn’t so bad.” Her daughter loved that by getting vaccinated, she was doing her part to help others and making the world a safer place.    

    Leeds and Joya’s goal is to share the lesson that getting vaccinated supports not only our individual health, but also that of our entire world. This was something that made Joya feel proud and empowered, and she hopes that it will be for other kids as well. 

  • Trombone Shorty Summer Tour Makes Stops in NYC and Lewiston, Shared first singles off “Lifted”

    After five years, New Orleans musical icon Trombone Shorty has announced a new album Lifted, set to release on April 29th. Alongside this announcement, Trombone Shorty has announced that he will be on tour this summer in support of the album as well. The artist will play the SummerStage in New York City’s Central Park and in Lewiston as a part of Artpark’s Tuesdays in the Park Concert Series.

    Trombone Shorty

    Trombone Shorty speaks on the album: 

    [My mother] passed recently, but she continued to inspire me right up until she transitioned, and that’s why I put a picture of her holding me up at a second line on the cover of this album. She lifted me up my whole life.

    In this album, Trombone Shorty hopes to mimic the electrifying feel of a live performance.

    I think Lifted is the closest we’ve ever gotten to bottling up the live show and putting it on a record. This time around I told everybody to really cut loose, to perform like they were onstage at a festival.

    Trombone Shorty

    Trombone Shorty’s lead single below exemplifies intoxicating vocals, beautiful instrumentation, and an unfathomable amount of personality.

    For tour and album pre-order information visit tromboneshorty.com

    Trombone Shorty 2022 Tour dates: 

    February 19, 2022 – Shorty Gras in New Orleans, LA

    February 24, 2022 – Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL

    February 25, 2022 – Culture Room in Fort Lauderdale, FL

    February 26, 2022 – Fort Mose Jazz and Blues Series in St. Augustine, FL

    February 27, 2022 – Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, FL

    April 23, 2022 – Double Decker Arts Festival in Oxford, MS

    April 30, 2022 – Saenger Theatre in New Orleans, LA

    May 8, 2022 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans, LA

    May 20, 2022 – Academy 2 in Birmingham, UK

    May 21, 2022 – SWG3 Studio Warehouse in Glasgow, UK

    May 23, 2022 – Roundhouse in London, UK

    May 24, 2022 – O2 Ritz Manchester in Manchester, UK

    May 26, 2022 – Mojo Club in Hamburg, Germany

    May 27, 2022 – 013 Poppodium in Tilburg, The Netherlands

    May 28, 2022 – Salle Pleyel in Paris, France

    May 30, 2022 – Huxley’s in Berlin, Germany

    May 31, 2022 – Muffathalle in Munich, Germany

    June 1, 2022 – Ancienne Belgique in Brussels, Belgium

    June 3, 2022 – Barcelona Guitar Festival in Barcelona, Spain

    June 4, 2022 – Kapital in Madrid, Spain

    June 10, 2022 – Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom in Hampton, NH

    June 11, 2022 – Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA

    June 13, 2022 – SummerStage in Central Park in New York, NY

    June 14, 2022 – Tuesdays in the Park Concert Series in Lewiston, NY

    June 15, 2022 – Massey Hall in Toronto, ON

    June 17, 2022 – Bold Point Park in East Providence, RI

    June 18, 2022 – Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA

    June 19, 2022 – Ting Pavilion in Charlottesville, VA

    June 21, 2022 – Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary, NC

    June 22, 2022 – Cadence Bank Amphitheatre at Chastain Park in Atlanta, GA

    June 24, 2022 – Venue TBA in Grand Rapids, MI

    June 25, 2022 – The Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in Detroit, MI

    June 26, 2022 – Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL

    June 28, 2022 – Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, CO

    June 29, 2022 – Venue TBA in Salt Lake City, UT

    July 1, 2022 – KettleHouse Amphitheatre in Bonner, MT

    July 2, 2022 – Venue TBA in Seattle, WA

    July 3, 2022 – Edgefield in Troutdale, OR

    August 10, 2022 – Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, CA

    August 11, 2022 – Mountain Winery in Saratoga, CA

    August 12, 2022 – Oxbow River Stage Concert Series in Napa, CA

    August 13, 2022 – Santa Barbara Bowl in Santa Barbara, CA

    August 14, 2022 – The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park in San Diego, CA

  • Sam Kogon Releases Music Video for “Barbed Wire”

    Singer-songwriter Sam Kogon released a music video for his single “Barbed Wire” today. The track is the first single from his upcoming EP “Sam Kogon” releasing on April 1.

    Sam Kogon

    The music video for “Barbed Wire” was shot in Kingston at Kogon’s family’s pawn shop, “Sam’s Swap Shot.” In the video, a middle-aged man see’s a guitar on sale at the pawn shop that reminds him of fond memories from his youth. The video then alternates between a current and past timeline as the guitar causes the main character to reminisce.

    My grandpa Lonnie gave me my first guitar from the store, so naturally I wanted the story to focus around a guitar, in this case it’s a 1963 Danelectro Convertible that came from Sam’s. The guitar represents lost love, regret, but also a fresh start.

    Sam Kogon

    Director Jeff Mertz said the decision to shoot in Kogon’s pawn shop was intentional and part of the narrative he wanted to tell with “Barbed Wire”.

    The shop itself was also charged with nostalgia,” Mertz said. “So the story kind of naturally evolved into being about an older Sam Kogon (played by Lou, Sam’s dad) who’s reflecting on missed opportunities and regret, but is ultimately given a second chance, which he proudly takes.”

    To add another personal touch to the video Kogon’s father plays the music video’s main character. Who is supposed to be a semi-fictional version of Kogon (the songwriter) himself.

  • NYC-Based Artist Rachel Bard Releases New Song “Brooklyn”

    New York-based singer-songwriter Rachel Bard released her new single titled “Brooklyn.” Bard’s voice has been compared to the likes of Nico and Björk, and her solo performances were compared to those of Regina Spektor. She has played in various gigs around NYC.

    Rachel Bard

    The song “Brooklyn” encompasses the New York experience, with rapid changes and unexpected turnarounds. The song is written about her two close friends who had to leave Brooklyn during the winter of 2021. The recording was inspired by the power ballads of the 1970s and 1990s, and more specifically the album Double Fantasy (Stripped Down) by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, and artists like The Pixies and Beck.

    Speaking of the song, Bard says she is excited to share it.

    I am thrilled to share the song ‘Brooklyn’ with the world. It is a love song to
    music, friendships and to New York City. To me it is a racehorse of a song.

    Rachel Bard

    Rachel Bard’s new single “Brooklyn” is out now.

  • David Byrdie Releases A “Folked Up” Cover of Bowie’s “Let’s Dance”

    Every wonder what David Bowie classics might sound like if they were reset to the jingle jangle style of America’s folk-rock pioneers, The Byrds?  Now you can thanks to “mysterioso rocker” David Byrdie has a new mashed up cover of the Thin White Duke’s 1983 # 1, “Let’s Dance.”

    David Byrdie

    Byrdie is actually a nom de sound of Jeff Keithline, a Woodstock-based bassist best known for his stints with the bluesy Jon Butcher Axis and the band Silverado.  His new cover merges Bowie’s lyrics and layered vocal style with the driving music of The Byrds’ 1967 hit, “So You Want to Be A Rock’n’Roll Star.” For good measure, the tune’s outro even features a quote from John Coltrane’s “A Love Supreme.” This is the jazz masterwork that helped inspire the style of this Byrds’ mid-career classic and their even more modal and improvisatory “Eight Miles High.”

    Byrdie/Keithline plays all the instruments on the track.  He does a fantastic job of nailing and marrying the many stylistic flavors of these two rock icons – from The Byrds’ jangly 12-string guitaring to Bowie’s over-the-top vocal delivery and stacked harmonies.  The single, which will hit the artist’s Bandcamp site March 1, has been preceded by a playful video produced by Tonus Maximus (aka Anthony Sunseri).  It boasts a boatload of psychedelic visuals, the spirited go-go dancing by Hudson Valley choreographer Laura V. Ward and Byrdie himself, who looks like a cross between White Album-era John Lennon and the bearded L.A. bass legend Leland Sklar.  There is also a second video up now on YouTube where a costumed Keithline provides the humorous (and entirely fictional!) backstory on his musical alter-ego.

  • Nova Charm New single ‘Bozo’ with forthcoming album

    The brains behind the collaborative group project Nova Charm release their first track “Bozo’ off their forthcoming album. Two artists, DIE the Monk and N.O.I.S.E.W.I.Z.A.R.D. have created a 7 track album, Bracelet, that is set to release on all streaming platforms on March 4th.

    Back in 2020 the two artists DIE the Monk and N.O.I.S.E.W.I.Z.A.R.D recognized the potential in one another and decided to bring to life the project Nova Charm. The new album Bracelet features artists Trono and Lenard the Rat both on individual tracks.

    The seven instrumentals chosen from artist N.O.I.S.E.W.I.Z.A.R.D. came from the various manipulated samples from sounds of everyday objects. The sounds allowed for DIE the Monk to begin writing the lyrics for the songs on the album. The inspiration behind the Project Nova Charm comes from artists like Shabazz Palaces, Oneohtrix Point Never, and clipping.

    The label/collective Pain Management Group consists of various members and collaborative projects that continues to generate new collectives into 2022. N.O.I.S.E.W.I.Z.A.R.D. and Lenard the Rat created the first project under Pain Management Group called Disc.rot back in July of 2021 with the album ‘I.’

    Nova Charm’s new music video along with new single ‘Bozo’ is now playing on all streaming platforms.

  • Long Island’s Card Reader team up with Interstate Music for new music video “Reminder”

    Long Island Pop Punk band Card Reader have released a new music video called Reminder. The music video consists of Card Reader experiencing the city in their most enjoyable way and contains some footage from their first show performed at the Caribou Room back on Sept 23rd, 2021.

    The band is carrying into the new year with some momentum from last year. Card Reader participated in the championship of the Interstate Music Awards in 2021. From there on, Interstate Music made card reader an official brand ambassador.

    Pop Punk Band Card Reader

    Tom Petito, Card Reader’s guitarist/vocalist weighed in on the Interstate Music artist experience:

    This video is a reflection of Interstate Music’s commitment to helping artists like us. We played our concert right before the shoot. The next day their film crew took us all over MKE. We really enjoyed ourselves in the process. The folks at IM introduced us to an incredible music scene. They fully embraced our band and made us feel at home. Thanks to Interstate Music we are a band with more tools, more confidence and unlimited optimism moving forward. We can proudly say we have two home bases now! Long Island AND Milwaukee.

    Interstate Music directed and produced the video in Milwaukee, WI. Along with their new music video, the Pop Punk Band are going a weekend Northeastern Tour next month, and here are the dates:

    3/4 – Ram’s American Pub – Holbrook NY

    3/5 – The Mosh Pit – Philadelphia PA

    3/6 – The Church – Lebanon PA

    To catch more of Card Reader, you can find their music on DSP’s such as Apple Music , Spotify, Amazon music, and more.

  • Listen to the latest single from Dopapod, “Grow”

    After initially teasing their upcoming, self-titled seventh album with the single “Think,” Dopapod rides on an intergalactic groove on “Grow,” released on palindromic date of 2/20/22. With an intergalactic groove punctuated by a head-nodding bassline, “Grow” features all the staples of the Dopapod sound – slick guitar, simmering cymbals, and smooth vocals.

    dopapod grow

    2019 found Dopapod performing select shows in Syracuse where the band assembled what would become Dopapod. But with music shut down in 2020 and into 2021, the band spent their time perfecting the music en route to a Spring 2022 release.

    “Grow” captures Dopapod’s signature blending of styles and sonics. A deep groove and tight rhythm section grounds the song in a frantic funk territory, until the clouds part to usher in the epic heights of Dopapod’s frenzied psych/prog-rock wizardry. Soaring keys and synth lines crescendo as the song accelerates before returning to where it started, true to Dopapod’s palindromic existence. The group’s knack for dense, multi-layered suites across their material is a testament to their range of influences and styles, and their live show amplifies the momentum you hear on record. Each song is a journey of cosmic proportions. 

    The lyric ‘big things have small beginnings’ is from the movie Prometheus. Microscopic particles are the start of life. This is how we evolve. The song could be about a character time traveling back to the Big Bang.

    Eli Winderman, on “Grow”

    Dopapod is Eli Winderman [keys, vocals], Rob Compa [guitar, vocals], Chuck Jones [bass], and Neal “Fro” Evans [drums], a quartet who present albums as experiences meant to be shared out of your speakers and on stage. Traversing time travel, palindromic labyrinths, and binary pairs in a greater cohesive mystery, Dopapod’s forthcoming self-titled album ties the conceptual ends of the group’s discography, while charting a path forward.

    “Grow” is about tackling binaries, and not letting failure distract you from sticking to the plan, and prioritizing your own growth. Organisms multiply and build. A seed overcomes the odds in its journey to becoming a billowing behemoth. The line borrowed from Ridley Scott’s Prometheus echoes throughout “Grow,” and shows that the band is as honed in as ever almost fifteen years into their journey. 

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