NYS Music 202​2

Category: Special

  • Buffalo band eberwine Release New Single “Worlds Away”

    The Buffalo-based rock/blues/jam fusion group eberwine released a new single “Worlds Away.” The single is their first from the upcoming debut studio album One Vision.

    eberwine band picture

    “Worlds Away” is a 7-minute tune that showcases the band’s rock medley sound. “It’s about understanding the nature of reality,” noted lead guitarist and front Todd Eberewine, “The knowledge that we’re here now and that we’re not guaranteed anything beyond this moment.”

    Eberwine originally started as a solo act in 2016. The band is known for his soulful lyrics and high energy shows. When he started performing live in 2019, Eberwine looked to secure a permanent lineup to accompany him on the road.

    In its current live performances Eberwine (guitar, vocals) by Donny Frauenhofer on keys (Intrepid Travelers), Aaron Ziolkowski on guitar (Little Mountain Band), Jay Race on drums (Dead Alliance Buffalo), and Paul Zabrycki on bass(Dead Buffalo Alliance). The released single, which was recorded in the Strand Theatre, features Ryan Nogle (drums), Keith Lindner (bass), Eric Crittenden (keys), and Aaron Ziolkowski (backing vocals).

    “Worlds Away” is available on all streaming platforms.

  • The Perfect Playlist for 4/20

    It’s 4/20, again, and while you are enjoying the day, take a listen to some kind tracks and favorites from the NYS Music team.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrPNwLuk0zQ

  • Ariel Arbisser Wants to See Red In New Single ‘Bloodshed’

    Ithaca-based singer Ariel Arbisser embraces the darkness within with her new single ‘Bloodshed’. This is her first release since her 2021 album, Risk of Love.

    The powerful songstress uses the new single as a vehicle to express her personal struggles. We’ve all had moments where we struggle not to become whatever we’re fighting against, whether those issues stem from trauma, frustration or injustice, but while listening to ‘Bloodshed’, listeners can take a moment to stop fighting and give in, if only for a few minutes.  

    “It feels valid and warranted, It’s the side we try to hide and keep tamed that comes out to fight when we’re at our limit. “

    Ariel Arbisser

    The multi-talented singer has delved into many sections of the art world including musicals like “Rent”, “Little Women” and “Candide”, as well as plays like “Museum” and “The Maid”. Arbisser also wrote, produced and starred in the original web series “Sex, Drugs, A Cappella”. 

    In addition to starring in theater productions, Arbisser has also traveled around the US teaching her “Sing It Like You Mean It” module, along with other workshops. The module employs tools from the Meisner Technique to help singers become more comfortable and connected during their performances.

    PC : Drew Bordeaux

    Since 2018, Arbisser has been working on her personal music while helping those around the country learn new performance techniques and ideologies. In 2021, she returned to Ithaca to finalize and release her debut album, Risk of Love, after previously singing with groups like The Funx and Frisky Business.

  • Adequate Phil Drops Psychedelic New Single

    Adequate Phil doesn’t tether themselves to one genre, and their newest single, “Can’t Not,” showcases this. In it, elements of psychedelia, hip-hop, and folk infuse to make one cerebral concoction. This single is the third of many to come from the new “folk-freak” group coming out of Troy, which falls just north of Albany and lies alongside the Hudson River.

    Adequate Phil

    The band consists of three members. Sean McLaughlin provides vocals throughout the track. Moreover, Phil McGrath plays the guitar. Notably, Runey Ghosh provides beautiful bass instrumentation on this project. It is thick, it is beautiful, and it is funky. His instrumental abilities add an essential layer of personality to this song.

    Their previous release, “Baby Leeches/Vessel” was previously covered by EQXposure on WEQX, an independent radio station in the Capital Region of New York.

    The group will be performing at the Troy Speakeasy on April 23rd. For more on Adequate Phil, visit https://linktr.ee/adequatephil.

  • Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, Releases “People Change”

    Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, releases an instant classic rock song and video titled “People Change.” From performing for strangers to charming his friends with his confidence and wit, Breaker has a magnetic personality that goes beyond his musical talents. 

    Growing up with six siblings in New York City, Breaker has been performing for his family and all around Manhattan since he was young. Nowadays, he plays shows across the country with his love of songwriting and creating music. Beyond his 21 years, Breaker has made a name for himself as an alternative/indie artist.

    Though written entirely in New York City, “People Change” and the upcoming EP were recorded in Virginia. While only taking a mere two days of studio time to record, the energy was buzzing from the first moment the small team entered the magical space. Escaping the East Village, he fled to a scenic farm for the birth of this upcoming album. With the help of his best friends and collaborators, Breaker had brought the vision of his new album to life.

    Rising Star from East Village, Breaker, Releases New Song

    Despite being a natural lead singer, what shines through most on the new song and Breaker’s upcoming EP is his ability to work with other creative minds. Thus, inspiring the people around him to make the best music and have the most fun possible.  This project has led to the formation of The Live Show, which is a team of solo artists consisting of Jacob Lourie, Chris Murphy, and Breaker. Breaker has the ability to get any room dancing.

    A second single, followed by Breaker’s upcoming debut EP, We’re Not Lovers Anymore, is coming later this Spring. Lookout for Breaker and The Live Show in and around NYC performing live now through the Summer. 

    To watch or listen to “People Change,” click the link here.

  • Brooklyn-Based Artist Max ZT Releases Inspiring Single “Daybreak”

    Brooklyn-based artist Max ZT shared his new performance video for his single “Daybreak,” off of his solo debut album Daybreak, released on April 8.

    Max ZT
    Max ZT

    Daybreak traces its roots to the darkest darks of the pandemic, with all the lockdowns. Max turned to music for healing and restoration at a time when society’s future was uncertain. He would send recorded improvisations to friends and family, who found them to be extraordinary sources of solace and relief.

    The reaction was shocking. I know music has always been a balm for me, but to see the effect it had on others, on such a direct, one-to-one level, was honestly incredible.

    Max ZT

    NPR has described him as the “Jimi Hendrix of dulcimer.” He has scored an Emmy-winning ESPN documentary, co-wrote the music for his wife Priya Darshini’s GRAMMY-nominated debut Periphery, and shared the stage with the likes of Ravi Shankar and more.

    His first lead single “In It” shows his unique ability to invite deep thought through his music as the track goes through different emotions to get to a resolution. The new single “Daybreak” is beautiful and heartbreaking as it takes you on a journey through deep melodies and strong conclusions.

    Max ZT’s new album Daybreak will be out on April 8 and will be available on all streaming services.

  • Dana Fuchs to Release “Borrowed Time” on April 29

    Southern Blues Rocker Dana Fuchs will be releasing her 8th studio album, Borrowed Time, on 4/29. This is her fourth release with Ruf Records. 

    In contrast to Fuchs earlier work, Borrowed Time is centered around the stories of other people and what they’ve learned throughout their lives. By combining her southern rock upbringing with inspiration from legends like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones, Fuchs has created a universal listening experience that many can relate to. 

    This marks the beginning of Chapter 2, in music as well as in life, I’m going out into the world and writing about the people who share it with me. My own story is always going to be in there, too, but this is the first album where other people’s stories are informing my own emotions.

    Dana Fuchs

    Songs on the album have themes ranging from love and companionship to political distrust and justice, with each inspired by different real world events and headlines. Producer Bobby Harlow lent his expertise to help Fuchs step away from her previous method of mixing influences and dive deeper into the rock and roll that first inspired her. 

    Fuch’s newest album was recorded in Michigan, with the help of a number of people including her bandmates, bassist Jack Daley and guitarist Jon Diamond, recording engineer Kenny Tudrick, drummer Todd Glass and keyboardist Jordan Champion. With recording completed in eight days, it’s safe to say that this was the perfect combination of people for the process. 

    Listeners can preorder Borrowed Time here.

  • A Beacon School Share First Single In Three Years

    New York City-based A Beacon School is back with his first single in three years, “Dot,” an immersive multi-instrumentalist dreampop track. In addition to the songs’ release, A Beacon School is having a release show at The Sultan in Brooklyn, featuring Creature of Doom and S.C.A.B on April 9th.

    A Beacon School
    Photo Cred: Max Mellman

    Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Patrick J. Smith is the mastermind behind this dream pop project. Smith began making music as A Beacon School in 2009, releasing a home-recorded demo single was released in 2011, and a self-titled EP by a full-band lineup appeared near the end of 2012. He has played with bands such as Modern Rivals and Bluffing, additionally working with Parquet Courts’ Max Savage as part of Maxband.

    In 2018, A Beacon School’s Cola was released by Grind Select. After receiving positive press and slowly gaining a worldwide following, an expanded vinyl edition of Cola was released in 2019 in conjunction with Fat Possum’s House Arrest imprint, amassing over 40 million streams.

    Smith adds layers of soothing guitars and vocals with ease, reaching a build-up that feels natural, without ever fully peaking.

    The Fader 

    “Dot” marks the first A Beacon School release in three years and coincides with a headlining performance at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn, signaling a long-awaited new full-length is on the horizon. On the track, A Beacon School says, “‘Dot’ is a song about seeing patterns in your life emerge but feeling helpless to change them. The song oscillates between these moments of unfiltered wonder and inspiration, and the immediate skepticism that follows them.” 

    “What he (Smith) shares is wisdom ahead of its time – acceptance of the inequities of 

    life as a path toward redemption. Destiny is preached as a set-in-stone limitation, but 

    soft tones and enchanting melody highlight our ability to adjust our sails in intractable 

    winds, holding that former philosophy to the fire with heavenly optimism.” 

    – PopMatters

    Listen to A Beacon School’s new single “Dot” here.

    Tickets to the release show at The Sultan can be purchased here.

  • VRSTY Share “Hush” Video

    New York City based band VRSTY (pronounced “Varsity”) have shared their newest music video for their song “Hush.”

    VRSTY
    VRSTY consists of Joey Varela [vocals], Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar].

    The vocals of Joey Varela and sound from Javy Dorrejo [bass], Chris Cody [drums], and Paul Gregory [guitar] provide the bands one of a kind musical genre, a unique fusion of R&B with vocal elements of post-hardcore sound. The new video “Hush” does the band justice showing these different musical elements.

    Welcome Home is the band’s debut album, which has accumulated six million streams in less than a year and yielded the head-turning singles “Shameless” and “Massive.” 

    “‘Hush’ is definitely one of my favorite songs on the entire record,” says Varela. “It’s also one of the most different songs simply because it’s more uplifting and fun rather than dark and moody —my usual mood! Writing this song was incredibly therapeutic for me yet also super scary. Because it was so different, I wasn’t sure if anybody was gonna like it. However when Welcome Home dropped, it ended up becoming a fan-favorite. I just hope it makes people feel the way it made me feel when I first wrote it.”

    “Welcome Home is an incredibly personal album to me,” Varela shares. “I know everybody says that, and hey, maybe they’re not lying when they do. I sure as hell am not. It was definitely a task, at first, trying to figure out how to phrase or sing something without getting too personal. But somewhere along the way, I threw that idea out the window and decided to say exactly what I felt. You won’t find me trying to sound cool or using any fancy wordplay. It’s just me in my rawest form, saying exactly what I’ve felt or experienced over the years, which is what has made me who I am today. I think if anybody ever wants to get to know me, this record will give you everything you need to know. No secrets. Just me.”

  • LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Festival In Queens Announced, Featuring Ice Cube, Lil Kim, and More

    A new day-long celebration of Hip-Hop culture founded by LL Cool J called Rock The Bells Festival will be happening at Forest Hills Stadium in LL’s hometown of Queens on August 6.

    The festival will feature live performances, art exhibits, food, fashion, interactive experiences, and more. Each performer was hand-picked for their culture-defining careers, undeniable talents, and contributions to Hip-Hop culture.

    Rock Bells Lineup Poster

    Featured on the lineup are LL Cool J, DJ Z-Trip, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Lil’ Kim, The Diplomats ft. Cam’ron, Jim Jones & Juelz Santana, Fat Joe & Remy Ma, Jadakiss, Scarface, Trina, N.O.R.E, Digable Planets, and more to be announced.

    LL Cool J said in a statement that he is excited to bring all these artists together to celebrate Hip-Hop culture.

    This festival is my way of showing love to the community of Hip-Hop and celebrating the incredible journey this culture has taken, going from DJ Kool Herc’s Sedgwick Avenue rec room, to the global phenomenon we all cherish today. Getting to bring some of the most iconic and influential Hip-Hop artists to the same stage, in my hometown and the city that started it all, is an honor and I can’t wait for everyone to see what we have in store for them.

    For fans that cannot make it to the festival, they can tune into LL Cool J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM (Ch. 43) for exclusive live coverage. Tickets go onsale April 4 for pre-sale, and April 8 for general sale, and tickets can be found here. For each ticket sale, Rock The Bells will be donating partial proceeds to the Universal Hip-Hop Museum in the Bronx.

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