Chris Mazuera, a regular in the “Lofi Beats To Study To,” Spotify playlist, is getting a little less late-night cram and a little more late-night kickback in his newest single, “Roots.” Mazuera released four singles in advance of his upcoming album Let’s Take A Trip, with “Roots” as the closer on that album.
“I wanted to close out the album in a strong way,” Mazuera said. “So I mixed as many of my influences as I could in this track: rock, jazz, hip-hop, psychedelic, blues, classical.”
Chris Mazuera calls the sound on the upcoming album a more coherent mixture of all his influences from across genres, and he’s proud that the sound is more identifiable with himself as an artist. It’s uplifting, energetic, and has a funky bassline. The song comes in just over two minutes, but it’s the kind of song you could hit repeat on a couple of times.
What sets “Roots” apart from his past hits like “First Snow” and “Abundance,” is his departure from comfortable repetitive and symmetrical rhythms and harmonies to more ambitious beat switches and guitar solos. Mazeura said this is a call back to his “roots” in New York City when he first moved to the city from Miami and would busk in Grand Central Station, playing blues solos for hours and hours.
Since moving to NYC he has familiarized himself with the industry through partnerships with local hip-hop and lo-fi producers. In 2018 he released his first album Monstera, since he’s released over seven albums and EPs, composed of both solo projects and collaborations, in addition to several singles.
“Roots” is streaming across platforms now and you can pre-save the album, which is coming out on Dec. 2 here.
On the weekend of September 22-25, 2022, Firefly Music Festival returned to the Woodlands of Dover, Delaware to celebrate its 10th anniversary with headline performances from Halsey, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Dua Lipa, and many more! The diverse genres of artists is what makes Firefly a memorable experience.
Bleachers @ Firefly Main Stage
Firefly Music Festival took place in The Woodlands of Dover, Delaware, right next to Dover International Speedway. What makes Firefly unique isnât just the performances, but the atmosphere and the overall experience. Since its start in July 2012, festivalgoers are offered the chance to camp at the festival, whether that be in an RV, a glamping site, or a pop-up tent. Along with the camping, each stage embraces its own personality: the Backyard hosted most of the rap acts over the weekend, The Pavillion which hosted most of the EDM acts, The Treehouse and The Nest which offered attendees an escape from the massive size of the Woodlands to an area where they could see their favorite small artists in an intimate setting such as SEB.
SEB @ Treehouse
Firefly certainly does not shy away when it comes to good eating. Whether its a quick bite from the various food trucks or a tasty dessert at Stuffed Ice Cream, Firelfy has it all including vegan friendly meals. Attendees could not get enough of Stuffed Ice Cream’s delicious cruffs – an ice-cream filled donut toasted to perfection. Even on the chilly nights, festivalgoers were seen lined up for the mouth-watering treat. The good news is everyone can explore the various flavors and options Stuffed Ice Cream has to offer in its New York City based store located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
A Weekend Filled With Entertainment
A little bit of rain and muddy floors didn’t stop the party on Thursday. Firefly kicked off its weekend with headlining sets from Halsey, Jamiexx, Willow, 100 Gecs, San Holo & Gayle. While some walked onto the festival grounds admiring the numerous decorations and activities, others ran to secure a spot at the stage where their favorite artists would perform. Willow brought the energy to the main stage dressed in a custom T-shirt designed by one Firefly’s clothing booths. She played the iconic “Wait a Minute!” along with “Meet Me At Our Spot”.
Willow @ Firefly Main Stage
Although Willow brought great energy to stage, 100 Gecs certainly knew how to turn up in style dressed in unique wizard like outfits. Mosh pits left and right filled the audience which some would say only enhanced the lively performance. Songs performed by the Duo included “money machine”, “stupid horse”, “mememe” and more.
Thursday was one for the books but Friday was just as memorable. Many were looking forward to Big Sean who unfortunately had to cancel his set due to a respiratory infection. LSDREAM filled in for the Detroit based rapper and did not disappoint. Illuminating the night sky with vibrant colorful visuals is what made LSDREAM stand out.
LSDREAM @ The Backyard Stage
During the day fans were scattered across the festival site. It was the first time Norwegian singer/songwriter Anna of The North performed in the U.S since covid. While on stage she brought out guest singer Gus Dapperton to sing “Meteorite” together. NYSM staff photographer Adrian Hernandez had the opportunity to shoot portraits of Anna who was nothing but kind, loving, and energetic throughout their photo session.
Anna of The North with Gus Dapperton @ Firefly Main StagePortrait Session With Artist Anna of The North
My Chemical Romance closed the main stage with a roar on night 2. Fans of all ages, old and young, sang along word for word almost every song the band performed. In between songs, lead vocalist Gerard Way was interactive with the audience and knew how to put a smile on everyones face through his humor.
My Chemical Romance @ Firefly Main Stage
Later that night, once Zedd took the stage, an overwhelming surge of cheers and screams kicked in. Zedd had the crowd on overdrive right from the start of the set. On top of that, the laser light show was perfectly in sync with his electronic tunes.
Zedd @ The Backyard Stage
Once day 3 arrived, it meant the weekend was finally here. Time to unload, sit back and enjoy the beautiful day packed with great music. Sueco brought life to the crowd after jumping into the audience to crowd surf his fans. Shortly after he joined the spectators in the center of a moshpit as he performed “fast”.
Sueco @ Firefly Main Stage
Porter Robinson ended the night performing songs from his latest album Nurture such as “Something Comforting”, “Shelter”, and the emotional dedication “Mother”. Some even shed a tear during his impactful set.
Porter Robinson @ The Backyard StagePorter Robinson @ The Backyard Stage
It felt like the weekend flew as the last day of Firefly Music Festival finally arrived. It was during the middle of The Regrettes when festivalgoers were kicked off site due to a severe weather warning. This caused sets to be pushed back and some shortened like Charli XCX. Unfortunate for those who were looking forward to see the pop queen but the show went on.
Lead Vocalist Lydia Night of The Regrettes @ The Backyard Stage
Once festival grounds reopened, T-Pain sang some of his classic hits and features such as “Good Life” with Kanye West. Shortly after, Conan Grey was on stage followed by The Kid Laroi at the Backyard stage and finally, to end the weekend on a high, Dua Lipa closing on her hit “Don’t Start Now”.
T-Pain @ Firefly Main Stage
As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. While it’s sad to say goodbye to this years festival, we look forward to the next one and carry the memories we made along with us. See you soon Firefly!
Brooklyn Comes Alive, the one-day festival well-known for presenting a potent mix of unique new projects, rare collaborations, and nationally touring heavy-hitters, returns to The Brooklyn Mirage on Saturday, September 17th, complete with lounge areas, a food court, and sunset views.
This year, Brooklyn Comes Alive will feature livetronica heroes STS9, avant-groove explorers Medeski Martin & Wood, future-funk sextet Lettuce, and the debut of Cool Cool Cool, a new project from former members of Turkuaz that is funky, fresh, and ready to throw a party.
Built from the vibrant live music community of Brooklyn, NY, and inspired by New Orleans, LA and its famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Brooklyn Comes Alive has been breaking the mold of traditional festivals with unprecedented music experiences since 2015.
Much like past “Comes Alive” events, the 2022 Brooklyn Comes Alive lineup presents a number of exciting firsts and notable milestones. The event will serve as STS9’s first show in NYC since its last Brooklyn Mirage takeover in 2019, and the band plans to celebrate its return to Brooklyn with a two-hour late-night set. Similarly, Medeski Martin & Wood, who have not played together on their home turf in NYC since 2019 and have not performed live since before the pandemic, will use the special appearance to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band, which took place last year.
If the lineup hasn’t sold you, perhaps the huge visual oddysey that’s in store will get you to Brooklyn on Saturday. One of the world’s largest outdoor video walls is found right at Brooklyn Mirage. Over 1000 LED panels form 6000 square feet of wall, and with 15k ultra wide resolution, the visual effects are film grade, and as state of the art as it comes.
Add in a custom built media server and processing technology that allows leading visual content creators from around the world to create truly immersive show visuals, one the makes the potential for a hyperrealistic environment to be created at Brooklyn Mirage.
Accessible Festivals officially launched its Dan Grover Memorial Ticket Grant Program this week, providing a limited number of free access tickets to recreational experiences like concerts, festivals, and conventions for disabled music fans and their loved ones. This marks a huge step forward towards accessibility for all throughout major events across the U.S.
Pictured: Past recipient Cindy Navarro at Escape Festival
Accessible Festivals is partnering with the largest festivals in the country, such as Austin City Limits Music Festival, BottleRock Napa Valley, Electric Daisy Carnival, Lollapalooza, Rolling Loud NY, Stagecoach and more. The idea was born out of the organization’s founder, Austin Whitney’s own personal experience. In 2007, Whitney was injured in a car accident that severed his spinal cord and paralyzed him from the waist down. He became consumed with depression and anxiety about his new life living with a disability.
Photo credit: Abbey Madrid Stagecoach
After some time, Whitney attended his first music festival, Coachella. For the first time since his injury, he was able to simply enjoy life. With the realization of the importance of festival accessibility, he decided to devote his life to ensuring people of all abilities can have an equal opportunity to experience live music and recreational activities to the fullest extent possible.
Photo credit: TJ Hayes Lollapalooza
Dan Grover was born on December 6, 1962, in rural New Jersey. At an early age, he was diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic condition that deteriorates muscular strength over time, and began using a wheelchair for mobility at the age of 21.
Dan was responsible for implementing and improving ADA operations at some of the nation’s largest music festivals including Electric Forest, Outside Lands, Life is Beautiful, and many more. He helped ensure thousands of disabled guests were able to see the show safely and comfortably and was a fierce advocate for greater inclusion and accessibility for all.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Dan passed away on July 27, 2022. This program is intended to keep Dan’s legacy alive and honor him by sharing his passion for music and continuing to help other people with disabilities see the show.
On Sept. 8, DJ and music producer Steve Aoki will headline Marquee’s New York Fashion Week Kick-Off Party.
Aoki has an impressive history of performances at festivals such as Coachella, Ultra Music Festival, Lollapalooza, and many more. The two-time Grammy nominee will be previewing new music from his forthcoming studio album HiROQUEST: Genesiswhich is set for release on Sept. 16.
HiROQUEST: Genesisfeatures multiple collaborations with artists such as Taking Back Sunday, Kane Brown, MOD SUN, Santa Fe Klan, Snow Tha Product, John Martin, Lil Xan, and more. The 26-track LP blends elements of contemporary Latin, pop, pop-punk, and dance.
Steve Aoki as a fashion designer, artist, entrepreneur, and Dim Mak Records founder is one of the most in-demand acts in the world. Previous collaborations with Aoki include BTS, Maluma, Snoop Dogg, Linkin Park, blink-182, One Direction’s Louis Tomlinson, Machine Gun Kelly, and Lil Uzi Vert. The upcoming album is the artist’s highly-anticipated seventh studio album.
New York Fashion Week, held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public.
The New York Fashion Week Kick-Off party will be located at the Marquee Nightclub at 289 10th Ave. Tickets and table reservations for the Steve Aoki event are currently available on the nightclub’s website.
Brooklyn’s Industry City has just outlined its Hometown Bar-B-Que 2022 Concert Series at the Industry City Bandshell, in South Brooklyn. The diverse mix of culture and local businesses within Industry City is as authentic of a New York experience as it gets. “No visit to Industry City is ever the same” is a popular saying about the venue.
The concert series began on July 21, with a performance by rock n’ roll group Lizzie and the Makers during the venue’s Sunset Happy Hour. The series continued on July 29, when the signature sound of Club d’Elf took the stage.
On August 13, Industry City welcomed a collective of New York City’s top musicians including Murderers’ Row. The band performed a tribute to some of the world’s best artists and albums.
The fun continued the next night on August 14, at 6 P.M. ET, when DJ Logic and Friends ascended upon the Brooklyn venue to deliver a one-of-a-kind super jam. Friends like Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin and Wood), James Casey, Natalie Cressman and Jennifer Hartwick (Trey Anastasio Band’s horn section), Jamie Shields, Dan Kurtz (The New Deal) and Ross Bellenoit (Muscle Tough) were all featured.
The penultimate event will take place on Sunday, August, 18 at 7 p.m. ET, with a performance from Levon Helm Studios’ Midnight Ramble Band, as Helm’s legendary songbook graces the Industry City stage. The final show will happen on September, 24 when Flight 467 and Summerfeet each deliver a 90-minute set of ’70s-infused jazz-rock and jammed-out yacht rock.
Although it will come to an end, Industry City is planning to add more events through Halloween. You won’t want to miss any upcoming events at this intimate yet wide-open outdoor South Brooklyn space.
For additional information and to purchase tickets for Industry City’s summer concert series, visit the link here.
NYC’s Electric Zoo has just announced its star-studded lineup for official afterparties you don’t want to miss. There will be 12 Afterparties over the course of four days including Tchami, Camelphat, Martin Garrix, CloZee, Loco Dice, and more to come.
On September 2 through the 4, NYC’s premiere EDM festival Electric Zoo will upgrade Randall’s Island Park into a futuristic, tech-driven paradise. The festival features some highly anticipated sets from headliners like Porter Robinson, CloZee, and Armin Van Buuren across four stages. Thus, highlighting both rare performances from legacy acts and the biggest breakthrough artists.
Electric Zoo will take music fans on a cosmic musical journey beyond their wildest imaginations with 3.0, a gathering that embraces unexplainable phenomena and will open music fans’ minds to new sounds and experiences.
EZoo is excited to announce its official parties that will take place each night after the festival ends at many of the city’s most magnificent venues including Webster Hall, Brooklyn Mirage, Quantum, Marquee, Superior Ingredients, Lavo, and Avant Gardner from September 2-5.
Dice is returning to EZoo after 11 years for a highly anticipated return on the Carl Cox Invites stage. “Dice is always evolving with his sound of music that you cannot put in a musical box at all. He really does push the boundaries, which makes me excited to hear what he will pull out of the bag next.”
– Carl Cox
Since its inception, the founders have taken Electric Zoo around the globe, creating satellite soirées in Mexico, Brazil, and China. Still, its hometown in NYC continues to be the most popular, selling out year after year. A crowd of nearly 100,000 gather in Randall’s Island Park annually, according to organizers, with a record-breaking 107,500 attending in 2019.
The vibes are immaculate, and 2022 will be another ambitious undertaking destined to transport its fans beyond musical boundaries.
Tickets are available to Festival Pass Holders Wednesday, August 10th. If you do not have a pass, you will have 24 hours to purchase one in order to get ticket access to the after-parties. To purchase tickets for Electric Zoo and to learn more about the festival, click the link here.
On September 17th, Brooklyn Comes Alive will return to The Brooklyn Mirage for its sixth installment. This one-day festival brings together the best genres of live music ranging from jazz, jam and funk. Likewise, this event features some unforgettable collaborations, unique one-off performances and one-of-a-kind music experiences.
Inspired by New Orleans and its famed Jazz & Heritage Festival, Brooklyn Comes Alive has been breaking the mold of traditional festivals with unprecedented music experiences since 2015. This year, Brooklyn Comes Alive will feature STS9, Medeski Martin & Wood, Lettuce, and the debut of Cool Cool Cool, an unforgettable project from former members of Turkuaz.
It is so rewarding to work with some of our favorite artists to deliver special performances, debut new projects, and create memorable experiences for fans and bands alike at Brooklyn Comes Alive. That we get to do this in one of the country’s best live music venues, in the best city in the world, is a dream come true. Brooklyn, we’re back, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you at the incredible and unique venue, The Brooklyn Mirage.
– Festival director Gideon Plotnicki (GMP Live)
Brooklyn Comes Alive was built from the fabric of the vibrant live music community of Brooklyn. Much like past “Comes Alive” events, Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 will be full of exciting firsts and never-before-seen surprises. This event will mark STS9’s first show in NYC since 2019 when they last took over the Brooklyn Mirage. Similarly, Medeski Martin & Wood, who have not played on their home turf in NYC since 2019, will use the special appearance to celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band, which took place last year.
Lettuce will be notching both their Brooklyn Comes Alive debut and their Brooklyn Mirage debut as they celebrate the release of their latest album, Unify, but the band’s individual members are all Brooklyn Comes Alive veterans.
Brooklyn Comes Alive 2022 Lineup:
STS9 Medeski Martin & Wood Lettuce Cool Cool Cool (former members of Turkuaz: Craig Brodhead, Chris Brouwers, Michelangelo Carubba, Shira Elias, Sammi Garett, Greg Sanderson and Josh Schwartz*)
General admission tickets are available in three tiers, starting at $65 and increasing as tiers sell out. The elevated VIP experiences, VIP and Super VIP, include expedited entry, access to the VIP Mezzanine with perfect sightlines to the stage and more. With the Super VIP package including exclusive limited edition merch item.
All tickets, including VIP packages, can be purchased at the link here.
Dan Snaith, a.k.a. Caribou, returned to New York City on Thursday, July 28th for a show at City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park. The show was free, and drew a capacity crowd on a hot and sweaty night in the city. The night filled out with DJ sets from Toribio as well as a performance from experimental electronic artist Ela Minus. Check out the full photo gallery below from Caribou’s set.
Caribou, Central Park SummerStage, 7/28/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Caribou was in NYC last November for a three show run at Brooklyn Steel; those shows being rescheduled from an earlier COVID-induced postponement. For these shows, Caribou is joined by three band members who relentlessly flush out Caribou’s live sound. Dan joins in as a second drummer for various songs, including the lengthy jam during fan-favorite song “Sun”, creating a dense layer of percussions behind the electronic elements.
Caribou, Central Park SummerStage, 7/28/22. Photo by Joseph Buscarello
Caribou’s tour continues through August and September with shows across Europe before returning to California at the end of September, including a show at The Hollywood Bowl in support of Jamie XX. The lengthy tour schedule over the past ten months has all been in support of Caribou’s excellent fifth LP Suddenly; released back in 2020 on Merge Records. The album sees Caribou at his most proficient, especially in the live presentation. Head over to their website to see the full tour details.
Basilica Hudson, the internationally-renowned nonprofit arts center co-founded by musician Melissa Auf der Maur and filmmaker Tony Stone, is spotlighting area musicians, DJs, spoken word, visual artists and more with Jupiter Nights, a new weekly series taking place in its recently-renovated Gallery Building.
“In astrology, Jupiter is the planet that rules Thursdays and also the planet of expansion,” says Auf der Maur. “Our Jupiter Nights are a gathering place and performance space where local creatives can showcase their talents, while also connecting with like-minded explorers in their own and other artistic disciplines. With the recent expansion of our Gallery Building, they present the first opportunity for year-round weekly programming here at Basilica Hudson. In their intimacy and frequency, they also offer a wonderful counterbalance to our large-scale seasonal events like 24-Hour Drone and Basilica SoundScape.”
Peter Galgani, Cozy Oaks Productions
Music, both live performances and DJ sets, are very much the anchor of Basilica Hudson’s Jupiter Nights, along with poetry and storytelling, visual art and even cuisine.
Peter Galgani, Cozy Oaks Productions
The novel series kicked off May 5 with lovers x Navaja El Filo Tropical, an evening of Salsa, Cumbia, Ranchera, Reggaeton, Guaracha and Danzón music featuring artists from NYC, Mexico and Hudson. The night also boasted DJ sets by Adrian Is Hungry, Laura Se Fue and Sonido Talacha of the Barrio Collective, along with lovers, the duo of Hudson’s own DJ Uncle Rudy and Davon. This was complemented by a poetry reading by O Zotique and food by Casa Latina Pupusas Y Mas, a family-owned Hudson restaurant featuring authentic cuisine from El Salvador and Mexico. Murals made by local youth during a spray paint workshop led by Super Stories were also on display.
Avant-garde jazz was featured during a June 9 event produced by Melodius Thunk, a partnership between local artists and musicians Reggie Madison and Tshidi Matale. This evening featured the Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere Trio and a DJ set from Fulathela, AKA Mike Mosby. Ambient soundscapes and edge-pushing audio hijinks were the focus of the July 21 event headlined by claire rousay and Matchless (Whitney Johnson). The first season of Jupiter Nights concludes tonight, July 28, with performances by a trio of singer-songwriters Emily Ritz, Jackie West and Shana Falana.
Peter Galgani, Cozy Oaks Productions
Basilica Hudson’s Jupiter Nights will be on hiatus in August but return September 15 according to Allison Young, who co-curates the series with Sam Hillmer.
“Jupiter Nights has brought a heightened localized focus to both our curatorial vision and community presence,” adds Young. “It has been met with a very positive response from folks all across the Hudson Valley. It is bringing in both first timers and returning visitors, ones who are delighted to have a unique performance space that they can patronize weekly for the best in music and other creative forms.”
Peter Galgani, Cozy Oaks Productions
Young continues: “Come September, we will continue our mission to showcase a different style of music each week, complemented with new gallery openings by local artists, spoken word and some of the finest food that the restaurant-rich Hudson Valley has to offer.”
Doors open at 7 PM and performances begins at 8 PM Thursdays at Basilica Hudson, 110 South Front Street, Hudson. Updates on events and the announcement of the coming Fall schedule can be found at the series’ webpage.
