NYS Music 2023

Category: Audio

  • Olivia Reid Releases Indie-Pop Single “Runner’s High”

    NYC-based indie-pop artist Olivia Reid has just released her newest single “Runner’s High,” on March 3rd. This new eclectic single serves as a self-reflection of Olivia’s dedication to her path to success, above all of the challenges.  

    Olivia Reid Releases Indie-Pop Single "Runner's High"

    Olivia grabs the attention of her listeners with potent lyrics and a pumping beat. “Runners High” carries you through a musical journey perfect for a windows-down drive or an outdoor festival. She states, “’Runner’s High’ describes the way I’ve conditioned myself to be a workhorse. A product of growing up in America, I guess.”  

    https://soundcloud.com/oliviareidmusic/01-runners-high/s-YYqgd8587s7

    Based in NYC, Reid’s production style blends indie acoustics with exploratory electronic pop soundscapes, landing listeners in a visceral sonic world. Reid’s interests are diversified, exploring areas such as screenwriting, neuroscience, digesting current events, advocating for nature. 

    Currently, Olivia is involved with Brian Eno’s charity EarthPercent, she also formerly hosted Spotify For Artists and Notable’s Song Start podcast. Thus, where she interviewed artists like Sam Smith, Victoria Monet, Hayley Williams of Paramore.  

    As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” Olivia Reid has connected with audiences around the world via collaborations such as “Time is Mine” with Kidswaste, “What You Came Here For” with Jae Luna, and “Above the Clouds” with SŸDE. Her music has been featured in Flaunt Magazine, Brooklyn Vegan, The New Yorker, and American Songwriter and has been added to several official Spotify playlists like Happy Pop, Metropolis, Chill Tracks, Sunday Session, Dance Hits, and Golden Hour, garnering her over 40 million streams. 

    Olivia Reid’s debut EP Earth Water hit streaming platforms in 2021, with new songs on the way in 2023.  Fueled by deeply personal lyrics and boundary-pushing production, the new project conceptually details an artist’s slow descent into madness. 

    To listen to “Runner’s High,” click the Spotify link here. 

    For more about Olivia Reid, click the link to her website here. 

  • Tune Into EQXposure This Sunday to Hear Rock Bands Beard & Glasses and The Grandstand Jockeys

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from Beard & Glasses and The Grandstand Jockeys.

    the grandstand jockeys

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you. To celebrate NYS Music March Madness, Pearson will be playing songs from artists featured, including Fine Grain, Canella, Sly Fox & The Hustlers, Black Tongue Reverend, Honey Suckle Vine, Elephant Back, Grape Juice!, Pencil Dive and others.

    Beard & Glasses -“Born at the Wrong Time”

    Bears & Glasses are a rock/soul group from Bennington, Vermont. Their song “Born at the Wrong Time” is out now.

    The Grandstand Jockeys – “Tonight”

    The Grandstand Jockeys are from Waterford, New York, combining hard-edge rock with pop sensibilities. Their debut EP WIN is out now, and their song “Tonight” from the EP will be played on EQXposure.

  • Jake Pinto to Release New Unfiltered Album “Sad Songs For Happy People” On March 31st 

    Brooklyn’s Jake Pinto announces the release of his upcoming album Sad Songs for Happy People, on March 31st. The album was set for release right when the pandemic hit, and then further delayed when Jake’s talents were sought out by Miami psych-funksters Magic City Hippies and Brooklyn’s afrobeat Antibalas, leading to months of global touring.

    Jake Pinto Releases A New Unfiltered Album Titled “Sad Songs For Happy People" On March 31st 

    Pinto’s eclectic musical story has shaped a charmingly honest solo debut rich in instinctive melodicism and cultured arrangements. Being a jazz musician since his early teens, Jake attended NYU for jazz piano and was soon booking gigs and festivals worldwide, including the Blue Note in New York City and Milan.  

    Jake Pinto Releases A New Unfiltered Album Titled “Sad Songs For Happy People" On March 31st 

    While still in college, Jake Pinto found himself already playing alongside genre luminaries like François Mouton, Ralph Lalama, and the late Lew Soloff. He went on to play prestigious engagements, including the Montreal and Rochester International jazz festivals.  

    Getting back to writing on piano, Jake found fresh excitement and energy. He began working with a diverse variety of artists at Silverman’s Future Sounds studio in Brooklyn, and on off days, he would bring in his own band and record what would become Sad Songs for Happy People, much of it tracked live on vintage, analog equipment.

    “The Beatles are still my favorite band, but I was also obsessed with D’Angelo for so long,” Pinto says. “And I love the crooners like Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra; the directness of how they sing and tell stories. It’s a hard thing to do, to tell show-tune stories in a way that doesn’t feel corny.”  

    The result of this album is 11 ultra-accomplished tracks of eclectic, Americana, and blues-flecked indie rock delivered straight from the source. These are songs emotional and quality rather than adherence to genre or style. 

    “There’s something beautiful about taking a sad song and putting it to a bright beat and bright instrumental,” Jake continued. “Just an interesting combination of melancholy, nostalgia, love, and happiness.”  

    To pre-save Sad Songs for Happy People, click the link here. 

    For more music by Jack Pinto, click the link here. 

  • Cyote Returns With Contemplative Single “none the wise”

    Hudson Valley-based multimedia artist Cyote has just released her single “none the wise,” a gentle and driving ode to isolation. Accompanying the track is a self-produced music video, offering viewers a peek inside McElroy’s creative process and moments of vulnerability.

    Cyote Returns With Contemplative "none the wise" Single And Video

    After 12 years of working behind the scenes for artists such as Tori Amos, Thurston Moore, Meshell Ndegecello, Kaki King, and more, Cyote returns to the scene. By using her own musical roots, she proudly shares her newest single titled “none the wish.” The track is a wintery ode to isolation and has a similar vibe to Cat Power or Weyes Blood.  

    …seductive but not without risk– treading the line between hope and truth.

    BUST

    “This song is a poem that speaks to the ability each one of us has to disconnect at any moment..‘none the wise’ to the world around you,” says Cyote.

    Accompanying the song is a self-produced music video by Cyote herself, which acts almost as a diary. Doing so by inviting viewers to witness McElroy’s creative process with moments of vulnerable and solitude. 

    Cyote Returns With Contemplative "none the wise" Single And Video 

    Catch Cyote’s live performance this Saturday (February 25th) at Sarah Gray Miller’s new upstate honky tonk Ravish Liquors. The show will begin at 7pm featuring an intimate performance by Cyote, alongside a screening of the music video, with a side of Miller’s famous Frito Chili Pie. 

    Cyote Returns With Contemplative "none the wise" Single And Video 

    “A creative genius and a mesmerizing performer, Cyote has the soul of an artist and the voice of an angel—albeit a highly seductive angel with a dirty-South drawl and a mischievous twinkle in her eye. She also happens to be incredibly kind, warm, generous, and down-to-earth. If my new bar could be a person, I’d want it to be Carter Lou McElroy. So, I couldn’t believe my good fortune when she agreed to become the house musician at Ravish Liquors.” – Sarah Gray Miller of Ravish Liquors 

    To listen to “none the wise,” click the link here.  For more music by Cyote, click the link here. 

  • Cat Stevens Covers George Harrison’s Classic “Here Comes The Sun”  

    The infamous singer of “Peace Train,” “Father & Son,” and “Wild World,” Yusuf / Cat Stevens has shared an endearing cover of “Here Comes The Sun” in tribute to George Harrison. With a gorgeous cover art designed by Yusuf’s eight-year-old granddaughter, the release marks the anniversary of what would have been George Harrison’s 80th birthday this week. 

    Cat Stevens Covers George Harrison’s Infamous “Here Comes The Sun"

    Speaking about George Harrison’s profound influence on his own musical and spiritual journey, Yusuf says, “George Harrison was beginning to explore Eastern mysticism around the time I was hospitalized with TB, in 1968. Lying in bed, I had a lot of time on my hands and ended up reading a Buddhist book called The Secret Path. That was the beginning of my own search for the light. 

    Cat Stevens Covers George Harrison’s Infamous “Here Comes The Sun"

    While most of my generation were just into the music, I was a bit like George, where music became the key to something much higher. Following the rages of the 60’s, his consciousness was awakened, and George transcended to levels not many people ever get to experience. You can hear it in his lyrics, and see it in the way he lived and dealt with the material world – looking for a way out. George was one of the first to put on a charity concert for the poor, at the time millions of Bangladeshis were fleeing from conflict and becoming refugees. It was a brave thing to do, and against all establishment rules. I’m happy to sing one of his songs, especially as it represents the returning of light and hope to a seriously dark and broken world.” 

    Cat Stevens is one of the most influential musical artists of all time. His signature, era-defining sound places him amongst a golden generation of British singer-songwriters whose music continues to resonate and inspire to this day. Yusuf’s line of hits include “Peace Train,” “Father & Son,” “Where Do The Children Play?,” “Wild World” and many more.

    Yusuf’s music reflects a quest for spiritual enlightenment, inner development and a passion for the natural world that continues to resonate with fans globally. Alongside his music career, Yusuf / Cat Stevens dedicates his energy to philanthropy and education. “Here Comes The Sun” is the latest in a new lineage of cover versions and closely follows Tea For The Tillerman, which saw the classic album re-imagined for a new age.

    Looking forward on new music, Yusuf / Cat Stevens continues to use his unique gift for songwriting to build cross-cultural bridges and spread his message of peace. Currently, he lives in Dubai, where he continues to record music and coordinate a charitable initiative called Peace Train.

    To listen to “Here Comes The Sun,” click the link here.

    For more about Cat Stevens, click the link here.

  • This Week Brings Groups Leyeux, A Little Overboard, and Luminous Crush to EQXposure

    Each Sunday evening from 7-9 p.m. you’ll find EQXposure on WEQX, featuring two hours of local music from up-and-coming artists. Tune into WEQX.com this Sunday night to hear new music from A Little Overboard, Leyeux, and Luminous Crush.

    A Little Overboard, Leyeux, and Luminous Crush

    WEQX has long been the preeminent independent station in the Capital Region of New York, broadcasting from Southern VT to an ever-expanding listening audience. NYS Music brings you a preview of artists to discover each week, just a taste of the talent waiting to be discovered by fans like you.

    Leyeux – “Tightrope”

    Leyeux, or Jack Snyder, was born and raised in central Vermont. He began drumming at the age of 8, and performed as a singer and guitarist in high school, playing drums in the school jazz band and other professional gigs. From 2013-2015 he attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston and joined the a capella group Pitch Slapped, which competed and won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella in the Spring of 2014. Since then he has released three records, and his song “Tightrope” from the album Day Is Calling will be played on EQXposure.

    A Little Overboard – “Second Row”

    A Little Overboard is a five-piece American rock band raised in Saratoga, formed by childhood friends that reconnected later on. Some of the group’s influences are Staind, Aerosmith, Guns n Roses, Alice in Chains, Led Zeppelin, and bands of that realm. They are community-oriented, churning out music in the studio at a rapid rate for their fans. Their newest single “Second Row” is out now.

    Luminous Crush – “Too Much And Not Enough”

    Luminous Crush is made up of Laura Molinelli and Ben Campbell, who make a wide variety of music spanning multiple genres like bluegrass, country, indie, and psychedelic.

  • FRANK Release One-Take Instrumental Album “Moment”  

    NYC based FRANK have just released their newest instrumental recording Moment, on Thursday, Feb 23rd. The album captures the more jammier side of the band, which is what the band is known for sounding during their live performances.  

    FRANK Releases One-Take Instrumental Album “Moment”  

    The band recorded this piece a few months ago in one live take at the end of the night. They stated, “We had no plan, nothing said at all, we just started playing. As always, we listened to each other, explored together, and when we stopped, something that didn’t exist before was in the world. We decided to release it as an instrumental FRANK record we are calling Moment.

    Originally NYC based, FRANK has been playing live and creating music since 2001, with seven studio albums and another on the way. One night in December in between album sessions, they created Moment, an impromptu instrumental improvised and recorded in one take. 

    FRANK has been working on a new LP to follow up their 2021 release Dreams and Fears of the Outside. They stayed, “We’re very proud of Moment as it represents the jammier side of our band. We are always exploring new sounds, rhythms, spaces, and ideas, which our audience doesn’t always get to hear as part of our recorded works.” 

    FRANK’s new album features many songs like “The Sparkling Realization,” a song that features the bands core collaboration. Other songs like “Sucker for a Pharoah” and “Broken Kaleidoscope” give fans what they love most, rock. All of these songs are classic studio jams that sound as if you were at one of FRANK’s sessions personally. 

    FRANK Releases One-Take Instrumental Album “Moment”  

    In a previous article by NYS Music, the album Dreams and Fears of the Outside was described as “…It has everything you want from a Rolling Stones influenced vibe. It still maintains the characteristic heavy drums and renegade guitar that FRANK has been putting on display throughout the record.” For more of this article, click the link here to read.

    To listen to FRANK, click the link here. To listen to Moment, click the link here. For more about FRANK, click the link here. 

  • Plane Station Release Single “Keep Me Grounded”

    Hudson Valley’s brother and sister harmonic duo Plane Station has just released their newest single “Keep Me Grounded,” on February 24th. The two are currently preparing to release two more singles over the following months and completing their third album, Art or Content, in the spring.  

    Plane Station Release Single "Keep Me Grounded"

    Plane Station consists of Nick and Brianna Chiapparino, a sibling singer songwriter duo based in Peekskill. Their sound, honed through years of live performance, is built on harmony, memorable melodies and a collaborative approach to songwriting. 

    Plane Station Release Single "Keep Me Grounded"

    Their single “Keep Me Grounded” is a powerful piece that will send shivers down your spine. No mater your headspace, Nick and Brianna’s angelic melodies will pierce through your heart. The song is beautifully written, the harmony that Plane Station has is incredible. The two are unbelievably talented artists with their sound and lyrics, they deserve more spotlight.  

    Plane Station Release Single "Keep Me Grounded"

    Nick and Brianna both grew up in the Hudson Valley and began singing together in High School. The duo has fronted many bands spanning a wide variety of genres, keeping their unique connection front and center with Plane Station.  

    Their music is often driven either by Nick’s acoustic guitar or Brianna’s piano work. Their sound together weaves seamlessly through the intimate and the grandiose, whispered lines over a finger picked guitar often give way to soaring harmonies over swelling instrumentation.  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJM6KdpxiWY

    Their first album, The Other Side, finds the duo exploring themes of love, change and loss in a stripped down, predominantly acoustic setting. On 7th Street, Plane Station’s second full length LP, Nick and Brianna stretch their folk sound, taking full of advantage of a vaster sonic landscape while staying true to their singer/songwriter roots.  

    Their third and upcoming album, Art or Content, is coming together for release in the spring of 2023. For more information on Plane Station, visit their website by clicking the link here.

  • Hello Mary Share Video for Indulgent New Single “Special Treat”

    Brooklyn’s Hello Mary have just dropped a new single “Special Treat,” right before the release of their self-titled debut album on March 3rd. The song opens with disarming harmonies that might recall a schoolyard taunt, or something more sinister, like the summoning of a coven.  

    Hello Mary Share New Single and Music Video "Special Treat"

    The band explains that, “‘Special Treat’ is pretty much about indulgence of any kind, and doing things for pure momentary pleasure. For the music video, we just wanted to be crazy, eat dope food, and take out our deep resentment towards each other through a food fight.” 

    Hello Mary will also play a record-release party at Brooklyn’s Elsewhere Zone One on March 24. Their first ever tour kicks off on March 23rd in Hamden, CT and concludes in Providence, RI on April 6th. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now and all dates are listed below. 

    Hello Mary Share New Single and Music Video "Special Treat"

    Hello Mary is made up of Helena Straight (guitar, vox), Mikaela Oppenheimer (bass), and Stella Wave (drums, vox). Mikaela started Hello Mary with Helena as freshmen in high school. When they met Stella by happenstance the three became an inseparable unit, as good of friends as they are bandmates. 

    The album Hello Mary references alternative rock of the nineties alongside Elliott Smith and Jeff Buckley as influences. For sound, the band tends to meld elements of 90s shoegaze with indie rock and grunge, making a unique sound of their own. 

    The album’s song “Looking Right Into the Sun,” is most honestly described as “delightful,” driven by a tight and dynamic rhythm section that gives way to Straight’s crystalline and confident falsetto.  

    Hello Mary Tour Dates: 

    3/23 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT  

    3/24 – Elsewhere Zone One – Brooklyn, NY  

    3/25 – Songbyrd – Washington, DC  

    4/5 – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA* 

    4/6 – Columbus Theatre – Providence, RI*  

     *Denotes Dates with Deerhoof 

    Pre-order Hello Mary by clicking the link here. Listen/share “Special Treat” by clicking the link here. 

  • Robert Walter Releases “White Lines” from Aquarium Drunkard Session (Vol. 3) 

    Robert Walter interprets infamous soul and jazz artists on his third session for the music journal, Aquarium Drunkard. The EP’s opening track, a reimagination of Melle Mel’s “White Lines,” which itself was a reinvention of Liquid Liquid’s track “Cavern,” has just released on February 17th. 

    Robert Walter White Lines

    A founding member of The Greyboy Allstars, Walter splits his time between The Greyboy Allstars, his own 20th Congress, playing organ and keys in Mike Gordon Band and on tour with Roger Waters, in addition to a robust film soundtrack career in Los Angeles.

    “These tracks were all recorded for Aquarium Drunkard’s Lagniappe series. This was my 3rd installment,” explains Walter. “I always try to find some interesting tunes that have inspired me in some way over the years. It’s also a fun challenge to record the music all by myself. I played all the instruments here and arranged, recorded and mixed at home.” 

    Robert Walter said of the session, “I have always loved ‘White Lines (Don’t Do It).’ I remember hearing this when I was first discovering rap music as a kid. I learned later that the music is based on Liquid Liquid’s ‘Cavern.’ I love how the interactions between the NYC art scene, punk rock, and emerging hip-hop were happening so naturally and quickly during the late ’70s,” continued Walter. “This tune manages to be a message song, embrace some avant-garde musical ideas and still work as dance music even to this day. I have been playing it off and on in bands my entire life. I started doing it a lot as an organ vehicle during late night Jazzfest gigs as a comment on the wild party atmosphere. This version references both the original Liquid Liquid track and the brilliant Melle Mel interpolation.”

    The keyboardist, who co-founded The Greyboy Allstars and is currently on tour as a member of Roger Waters’ band, plays all of the instruments. Some of the artists being featured on Aquarium Drunkard are Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel, Liquid Liquid, Jackie Mittoo, Eddie Harris, Rammellzee & K-Rob and Les Baxter & Martin Denny.

    Pre-order/save Aquarium Drunkard sessions featuring Robert Walter’s cover of “White Lines” by clicking the link here. For more on Robert Walter, click the link here.