Brand new, NYC-based music label 41st Parallel Records has just made their first release of 2023 with “Songs” by 3 Cards Trick. This instrumental guitar trio is the meeting of three of the most in-demand improvisors on New York’s avant-garde scene: Marco Cappelli (classical guitar), Brandon Seabrook (guitar), and Stomu Takeishi (acoustic bass guitar).
The trio’s music tastes take influence from various sources including covers, soundtracks, early music, and original compositions. Then, after some sampling with a blend of their own tastes, they land in a new unknown sound territory where everything is possible.
The all three members of 3 Cards Trick had first met back in 2015 at The Stone, John Zorn’s storied experimental music venue in New York. Since then, the trio has continued to develop its own, unique musical vision.
Marco Cappelli, also known as 41st Parallel Records, is an Italian-born, Brooklyn-based guitarist and composer. He has carved out an extraordinary artistic path between the worlds of avant classical and improvised music, fluent in both rigorous written music as well the languages of free improvisation. Marco is also member of Marc Ribot’s Caged Funk, Adam Rudolph’s Go: Organic Orchestra, and The Zone with Daniele Del Monaco.
In March 2020, the trio was ready to take off on their first ever European tour but backfired due to the worldwide COVID pandemic and lockdown. Thankfully after some time, the tour finally happened during the Fall of 2021.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
2/7 MARCO CAPPELLI – DownTown Music Gallery 6:30 pm / 13 Monroe St, New York 2/8 ELLIOTT SHARP / MARCO CAPPELLI / JT LEWIS – Shift 8pm / 411 Kent Ave, Brooklyn 2/14 ITALIAN SURF ACADEMY Fake Worlds album release show – The Sultan Room 234 Starr St, Brooklyn 2/18 w/ADAM RUDOLPH’S GO: ORGANIC ORCHESTRA & BROOKLYN RAGA MASSIVE Festival in Sons d’Hiver, Paris, France
Listen to 3 Cards Trick’s “Songs” by clicking the link here.
Deb Cavanaugh, an award-winning folk artist from Saratoga Springs, has recently formed Deb Cavanaugh and Dandelion Wine, with their first release a cover of “Electric Avenue” by Eddy Grant.
Very much like Deb Cavanaugh‘s former band, General Eclectic, Dandelion Wine’s line-up may vary depending on the venue and availability of musicians. Dandelion Wine is Jared Carrozza on bass and Ben Hart on drums, who also provides vocals and occasional lead guitar.
The unique blend of blues, rock & roll, and folk is what gives Dandelion Wine a genre best defined as “psychedelic folk.”
Cavanaugh is a singer songwriter, artist educator, multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mountain dulcimer, mandolin & more) in Petersburg, NY playing feel-good Americana.
The group have also released a video, “New Age Guy,” recorded at The Jive Hive.
Brooklyn-based MC Skyzoo has dropped his newest studio creation, told from the point of view of “Franklin Saint”, the series protaganist of FX’s Snowfall. The video for lead single “Straight Drop” has also been released.
Skyzoo Releases New Concept Album
Art Imitating Art
Across this new 10 song character study, Skyzoo puts himself in the mind of the character, and raps about the motivations, surroundings, and the reality of the drug epidemic.
“When making this album, I wanted to do something that creatively pushed a button. Something that served a purpose, while trying to understand both sides of the fence that it represents. The idea of a fictional character, Franklin Saint, and what his innermost thoughts could be when dealing with the worlds he’s caught in between. What makes it so intriguing is that his character and his world are mirrors of a time and era that really happened. The birth of one of the world’s most addictive drugs and how its ripple effect took on a life that may seemingly never die. The crack era was one of the worst chapters in black America’s story. Using the Snowfall series as a vehicle to delve into both sides was truly fascinating as an emcee”.
Skyzoo
This companion experience comes at a perfect time, as the sixth and final season of FX’s Snowfall begins airing on February 22, 2023.
The Mind Of A Saint, Now available
A Successful Partnership
For this LP, Skyzoo once again teamed with D.C based The Other Guys. The production duo of Mighty Joe and Isaiah “Insanate” Mensah follow have been collaborating with Skyzoo for years. Their music chemistry is palpable on this project, which has relatable themes, even to those not familiar with Snowfall. The songs feature thoughtful interludes, and Pete Rock/DJ Premier-style outro beats at the end.
While not new to the ‘conceptual album” as evident on his previous projects, this is definitely Skyzoo’s most ambitious, and often grueling project.
“It was one of the most intense projects I’ve ever written. The idea of becoming a fictional character, which represents actual real-life events, making sure to hit every detail, from both the show and our real world, was a writing exercise like no other” Skyzoo claims. “I’m honored to have been able to do so, and I’m honored that The Other Guys trusted me to step outside a box, and truly push the envelope with this. Enjoy, and remember, like they told us in the ’80s: Just Say No.”
Skyzoo’s The Mind Of A Saint is now available at all DSP’s via First Generation Rich/HiPNOTT Records.
After years of delay, De La Soul will release their catalog on streaming services on March 3, 2023, the 34th anniversary of the release of 3 Feet High and Rising the Amityville groups’ debut release. The album, which went platinum, reached the top of the R&B chart, and even made it into the Top 40 of the pop music charts, including the single “The Magic Number.”
The influential Long Island group, including members Posdnuos, Trugoy the Dove and Pasemaster Mase found new life for “The Magic Number” after an appearance in the credits of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. The song would sample from the 1973 Bob Dorough song “3 is the Magic Number” – Somewhere in this hip-hop soul community / Was born three Mace, Dove, and Me / And that’s the magic number – as well as sampling James Brown, Johnny Cash and Eddie Murphy.
In addition to the digital reissue, “The Magic Number” has also been made available in a handful of physical formats, including a 7″ single and a cassette single.
The group revealed in 2019 that their six albums released while under contract with the Tommy Boy record label would be on streaming services soon. Disagreements with the label, as well as an exploitative contract that cut royalties for the group also made it difficult to clear samples used on the album. After Tommy Boy was acquired by Reservoir Media, a resolution was reached in 2021, leading to the six albums – 3 Feet High And Rising (1989), De La Soul Is Dead (1991), Buhloone Mindstate (1993), Stakes Is High (1996), Art Official Intelligence: Mosaic Thump (2000) and AOI: Bionix (2001) – to appearing on streaming services, effective March 3, 2023.
De La Soul’s last album was 2016’s And The Anonymous Nobody…, featured Talking Heads’ David Byrne, Little Dragon, 2 Chainz, Snoop Dogg, Samon Albarn, Estelle, Usher and more and was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Rap Album category.
The band, in speaking with Apple Music, reflected on their catalog, with Trugory saying “3 Feet High and Rising was inspired, maybe just the state that we were in as kids, just not afraid to say, ‘This is me.’ At the same time, it also gave birth to an era, a sound, a style in Hip Hop.”
Posdnuos added: “Dealing with how the media was labeling us, purposely putting us as the champion of gangsta rap or… None of that really mattered to us. We’re part of something that’s truly bigger than us, so now it’s even another thing of having a responsibility to continue on just for, one, three being three Black men who stuck together; two, being a part of a culture that wasn’t supposed to happen.”
The hip-hop collective will be touring the UK in April, playing shows in London, Glasgow, Nottingham and Manchester.
WNYC Studios and Futuro Studios announced that a second season of the critically-acclaimed, pioneering dual-language podcast, La Brega: Stories of the Puerto Rican Experience, will premiere on Jan. 26.
La Brega: Stories of the Puerto Rican Experience was hailed as one of the “Best Podcasts of 2021” by The New Yorker and The New York Times. Each episode in season two will be devoted to an iconic Puerto Rican song, as the island has a dizzying breadth of musical expression. The second season of La Brega will concentrate on the lyrical boleristas of the 1930s, the electric salseros of the 70s, and the reggaetoneros of today who have taken this music and spread it globally.
Hosted by Alana Casanova-Burgess, the podcast will once again bring together a collective of Puerto Rican journalists, producers, musicians, and artists. Some notable people this season that are featured include Salsa legend Rubén Blades, Latin Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Susana Baca, Puerto Rico-based hip-hop DJ, producer, and MC Andres “Velcro” Ramos, and Independent Puerto Rican journalist Bianca Graulau, best-known for her documentary, Aquí Vive Gente (People Live Here), featured as part of the music video for Bad Bunny’s “El Apagón.”
Kenya Young, Senior Vice President, WNYC Studios, spoke about La Brega in a statement.
La Brega was a pioneer of the dual-language podcast format, and it’s fitting that the second season spotlights and honors Puerto Rico’s influence on music and culture over time and across languages. These sound-rich and deeply reported stories embrace a nuance and beauty not always found in coverage of Puerto Rico. WNYC Studios is incredibly proud to partner with Futuro Studios to bring listeners a second season of La Brega.
Kenya Young
Burgess also said that the season will “shed light on the songs that reflect what it means to be Puerto Rican and part of the diaspora — about the pride and yearning we feel for home, and that resonates with people everywhere. They capture joy, frustration, love, loss, and wonder of the human experience — in short: la brega.” The Greene Space at WNYC and WQXR will be hosting a La Brega Season 2 Launch Party in New York on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. featuring the host, the band Balún, and DJ Christian Mártir for a night of music and dancing in celebration of the new season. Tickets for that are on sale now.
La Brega: The Puerto Rican Experience in Eight Songs will be available in both English and Spanish here and on all other platforms where podcasts are available.
Brooklyn soulful pop artist Raegan Sealy’s newest single “Make ‘em Jealous” just dropped on January 12th, an upbeat, indie soul piece set out to reframe the cliché of being stuck in a toxic relationship, with a satirical spin.
“Make ‘em Jealous,” featuring The Gang of Angels, an all-female choir from Nottingham, UK led by Honey Williams. Taking her inspiration from a diverse range of artists like the Arctic Monkeys, Lana Del Rey, Marina, and more, Sealy fuses her soul-pop vocals with an infectiously recurring beat.
Sealy’s new single shines optimism on the self-delusion that so often keeps us from moving on. “Make ‘em Jealous” reclaims the hope of strength and courage in the healing part of a breakup. With lyrics such as, “Everyone wants a sip of my love, but they just get a taste,” Sealy shows off her undeniable confidence and spunk.
“What is it that we tell ourselves in order to ‘stay?’ How does our ego react to accommodate disrespect? And how hilarious is that, when you think about it? This emotional push and pull in these dynamics is truly often like a Laurel and Hardy sketch,”
Raegan Sealy, on her new single.
Outside of music, Sealy is an advocate and teaching artist, and received a Fulbright Scholarship in 2015, one of the most prestigious academic scholarships in the world, along with her MFA from The New School. Continuing to sing and perform her own poetry, she has opened for Shane Koyczan, Kae Tempest, and Ice T. She even gave the first official TED Talk entirely in rhyming verse in 2019 which you can watch down below.
Now officially based in Brooklyn, Sealy has beautifully fused her musical and writing talents to tell her story as a soul-pop singer-songwriter. “Make ‘em Jealous” is the first in a series of singles Sealy will be releasing throughout 2023. But this new soulful single is sure to leave her listeners feeling more confident than ever.
To listen to Reagan Sealy’s new single “Make ’em Jealous,” click the link here.
To find more information on upcoming releases from Reagan Sealy, click the link here to access her website.
The third annual Women in Music Summit will take place from Jan. 25-27, with an exciting list of speakers and events taking place.
Women in Music speakers.
This year’s Summit will highlight various panels offering diverse topics and perspectives from leading industry professionals including Samantha Kirby, Cheryl Paglierani, Mari Davies, Jenna Gaudio, Dann Liebermann, Leslie Powell, Heidy Vaquerano, Christine Osazuwa, Lauren Smith Brody, and many more. It will be presented virtually, as it has in years past.
Founded in 1985, Women in Music is a non-profit organization with a mission to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts, through recognition, support, education, and empowerment. Different chapters are located all throughout the world, from LA to India. They believe the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome.
The organization provides panels, seminars, webinars, workshops, performance showcases, achievement awards, leadership summits, and global initiatives. The third annual Summit programming includes a career fair on day three, inspired by Women in Music’s new collegiate expansion, the WIM Mentorship Program and the WIM Internship Program, which places diverse candidates into paid in-house industry internships at partner companies, a talk from Author, Founder and CEO of The Fifth Trimester Lauren Smith Brody, and exploring data behind remote and hybrid models in the workplace.
The full schedule of events is below, and WIM members can register for free, and tickets are available for purchase to non-members here.
JANUARY 25: EDUCATE
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Title: How Artists Can Win with Brands on TikTok
Speakers:
Dann Liebermann, Head of Creative Partnerships, The Elements Music
Leslie Powell, Songwriter/Artist
Kelli Slade, Commercial Music and Creative Licensing Manager, Bytedance/TikTok
Moderator: Moira McCarthy, VP, Women in Music
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Title: Harnessing Digital Media Strategies for Success
Speakers:
Blair Miller, Founder & CEO, Chaos Creators
Cassie Petrey, Co-Founder, Crowd Surf
Temima Shames, Founder & CEO, Next Step Talent
Moderator: Tara Bendler Global Chair, Comm/Board of Directors, Women in Music; Talk Marketing, Spotify
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Title: Securing A Strong Publishing Deal For Long-Term Financial Stability
Speakers:
Heidy Vaquerano, Partner, Fox Rothschild, LLP
Mary Rahmani, Founder, Moon Projects
Ashley Winton, SVP Global Creative Services, Warner Chappell
Moderator: Kristin Robinson, Music Publishing Reporter, Billboard
Time: 4 p.m.
Title: Masterclass: Activist Artist Management
Speakers:
Liz Norris, Partner, Activist Artist Management
Caitlin Stone, Partner, Head of Activism, Activist Artist Management
Kris “Red” Tanner, Partner, Activist Artist Management
Moderator: Nicole Barsalona, President, Women in Music; Artist Manager
JANUARY 26: EMPOWER
Time: 12 p.m. ET
Title: More Than Just Treading Water: How to Survive and Grow as a Working Parent Right Now
Speaker: Lauren Smith Brody, Founder & CEO, The Fifth Trimester; Co-Founder, Chamber of Mothers
Moderator: Jessica Shaw, SVP Sync Licensing, Sony Music Entertainment
Sponsored by The Village (Sony Music Entertainment)
On Wednesday, January 11th, Robin Skinner held his first annual This Is Home benefit show at the new NYC venue Racket that opened just a few days prior. Better known by his stage name Cavetown, the 24-year-old indie-pop artist played alongside artists like Mxmtoon, Chloe Moriondo, Penelope Scott, Yot Club, Cafuné, Spookyghostboy, and Sydney Rose. With doors opening at 7, hundreds of excited fans lined up hours in advance for a night of jamming, dancing, raffles, and an overall fantastic show. All proceeds from the show went directly to the New Alternatives resource for LGBTQ+ homeless youth.
Cavetown
The UK-based singer began his music career at age 13 by uploading videos of his original music to YouTube and sharing songs on the streaming service Bandcamp. He previously played in March of 2022 at the Terminal 5 venue with Spookyghostboy on the guitar. Being a part of the community himself, Skinner plans to host this fundraiser show yearly in support of LGBTQ+ charities.
Spookyghostboy took the stage at 7:30, playing a fifteen minute set for his first live performance in over three years. Also known as Austin Thomas, the indie-pop artist began his career in 2012 with the release of his first EP called The Forest Summer.
Spookyghostboy
Sydney Rose, a singer-songwriter from Georgia who gained popularity after her covers of “Turning Page” and “Home” went viral on TikTok, entered at 7:55. Also playing a fifteen minute set filled with beautiful vocals during songs, “Idk What I Did” and two unreleased ones, the rising artist put on a phenomenal performance.
Sydney Rose
Yot Club, the lo-fi bedroom pop artist from Mississippi also known as Ryan Kaiser, played many songs like “YKWIM” and “Fly Out West” during his set. His unique and distinguishable sound which he created through his masterful songwriting, producing, mixing, and mastering could be heard throughout his fifteen minute set. He is set to tour in North America between February and March of 2023.
Yot Club
Penelope Scott, evoking comedic, chaotic, and straightforward lyrics with her edgy guitar did not fail to put on an incredible performance with her unique songwriting and vocals. She played unreleased songs as well as some from her popular self-produced album Public Void, which gained massive popularity in 2020.
Penelope Scott
Next on the list was Cafuné, a native New York duo consisting of singer-songwriter Sedona Schat and producer Noah Yoo. The two, creating indie-pop tracks like “Tek It” and “Talk,” met at NYU in 2014 and have been making music ever since. Their song “Tek It” went viral just last year and the band is now signed to Elektra Records. Schat and Yoo are starting their North American tour in February 2023 and are set to have a New York show on March 28th at the Bowery Ballroom.
Cafuné
Chloe Moriondo entered shortly after as the second-to-last opening act. A close friend of Cavetown’s and featuring on many songs of his like “Snail” from his Sleepyhead album and “grey space” from his recent worm food release, Moriondo excitedly jumped and sang along to songs like “Plastic Purse” and “I Eat Boys.” Rocking her cyberpunk outfit, pink hair, and iconic eyelashes, the indie-rock singer amazed ecstatic fans with her powerful vocals. Beginning her music career as a teenager by posting song covers to her YouTube channel, she quickly got the attention of Skinner and has opened for him during past tours.
Chloe Moriondo
Mxmtoon played the last opening set at 10, performing songs like “prom dress” and “seasonal depression” from her the masquerade album—which Skinner helped produce. She also sang “mona lisa” from her recent album release, rising. The bedroom-pop artist from northern California played a captivating and electrifying set with her signature instrument—the ukulele—and encouraged the audience to sing along with her.
Mxmtoon
The intimate Racket venue, with a capacity of 650 and looking fresh and newly furbished, hosted a wonderful show. Being much smaller and more intimate than his last NYC concert, the chill and refreshing vibe was evident as Robin interacted with his young and delighted fans. The fully-acoustic set of each artist and the gift-giving of fans added to this happy mood. Mxmtoon accepted many fan gifts like hand-sketched art and an egg-shaped stuffed animal which she named upon arriving. A bouquet of flowers surprised Sydney Rose as she exited the stage, and Robin received a variety of pictures, flags, and letters. Spookyghostboy came out to announce the raffle winners, which included prizes like vinyl pressings and one signed custom Cavetown Fender guitar. Skinner showed the crowd his new “blue chrome ombre” nails and asked whether the New York water gave them “crazy good hair.”
Cavetown Setlist: Lemon Boy, 1994, Idea of Her, fall in love with a girl, Juliet, frog, wasabi, a kind thing to do, worm food, This Is Home
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 Haley Moley and Atelo Songs
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.
Haley Moley-“Amy”
Based in Troy, Haley Moley is comprised of house music DJ and dance music producer Jennifer Maher Coleman and features Paul Coleman on guitar, Andrea Kosek on keyboard and guitar, Pat Thorpe on bass, and Mike Broomhead on drums. Their newest single “Amy” off of their upcoming album Everybody Wins will be featured on EQXposure.
Atelo Songs-“words”
Sam Gleason, or Atelo Songs, got his start over a decade ago performing at various venues throughout the state of New York. He is a singer/songwriter and producer who creates music spanning a wide variety of genres, including pop, rock, folk, psychedelic, and new wave. He plays constantly throughout the state, having played with artists such as Jimmy Webb and Charles NeVille, and continues to keep writing, recording, and putting out as much music as possible. He currently resides in Albany, and his latest single “words” will be played on EQXposure.
Born from the depths of the 2020 Pandemic, Neon Avenue is a group of Capital Region musicians came together to play the music of the Grateful Dead. With the stalling of the music industry, a creative outlet was needed for these 5 individuals. What was first a casual get together playing some dead tunes quickly escalated into a singular goal of putting together a live stream. Something special happened during these early sessions/shows and a “one-and-done” livestream turned into something much more.
In less than 2 years as a band, Neon Avenue has made quite a stir in the ever popular (and saturated) Gratefully-inspired tribute scene, growing quickly to become one of the bigger draws in the Upstate NY capital region Dead scene. The band brings a fresh take on the Grateful music that you know and love while placing an emphasis on improvisation, unique setlist construction, deeper cuts into the grateful songbook and a primal energy that they draw from their loyal fans during live performances. With past appearances at the Town of Hoosick Falls concert series, Long Lake’s “Meat.Beer.Music” music festival, as well as scheduled appearances at Lake George Steamboat Company’s “Rock the Dock Music Festival”, “Rockin’ on the River” for the city of Troy, and numerous headlining shows around the Capital region, the word has certainly gotten out about this band. Composed of veteran musicians from numerous local groups like Formula 5, Slipknot! (80’s/90’s Dead tribute), Stone Revival Band, Knot Dead, Jocamo, and more, this combination of players has set out to push the boundaries of the standard Dead tribute.
The group of Joe Davis (Formula 5), Mike Urbon (Knot Dead), Mike Cassels (Stone Revival Band, Jocamo, Knot Dead), Mike McDonald (Formula 5, Knot Dead) and Doug Klein (Slipknot, Robanic, Knot Dead) were re-inspired playing the music of the Grateful Dead, Jerry Garcia Band, Ratdog, and others. While existing in an endless sea of 1970’s era Grateful Dead tributes, this group strives to separate itself with a dedication to unique arrangements of setlists and song segues, utilizing extended improvisation, playing deeper cuts from all eras of the Dead, JGB, and Ratdog songbook.
