New York’s goth metal band Nefariant have released their new single “Beg” this August. The first single from their upcoming EP Noct scheduled to release on February 9th, 2024.
The band includes quartet members vocalist Jason Lekberg, pianist Paul Cibrano, bassist Daniel Martinez, and drummer Andrew Maciejewski. They’ve created a new expression of music they call ‘brutal elegance’ that allows metal to work without a guitarist. The band defines their music by using vocals, piano and bass elements to produce an intense and powerful genre of hard metal.
‘Beg’ begins with an instrumental build up that provokes the listeners as Lekberg emits strong and powerful vocals accompanied by the drums. Nefariant once again produces the sound of heavy metal with an array of growled vocals. Thematically darker and deeper with a progressive theme of self-realization and independence.
Nefariant has begun the release process for Noct by releasing one song a month, starting with “Beg”. In addition, the band has announced an upcoming show in Brooklyn on October 21st at The Meadows. Not only did they release just a new single but a music video as well, highlighting how the song adopts strong vocals, drums and invokes an emotional response that connects the fans to the band.
Pink Talking Fish has mapped out the rest of 2023 with an extensive December tour, that brings the band from the east coast, with shows in Port Chester and Buffalo, before heading west with a New Years run in Denver. A pair of shows in December will also feature the legendary Giant Country Horns for a pair of shows with Pink Talking Fish.
After a run of shows in September and October, Pink Talking Fish will kick off December by bringing Phish’s horn section “The Giant Country Horns” out for 2 shows in Burlington VT and Keene NH. The Keene show is at The Colonial Theatre which is home to one of the more famous performances during the 1991 Phish Tour with The Giant Country Horns and became a Live Phish release.
A Midwest run starts in Buffalo at Buffalo Iron Works on December 13, and will then move through Ohio and end in Chicago IL, and following a holiday break, Pink Talking Fish will close out the year with a two-show run in Denver, CO on 12/30 and 12/31.
Pink Talking Fish Fall Tour
9/08: Syracuse NY at The Westcott Theater
9/09: Bedminster NJ at Fiddlefest
9/10: Weatogue CT at Talcott Mountain Collective
9/16: Morrisville VT at Oxbow Riverfront Park – Keep On Growing
9/22: Plymouth NH at The Flying Monkey – Dark Side Of The Moon 50th Anniversary Celebration
9/23: Boston MA at The Paradise – 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
10/04: Washington DC at Pearl Street Warehouse
10/05: Waynesboro VA at The Foundry
10/06: Raleigh NC at Bowstring Brewyard
10/07: Charleston SC at The Pour House
10/08: Asheville NC at Salvage Station
10/14: Port Chester NY at The Capitol Theatre – This Must Be The Cirque
10/21: Ardmore PA at Ardmore Music Hall
10/27: East Greenwich RI at The Greenwich Odeum
10/28: Port Washington NY at Landmark On Main
Pink Talking Fish December Tour
12/01: Burlington VT at Higher Ground – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/02: Keene NH at The Colonial Theatre – w/ The Giant Country Horns
12/09: Portland ME at The State Theatre
12/13: Buffalo NY at Buffalo Iron Works
12/14: Columbus OH at Woodlands Tavern
12/15: Covington KY at The Madison Theater
12/16: Chicago IL at Park West
12/30: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
12/31: Denver CO at So Many Roads Museum & Brewery
New York City is the epicenter of music-making and recording studios in the Empire State, and the Big Apple has over 200 studios spread across the five boroughs. In doing so, New York City surpasses the rest of the state by having the most recording studios in a single region.
Numerous prominent names in the music business have recorded in New York City, including New York natives Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, Lana Del Ray, Christina Aguilera, Lady Gaga, Q-Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Mariah Carey, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as non-natives like Britney Spears, Beyonce, Destiny’s Child, Kanye West, Rihanna, Whitney Houston, Sia, Taylor Swift, and Gwen Stefani. For the first time, we are doing what no major outlet has done before, listing all the recording studios in New York State and the prominent singers who have made music there.
Radio City Music Hall is one of the top music and entertainment venues in New York State, where several of the industry’s top performers have had shows.
Electric Lady Studios in Greenwich Village has been the go-to studio for several recording artists and originally came to be in 1968 after Jimi Hendrix and his manager Michael Jeffery bought a newly defunct nightclub called The Generation. On August 26, 1970, Hendrix hosted the grand opening of his psychedelic studio lair to fellow musicians and friends. Guests included Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton, Ron Wood, and Patti Smith. Today, Electric Lady Studios is made famous by Jimi Hendrix and classic 70s sessions with The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Patti Smith, among others, and maintains its reputation as the most hallowed grounds for recorded music. It is the oldest working and thriving recording studio in New York City.
“I put on my straw hat and walked downtown, but when I got there, I couldn’t bring myself to go in,” recalls Patti Smith in her award-winning memoir, Just Kids. “By chance, Jimi Hendrix came up the stairs and found me sitting there like some hick wallflower and grinned.”
Electric Lady has four studios available for artists’ use, A, B, C, and D.
Studio “A” is home to a fully restored Neve 8078 – a hand-wired analog console that as recently as 2011 absorbed 2500 hours of highly skilled labor, utilizing only the highest-end components. The console was later outfitted with Martin Sound Flying Faders II. The studio’s 35′ x 38′ live room boasts an impressive collection of vintage microphones, instruments, and amps, as well as an almost palpable history. It is Electric Lady’s largest and most versatile space.
Studio A of Electric Lady Studios in New York City.Studio B of Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
For ten years, Studio C has been home to mix engineer Tom Elmhirst. Elmhirst has worked with artists like Adele, Frank Ocean, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, and more, including 16 Grammy wins. He currently holds the record for most Grammys won by an engineer in a single year. Recent projects at Electric Lady include Adele’s “30,” James Blake’s “Friends That Break Your Heart,” and YEBBA’s “Dawn.”
Tom Elmhirst, mix engineer at Electric Lady Studios in New York City. Studio D at Electric Lady Studios in New York City.
Significant Artists who have recorded at Electric Lady include Beyonce (I am… Sasha Fierce,) Britney Spears (Oops I Did It Again,) Carly Rae Jepsen (Dedicated Side B,) Christina Aguilera (Stripped,) Destiny’s Child (The Writing’s on the Wall,) Gwen Stefani (The Sweet Escape,) J. Cole (For Your Eyez Only,) Kanye West (My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy,) Kid Cudi (Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager and Satellite Flight: The Journey to Mother Moon,) Lady Gaga (Joanne, A Star is Born, and Chromatica,) Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett (Love for Sale,) Lorde, (Melodrama and Solar Power) Lana Del Rey, (Born to Die, Ultraviolence, Honeymoon, Lust for Life, Norman Fucking Rockwell, and Chemtrails over the Country Club)Mariah Carey, (Caution,) Maroon 5, (Red Pill Blues,) Sia, (Music – Songs from and Inspired by the Motion Picture,) and Taylor Swift, (Lover, Folklore, Fearless (Taylor’s version) Red (Taylor’s version) and Midnighs.)
Premier Recording Studio has been graced by musicians such as Beyonce, Ne-Yo, Wiz Khalifa, Aaliyah, Usher, Justin Bieber, and DMX. J. Cole recorded his second studio album, Born Sinner (2013); Nicki Minaj recorded her fourth studio album, Queen (2018); and Travis Scott recorded his debut studio album, Rodeo (2015) at Premier. The facility has four studios at artists’ disposal, A, B, E, and F.
Studio A is made up of a 9′ x 15′ Lounge, an 18′ x 21′ Control Room, a 21′ 24′ Live Room, and a 9′ x 14′ Iso Booth. Studio B is made up of a 15′ x 18′ Lounge, a 20′ x 20′ Control Room, a 9′ x 14′ Iso Booth, and a 20′ x 21′ live room. Studio E comprises a 10 x 13′ Lounge, an 8 x 16′ Iso Booth, and a 16′ x 23′ Control Room. Studio F comprises a 10′ x 13′ Lounge, an 8′ x 13′ Iso Booth, and an 11 x 23 Control Room.
The Control Room in Studio A of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.The Live Room in Studio A of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.The Iso Booth in Studio A of Premier Recording Studios in New York City. The Control Room in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios.The Lounge in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.The Iso Booth in Studio B of Premier Recording Studios in New York City. The Control Room in Studio E of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.The Vocal Booth in Studio E of Premier Recording Studio in New York City.The Lounge in Studio E of Premier Recording Studios in New York City.
Random Chance Records in New York City was built by Farida Sheralam, and the studio’s website was created with NationBuilder. Sheralam was working on a book about the life of blues mandolinist James “Yank” Rachell (Blues Mandolin Man, University Press of Mississippi, 2001.) She thought about all of Rachell’s LPs that were out of date by that point, and in the process of obtaining the rights to Rachell’s music, Sheralam inadvertently created a record label. Sheralam obtained a bar code, website, advertising in blues magazines, etc. Then she started getting sent demos from artists, and the rest is history. Since then, Sheralam has kept the label going and has released some really good blues, jazz, Latin, world, and whatever CDs.
The Hit Factory Recording Studio on Broadway in New York City, owned and operated by Troy Germano and also known as Germano Studios, first opened in 1969. In 1975, when Troy was first beginning his career in the music industry, his father, singer, and record producer Ed Germano purchased The Hit Factory, incorporated it into a business, redesigned its studios, and created the logo it uses today, bringing his son along for the journey. Troy experienced the company from the ground up, starting in the tape library and eventually becoming Executive Vice President in 1984. Before opening its current location in the Noho District in 2008 and becoming known as Germano Studios | The Hit Factory, the studio moved around multiple times throughout New York City. Additionally, The Hit Factory has locations in other big cities like Los Angeles and Miami.
The Hit Factory/Germano Studios has produced music for Q-Tip (Amplified) Alicia Keys (Songs in a Mirror, Diary of Alicia Keys, and The Elements of Freedom) Beyonce (Dangerously in Love,) Britney Spears (Britney,) Celine Dion (The Color of My Love, Falling into You, and Let’s Talk About Love,) Christina Aguilera (Stripped,) Coldplay (X&Y,) Destiny’s Child (The Writing’s on the Wall and Survivor,) Jay-Z (The Life and Times of St. Carter,) Mariah Carey (Merry Christmas, and Butterfly,) TLC (Crazysexycool,) Ariana Grande (Sweetener,) Christina Aguilera (Liberation,) Nicki Minaj (Queen,) Kanye West (Yeezus and The Life of Pablo, Kid Cudi, (Man on the Moon II: The Legend of Mr. Rager) Lady Gaga (Born This Way) Lil Uzi Vert (Luv is Rage 2,) Mariah Carey (Merry Christmas II You,) Meghan Trainor (Title,) One Republic (Native,) Post Malone (Stoney, Hollywood’s Bleeding, and Twelve Carat Toothache,) andRihanna, Rated R.)
The Hit Factory has two studios available for use by musicians. Studio 1 is the ideal recording studio for cutting basic tracks as well as mixing for your latest album or single. The live room recently added a C. Bechstein Concert L167 baby grand acoustic piano. The control room has the deepest array of analog outboard gear paired with an endless list of plugins unrivaled by any other U.S. music studio. This studio has become one of the top vocal recording environments in New York City, and what separates Studio 1 from any other recording environment is the complete privacy matched with the constant updating of its equipment and plugins.
Studio 2 is perfectly situated for those mixing projects that are geared toward the mix engineer and producer. The live room recently added a Bechstein A2 upright acoustic piano. The live room is predominantly utilized for lead & background vocals, key drum or guitar overdubs, or any writing session required. A 5-piece group of background vocalists, a string quartet, or a 6-piece horn section can be accommodated by the live recording space. The selection of analog outboard gear and near-field/mid-field monitoring is extensive and the main monitoring is the same Exigy S412G system with custom dual 18” subwoofers featured in Studio 1.
The C. Bechstein Concert L167 baby grand acoustic piano in Studio A of The Hit Factory in New York City.Studio 2 of The Hit Factory in New York City.
Battery Studios is Sony Music Entertainment’s New York City-based music production facility. Battery houses the technology to playback almost all existing audio formats and is capable of stereo and surround mastering, audio restoration and digitization, file verification, and immersive audio mixing. The studio has produced music for A Tribe Called Quest (People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm, The Low End Theory, Midnight Marauders, Beats, Rhymes, and Life, and The Love Movement) Alicia Keys, Britney Spears (Baby One More Time, Oops I Did It Again, Britney, In The Zone, and Greatest Hits: My Peragotive,) JoJo (JoJo and The High Road,) and Nysnc (No Strings Attached and Celebrity.)
Some of the equipment at Battery Studios in New York City.
Threshold Recording Studio in Manhattan’s Midtown Westneighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen has been in operation since 1997, offering award-winning recording studios, music production, artist development, and commercial project management. Threshold Studios is a hands-on, owner-operated facility with an unparalleled client list from the best and brightest of Broadway to some of the biggest pop stars of the 20th century- and every major broadcast media outlet in between. The studio features top-of-the-line vintage analog and digital gear including Protools HD, logic pro x, and more.
Threshold Recording Studios NYC Vocal Booth Mic Facing Piano.Piano in Live room rear perspective Threshold Recording Studios NYC.The Console at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.The live room at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.The Baldwin 7′ Acoustic Grand Piano at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.The vocal booth at Threshold Recording Studio in New York City.
Quad Recording Studios in New York City has produced music for Alicia Keys (Diary of Alicia Keys,) Chris Brown (Heartbreak on a Full Moon,)Goo Goo Dolls, (Magnetic,)Jay-Z, Volume 2…Hard Knock Life and Vol. 3…The Life and Times of St. Carter,) Jessie J (Who You Are,) Kanye West (The College Dropout,) Mariah Carey (Rainbow and Charmbracelet,)Pop Smoke (Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon,) Post Malone (Beerbongs and Bentleys, and Hollywood’s Bleeding,) Selena Gomez and the Scene, (When the Sun Goes Down,)and Taylor Swift, (Taylor Swift, and Fearless.) Quad is equipped with five studios for use by artists, Q1-5, and the event space Club Quad.
Q1, known as the best-sounding room in the city, can handle all your recording needs. Q1 offers an array of outboard gear and a 64 Channel Neve Genesys Black. The room uses the latest Augspurger technology making it one of the loudest and cleanest sounding rooms in the city. When not in the studio you can relax in the only private studio lounge with panoramic views of Times Square. Studio Q1 also offers a large live room capable of handling extensive tracking sessions.
The Control Room in Studio Q1 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.The Live Room in Studio Q1 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.The Lounge at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
Q2 is known as the medium format studio, with a built-in vocal booth making it ideal for vocal tracking and all sorts of production. Q2 uses a Dual 12” Augspurger system with 18” subs. Numerous hits such as Trains “Soul Sister“ have been recorded in Q2. The room comes with a private lounge and a small balcony overlooking Times Square.
Studio Q2 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
Q3 is our most affordable room and uses one of Augspurgers newest products, the Duo 8 system. Equipped with a 35 sq/ft isolation booth, Q3 is perfect for in-the-box production and vocal tracking.
Studio Q3 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
Q4is Quad’s latest room and is located on the 12th floor. Built on the success of Quad’s infamous Studio Q1, Studio Q4 offers the same technology and vibe experience found throughout our legendary facility. With a dual 15’“ Augspurgers system accompanied by dual 18” subs, this system will shake you to the core.
Studio Q4 at Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
Q5 is Quad’s largest room and houses the largest Augspurger sound system in the city. Frequented by mainly major labels, Q5 is also available for bookings by an independent artist. With a large live room and high-end preamps like Neve, SSL, and API, this room is ideal for large tracking sessions.
The Control Room in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.The Live Room in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.The Private Lounge in Studio Q5 of Quad Recording Studios in New York City.
The Cutting Room Studios has two locations in New York City, located in the heart of Manhattan in Greenwich Village and Chelsea. The studio offers a variety of recording/mixing, music production, mastering, and more services. The Cutting Room has produced music for Cardi B (An Invasion of Privacy,) Lana Del Ray (Born to Die,) and Post Malone (Stoney.)
The Cutting Room offers two studios, A and B, and a control room for use by clients. Studio A is the main tracking and mixing room and features a 48 Channel Solid State Logic Duality Console, as well as a Yamaha C5 grand piano. Additionally, a large selection of vintage outboard gear is available in Studio A. The bright and spacious room with urban views along Lafayette and 4th Street provides clients with a relaxed creative environment while remaining in the heart of the city. For late-night sessions, rooms are equipped with Philips Hue lighting, so you can get the color and vibe just right.
Jungle City Studios in Chelsea, the art capital of New York, strives to bring back the golden age of New York City recording studios with an awe-inspiring artistic space never seen before. Founded by Rocco Berardi, Rosemary Spallina, Ann Mincieli, and Robert Baccigalupi and managed by Phil Spallina this three-room creative space fosters an intimate atmosphere while providing inspiring wide skyline views. Mincieli, longtime engineer and studio coordinator for Alicia Keys, has channeled her talents into making Jungle a technical prowess featuring the very best in vintage and modern technology. With over twenty years of experience in the music business, Mincieli has traveled the world engineering for some of the industry’s most renowned artists: Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Drake, Mariah Carey, Usher, Jennifer Hudson, and Whitney Houston, to name a few. Jungle City has been designed to please the most demanding and diversified lover of sound and music.
Additionally, Jungle City has recorded music for Alicia Keys (Girl on Fire, Here, and Alicia, Keys,) Ariana Grande (Sweetener, Thank u next and Positions,)Beyonce (4, Beyonce, and Lemonade,)Chris Brown (Heartbreak on a Full Moon,) Demi Lovato (Tell Me You Love Me,) Drake (Nothing Was the Same,) J. Cole (2014 Forest Hills Drive,) Jay-Z (Magna Carta Holy Grail,)Nicki Minaj, (Queen,)Justin Timberlake (The 20/20 Experience 1 & 2 and Man of the Woods,) Kanye West (The Life of Pablo,)Katy Perry (Prism)Lorde (Melodrama) Post Malone(Twelve Carat Toothache,) Rihanna (Anti,) Taylor Swift (1989,) The Weekend (Beauty Behind the Madness and After Hours,) and Zendaya, (Zendaya.)
Jungle City is equipped with four studios, East, West, North, and South, and Rooftop Lounge for recording artists. Jungle City Studios Penthouse Studio East features a retro-futuristic design which includes a cutting-edge 48-input SSL Duality Console and a vintage EMI TGI12345 Mark III Console. With the perfect blend of analog and digital gear, Jungle City’s Penthouse Studio East can accommodate any project. Whether it’s recording or mixing an album project, 5.1 surround mixing, video shoots, hosting a listening session or just having an event, the 2400 sq foot space is completely private and is well-fitted with all the latest technologies. The Dual 15″ Augspurger monitors were explicitly built for the dimensions of the room and are beautifully set in the control room glass.
The Penthouse East Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
The Penthouse West Studio is one of Jungle City’s two larger studio accommodations. Mirroring Penthouse East, it features a retro-futuristic design that includes a cutting-edge 48-input SSL Duality Console and a vintage EMI TGI12345 Mark III Console. With the perfect blend of analog and digital gear, Jungle City’s Penthouse can accommodate any project, whether it’s recording or mixing an album project, 5.1 surround mixing, video shoots, hosting a listening session or just having an event, the 2400 sq foot space is completely private and is well fitted with all the latest technologies.
The Penthouse West Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
One of two mix/overdub/production suites on Jungle City’s 10th floor, the North Studio is outfitted with a 32-input Avid D-Control and Pro Tools HD4 with Expansion Chassis. Centered around Digidesign’s Icon D-Control, Studio North is the perfect room for working in the box. The 32-input Icon is the ideal control surface for both Stereo and 5.1 Surround mix sessions. The room is perfectly complemented by a 16-channel EMI Chandler Limited Mini Rack Mixer for summing as well a 2-Channel Lavry Blue converter. Studio North also is equipped with the Antelope Isochrone OCX-V and Isochrone 10M Rubidium Atomic Clock for a tighter, more focused sound that will translate flawlessly in your final mix through our custom 15″ Augspurger Main Monitors and 18″ Pioneer Subwoofers.
The Penthouse North Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
The Penthouse South Studio, lushly appointed with custom work counters, innovative, perforated absorbing diffusers, and acoustically-tuned walls, is one the most versatile rooms in New York City. At the core of the room is the dual-functional Euphonix S5 Fusion console with the ability to become a 64-channel digital desk at the touch of a button. The Euphonix S5 Fusion is one of the most cutting-edge digital consoles using Avid’s latest Madi Converters which allows you to mix utilizing Euphonix’s 40-bit floating point processing.
The Penthouse South Studio at Jungle City Studios in New York City.The Rooftop Lounge at Jungle City Studios in New York City.The VIew of the Manhattan skyline from the Rooftop Lounge at Jungle City Studios in New York City.
The Smooth Spot Recording Studio in Midtown Manhattan is owned by Michael Kevin Walsh, offers a wide array of video and editing services, and is the ideal place for opera, jazz, R&B, rock, pop, voice-over, and musical theater artists in New York City. At the heart of this New York City studio is a whisper-quiet isolation booth where artists can record vocals using the highest-quality microphones available. Whether this is your first time in a recording studio or you are an accomplished professional, The Smooth Spot Recording Studio is the perfect place to record any track.
Flux Studios is a six-room, 10,000 sq. ft. cutting-edge recording, mixing, and mastering music studio located in the East Village of New York City.
Featuring acoustics by Fran Manzella, the Dangerous Room offers a 36-channel 1974 custom Neve console, a Pro Tools HDX system with 32 channels of Avid HD I/O, Focal and ProAc monitors, and the best selection of vintage and modern outboard gear as well as full assortment of up to date plugins, including the complete UAD collection, Waves Horizon bundle and all Avid, Sonnox, Soundtoys, and Flux plugins among others. The Dangerous room, like all Flux Studios’ rooms, is 100% Thunderbolt compatible, allowing visiting producers and engineers to use their personal computers to drive the room’s infrastructure if they desire to do so. It’s the fastest and easiest way to convert a home studio project into a professional project without export and plugin hassles.
The Dangerous Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
Dangerous’ 486 sq ft live room has two separate isolation rooms and a vocal booth with a full line of sight into the live room and the control room. The live room is modular and can be separated into two sonically isolated 200 sq ft rooms with a line of sight. The live room also features a collection of high-end instruments and amps, including a Yamaha C6 Grand Piano with Disklavier system, late 70s Yamaha Recording Custom drums, a 70s Fender Rhodes, a 70s Wurlitzer electric piano, and a 60s Hammond C3 organ with matching Leslie.
The Dungeon room, acoustically tuned by Vicoustics and powered by Focal Trio11 Be + dual Sub6 speaker system, provides an impeccable listening environment for modern music production. Outfitted with a 9.1.4 DOLBY ATMOS setup powered by Focal speakers and managed by a Trinnov room correction system, this room is ideal for mixing in both stereo and spacial audio formats, as well as providing an inviting atmosphere for producing, writing, and recording. The full Pro Tools HDX system, featuring 24 I/O via an Avid HD IO along with a Universal Audio Apollo x8, is readily accessible via Thunderbolt for producers who want to work on their computer and still have access to the room’s gear. The built-in computer features Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, and Ableton Live 9, as well as an up-to-date series of UAD Complete, Sonnox, Soundtoys, FabFilter, NI Komplete plugins, and the Waves Horizon Bundle.
The 208sq ft control room is designed to accommodate writing sessions with easy access to keyboards and instruments. It boasts an assortment of preamps and compressors by brands such as Avalon, dbx, Shadow Hills, Universal Audio, and CAPI among others. The center of the studio is a 24-channel Digidesign D-Command digital console. The accompanying 250sq ft live room has concrete floors and a 12ft ceiling height with a separate vocal booth and an amp iso. Flux Studios has a long list of instruments including a collection of analog synths perfect for writing and tracking sessions.
The Dungeon Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
The Transporter Room is Flux Studios’ all-in-one creative room, designed to allow producers and musicians to quickly go from writing to recording instruments and vocals, and from creating beats to mixing. Powered by Barefoot Master Stack speakers, an SSL Matrix board, and a selection of vintage Neve preamps and various analog compressors, Transporter is the premier writing room in the building. Over the years it has been the launching pad for major artists like The Strokes, The Rapture, Mark Ronson, John Hill, ASAP Ferg, and many others. The large 282 sq ft control room has a vocal tracking area surrounded by TubeTrap treatment, a customized upright piano, analog synths, Fender electric guitar and bass guitar, and midi keyboards.
The Transporter Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
The Fabulous Room is a mixing and mastering studio featuring the highest quality analog and digital gear for a super clean signal flow. It boasts a full assortment of outboards by Dangerous, Neumann, GML, Mercury, API, and many others. Ample space and a flawless listening environment via Focal monitors make it a premier mixing and mastering facility. The Fabulous room also houses an arsenal of vintage analog and hard-to-find synths making it a perfect space for writing and producing. Inspiration comes rapidly when sitting in front of a real CS80 or a perfect Prophet V, Octave Cat, or MS20 among others.
The Fabulous Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
The inspiration room is a writing and production room with perfect integration of a range of digital and analog instruments via a Universal Audio Apollo extended system. The real-time processing power of the UAD hardware and software enables the producer to focus on writing music rather than patching cables.
The Inspiration Room at Flux Studios in New York City.
Home to legendary producer David Kahne, the Revolution room is an ideal production room with a 205 sq ft control room and an adjacent vocal booth that enables tracking of vocals and instruments. The 12ft ceilings make it a pleasant listening environment while two large windows provide natural light during the day.
The Revolution Room at Flux Studios in New York City.Flux Studios in New York City.
Mirrortone Studios is one of the premier recording studios in New York City, with over a decade of producing music for Grammy-winning artists, major labels, and indie musicians alike. In addition to being one of the most sought-after artist-run recording studios, Mirrortone has composed music and provided audio-post services for agencies, brands, commercials, television, feature films, apps, branded content, and videos of all types. Mirrortone offers several services including mixing/mastering, artist/album recording, original music production, track production, professional score recording, and more.
Mirrortone Studios was founded by Jay Rothman and Roman Molino Dunn, who also serve as composers and producers. Rothman is an award-winning New York-based Composer, Producer, and Sound Designer scoring films, and commercials, producing bands, and creating sound design for people and companies of all sizes around the globe. Dunn is an award-winning composer, Billboard-charting music producer (a.k.a Electropoint), and co-owner of Mirrortone Studios in New York City. He has composed and produced music for advertising agencies, corporations, television commercials, TV shows, feature films, radio, and internet campaigns, and his productions have climbed the top 20 Billboard and iTunes charts.
James Quesada serves as a recording and mixing engineer at Mirrortone Studios. Quesada’s engineering style is equal parts industry polish and indie grit. He’s known for being easy to work with, creating an artistic environment, and having fun while getting the important work done. Having worked on countless albums, EPs, singles, and post-productions, he finds inspiration in every genre from garage rock to future trap, radio drama to film score. More than working in any genre, Quesade loves working with people.
Rhode Island born pop-artist JVKE took the scenic stage at the Rooftop at Pier 17 this past Wednesday, August 30th. Fans from all over – and many of them younger kids with their parents – flocked to see the “golden hour” singer put on his This is What Tour Feels Like show.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
JVKE, blowing up in part on TikTok for songs like “this is what falling in love feels like” and “this is what sadness feels like,” previously played at Irving Plaza on January 25th. Crafting songs with his producer-brother Zac truly transformed JVKE’s music into the masterpieces they are today. The body-shaking beats, powerful vocals, and intricate piano accompaniments have created a sound so uniquely him. Aside from the beautiful melodies and productions of each song, JVKE’s lyrics touch on heavy subjects like love, heartbreak, sadness, and acceptance in the most unfiltered and gut-wrenching way.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
Before the show began, a robotic-like female voice came on and introduced itself as JVKE’s emotional intelligence. The stage was set up like his bedroom, with JVKE even sporting a pair of plaid pajama pants and a black oversized hoodie. As he journeyed through his this is what ____ feels like album—which is divided into four groups of three songs—he made a point to give a small anecdote for each by detailing his experiences with certain people and emotions. For example, during “this is what heartbreak feels like,” “i’m not okay,” and “ghost town,” JVKE described the betrayal and utter hopelessness he felt after his first breakup. Before singing songs “this is what falling out of love feels like,” “catch me,” and “i can’t help it,” he described his initial struggle but ultimate success in moving on from that past relationship. JVKE is truly a talented storyteller, as emotions were at an all-time high throughout the whole show.
JVKE, photographed by Sarah Hyun
During “golden hour,” JVKE sat down at his bedroom desk and began playing the iconic opening notes on a keyboard that laid there. Children eagerly climbed onto their parents tall shoulders, tweens stood on their tippy-toes with poster in hand, and couples slow-danced in the back of the crowd as golden lights lit up with venue. The performance of this song was truly breathtaking. Fans passionately reached out their hands as they belted lyrics like, “I don’t need no light to see you shine” // “It’s your golden hour” // “You slow down time” // “In your golden hour.”
JVKE ended the night at Rooftop at Pier 17 with an incredible encore and promised to return for another show. He has two more scheduled dates for this run of tour, one in Philadelphia and another in Boston.
GRAMMY Award-winning singer/songwriter Joanie Leeds has announced her protest against the controversial banned books movement with her new record FREADOM.
Her daughter’s voice opens FREADOM with a heartfelt protest, introducing the powerful anthem “Banned,” setting the emotional tone for the album. Leeds and her all-star Book Band (featuring Regina Carter, Oran Etkin, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, Divinity Roxx, and SaulPaul) celebrate many of the banned children’s books with a new collection of eight original songs that joyously amplify messages of love and inclusion.
A leading progressive voice in children’s music, the New York City-based artist Joanie Leeds is a national touring artist, early childhood educator, and activist. Since the 2003 release of her album, Soul from My Footsteps, her witty, heartfelt, and righteous body of work has earned numerous awards. Her 2020 gender equality album for families, All the Ladies, won a GRAMMY Award for “Best Children’s Album.” With FREADOM, Leeds is once again bringing her music to the frontlines, offering support and inspiring music.
2022 saw the highest number of book bans and attempts to remove or restrict materials since the American Library Association started compiling data 20 years ago. Millions of children are currently losing access to important literature. Book banners primarily target stories by and about people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those exploring Jewish themes. Freedom of expression and the right to access information are fundamental pillars of America’s democracy and FREADOM is Leeds’ message to the world in support of everyone’s First Amendment Rights.
When the political landscape seems too divisive to make change, I ask myself as a children’s musician, ‘What can I do?’ My frustration and grief often become the catalyst for new music. FREADOM lifts up some of our favorite banned titles and causes some ‘good trouble’ as I reimagine the stories in song form and perform alongside some of the best musicians I know. Please take a stand and join me fighting book bans and protecting the personal freedoms of ALL Americans. We will not be banned!
Joanie Leeds.
FREADOM features Leeds with a world-class cast of musicians, including GRAMMY Award-nominated and McArthur Fellow violinist Regina Carter, three GRAMMY-nominated instrumentalists including guitarist/vocalist Saul Paul, bassist/vocalist Divinity Roxx, pianist/vocalist Cheryl B. Engelhardt; multi-reed player Oran Etkin, among others.
Leeds said the rising tide of book bans hit remarkably close to home. “As a mother of an 8-year-old daughter who loves picture books, we’ve been following this story very closely as many of our favorite titles have been removed from schools and libraries, particularly in my home state of Florida.”
Inspired by different children’s books, tracks like “Block Party” take inspiration from neighborly love in Patricia Polacco’s In Our Mothers’ House and “Tango” from And Tango Makes Three, a story about the Central Park Zoo’s beloved penguin family. As a Jewish woman, it was essential for Leeds to bring attention to the fact that books about the Holocaust (Anne Frank’s The Diary of a Young Girl and Art Spiegelman’s Maus) are being banned. Mara Rockliff’s and Kyrsten Brooker’s Chik Chak Shabbat inspired the incantatory “Cholent Time.”
A tribute to Junot Diaz’s Islandborn, the Caribbean-tinged “Inside Your Heart” honors the children of immigrants who learn about their ancestral homeland from stories passed down by their families. The irresistible anthem and a cappella song “Rainbow Flag” is inspired by Rob Sanders’ and Steven Salerno’s Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.
“Sing it Out” is Leeds’ homage to Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations, Kelly Starling Lyons’ and Keith Mallett’s moving book about the NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson’s hymn often described as the Black National Anthem. FREADOM closes with “Born That Way,” a sweet ode to gender diversity and following one’s dreams inspired by Marcus Ewert’s and Rex Ray’s 10,000 Dresses.
For more information about Joanie Leeds’ and to see her upcoming performances at The Cutting Room on Sept. 27, the Jewish Museum on Oct. 15, and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on Dec. 2 and 3, visit here.
A new recording of Cyndi Lauper’s “Come On Home” was released on September 1, with proceeds benefitting the Sound Mind Network, a non-profit organization helping those battling mental health issues and drug addiction. The recording features Billboard-charting artist Danni Baylor, with vocals by Cyndi Lauper.
Written by Lauper in collaboration with Jerome Baylor, “Come On Home” was produced by Sound Mind Network founder Joe Nicolo. Lauper originally released the song on her 1994 greatest hits album Twelve Deadly Cyns… And Then Some.
Proceeds from the song’s release will benefit Sound Mind Network’s Foundation and mission to break the stigma surrounding addiction, while helping those in need fulfill their potential.
“Come On Home” will feature alongside 10 other tracks on a compilation album for the Sound Mind Network. It will include artists such as The Bacon Brothers, Joan Osborne, Kathy Sledge, Taj Mahal and others.
The more we learn about mental health, the better we are as a society. This is an issue we have swept under the rug forever. My hope is that ‘Come On Home’ can raise money to eliminate the shame around mental health that has caused a lot of people to needlessly suffer.
Cyndi Lauper
Recorded at Joe’s Garage in Audubon, NJ, the song features Andy Meyer on drums, Jerome Baylor and Mitch Beer on bass, Glenn Hale on keyboard, Brian Fitzy and Bo Rains on guitar, Jay Davidson on horns, and Ryan “Gooch” Nelson on percussion.
I’ve been fortunate to spend an entire career witnessing the power of music and personal creativity. I am excited and honored to help empower the recovery community through Sound Mind Records. What Cyndi and Danni have done with this beautiful song, and what the other amazing artists are contributing, is truly something special. Their gifts of music are going to help so many others overcome their demons.
Joe Nicolo
The Sound Mind Network is dedicated to changing the way the world looks at drug addiction and mental health through music and the arts, according to Nicolo. The organization funds partner programs that empower those struggling to overcome their personal challenges and lead healthy and fulfilling lives.
“Come On Home” is available on all digital formats and for digital download as part of Sound Mind Network’s Healing Through the Arts program.
Blue Note Jazz Club is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a week-long residency from Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban artist Cimafunk.
Occurring from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and contributions of Hispanic people. From Sept. 26- Oct. 1, Grammy-nominated Afro-Cuban Rockstar Cimafunk will bring his talents to the Blue Note Jazz Club stage. His name refers to his heritage as a “cimarrón,” Cubans of African descent who resisted and escaped slavery, as well as to the essence of his music, which aims to mix classical Cuban rhythms with funk, afrobeat, and hip hop.
The godfather of Funk George Clinton has referred to Cimafunk as “the one,” and Chucho Valdes credits him for musically “uniting Afro-Cuban and African American.” He has received overwhelming praise touring the U.S. and Europe, making a name for himself as one of today’s great showmen, performing an electric live show with La Tribu, his nine-person band from Havana. His live shows are celebrations of groove and are an unforgettable sonic and bodily experience. His latest album, El Alimento, was nominated at the 2023 GRAMMY Awards for Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album.
Blue Note Jazz Club.
Since 1981, the Blue Note Jazz Club has been a cultural institution in NYC and one of the premiere jazz clubs in the world. It strives to preserve the history of jazz, and the club practices the foundations of jazz on a nightly basis and carries the torch for the genre in the 21st century.
The club has been frequented by celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Colin Jost, Zoe Kravitz, and Jon Hamm, and has featured musicians like Robert Glasper, Ron Carter, Pat Metheny, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Christain McBride, Keyon Harrold, Meshell Ndegeocello, and more.
Kicking off on September 26, the shows will take place during Hispanic Heritage Month and feature a variety of iconic special guests including Chuco Valdes, Pedrito Martinez, and Big Freedia. For more information, visit here.
Cimafunk Residency
Tue, Sept 26 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Wed, Sept 27 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM *
Thu, Sept 28 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM †
Fri, Sept 29 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Sat, Sept 30 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM
Sun, Oct 1 @ Blue Note Jazz Club – 8:00 PM & 10:30 PM ‡
One of New York’s premiere electronic music festivals, Electric Zoo, returns for Labor Day Weekend, with the three day EDM festival inviting over 100,000 people to Randall’s Island Park. The lineup of over 100+ artists across five brand new stage design sets is part of the EZOO 2023 expansion on the festival grounds, while presenting the new theme of HyperSpace, promising a bigger and better immersive experience for this years festival attendees.
Electric Zoo 2022
Electric Zoo Festival originated in 2009 and has become one of the largest music festivals in the electronic dance music community. EZOO brings together a variety of electronic artists from across the globe, including various sub-genres that appeal to fans. For the first time ever, Electric Zoo New York has introduced The MegaMirage, the all new secluded immersive stage as part of the expanded festival grounds.
The lineup this year rises as bigger and better than ever with artists such as Galantis, The Chainsmokers, Zedd, Alison Wonderland, Marshmellow, Major Lazor, Tiesto, Chris Lake + FISCHER, Dom Dolla and many more well known acts from across the globe. With 100+ acts, this weekend is bound to leave attendees astonished.
Electric Zoo 2022
Not only is Electric Zoo stacked with some of the biggest names in Electronic music. Get excited to see the expansive festival grounds, immersive stage MegaMirage and the immense lineup. EZOO is worth the wait and all about the hype this coming Labor Day Weekend, as it returns to homebase here in New York City.
On Wednesday, August 30th, Lil Baby’s “It’s Only Us” tour made a stop at the iconic Madison Square Garden. Openers for the show included Hunxho, Gloss Up and Glorilla. The openers were a perfect precursor to Baby’s set as they all featured commanding tones, letting the crowd settle into the style of rap.
Lil Baby Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Lil Baby started the show on an elevated platform, where he delivered his first two tracks of the night, “Never Hating” and “Stand On It.” From there, the show was split into five chapters. Chapter One was titled “WEST END” and included a guest performance from Rylo Rodriguez.
Glorilla Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Chapter Two was called “TRAPPED.” Baby opened the chapter with his hit song “Pure Cocaine” and followed it up by bringing out Bronx Rapper A Boogie wit da Hoodie. A Boogie performed his popular songs “Jungle” and “Hello.” Chapter Three was titled “EARTH QUAKES” and during the chapter Lil Baby moved over from the main stage to a stage in the middle via a floating bridge. EARTH QUAKES was the shortest chapter of the show, featuring four songs.
Lil Baby Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Chapter Four, “RICHES,” was arguably the most stacked part of the show. Baby cycled through famous tracks like “Woah,” “Yes Indeed,” “We Paid,” and “Drip Too Hard.” In addition to his hit filled chapter, Baby also shared the stage with two surprise guests. The first being Chicago rapper Lil Durk. Durk joined Baby to perform “Every Chance I Get,” and then played “Hellcats & Trackhawks.” During chapter four Baby also brought out Philly rapper Meek Mill, and with Meek’s guest performance came the classic “Dreams and Nightmares.”
A Boogie wit da Hoodie Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
The final chapter of Lil Baby’s “It’s Only Us Tour” was “SERENITY.” Baby started off the chapter with “Waterfall Flow” and returned to the middle stage to perform “California Breeze” before closing out the night with “Freestyle.” By the end of the show, fans were left in awe after seeing multiple modern day rap legends grace the Madison Square Garden stage on a magical August night.
Lil Durk and Lil Baby Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Tickets to the rest of Lil Baby’s “It’s Only Us Tour” can be found on Ticketmaster.
Lil Baby Performing at Madison Square Garden on the “It’s Only Us Tour.” Photo by: Lucas Kurzweil
Dave Matthews Band announced a fall tour across the U.S., featuring two shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Nov. 17 and 18.
The headline run will kick off on Nov. 7 in Savannah, GA, and will include a stop in the band’s hometown Charlottesville, VA, as well as Uncasville, CT, and Greenville, CT.
From their hometown show at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville, the band will donate a portion of proceeds to the resident-led redevelopment of Charlottesville’s public housing. The contribution will add to the five million dollars that Bama Works, Dave Matthews Band, and Red Light Management have already committed to the project.
Dave Matthews Band’s ongoing partnership with The Nature Conservancy has resulted in three million trees being planted since 2020. This year’s partnership, which will continue with the fall tour, will raise the total to four million trees. Fans can contribute by adding an optional donation of $2 per ticket to plant a tree with The Nature Conservancy’s Plant a Billion Trees campaign. The campaign is a forest restoration effort with the goal of planting a billion trees around the world by 2025. For more details, visit here.
Following the upcoming fall tour, Dave Matthews Band will head to South Africa for shows in Pretoria and Cape Town. Matthews and guitarist Tim Reynolds will travel to Mexico’s Riveria Maya in 2024 for their seventh all-inclusive concert vacation from Feb. 15-18.
Online presale tickets are available now for members of the DMB Warehouse Fan Association, available here. Citi Bank cardmembers will have access to presale tickets beginning Sept. 12 at 9 AM ET until Sept. 14 at 10 PM ET through the Citi Entertainment Program. For more information visit here.
Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 15 at 10 AM local time.
