Tag: New Single

Andy Frasco & The U.N. Release Uniting LGBTQ+ Video “You Do You”

Just in time for Pride month, LA’s Andy Frasco & The U.N. have announced the release of their eagerly awaited new album, L’Optimist, on Friday, August 11^th. Today, they have premiered the release of the ebullient first single, “You Do You,” with a hilarious music video to accompany it.

As a much-beloved live outfit renowned for unbridled improvisation, audience interaction, surprising covers, special guests, and animated antics unlike any other, Andy Frasco & The U.N. is unlike no other. Frasco’s sixth studio album L’Optimist is the most hopeful and enthusiastic collection thus far in his career.

The upcoming release now sees Frasco continuing to develop as a songwriter, band leader, and human being, his exploratory spirit giving way to something more firmly grounded yet no less adventurous. Having built a still-expanding career on forward motion, Andy Frasco remains positive in his determination to keep on keeping on, pushing himself and his music to grow and improve with every passing day.

“‘You Do You’ is basically a call to arms to myself,” Frasco says about the single. “Like, what is success? We built success through being outlaws and being ourselves. I did it my own way and it worked out for the best, I think. Could we have been way more successful if I just conformed? Maybe, but that’s boring. It sounds like cheating in a race and I’m not trying to cheat. I want to do it my way. Hopefully I’ll look back when I’m 80 and realize that, like Frank Sinatra, I did it my way.”

A testament to Frasco’s wide-ranging influences and boundless energy, L’Optimist sees the magnetic frontman continuing to chart his path of self-exploration and personal discovery through increasingly introspective lyricism and musical adventure. The album sees Frasco fully in command of his craft, more comfortable and confident than ever before, his notorious party-animal persona giving way to a wiser, but no less enthusiastic, artist and band leader.

Frasco once again challenged himself to explore difficult lyrical terrain, spanning relationships and chronic depression, empathy and alienation, inspired in part by his first real girlfriend. Songs like the deeply moving “Iowa Moon” touch on matters of the heart and mental health, emotional struggle and the sheer vulnerability of the human experience, all relayed through a wildly eclectic approach navigating funk, jazz, surf rock, blues, swing, gospel, reggae, exotica, and more with horn-blasted positivity and soulful power.

“With so much bad news in the world, why not try to figure out a way to get out of the darkness,” Frasco says. “We’re not going to be able to change the world, but at least we can change the mind state we have moving forward. We can at least help the process along by being optimistic that the future will turn itself around. And if everyone changes their mind state about the future, then maybe we can change the world.”

In the meantime, Frasco will spend the summer traveling America on a wide-ranging itinerary that features headline dates, top-billed festival appearances, and an eagerly awaited double bill supporting Slightly Stoopid set for August 13^th at Morrison, CO’s famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Additional dates will be announced in the upcoming weeks.

ANDY FRASCO & THE U.N. TOUR 2023

MAY

19 – Beaufort, NC – Beaufort Music Festival *

20-21 – Garrettsville, OH – Tropidelic’s Sunny Days *

28 – Chillicothe, IL – Summer Camp Music Festival *

JUNE

1-3 – New River Gorge, WV – Mountain Music Festival *

16 – Swanzey, NH – Northlands Music & Arts Festival *

17 – Wellfleet, MA – Beachcomber

18 – Nantucket, MA – The Chicken Box

21 – Charlotte, NC – Visulite Theatre

22 – Isle of Palms, SC – The Windjammer

23 – Black Mountain, SC – Pisgah Brewing Company

24 – Kill Devil Hills, NC – Outer Banks Brewing Station

25 – Kill Devil Hills, NC – Outer Banks Brewing Station

27 – Roanoke, VA – 5 Points Music Sanctuary

28 – Dewey Beach, DE – Bottle & Cork

29 – Virginia Beach, VA – New Realm Brewing Co.

30 – Baltimore, MD – Union Craft Brewing

JULY

1 – Scranton, PA – Peach Music Festival *

2 – Amagansett, NY – The Stephen Talkhouse

14 – Buffalo, NY – Cobblestone Live! *

26 – Victor, ID – Knotty Pine

27 – Salmon, ID – Sweet Water Hollow

28 – Livingston, MT – Pine Creek Lodge

29 – Ketchum, ID – Argyros Performing Arts Center

AUGUST

1 – Durango, CO – Animas City Theatre

2 – Grand Junction, CO – Mesa Theater

4 – Steamboat Springs, CO – Snow Bowl Steamboat

5 – Telluride, CO – Sheridan Opera House

6 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up Aspen

10–12 – Yuba, WI – People Fest *

13 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre +

SEPTEMBER

9 – Indianapolis, IN – All In Music & Arts Festival *

10 – St. Louis, MO – Music At The Intersection *

28 – E. Lansing, MI – Hall 224 ^

OCTOBER

1 – Washington, DC – Atlantis ^

4 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground Ballroom ^

8 – Portland, ME – Bayside Bowl ^

11 – Richmond, VA – The Broadberry ^

NOVEMBER

2 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl †

4 – Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse †

5 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre †

DECEMBER

5 – Little Rock, AR – Revolution Music Hall –

6 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard –

7 – Austin, TX – Mohawk –

8 – Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co. –

9 – Houston, TX – Last Concert Cafe –

10 – Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s Live –

16 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic Lounge #

* Festival Appearance

+ w/ Slightly Stoopid

^ w/ Special Guest Cool Cool Cool

† w/ Special Guest Doom Flamingo

– with Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers

# with Maggie Rose

To watch “You Do You,” click the link here.

For more details about the tour and ticket information, please visit the link here.

May 25, 2023
Michael Ian Cummings of Skaters Announces Debut Solo EP, Releases Single “Contemporary Me”

Infamous lead singer/songwriter of NYC’s Skaters, Michael Ian Cummings, has just announced his debut solo EP Oldest Troubles, out May 26^th. To tease the upcoming release, he has decided to release a single from the album titled “Contemporary Me.”

10 short years have passed since Skaters’ formation in Lower East Side Manhattan. Within months of forming and a self-released EP, the band was signed to Warner Brothers Records. They toured around the world, had global critical acclaim from NME to the New York Times. And two years later, they released their debut album, self-released their sophomore album Rock n Roll Bye Bye independently, and then disappeared.

It was a whirlwind ride for the band that came at one of the most difficult transitions in the music industry, the exact time digital downloads plummeted, and streaming had not yet reached the masses. Skaters were caught in the shuffle, and broke up.

Now, after years of reevaluation and new inspiration, working an array of day jobs and night jobs for that matter, Michael Ian Cummings has rediscovered his muse. He has something special to show for the struggle, returning just a bit wiser with the debut solo EP titled Oldest Troubles.

“There are things in everyone’s life that will haunt them forever,” he writes of the EP’s title track. “Whether it stems from internal or external influences from our past that have marred, mamed, and influenced the way we handle life. No matter how far we try to run from them they always find us. This song is about welcoming those relentless “troubles” in, confronting them, and beginning to make yourself stronger. Or, at the very least, learning to live with them.”

“I love having autonomy over how and when I release music. Making decisions and moving on,” Cummings continued. “Reminds me of when I was a teenager. Just make things because they are worth making. Move forward and try not to look back too much.”

To accompany his new release, Michael Ian Cummings will perform at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn on May 31 (7:00 PM).

To listen to “Contemporary Me,” click the link here.

Tickets and more information about the show can be found HERE.

May 24, 2023
Interstate Island Release Rock Single “Grey Wolf”

LI rock band Interstate Island have just released their newest single “Grey Wolf” on May 18^th. The single explores the dichotomies of choosing between freedom and companionship.

The track “Grey Wolf” navigates these feelings through the lens of a “lone wolf,” one searching for clarity. Throughout the song, both ideas are celebrated as the singer tries to decipher what he needs the most. Sonically, the track has a similar vibe to singers/band like Elton John, Styx, and REO Speedwagon.

Interstate Island was initially formed by Eddie Andrews, who was born and raised with a firm appreciation for classic rock music. More Inspiration for the project came after seeking to reimagine Electric Light Orchestra’s classic albums of the 1970’s. The first visions of Interstate Island emerged in 2019 when Andrews met with accomplished producer Matt Wallace (O.A.R., Maroon 5, Andy Grammer).

Matt Wallace had listened to a few of Andrews’ demos and expressed an interest in working together on a project. They initially recorded an early version of “Love Song” with a group of rock musicians who have regularly toured and recorded with some of the world’s most successful artists.

While the results were inspiring, Andrews believed there was an opportunity to expand on the concept by incorporating leading (as opposed to background) string arrangements – and perhaps using a live orchestra to perform those arrangements.

After a brief hiatus caused mainly by the Covid-19 pandemic, Wallace and Andrews were finally able to record Brave New World in 2021. Simultaneously, Interstate Island began to scope out the best fit for a leading string arranger.

Since a centerpiece of ELO’s work was the way in which they glistened string arrangements over pop-rock tracks, Andrews felt this was imperative to incorporate. This led Andrews to collaborate with Steve Turner, a well renowned arranger who previously toured with Electric Light Orchestra.

Listen to “Grey Wolf” by clicking the link here.

For more on Interstate Island, click the link here.

For more information on the band, click the link here.

May 18, 2023
Tennis Courts Release New Indie/Folk Single “Am I Not Talking Enough”

Brooklyn’s 4-piece indie band Tennis Courts have just released their latest single “Am I Not Talking Enough” on May 3^rd. The song is about the realization of how it feels to be not young anymore, but also not old either.

Consisting of the singer/songwriter duo of Pat Walsh and Andrew Clarke, lead guitarist Brian McKenna and bassist Spencer Brigman, the band started writing songs together in college in Charleston, SC before moving to Brooklyn in 2022. Tennis Courts’ sound overall offers a delicate mix of indie, folk, and power pop.

Of the new single, Walsh says, “This song is probably the most personal song we’ve ever put out. It’s about a lot of things, but I think it’s mostly just about how I have felt over the last year. I’ve spent a lot of time coming to terms with myself, how I fit in the world, and how I fit into other people’s lives. I spend a lot of time examining my relationship with myself, family, friends, and partners. And at the end of the day, maybe I am just thinking too much.”

“Pensive and gorgeous, opening with acoustic strums accompanying subdued vocals, swelling with atmospheric treatments until the full band kicks in for a stunning final movement.”
– Tuned Up

The band has played countless shows with Dogwood Tales, Sun Room, Hotel Fiction, Sonic Blume, Mo Lowda + The Humble, Wakelee, Daddy’s Beemer, Teenage Halloween, Easy Honey and many more. Tennis Courts forthcoming LP, which will come out later this year, was produced by Erik Kase Romero (The Front Bottoms, Lorde, Dogwood Tales).

Tennis Courts will also be accompanying Charlie & Margot on June 22^nd at the Bond Street Basement in Asbury Park, NJ. For more information on this upcoming event, click the link here.

To listen to “Am I Not Talking Enough,” click the link here.

For more music by Tennis Courts and more information on upcoming shows, click the link here.

May 6, 2023
Stolen Gin Share Dance/funk “Drunk Ambition” Single + Video

NYC-based dance-funk quintet Stolen Gin have released their newest single “Drunk Ambition” paired alongside a lyric video. The single gives the feeling of an intense love for a person, never wanting them to leave your side.

Stolen Gin, a dance-funk quintet formed in 2019 from New York City, is known for their high-energy live act and avid improvisation–they never play songs the same way twice. The band first came together playing college parties on NYC rooftops, and their goal then was the same as it is now: to make every gig feel like a party, and to keep people dancing.

The band writes, “This song was written a couple months after meeting someone really special. I’m looking back at how it started and counting my blessings that it happened the way it did. The first verse is a flashback to that original moment where a relationship was the last thing on my mind- or so I thought. The chorus then brings us back to the present, where ‘Drunk Ambition’ is my own little way describing the untamable love I feel for this person, never wanting to leave their side.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3Y3XhGifto

“As a band, we’ve recorded some projects in the past at full service studios but realized that we’re most comfortable locked in a room together with no outside influences. For ‘Drunk Ambition,’ we decided to book a session at a DIY studio in Brooklyn. We produced the verses of the song to be tight and funky, while playing with longer, distorted chords and pumping drums in the chorus to create tension and release. Our guitarist, Will Adler, engineered the session and mixed the track, and the song was mastered by Will Quinnell at Sterling Sound.”

Having gotten their start playing college rooftop shows around the city, the band is continuing to utilize all New York has to offer, with this latest track being recorded at a DIY studio in Brooklyn. But Stolen Gin’s sound can be heard all over the world, given their immense TikTok following after songs like “Tension Release” and “Take Your Problems to the Disco” went viral across the platform.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ajj4D7YCdw

Stolen Gin goes on tour consistently, selling out their last eight consecutive NYC headliners in the span of the last 18 months at venues such as Baby’s All Right, Mercury Lounge, and more. The band recently played in both D.C. and Boston for the first time, with sellouts in both of those cities. They’ve also just finished a tour with the legendary jam band TAUK, and now Stolen Gin is heading back into the studio to make more new music.

To listen/watch “Drunk Ambition,” click the link here.

For more music by Stolen Gin, click the link here.

May 2, 2023
Gracies Paris Drops 80’s Inspired New Single “Fragile”

Troy pop-rock natives Gracies Paris has released their newest single “Fragile”

Gracie’s Paris is a hook-oriented, power pop-inspired rock band from the NY Capital Region. Originally formed as a trio in 2007, the original lineup included Carl Ferritto on guitar and lead vocals, Randy Rose on bass, and Eric Buechner on drums. The band went on hiatus in 2013 and reunited as a four-piece during COVID, adding lead guitarist Steve Hourigan to the original 3. Since mid-2022, Gracie’s Paris has focused on writing and recording.

To keep listeners engaged, Gracies Paris like to change sound for each single. Despite the differences in inspirations, lyrics and genres, Gracies Paris manages to build a cohesive, yet intricately different soundscape for their fans.

Coming in at just under 3 and a half minutes,”Fragile” describes a failing relationship with a narcissist. This track is a high-energy bass driven song with an 80’s inspired feel. Despite the heavy topic, this track manages to hook itself into your brain, with an incredibly catchy chorus. Perfect for your commute to work, or reminiscing on past relationships, “Fragile” shows off the best of Gracies Paris unique vibe.

Listen to “Fragile” here, out now on Spotify.

April 18, 2023
Olivia Reid Drops Introspective Single “Wounds (Healing)”

NYC indie-pop artist Olivia Reid is getting ready to release her newest single “Wounds (Healing)” on Friday, April 14th. The track is an introspective, ethereal reflection that sees the budding singer-songwriter questioning the layered, complex healing process.

Olivia Reid stated about the single, “I recognized how much I had to heal from, but simultaneously feared that truly healing it would leave an absence or a blankness in me. When I’m in fight or flight mode long enough, wounds in the form of anxiety or sadness can mistakenly feel like a crucial part of who I am. The wounds feel familiar, so starting the healing process made me feel so much weaker at first.”

Based in NYC, Olivia 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, and listening to podcasts, she formerly hosted Spotify For Artists and Notable’s Song Start podcast where she interviewed artists like Sam Smith, Victoria Monet, Hayley Williams of Paramore.

As a self-proclaimed “chronic collaborator,” 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.

As stated in a previous article by NYS Music, Reid’s music serves as a self-reflection and dedication to her path to success, above all of the challenges. 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.

https://soundcloud.com/oliviareidmusic/02-wounds-healing/s-uLiqVENWlEY

To listen to “Wounds (Healing)” click the link here and for more by Olivia Reid, click the link here.

April 14, 2023
Fake Dad Releases 80’s New Wave Single “FASHION GIRL”

NYC’s Alt-pop duo Fake Dad has released their newest single titled “Fashion Girl,” today, April 14^th. The alt-pop duo is delivering their second project of 2023 that perfectly captures an electrifying, cathartic, throwback 90’s grunge sound that is a departure from their usual discography, demonstrating their versatility as both songwriters and performers.

The single “FASHION GIRL” is angsty and nostalgic sounding, paying homage to groundbreaking throwback styles like 80’s new wave and 90’s female led riot grrrl punk. In the song, Fake Dad tells the story of a personal best friend breakup while offering commentary on a variety of topics like beauty standards, body and gender dysmorphia, daddy issues, insecurity, and female rage.

At first glance, “FASHION GIRL” is a fun, energetic track that calls upon listeners to let-lose with contagiously danceable reverb-soaked Oberheim drum machine patterns, messy driving distorted guitar, heavy bass, and surf-rock style riffs. With a deeper look into the single, Fake Dad speaks to an untapped, silent pain that so many people carry around with them about constantly being made to feel like they will never look good enough, be pretty or hot in the right way, and the unacknowledged frustration, and rage, that they live in a world that assigns so much of their worth to people’s ability to live up to superficial ideals.

Following recent releases “maybe next year” and “New Machines,” the duo delivers their second project of 202. They perfectly capture an electrifying, cathartic, throwback 90’s grunge sound that is a departure from their usual discography, demonstrating their versatility as both songwriters and performers.

Birthed from Fake Dad’s deep dive into Russian Dark Wave (and post-punk bands) and a tragic falling out with a fashion major (childhood) best friend who hailed from a wealthy UES Manhattan type family, this song is about the insecurity and sadness hidden behind the eyes of so many of the people the fashion industry swallows up with the promise of beauty and power. It at once exalts, criticizes, and empathizes with them, aiming to hand the fashion girls back their power and grant them an opportunity to reconcile with the ephemeral love and power that masquerades as the ideal, golden shell of a life.

When listening to the single, fans can hear a reminiscent of 80s New Wave (New Order, Joy Division, The Cure, Talking Heads) for a non-male-led era. In other words, all the female-fronted, angsty energy of 90s riot grrrl/bikini kill punk along with its slightly more pop-leaning, bratty (yet still unequivocally angry) early 2000s sound reminiscent of bands like No Doubt, The Cardigans, Alanis Morissette, Paramore, and P!nk.

Fake Dad wants listeners to experience a sense of catharsis from this track, “whether it’s someone who dedicates their life to changing themselves into something that looks good enough, or someone who wishes they could opt out of the value system entirely, there is an anger that needs to be released.”

“Fashion Girl” premiers on all platforms April 14^th.

For more music by Fake Dad, click the link here.

April 14, 2023
Setting Sun Announces LP + Shares Single “Feelings Cure”

Hudson Valley based indie rock-folk band Setting Sun has just announced their sixth full-length studio album in ten years, The Feelings Cure due out on May 19^th.

Alongside the announcement, the band shares a brand-new hit single “Feelings Cure,” along with an accompanying music video. Setting Sun will also be playing live in Woodstock for their official album release show the day before the album drops.

The single “Feelings Cure” aims to resist feelings of pain and sadness through music. Levitt says the track is about “denial and playing music and finding a cure for sadness or pain.” Written three months into the start of the pandemic, Levitt was forced to confront the reality of diving back into music, only this time, in quarantine with his wife and toddler which presented new challenges.

“Setting Sun create an Arcade Fire urgency, creating sweeping orchestrations, driving rhythms”
–Pop Matters

Levitt adds, “It took a while to be able to turn on the creativity at will according to the clock, but I found it was actually possible. The limitations made me more productive. This song was one of the first I recorded for the new record and maybe it helped get out some of that frustration from being forced into a new life and future not made by my choice.”

The band Setting Sun, led by songwriter Gary Levitt, began in San Francisco where the band’s first release, holed up, was recorded in 2003. From there, Levitt moved to Los Angeles, then to Brooklyn and now resides in the Hudson Valley.

With their newest, and most comprehensive body of work yet, Setting Sun is ready to re-introduce themselves to society. In the band’s current state, joining Levitt are long-time collaborators Lawrence Roper (keyboards, vocals), Jonathan Hambright (drums) and John Burdick(bass/vocals).

The Feelings Cure was recorded like no other Setting Sun record, diligently. Explaining the creative process and creating the album while now being a father, Levitt says, “I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get in the creative zone with set times of having to turn creativity on and off like a switch. I used to write and record in creative blasts when I felt it come on like a wave or virus. Having kids forced me to write, record, and mix in the gaps of being a father and the maturity shows on this record.”

Over 10 rich tracks, Levitt turns inward to blend genres and juxtapose upbeat instrumentals and production with melancholic lyrics. Unafraid to take risks and allowing himself to create without reserve, the album chronicles Levitt further discovering himself and his artistry, culminating in the band’s most realized work to date.

While producing the album, Levitt learned to listen to himself and how he was feeling to best use his time and play to his strengths. “I produced this record myself in my studio and enlisted friends to lay down some tracks like drums, harmonies, violins, etc. One trick I learned is to be aware of my mood. If I wasn’t feeling a creative wave, I’d then do some mixing. If I was in the creative zone, I’d sit and write and record a part to one of the songs.”

The creative process became casual, free-flowing and unforced. Levitt says, “Most of the sounds you hear on this record were written and recorded simultaneously, so you’re getting the raw thing, not a reenactment of the moment it was written, this is the moment.”

Setting Sun will celebrate the release of their first album in ten years with a show at Colony in Woodstock on May 18^th. The following month, the band will perform at Riverside Concerts in Germantown on June 15^th.

Tickets for the release show are on sale, to purchase click the link here.

To pre-order The Feelings Cure, click the link here.

For more music by Setting Sun, click the link here.

April 13, 2023
Robin Eaton Releases Classic Rock Single “Wishing Well”

Lower East Side legend and classic rock musician Robin Eaton is excited to announce the release of “Wishing Well.” The latest single from Eaton’s upcoming album, Memories of A Misspent Youth, due for release on May 1st.

The single “Wishing Well” combines cinematic Western music with classic rock instrumentals. Using sensibilities reminiscent of Eric Clapton, Robin Eaton evokes memories of days gone by with his haunting vocals.

On the single release, there are many layers of folk, Americana, and classic rock sounds infused with cosmic synths and reminiscent of the Lower East Side in the 1970s. Thus, where Eaton earned his stripes on the local music scene. The latest single, alongside “Drugs R 4 Kids” and “Tell Me Your Dream,” helps Robin Eaton continue to pave a sonic lane for himself.

As a prolific songwriter and producer, Robin Eaton is reintroducing himself as a performing artist in 2023. In addition to his background as a songwriter and artist, he was also in the original Broadway production of Hair.

In the 80s, Robin moved to Nashville and built the studios Alex The Great Recordings and Club Roar Recordings, where Memories of A Misspent Youth was recorded. Eaton is also a combination of a producer, recording engineer, and mixer with an instrumentalist able to fill in wherever there is a hole, be it a guitar gnat, bass bump, even a sitar squiggle.

There should be no shock in naming the latter instrument prior to mentioning Eaton’s status in Nashville, where he moved from his native Pennsylvania to follow the musical muse. The country & western capital, after all, is where the sitar was utilized on a whole series of hits at the height of pop music’s raga rage in the ’60s and ’70s.

Aside from his personal music, Robin Eaton is also a respected composer. Robin’s recent score credits include the film Mountain Rest and, written with collaborator Roger Moutenot, the Narcissa podcast (which was one of last year’s top dramatic podcasts). Both works were directed and written by Robin’s daughter, Alex O Eaton.

Listen to “Wishing Well” from Robin Eaton by clicking the link here.

Memories of A Misspent Youth is due for release on May 1st.

For more music by Robin Eaton, click the link here.

April 8, 2023