NYS Music 2024

Category: New York Singles

  • Tryst La Noir Returns with “Dirty & Wild” New Single, “Goddamn!”

    The Hudson Valley’s busiest goth triple-threat, musician/DJ/burlesque queen Tryst La Noir, has returned with a new single that’s as “raw, dirty and wild” as love itself, a sonic blast entitled “Goddamn!”

    Tryst’s latest is another preview of tunes earmarked for her as of yet untitled third album slated for release in Spring 2025. Earlier this year, Tryst and her collaborator, Brooklyn-based producer/guitarist Steve Woodzell, unleashed a duo of singles from the album  “Bathwater Blues” and “Oh Lover”.

    Tryst says, “In comparison to my previous albums, this will be my most vulnerable yet. I have been experimenting with instruments and sounds that I never had before.  And when it comes to the writing process, especially the lyrics, I am not sugarcoating anything.”

    The fierce “Goddamn” bears some of the hallmarks of Tryst’s greatest musical influences, including Nine Inch Nails, Nick Cave, Depeche Mode, PJ Harvey, Morphine, and even the bluesy love laments of jazz songbird, Billie Holiday. “I really love old blues music from the 40s, along with 60s psychedelia, 80s goth, 90s grunge and post-punk.  My music is a mash-up of all these styles, with an accent on full-on passion and energy.”

    Tryst’s newest single slams a slow industrial groove, accented with a dense mix of fuzzy guitars, impossibly big beats, howling synths, and her caterwauling vocals. Lyrically, the song profiles a fiery love affair that sparks a combustible attraction between lovers that comes with an overdose of both passion and toxicity.

    But music is just one facet of Tryst’s busy career. She also works as a DJ at leading area clubs, including Pearl Moon, Colony Woodstock, and The Avalon Lounge. Tryst also serves as a performer and host of a series of burlesque nights produced by Strangehouse, an event and video production concern she runs with her partner, musician/videographer Byron Frayne.

    Tryst La Noir

    Look for Tryst La Noir spinning at Kingston’s Unicorn Bar for its Bowie Birthday Ball on January 24 and her ongoing Friday Night Fever at Colony Woodstock on January 3.  She will also bring her burlesque spectacular to the Colony on Valentine’s Day.

  • Rochester Composer mainTheme Drops Rich New Groove Track “Take Over Me”

    Rochester-based composer mainTheme has announced the release of his rich new groove track “Take Over Me” (feat. Donno Jay).

    Dan Romans plays drum set, synth, keyboard, and voice; composes and arranges music; and performs all styles. He has a diverse musical vocabulary and versatile playing style that is dynamic, expressive, and compositionally focused. mainTheme is a carte blanche repository of sounds and songs drawn from eclectic influences and presented as an approximation of pop music. mainTheme is another variation of Dan Romans’ compositional voice as he dons the figurative producer’s hat.

    His latest track “Take Over Me” (feat. Donno Jay) encapsulates mainTheme’s minimal, rich groove and features storytelling and vocal talents of Miami-based hip-hop artist Donno Jay. The track is slated to release on most streaming services by December 27. The track is a powerful, introspective look at the core of one’s life, and the state of the world we all share. With Donno Jay’s cadence and hard-hitting, somber lyrics spit over the desolate electro-synth melodies, this track is strong, catchy, and meaningful.

    mainTheme creates music that, to me, breaks down walls. His eclectic, diverse and dynamic range of music paints wondrous soundscapes in each piece of music released. This track, “Take Over Me” is a prime example of this idea. The instrumental to the track is smooth, unique, and presents a vibe that I can best describe as galactic. It is a spacey, synthy, psychedelic piece that contains climbing and falling volumes, with a heightened energy in the middle before slowly dying out like a dimming light. The track is brilliant in both instrumental sound from mainTheme and lyricism from Donno Jay.

    For more information on mainTheme’s music and to keep up with “Take Over Me” which releases on December 27, click here.

  • Frog Returns With Festive Single “Did Santa Come”

    New Rochelle indie duo Frog have returned with the first pre-release single for their upcoming album, a festive track titled “Did Santa Come”.

    Did Santa Come
    Photo: Collin Heroux

    Comprised of the skilled musical brothers Daniel and Steve Bateman, the duo Frog has returned with the first pre-release track from their upcoming album.

    Festive, jazzy, and playful, “Did Santa Come” leans into the newfound enthusiasm and naïveté about Christmas experienced by young children. “This song is about my son when he was two years old at Christmas time. Every morning for 2-3 weeks after, he would wake up and ask, “Did Santa come?” Seeing the world through the eyes of your children makes it all very beautiful.”

    “Did Santa Come” is the first of many tracks fans and newcomers can look forward to, as Frog has also recently announced the release of their sixth album. 

    Slated for release in February, 1000 Variations on the Same Song will be promptly followed by a series of live performances all throughout March and April, including two dates in New York.

    Visiting Cornell University in Ithaca on March 8 and the Bowery Ballroom on April 3, this tour is sure to excite. To learn more about ticketing information, visit their touring page here.

    To learn more about all of Frog’s other works and keep up to date with their future releases, be sure to check out their official website here.

  • Ecce Shnak Releases Pensive Track Prayer on Love

    New York City-based outfit Ecce Shnak has released their latest single off of their forthcoming EP titled Prayer on Love, meditating on the complexity of the word and all of its implications.

    Subverting all concepts of genre and style while playfully embracing the full spectrum of sonic opportunities, Ecce Shnak is truly a one of a kind band. Based in New York City, their art-rock endeavors span pop, classical, punk, and beyond as they tackle the wide variety of ideas that capture their interests most.

    Debuting in 2019 with Joke Oso with their second album Metamorphejawns soon to follow, Ecce Shnak has returned with the second pre-release single off of their latest project Shadows Grow Fangs.

    Self-described as their most “whole-grain rock song to date,” “Prayer on Love” considers the concept of love in contrast to the conclusions drawn by today’s society. 

    Richly textured with guitars, snare drums, and distinct vocals, the track explores their ruminations on the topic above the group’s signature sound that subverts notions of style and is simply overflowing with dedicated creative care and complexity. 

    “It’s a meditation on the nature of love and its diverse manifestations. It honors the complexity of love without declaring that it ‘is all we need.”

    – David Roush, frontman of Ecce Shnak

    Defining love as not a singular necessity but a beautiful, intangible entity that coexists with the countless other aspects of life and in turn only making the others more precious, “Prayer on Love” is an entrancing contemplation whose deft lyricism lends itself to a rather poetic track at large.

    Ecce Shnak has also published an official music video for “Prayer on Love” alongside the track’s release, featuring the members exploring their ruminations among a field of flowers and various eye-catching psychedelic visuals.

    “Prayer on Love” is one of five tracks slated for release on the band’s upcoming EP Shadows Grow Fangs, which will reach the public on February 7.

    For more information on their current endeavors, the upcoming Shadows Grow Fangs, and all things Ecce Shnak, be sure to check out their official social media pages here and here.

  • Canella Breaks Silence With Latest Single Titled Groomer

    Albany indie-rock band Canella has released their latest single titled “Groomer,” a powerful track of resiliency and reclamation.

    Based in and frequently performing throughout Albany, Canella is rooted in a shared love of creation. Written acoustically by lead singer and songwriter Juliana Castrillón, members Joe Taurone, Gabe Klingler-Horn, and Dan Carr expand each and every track to whatever extent they feel- whether that results in a song meant to make you laugh, or a track that’ll bring you to tears.

    Having released their debut album Can’t Make You Smile in 2023, Canella has returned with the second pre-release single off of their upcoming EP The Snake, the deeply personal and intense “Groomer.”

    Penned after a turning point in Castrillón’s life, “Groomer” encapsulates the intense and complex emotions felt after she reconnected with a former music teacher from her adolescence, consequently uncovering an uncomfortable truth about her past.

    With her perspective altered, Juliana was caught in a limbo of deep depression and months of silence. Unable to put the storm of emotion to paper, Castrillón would not be able to write again until 2024, driven by a mix of fear, anger, and shame.

    Now, after years of processing and healing and in the wake of the 2024 election, Juliana is not only ready to share her story but is determined to do so in a show of reclamation, solidarity, and support.

    “I didn’t realize how much I had blamed myself for being a victim of abuse,” says Juliana. “Now, taking back my story and sharing it is a crucial part of healing—taking my power back and feeling finally free and not alone.”

    – Juliana Castrillón

    “Groomer” is heavy, gritty, and full of sharp emotion. It’s always awe-inspiring to hear tracks full of pure emotion, but this track takes it to another level. The rage, disgust, betrayal, and defiance can all be felt palpably, an all-consuming experience with cutting vocals and aggressive instrumentals where words fail- perhaps the kind of all-encompassing emotion that can only be communicated through sound.

    The track concludes with a powerful moment of pure guitar, drums, and bass- the kind of music felt down to the bones. “Groomer,” is a rallying cry just as much as it is a moment of emotional release. Intense, emotive, and guttural, Canella’s latest release is a striking example of shaping one’s darkest moments into something relentless. 

    Canella will be gracing the stage of No Fun in Troy on December 20 to celebrate the release along with support by Tula Vera and Rat Motel. Tickets are priced at $10 and are available here.

    For more information on Canella, their upcoming EP, and all other future endeavors, be sure to check out their official website here.

  • Ginger Winn Releases Single In Honor of John Lennon

    Hudson Valley singer-songwriter Ginger Winn has released her newest single in honor of musical icon John Lennon, “Dear John.”

    Based in the Hudson Valley, Ginger Winn is a singer-songwriter and guitarist who was launched into the spotlight after a captivating performance at Woodstock Way Hotel.

    Since this fateful performance, Winn’s folk-tinged guitar and melancholy-tinted vocals have captivated folks across the Hudson Valley and beyond- eventually resulting in a gig touring the west coast alongside Gipsy Kings.

    Released earlier this year, Winn debuted with Stop-Motion, a ten track album that quickly set the tone for Ginger’s career as a promising one.

    Returning with her latest work, Winn has released “Dear John,” a heartfelt single dedicated to John Lennon that was published on the anniversary of his untimely passing; a crestfallen letter to a hero she’ll never have the opportunity to meet.

    “John Lennon has inspired me from an early age. I remember being about 12 and buying a magazine that told his life story. It taught me a lot about being an artist, following the path you feel is right, and making sure that path leads you to a destination that is best for you, which I’ve used as a guiding light in my journey. He’s a true creative who did whatever he wanted to do, no matter the consequences.”

    – Ginger Winn

    Co-written with Matthew Baione, co-founder of Keep Good Company Records, “Dear John” has its roots in Paul Goresh’s images capturing Lennon’s interaction with Mark David Chapman, Chapman’s manifesto, the moment in the Imagine documentary where John invites the stalkers on his property in for tea, and the famous image of Pope John Paul II forgiving his would-be assassin. 

    “The song is as beautiful as it is tragic and John has always been an inspiration; we share a birthday and I’ve always admired his audacity, creativity, search for interconnectivity in society, and his attempts at leading with love, especially near his life’s end. He was a dreamer.”

    – Matthew Baione

    Following this release, Winn will be performing “Dear John” and other works of hers live at two upcoming shows in New York City. She’ll be gracing the stage of the Bowery Electric on December 29, and Arlene’s Grocery on January 29.

    For more information on these shows, Winn’s previous works, and to keep up with all of her future endeavors, be sure to visit her official website here.

  • Olivia Reid Releases Nostalgically Heartfelt Single Quite Simple 

    New York City-based singer-songwriter Olivia Reid has released her latest work in the form of the beautifully nostalgic “Quite Simple”.

    A singer-songwriter who’s been putting her proverbial musical pen to paper since just six years old, Olivia Reid’s indie folk anthems contain an undeniable yet intangible touch of vibrant humanity. 

    Capturing the human experience in all of its forms, Reid and her guitar formally debuted in her 2021 EP Earth Water. Since then, Olivia’s work has caught the attention of many through its appearances on television shows in the likes of Love Island Australia and several official streaming service playlists.

    Returning for her latest release, Reid has decided to channel hopeful optimism into the single “Quite Simple” in the face of personal and global strife. Inspired by her strong relationship with and gratitude for her grandparents who have recently passed, Olivia reflects upon the wisdom granted by her elders and the inherent wisdom and fondness for life that comes with age and a retrospective understanding of life.

    Through a nostalgically woven sonic soundscape and storytelling-style lyrics, Reid walks listeners through an enlightening conversation with an older man that reframes her entire understanding of the world, especially in the face of the busy mindset so many share today- life is, in fact, “Quite Simple.”

    “In old age, it seems there’s so much to look back on fondly and so many experiences that you don’t even know are ahead of you. I wanted to write a song that gives people my age some optimism. We’ve got time.”

    – Olivia Reid

    Curating a beautifully nostalgic ambiance with its guitar plucking, vocal layering, and warm outro, “Quite Simple” captures the beauty found in taking life in the slow lane while also giving a nod to the kind of perspective on life that comes with age and wisdom.

    To learn more about “Quite Simple,” her future endeavors, and all things Olivia Reid, be sure to check out her official website here.

  • The Upstart Crows Release Gritty Single “House Fire”

    The Brooklyn-based alternative rock band The Upstart Crows have returned with their newest single “House Fire” on the frustrations of the creative process ahead of their upcoming EP.

    Rooted in Brooklyn, The Upstart Crows have brought their unique combination of folk, punk, and Americana sounds throughout New York City and beyond in live shows spanning haunting acoustic solo performances to the full effect of a rock unit.

    Debuting in 2018 with a 12 track self-titled album, The Upstart Crows have been performing live shows and honing their sound among a small set of single releases since they formally emerged on the scene.

    Now back and better than ever, the band has returned with new music in the form of the single “House Fire”.

    Penned during the Covid-19 Pandemic, “House Fire” captures a unique frustration felt by creatives when it seems as though no part of the act of creation is going your way. 

    With fast-paced and hard hitting drums, insistent guitar lines, and vocals that compliment the oscillating bass line, “House Fire” is a stellar example of how indulging in the negative can not only relieve personal stress but result in a work exploding with emotion.

    “The song is about the self-doubt doom spirals we all face when we are working on something… Where you start to question your own taste and ability to make something good.”

    One of many parts of the Crows’ upcoming EP slated for the spring, “House Fire” marks a promising start to the next era of The Upstart Crows.

    For more information on this release, the band’s upcoming endeavors, and all things The Upstart Crows, be sure to check out their official website here.

  • Long Island’s Roger Street Friedman Releases Powerful New Single “Banks of the Brazos”

    Long Island native Roger Street Friedman has released his newest americana single, “Banks of the Brazos.” The track is a powerful ode to the “Sugarland 95,” a group of Black convict laborers sentenced to brutal work in Texas sugarcane fields in the post-reconstruction era.

    Roger Street Friedman

    “Banks of the Brazos” is the third single from his upcoming album Long Shadows, due out January 24, the song is a powerful and evocative story that looks into the hidden history of the “Sugarland 95,” a group of African American men who were often victims of unjust laws designed to control the lives of newly freed people.

    When the bodies of the Sugarland 95 were unearthed along the banks of the Brazos River, Roger Street Freidman was inspired to write a song from the perspective of one of these laborers. The song aligns with a viral TikTok that Roger posted last year, garnering nearly a million views, resonating with audiences for his honest storytelling.

    Roger Street Friedman

    The song holds a strong outlaw americana feel. The western country flare paired with the dark nature of the song’s backstory sets the listener up to feel it in their heart. Each strum of the guitar shows Roger Street Friedman’s passion and grit for music and exposing history’s many injustices. The track is dynamic, with many changing musical tides throughout the track, but with a meaningfully brawn backbone allowing for wide arrays of sound.

    Even the opening sounds from the electric and acoustic guitars simultaneously made me feel something. Followed by the consistent, strong kick and snare, this track immerses the listener from the very start. Both Friedman’s hearty solo vocals and the powerful harmonizing vocals truly touch the heart and soul of whomever may be listening, especially when you factor in how Roger is soulfully expressing his outlook on the horrible enslavement of the Sugarland 95. The track sees a phenomenal climax with soaring vocals followed by a spirit-touching finish that brilliantly yet softly wraps up the hearty ode.

    For more information on Roger Street Friedman and his latest single, “Banks of the Brazos,” click here.

  • Gina Birch Releases Christmas Themed Yoko Ono Cover

    On Nov. 13, Gina Birch, founding member of influential punk band The Raincoats, released a cover of Yoko Ono‘s “Listen, The Snow is Falling” through Jack White‘s Third Man Records.

    The single, written by Ono and recorded with the Plastic Ono Band, was originally released as the b-side of John Lennon’s 1971 single “Happy Xmas (War is Over).” This single marks Birch’s first release since her solo debut album, I Play My Bass Loud, in 2023.

    Gina Birch

    In 2023, Birch, with bandmates Marie Merlet and Jenny Green, chose to play “Listen, the Snow is Falling” at Tate Britain during the Yoko Ono exhibition. Birch thought it would be great to play one of Ono’s songs during the performance even though it was August.

    Feeling particularly connected to Ono at the time, Birch selected the song for its haunting beauty, noting that it was released as a b-side. “Who doesn’t love a b-side?” she remarked. Birch had also been asked to write about Yoko Ono for the Tate magazine and had recently painted a full-length portrait of her for her exhibition featuring “Goddesses and Inspirations” at Gallery 46.

    Inspired by the performance, Merlet suggested they record the song as a Christmas single. Birch noted that she had never made a Christmas single before, making it feel particularly fitting. They recorded it in Birch’s basement, collaboratively coming up with ideas. The track was mixed by Merlet and then mastered by Warren Defever at Third Man Mastering in Detroit.

    In addition to a headlining tour in the UK, Birch has supported artists like Yo La Tengo, Sleater-Kinney, and This Is The Kit. She was also part of Tate Britain’s high-profile exhibition “Women in Revolt,” which celebrated 20 years of feminist art and activism. Her piece, “3 Minute Scream” (1977), was showcased as the poster image for the exhibition.

    Learn more and support Gina Birch here.