NYC DRUMMER KRISTIN MUELLER STEPS OUT FROM BEHIND THE KIT FOR STRIKING ALBUM 'DESERTS & LONG TRAILS,' OUT FEB 25

"Mueller's fabulous songs vibe Calexico - with a beautiful voice she invokes intimacy and elegance."- Village Voice

"There is real promise here. The songs take their sweet old time to unfurl under Mueller's steady vocals." - Time Out NY

Drawing comparisons to Beck's 'Sea Change,' Feist, Mirah, Cat Power, and Smog, NYC first call player Kristin Mueller has stepped out from behind the drum kit for her new album 'Deserts & Long Trails,' out February 25. Recorded in NYC, it features Mueller on drums, guitar (played "upside down"), bass, keys, and banjo alongside new and long-time collaborators Karen Waltuch (Viola: Jim O'Rourke, Beth Orton, Wilco), Brian Kantor (Drums: Nina Pierson, the Yellowbirds), Jay Foote (Bass: Lone Bellow, Trixie Whitely), Jay Russo (Guitar: Hopewell, Mercury Rev), and others.

Together with producer Damon Whittemore, Mueller crafted an intricate and beautifully layered collection of spectral songs that is both sensuous and nostalgic, sorrowful and loudly playful, resulting in a diverse, cinematic and meandering journey of dynamic uncovering. The album hinges on Mueller's exploration of the quiet intimate weight of time and its ever passing. It is inspired by this inescapable permanence and by the alternate influences of the many characters and collaborators Mueller has known.

As a drummer, she has toured nationally and internationally, playing with such artists as Lucinda Black Bear, Jeffrey Lewis, and Cynthia Hopkins among many others.

Mueller's song "Finding a Woman" from her first album 'Ports of Call' was featured in the Sundance award-winning film "What Alice Found."

Mueller will perform March 6 at Jalopy in Brooklyn, NY.

Kristin Mueller bio

"Mueller's fabulous songs vibe Cowboy Junkies and Calexico - with a beautiful voice she invokes intimacy and elegance. Dig that banjo."- VillageVoice

"There is real promise here. The songs take their sweet old time to unfurl under Mueller's steady vocals." - Time Out NY

"Mueller is a linguist on the kit. Creative, emotive and skillful - NYC staple." Tom Tom Magazine

Kristin Mueller is a multi-instrumentalist songwriter based in the Brooklyn/NYC area who plays her guitar upside down. Known for her stylistic drumming, she has toured throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia as well as the Middle East, supporting bands and artists such as Lucinda Black Bear, Jeffrey Lewis, the Caulfield Sisters, Fulton Lights, Cynthia Hopkins, Christy & Emily, Mary McBride and Michael Hearst among many others. Her newest solo album Deserts and Long Trails marks the second record composed by Mueller featuring new and long time collaborations with Karen Waltuch (Viola: Jim O'Rourke, Beth Orten, Wilco), Brian Kantor (Drums: Nina Pierson, the Yellowbirds) Jay Foote (Bass: Lone Bellow, Trixie Whitely) Jay Russo (Guitar: Hopewell, Mercury Rev) and many more.  Together with Mueller's producer Damon Whittemore they crafted an intricate and beautifully layered collection of spectral songs that are both sensuous and nostalgic, sorrowful and loudly playful - resulting in a diverse, cinematic and meandering journey of dynamic unconvering. The albums hinges on Mueller's exploration of the quiet intimate weight of time and it's ever passing - it is inspired by this inescapable permanence and by the alternate influences of the many characters and collaborators Mueller has known.

Mueller's song "Finding a woman" from Ports of Call (2006)  was featured in the Sundance award winning film, 'What Alice Found'.

 

Previous credits:

Year          Album                        Artist                              Credit

2014        Deserts & Long Trails Kristin Mueller                writer/composer/guitar/bass/keys/drums/banjo

2013        Holte                           Patricia Thornley            drummer

2012        Tic-Tac-Toe                 Christy and Emily           drummer

2011        Hurricane                    Anton Sword                   drummer

2010        Knives                         Lucinda Black Bear        drummer

2009        Success of Failure      Cynthia Hopkins             drummer

2009        City of Oblivion           Anton Sword                   drummer

2008        Must Don't Whip Um   Cynthia Hopkins             drummer

2007        Divine Candy              Caulfield Sisters              drummer

2007        Capo My Heart            Lucinda Black Bear        drummer

2006        Ports of Call single      Kristin Mueller                writer/composer/guitar/banjo/drums

2005        Accidental Nostalgia   Cynthia Hopkins             drummer

2004        Say it with Fire            Caulfield Sisters             drummer

2003        French Hotel               Hidden Driveways           drummer

"GIFTED" (WALL STREET JOURNAL) SUSAN MCKEOWN EARNS PLAUDITS FROM LINDA THOMPSON, WALL STREET JOURNAL, PUBLIC RADIO INT'L, WFUV, & ELSEWHERE

Tad Hendrickson's feature in the Wall Street Journal ran on Irish-American GRAMMY-winning vocalist/songwriter Susan McKeown January 4, praising her "versatility and inquisitiveness" and calling her "gifted." She talks about why she emigrates to the States, her memories of hanging out at Sin-é, and her new, all-original, Americana album 'Belong.'  Meanwhile, Linda Thompson told the Journal, "a powerful voice, beautiful timbre and great range, both musically and emotionally? That's rare. What's not to love?" Here's the full feature.

WFUV aired a performance-chat on December 30. John Platt called 'Belong' "a really fine album." Hear the full audio.

"The Irish are world-renowned as great word smiths and Susan McKeown has formed herself into a link in that chain." – Bob Edwards, Public Radio Int'l, December 1-2, 2012

"Timeless... The exquisitely spare arrangements... match the purity and expressiveness of her voice." – Nick Cristiano, Philadelphia Inquirer, December 28

"Susan McKeown, a formidable-voiced Irish folkie renowned for her intensity and conviction, supports a haunting recent PledgeMusic-funded effort, Belong." – Time Out NY, November 7, 2012

"Absorbing from beginning to end, 'Belong' is a trans-Atlantic marvel… Sublime… enchanting… rich sonic diversity… smart lyrics." – Chuck Campbell, Scripps Howard News Service/Knoxville News-Sentinel, December 11, 2012

"Awesome… McKeown’s rich, sad soprano highlights this melodic and moving collection, a combination of country melancholy and New York City sass." – Peter Chianca, Gatehouse Media/Patriot Ledger (MA), December 31, 2012

"Tantalizing… a fiercely talented storyteller." – Mike Farragher, Irish Voice, November 25, 2012

"Her most personal project to date." – Lisa L. Rollins, Examiner.com, November 23, 2012

Meanwhile, American Songwriter Magazine premiered the "No Jericho" music video.

NYC INDIE ROCKERS SWEET SOUBRETTE TOURING BEHIND ANAIS NIN-INSPIRED 'WHAT’S MY DESIRE?' EP RELEASE

Sweet Soubrette, a "sensational" (Philadelphia Inquirer) and "enchanting" (Metro NY) ukulele-powered indie rock band based in NYC, will be touring the Northeast U.S. in support of their latest release, “What’s My Desire?” a 4-song EP that previews the third album now underway.  The EP's dark and passionate title track was inspired by the book Henry and June by Anaïs Nin, a work based on Nin's diaries when she was romantically involved with author Henry Miller and becoming a serious writer herself. Love, art and ambition collide in this powerful song.

Check out new, fan-shot footage of Sweet Soubrette singing the title track of the EP at NYC's Cake Shop in July:

Check out the disco-pop of "Be My Man," from the same July show:

Sweet Soubrette features the songwriting, vocals, and ukulele of Ellia Bisker, whose dark, edgy love songs have been honored with three ASCAPlus awards.  Sweet Soubrette has appeared in variety shows and cabarets, at rock clubs and on singer-songwriter stages, in cultural festivals and comedy shows, circus shows and art galleries, puppet shows and performance art installations, and has toured in Italy and France.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Sweet Soubrette's music "dark vaudeville-pop." Time Out New York dubbed it "at once sweet and sassy, celebrating reckless behavior with a charmed wink." The Deli Magazine has praised Sweet Soubrette's "rock star command and intelligently crafted music."

SWEET SOUBRETTE 'WHAT'S MY DESIRE?' TOUR

08/14/2012, The Living Room, NYC

08/15/2012, Hudson Water Music festival, Hudson, NY

08/16/2012, Lilypad, Cambridge,

08/17/2012, Nick's, Worcester, MA

08/18/2012, Dreamaway Lodge, Becket, MA

"BROOKLYN'S FISHNET-CLAD FEMME FATALE" (BUST MAGAZINE) SWEET SOUBRETTE TO STRUT AT CAKE SHOP JULY 23

UKULELE-STRUMMING BROOKLYN INDIE POP ARTIST PLANS AUGUST 14 RELEASE OF 'WHAT'S MY DESIRE?' EP

Sweet Soubrette – the inventive, Brooklyn-based, ukulele-strumming, indie pop performer – will perform July 23 at Cake Shop with her 6-piece backing band, previewing the August 14 EP 'What's My Desire?'

The EP's dark and passionate title track was inspired by the book Henry and June by Anaïs Nin, a work based on Nin's diaries when she was becoming a serious writer and romantically involved with author Henry Miller. Love, art and ambition collide in this powerful song.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has called Sweet Soubrette's music "sensational... dark vaudeville-pop." Time Out New York dubbed her "at once sweet and sassy, celebrating reckless behavior with a charmed wink." The Deli Magazine has praised her "rock star command and intelligently crafted music."

The show also previews a northeast August tour.

WHO: Sweet Soubrette

WHAT: Preview show for 'What's My Desire?'

WHEN: July 23, 2012, 9pm

WHERE: Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow Street, NYC, (212) 253-0036

TICKETS: TBA

For more information on Sweet Soubrette, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at nick.losseaton@gmail.com or 718.541.1130.

SPIRIT FAMILY REUNION SELL OUT MERCURY LOUNGE, EARN SHOWER OF PRAISE FOR "ROWDINESS" (BROOKLYN VEGAN)

UP NEXT: NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL JULY 28; CELEBRATE BROOKLYN AUG 4

Spirit Family Reunion packed Mercury Lounge on Friday, celebrating the release of their debut LP 'No Separation.' The sold out show comes with a wave of acclaim for the band, who are next set to grace the stage at Newport Folk Festival July 28 and Celebrate Brooklyn August 4. Here's some of what we're reading:

"Spirit Family Reunion fit right in with the bands they'll be sharing the stage with at this year's Newport Folk Festival [and] the rowdiness of other revival bands like The Felice Brothers and Deer Tick."

– Brooklyn Vegan

"For those who like their tunes a little more homegrown and banjo-filled, I highly recommend this New York band's brand new release, 'No Separation.'"

– USA Today

"Beautiful and raucous… best of what's next"

– Paste Magazine

"[Spirit Family Reunion was] seemingly transporting the crowd to an alternate universe where percussion was both invented and perfected with the washboard... In this world, the harmonica is always played with Dylanesque eloquence, perfection is a ragged, imperfect thing and the crowd always claps at the right time, completely in rhythm. Through it all, there was plenty of dancing, foot stomping and hollering…"

- House List (Bowery Presents blog)

"We couldn't be more excited."

– Baeble Music

"Rabble-rousing Brooklyn folkies Spirit Family Reunion deliver foot-stomping, throaty, joyful songs. We defy you not to tap along."

– Time Out New York

"The group, inspired by church revivals, has drawn comparisons to The Band."

– American Songwriter

"Ready-to-break... rousing and raucous."

– No Depression

"Raucous… With the blessing of Levon Helm (they were the last band to open for him before he passed away) and a growing army of fans on the back of their album No Seperation, Spirit Family Reunion are dragging traditional Americana back into the spotlight."

- Elmore Magazine

CAITHLIN DE MARRAIS' "ATMOSPHERIC DREAMSCAPES" (ALTERNATIVE PRESS) COMING TO GLASSLANDS GALLERY DEC 2

Caithlin De Marrais – former Rainer Maria singer and bassist and acclaimed Brooklyn artist – will create "atmospheric dreamscapes" (Alternative Press) at Glasslands Gallery December 2. Her sophomore solo album 'Red Coats' (End Up Records) has earned a four-star (out of five) review in Alternative Press. Jason Schreuers writes, "'Red Coats' could propel De Marrais alongside the likes of PJ Harvey, Bjork, and Tori Amos… De Marrais' second solo album sounds like the score to a quirky foreign firm or the soundtrack to a particularly funky dream."

The live band includes Josh Kaufman (Yellowbirds, Rocketship Park), who co-produced 'Red Coats.'

Stream the album at Magnet Magazine.com.

WHO: Former Rainer Maria singer/bassist Caithlin De Marrais on a bill with Owen

WHAT: Concert of songs from the album 'Red Coats'

WHEN: 8:30pm, December 2

WHERE: Glasslands Gallery

TICKETS: $13 in advance, $15 at the door

The Village Voice said, "The former Rainer Maria frontwoman has a new solo album coming next month, Red Coats, and it reduces her old band’s emo-rock blare to a quieter roar, surrounding de Marrais’ uncommonly expressive singing with tense little clicks and buzzes, slyly destabilizing where Rainer Maria once aimed to knock off socks."

The NY Times said, "Ms. De Marrais, the former lead singer of the breezy indie-rockers Rainer Maria, offers sparse, elegiac pop in solo repose."

Time Out NY calls her an "effortlessly stylish indie crooner."

In addition, Polyvinyl recently announced details to reissue three EPs (Rainer Maria, Atlantic, Ears Ring) by the "indie rock icons" (SPIN) Rainer Maria on vinyl, with the collection simply titled 'Rainer Maria.'

De Marrais will share the bill December 2 with Owen.

Caithlin De Marrais tour dates here.

Music video, bio, press photo here.

"UNCOMMONLY EXPRESSIVE" (VILLAGE VOICE) CAITHLIN DE MARRAIS (FORMER RAINER MARIA) HEADLINES 'RED COATS' ALBUM RELEASE SHOW NOV 2 AT UNION HALL FOR WAL

Caithlin De Marrais – former bassist/vocalist for "indie rock icons" (SPIN) Rainer Maria – is headlining an album release show to raise awareness for Walmart Free NYC. There has been some early buzz on her new solo album 'Red Coats,' which comes out Nov 8 on End Up.

The Village Voice previewed De Marrais' CMJ show, saying, "The former Rainer Maria frontwoman has a new solo album coming next month, Red Coats, and it reduces her old band’s emo-rock blare to a quieter roar, surrounding de Marrais’ uncommonly expressive singing with tense little clicks and buzzes, slyly destabilizing where Rainer Maria once aimed to knock off socks."

The NY Times also previewed the show, marking it as a recommended pick: "Ms. De Marrais, the former lead singer of the breezy indie-rockers Rainer Maria, offers sparse, elegiac pop in solo repose." In addition, The Times Arts Beat blog picked up a Tweet from a raving fan.

Time Out NY calls her an "effortlessly stylish indie crooner."

WHO: Caithlin De Marrais, formerly of "indie rock icons" (SPIN) Rainer Maria

WHAT: 'Red Coats' album release show

WHEN: 7:30, November 2, 2011

WHERE: Union Hall, 702 Union Street (at 5^th Avenue), Brooklyn, NY

TICKETS: $8 in advance, $10 at the door

WalmartFreeNYC is a diverse coalition of residents, activists, and elected officials committed to protecting local businesses, creating good jobs, and supporting artistic communities.

A number of media outlets have covered the work of WalmartFreeNYC. Here is a recent feature article in The Brooklyn Rail.

Yellowbirds, featuring Sam Cohen of Apollo Sunshine; and Lindsay Sullivan will open.

For more information on Caithlin De Marrais, please contact Nick Loss-Eaton at nick.losseaton@gmail.com or 718.541.1130.