Artists On Our Radar

Jan Bell photo courtesy of Dumbo Business Improvement District

Jan Bell Leads Brooklyn’s Americana Music Renaissance

October 12, 2017 by David K. Moseder

It’s been a long journey, geographically and culturally, for Jan Bell, founder and artistic director of the Brooklyn Americana Music Festival. She grew up in... read article

Shinobi Ninja photo by Sergmatick / courtesy of Shinobi Ninja

Shinobi Ninja: Eclectic Musical Warriors Pool Their Talents

September 10, 2017 by David K. Moseder

Duke Sims of Shinobi Ninja tells Brooklyn Roads that he never made a conscious decision to play music for a living; rather, “It’s the journey,” he... read article

Third World at BAM R & B Festival-Summer 2014 photo by Danny Kapilian

Danny Kapilian: The Art of Presenting Live Music

July 13, 2017 by David K. Moseder

Not all artists on the music scene perform on stage. Some work their magic behind the scenes – flying under the radar, as it were.... read article

Dougmore banjo-5275-photo by Lauren Desberg

Dougmore With His Banjo photo by Lauren Desberg

Digging Dougmore, From Brooklyn to the ‘Outerboros’

June 7, 2017 by David K. Moseder

“The bluegrass scene in Brooklyn has been in my family since I was a teenager,” innovative musician Dougmore tells Brooklyn Roads. “I’m always awestruck by... read article

The Roofer's Union photo by Sandy Honig

The Roofer’s Union Builds a Following in Brooklyn

May 14, 2017 by David K. Moseder

Like many bands coming out of Brooklyn these days, The Roofer’s Union plays genre-bending music that is hard to nail down. While their style falls... read article

Omega Sirius Moon photo by Matthew Narvin

Omega Sirius Moon-Brooklyn’s “Queen of Collaboration”

April 7, 2017 by Ray Fontaine

Omega Sirius Moon (“OSM”) is a Bed-Sty-based multi-media artist quickly becoming known as the ‘Queen of Collaboration’. OSM, as she is referred to by most,... read article

EVA: Contemporary Voices, International Roots — and Brooklyn Influences

December 9, 2016 by David K. Moseder

EVA, a teaming of three singer-songwriters from diverse musical backgrounds, draws seamlessly from the roots of traditional and contemporary original folk music. The trio’s genesis... read article

greg-cornell-photo-by-kevin-bloom-_-bloom-machine-photography-courtesy-of-behind-the-curtains-media

Greg Cornell Brings It Home to Brooklyn

October 28, 2016 by David K. Moseder

The music of Greg Cornell is essentially folk/roots/Americana, laced with bluegrass, country, Irish music, old timey, old country and blues. Lyrically, “I kind of follow... read article

A Band Grows in Greenpoint: American Nomads’ Roots and Revelations

September 14, 2016 by David K. Moseder

American Nomads are a Greenpoint-based Americana group whose first single, “A Revelation’s Gonna Come,” reached number six on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart. The follow-up, “Dogtooth... read article

Iris Lune Tunnel-from Ella Joy Meir_07-25-16

Exotic Tunes from Iris Lune

July 31, 2016 by Ray Fontaine

Iris Lune, a Brooklyn-based indie electronic alternative band, is gaining attention with their innovative synth folk sound. Iris Lune released their debut Iris Lune EP... read article

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Artists on our Radar

Brayden Baird Is Asking the Big Questions – And Making You Laugh Through the Pain

Brayden Baird -photo courtesy of Mix-Tape Media

After decades of producing and releasing music under various aliases, Brooklyn’s own Brayden Baird is stepping into the spotlight with his most raw and refined work yet. Backed by the Once in a Lifetime Band, Baird’s upcoming LP Lord, why do you do these things to me? is a heartfelt and even satirical exploration of grief, identity, and faith that refuses to follow conventional sounds before its time. Across the ten-track album, Baird weaves catchy humor with emotional vulnerability, building a soundscape that feels intimate and extravagant all at once. His lyrics are clever without being cynical and full of sincerity; this delicate balance places him alongside emerging alt-folk figures like Cameron Winter and Nate Amos. The album kicks off with its title track, a sharp, stomping folk-rock number that wrestles with clever anecdotes and the chaos of unanswered prayers. From there, the songs unravel like chapters in a personal essay. The blending of stories of loss, family, addiction, and self-discovery comes about in just about every track. “Light in the Tunnel” turns a daily subway ride into an anthem of personal awakening. At the same time, “When Will the Sun Rise Again?” delivers a haunting, piano-led meditation on mourning and artistic authenticity. Other tracks showcase Baird’s gift for finding light in unlikely places. “Blue for the Body” is a lively reflection on coping mechanisms based on Gatorade flavors, which Baird says “is intended as a fun jam that people can sing and play along to and make light of the weight of addictions.”. “Pelican” draws on childhood lore amid his father’s mythical stories that untangle complex family bonds. With the accompanying music video for this track, Baird draws on whimsical elements of his father’s storytelling, saying, “In life, it is so easy to hate somebody based on the things they’ve done and so hard to forgive. After all, we are just working with the things we’ve got.” One of the album’s most affecting moments, which comes halfway through “It Kills Me to See You Sick,” channels rage and helplessness into a hushed piano ballad that’s both deeply personal and widely relatable, with Baird recounting the pain and sadness behind the song’s creation as his mom was diagnosed with Cancer as other family members were simultaneously hospitalized. On the last track of the album, “When You Were Castrated,” Baird confronts mortality and estrangement with brutal honesty about his father’s passing, delivering a final note that is at once heartbreaking and cathartic. Baird’s musical world is one of contradictions: funny and tragic, sarcastic and sincere, spiritual and grounded. With Lord, why do you do these things to me?* he’s created an album that doesn’t just tell stories but invites listeners to sit with them, question them, and sing along anyway. Catch Brayden Baird and the Once in a Lifetime Band at their album release show at The Rabbit Hole in Brooklyn on June 26 and stream the whole record on June 20.

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