Music
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In conversation with Chiara Maria: finding her way back to music
“Since I was a little girl, I have always loved singing. I started songwriting at the age of seven. The first song was ‘The Hamster Song,’” Chiara Maria confessed, laughing. “After that, it was just like a way for me to process my emotions, but I never told anyone about it. I didn’t want anyone…
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In conversation with Claire Martine: stepping out of the comfort zone
“A little grunge, a little dreamy, a little kitschy.” This is the description of the sound that Claire Martine, Milwaukee native-turned New York transplant, has been cultivating and creating for herself. “With leaning into the grunge side of things, with having the shoegaze-y grunge distorted guitars, but I also do really love having digital glitchiness…
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In conversation with Yawn Mower: ten years later
Ten years in, Yawn Mower hasn’t drifted far from where it began. Rooted in New Jersey, the band has grown in size and sound, yet its foundation is still tied to the place that shaped it. “I personally would only want to be celebrating a ten-year anniversary with New Jersey,” explained frontman Mike Chick. “I…
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In conversation with Amanda Conti: the personal and professional pieces of songwriting
Of all things, it was an Instagram ad that brought the nonprofit RiverJAM Music to Amanda Conti’s attention. “I don’t know how I saw [the ad],” she explained. “And it was such funny timing because the night before, I just had a whole breakdown about the fact that I felt very disconnected from myself as…
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In conversation with Gavin Kim of Blush Boy: building a band, part 2
Gavin Kim has always been a musician first; now being in Blush Boy is a dream come true. Kim has been surrounded by music his entire life. Since his early days performing in the Broadway production of School of Rock, being in a band has always been the game plan. “I feel like the seed…
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RiverJAM Music’s Songs & Stories showcases three generations of guitar virtuosity
Red Bank, NJ, saw three generations of guitar talent perform at RiverJAM Music’s Listening Room: Songs & Stories concert on March 25. With Pat Guadagno, Johnny Kasun, and Luke Brindley showing off their fingerpicking skills, the venue was filled with the type of infectious melodies only a guitar can produce. The night began with Reagan…
