NYC Scene Report – Bear Hands, Cáthia, & more


This week’s NYC Scene Report features indie rockers Bear Hands warning us about what happens after “2AM,” Spanish language vocalist Cáthia showing us her journey, singer Ava Raiin making her solo debut with a trippy, dreamy, clip, and pop songstress Kiirstin Marilyn imagining a world where performing music has been outlawed.

* If you're a fan of Brooklyn-based indie rockers Bear Hands you pretty much have zero excuse for not seeing them live this year. The band will be on a national co-headlining tour with Aussie alt-rock duo Atlas Genius, starting July 18th, and they’ll also be making over half a dozen festival stops, culminating with a set at Austin City Limits this October.

Don't expect Bear Hands to stay late into the night at any particular show, however, as their new single posits nothing good happens after "2AM." The song is off of their latest album, You'll Pay For This, which was released back in April, and it’s all about the challenge of growing older, while still not wanting to fully let go of the scene you've come to be a part of. Check out the very cool video for "2AM" below, and if you're reading this after "2AM," get some sleep!


* We're about to have a first here at the Scene Report, as next up is the first song I've ever featured here that is completely in a language other than English. The song is "Volar," and it's by NYC-based Spanish language pop artist Cáthia. She's been called "the little girl with a big voice," and with the video for "Volar" she’s showing everyone she also has some big dreams.

Cáthia says of the clip, "I wanted the video for 'Volar' to give viewers a glimpse of what my life is like ... balancing school, music, rehearsals, and my personal life, all to the backdrop of my hometown, New York City."

From busking in subway stations, to rushing to class, it's clear Cáthia is driven, and that's a quality that transcends language.


* Sometimes you see a music video that makes you stop and say, "Well, that was really freakin cool." Minneapolis-born, NYC-bred, singer Ava Raiin's video for her song "Eagle Eye" is one of those clips.

The video, which was shot in both Colombia, and New York, was directed by Rafatoon, and produced by Brooklyn-based dreambear Productions. The goal was to create a visual that simultaneously represents both the outside world, and the world within our minds. The result, with its dreamy soundscape provided by Raiin’s vocals, is something you should definitely click play on.


* Imagine a world where Donald Trump is president, and performing music has become outlawed. That's the creative backdrop for NYC pop singer Kiirstin Marilyn's video for her latest single, "Out of Control." The clip begins with her and her drummer, Brian Dylla, being caught busking on a city street. A chase ensues that leads to a rooftop party. What happens at the party? You’ll have to watch to find out.

Marilyn says of “Out of Control,” which is off of her recently released EP, Ghosts, “The song itself is about very serious subject matter concerning the precarious state of our precious planet, but the music is energetic and fun. I wanted the video to convey the intent behind the lyrics while also mirroring the energy and vibe of the music.”

Check it out, and reclaim some "Control" with Kiirstin Marilyn.


For more of the best of NYC’s indie music scene, come back next Wednesday, and check out the archives for previous columns.

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