NYC Scene Report – Slow Sugar, Ray Hodge, & more

This week's NYC Scene Report features some sweet indie pop from Slow Sugar, the powerful indie soul of Ray Hodge, producer and singer Quiet Luke proving to be an "Escapist" of genre categorizations, and a return appearance from indie pop duo HEIRSOUND, who have yet another fantastic single.

* This past week I discovered NYC indie pop duo Slow Sugar, and man oh man do they sound sweet. Consisting of Alex Utay and Danielle Harris, who are true New Yorkers, born and raised, Slow Sugar's latest single, "Pieces," is a radio-ready tune that would fit in perfectly alongside the likes of Tove Lo, Halsey, and Zella Day.

In a statement, Utay explained the concept of the song, saying, “‘Pieces’ is a song about clarity and resilience. On the surface, it's a breakup song, but it doesn't focus on anger or resentment. It instead captures the moment where you realize you can be whole again after losing yourself in a relationship."

Check out "Pieces," and get a taste of Slow Sugar.


* Hailing from Jamaica, Queens, indie soul artist Ray Hodge has one of the most incredible voices I’ve heard in quite some time. Ranging from angelic, to authoritative, to triumphant, Hodge spans the vocal gamut on his debut single, "I Am King."

He describes the song, saying, "(This song) was born to be a lasting echo from me to my future children, and their children, and so on. It's a reminder to them that we are more than just what people say, or think, we are, to give them this spiritual power to move through life when days get so low."

Hodge continued, adding, "If I can help someone by giving that same reminder, and feeling, that I wanted to give to my future kids, it would be amazing accomplishment."

"I Am King" will be on Hodge's debut EP, Braveheart, due out October 28th, and you can check out the video right here.


* NYC-based producer, and singer, Quiet Luke, is prepping the release of his debut EP, Beholden, and judging by his latest single, "Escapist," it's going to be something listeners won't want to be quiet about.

A mixture of genres, including heavy influences of pop and R&B, "Escapist" escapes categorizations, much like the artist himself.

Quiet Luke's history in music began when he started playing classical piano as a child. He then picked up a guitar, and tried his hand at rock music. He followed this with an endeavor making music as a rapper and producer. Dipping his toe in jazz, and other experimental genres, became the icing on the cake of what we now hear as the Quiet Luke sound. It's a sound that has the ability to cross genres, and generations, and it's something you definitely want to hear.

Check out "Escapist," and escape into the music of Quiet Luke.


* Easily one of the hardest working indie bands of 2016, HEIRSOUND has released another video, this one for their classic pop sounding song "Fell Again."

HEIRSOUND'S Alexa San Roman says of the forest-themed clip, "For the 'Fell Again' video we wanted to make a simple visual that still had an emotional feel to it," adding, "because this song is very sentimental and nostalgic I wanted the visual to be something you could get lost in."

"Fell Again" is off of HEIRSOUND's debut EP, Merge which was released last month. Check out the video, and enjoy both the song, and the leafy green scenery.


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