NYC Scene Report – I Am Snow Angel, Kevin Devine, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features some “Dirty Love” from producer and vocalist I Am Snow Angel, singer-songwriter Kevin Devine getting “Daydrunk,” a solo project from Lion Babe’s Astro Raw, and hip-hop artist Otis Clapp hitting the sleep button.

* I discovered producer and vocalist I Am Snow Angel last year when I attended a show where she happened to be on the bill. Both she, and her music, have an aura that draws you in, and could easily be described as hypnotic.

Consistently releasing new work online, I Am Snow Angel recently posted some clips from her studio sessions, one of which shows her producing, and singing, her song “Dirty Love.” It’s a great example of everything she does, from making the beat, to her breathy vocals creating a distinct vibe. Check it out, as even in the summer this is one snow angel you won’t want to see melt.


* Singer-songwriter Kevin Devine, who is currently on the road in the US and UK through July, has released a video for his latest single, “Daydrunk,” and it’s a wild ride.

Featuring actress Heather Matarazzo (Welcome To The Dollhouse, The Princess Diaries) and comedian Gaby Dunn, the clip was directed by Daniel Ralston (The Best Show, Aimee Man), and shows some of the many stages, and personality changes, of inebriation.

“Daydrunk” is off of Devine’s ninth studio album, Instigator, which was released this past fall, and you can check out the video right here.


* If you’re a frequent reader of this column you know how much of a fan I am of NYC R&B duo Lion Babe. Recently, one half of Lion Babe, producer Astro Raw, released a solo project in the form of a mixtape titled Rawmix Vol 1, and it showcases a totally different side of his artistry.

Filled with samples masterfully woven together, this is a late night soundtrack waiting to happen. Take, for example, the song “U R My High,” which would sound perfect at 3am, as the lights of the city are still beaming brightly through the darkness, and the general vibe of everyone is a mixture of turnt up, and ready to dial it down a notch.

Give the song a spin, and check out this heretofore unheard side of Astro Raw.


* Queens-based hip-hop artist Otis Clapp dropped his latest project, the Helen Keller EP, last month, and if you haven’t heard it yet, check out the song “Please Don’t Wake Me Up” to get a taste.

Clapp says of the song, "I've been through some really rough times. When I wrote this one, it kind of marked the turning point – the point where everything started to fall into place. Things started to align. The thought was, I must be dreaming ... so please don't wake me up.”

If you’ve been sleeping on Otis Clapp, wake up with “Please Don’t Wake Me Up.”


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