NYC Scene Report – Stalking Gia, theSHIFT, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features the mermaid pop of Stalking Gia, a visually stunning video from rock trio theSHIFT, a ridiculously trippy clip from Queens’ Imaginary Tricks, and a collaborative EP from hip-hop artists Peter Ro and Mr_Musix.

* Mermaid pop. What is it? It’s the creation of NYC-based artist Stalking Gia, and you can hear it for yourself on her latest single, “Siren.”

In a statement, Gia said of the song, "I could have been a siren a past life ... I’ve always been fascinated by the mythology of Sirens – devious creatures that resemble mermaids, but use their voice to enchant sailors and incite them to wreck." 

Vaguely reminiscent of some of The Cardigans’ classics (which is a very good thing), Gia recalls how the song came to be with her collaborators, Joni Fatora, and Noise Club, saying, "We were really inspired by the opening scene in Romeo & Juliet, where they first lock eyes through the fish tank. The opening verse of 'Siren' is the inner dialogue of all that's unsaid in that moment. We had the scene on loop as we wrote."

Gia says one of her musical goals is to “create a whole world that people can get lost in,” so click play, and get lost in the beauty of “Siren.”


* For the video for theSHIFT’s latest single, “Consecrate,” the NYC rock trio traded the hustle and bustle of the city for the beauty and vastness of the Mojave desert.

A LOT of videos make their way to me, but I have to say this one is easily a potential video of the year.

As lead singer John Shannon sings, “If you want to consecrate, consecrate the ground / If you want to concentrate, concentrate on what's been found,” the depth of his lyrics is matched by the magnitude of the visuals.

Click play to see, and hear, what I mean.


* You know how I said I receive A LOT of videos? Of all of the clips that have made their way to my inbox, few have been as ridiculously trippy as Imaginary Tricks’ “Mr. Big Idea.”

Imaginary Tricks is the moniker of singer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Visser, and the Queens native certainly used plenty of imagination when putting together the video for “Mr. Big Idea,” which is as close to an acid trip as I’m ever going to get.

“Mr. Big Idea” is off of Imaginary Tricks’ recently released album, Skommel, and you can dive into the trippy video right here.


* What do you get when you combine the talents of NYC hip-hop artists Peter Ro and Mr_Musix? You get a conversation. Actually you get The Conversation, the recently released collaborative EP that showcases both artists’ skills over beats that will have you nodding your head.

The duo describe the project saying they go back and forth on topics such as finding your calling, past bouts with fear and addictions, robberies, past loves, and pulling yourself back up, while finding the joys in life through it all.

Sound like a dope concept you want to check out? You’re in luck! The NYC Scene Report has the entire EP for your listening pleasure. Give it a spin, and join The Conversation.


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