NYC Scene Report – The Hues Brothers, Matthew De Ver, & more


This week’s NYC Scene Report features some dope hip-hop from The Hues Brothers that supports a great cause when shared, an emotional song from the soulful Matthew De Ver, alt-rock band Moonwalker looking to “Level Up,” and indie rock act Hypoluxo feeling “Kentucky Smooth.”

* The Hues Brothers – which consists of Brooklyn-based hip-hop artist Rabbi Darkside, and UK-based producer Mr. Simmonds – have released a video for their latest single, “Old Souls,” featuring Farbeon, in truly unique way.

Through the site investinginshares.org, The Hues Brothers have a special link to the “Old Souls” video that, when shared, raises 30 cents for Las Americas, a human rights non-profit serving immigrant and refugee families.

So enjoy the song, which Rabbi Darkside explains “is a dedication to our ancestors, to the lives that touch us, to the young people we’ve worked with around the world, and to preserving all of their stories,” and share the video using this special link.


* NYC-based songwriter and producer Matthew De Ver is ready to quench your thirst for an emotional, soulful, song with his latest single, “Water In The Well.”

“Water In The Well” is off of De Ver’s upcoming album, Surface Tension (A Tincture for Integrating Shadow), and he says the project is one that’s especially personal to him. “For a long time, I have run from the themes I explore on this album,” he said in a statement, “Now, I’m ready to process these aspects of my life through art.”

Some of what De Ver deals with on the album (release date TBA) includes being just 15 years old when he lost his father, Shel Silverstein, his mother’s struggles with alcoholism, and her eventual recovery.

If “Water In the Well” is any indicator, the sonic portrait he’s painting all of this with is a beautiful one. Check out the video for the song, and dive into the music of Matthew De Ver.


* NY-based alt-rockers Moonwalker have released their latest single, “Level Up,” and it’s an interplanetary rock song featuring otherworldly sounds and a sprinkling of soul.

Guitarist Mark Neidhardt explains how some of the more unique musical aspects of the song came to be, saying, “In the past I was limited by the amount of sounds a guitar could make, but by learning how to use software synths like Omnisphere I was opened up to an infinite amount of new sounds and ideas.”

Neidhardt continued, adding, “Much of the writing took place while watching outer space movies and nature documentaries. That really gave the music a different dynamic.”

Moonwalker are currently working on a full length album, and while we wait for it we can all get down to “Level Up.”


* When I hear the phrase “Kentucky Smooth” the first thought that comes to mind is good whiskey. Now, with the release of the song “Kentucky Smooth,” Brooklyn-based indie rock band Hypoluxo will also come to mind.

The song, which is off the band’s upcoming sophomore album, Running on a Fence, due out in September, is a mixture of indie rock and shoegaze, and really makes me want to see them live.

If the rest of the album is anything like this single, Hypoluxo is going to start our Fall off right. In the meantime we can add some “Kentucky Smooth” to our summer playlists.


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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