NYC Scene Report – Ian Mellencamp, L’FREAQ, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features experimental rock artist Ian Mellencamp taking a moment to “Come Clean,” the “Weird Awakenings” of dark synth pop artist L’FREAQ, singer-songwriter Brooke Moriber giving “The Last Goodbye,” and rock duo Washer picking at “The Scab.”

* Brooklyn-based experimental psych-rocker Ian Mellencamp recently released a new single, titled “Come Clean,” and with it he makes it known that he’s an artist who is unafraid to blend genres, break barriers, and create something altogether unique.

Mixing the disparate worlds of the indie rock scene and the dance club scene, “Come Clean” combines rock, pop, and electronic music in a way that is immediately attention grabbing.
 
In a statement, Mellencamp described the content of the song, saying, “It is about utter transparency … It’s the story of a relationship that has reached a pivotal point – the couple could either self-destruct due to a dramatic event, or use the experience to discover more about each other and take the relationship to the next level.”
 
Check out the video for the single, which Mellencamp shot, edited, and produced with Jazmin Grace Grimaldi – who is a singer, actress, and founder of The Jazmin Fund – and “Come Clean” with Ian Mellencamp.


* NYC-based dark synth-pop artist L'FREAQ is fast becoming a favorite here at the NYC Scene Report, and once you check out her latest single, “Weird Awakenings,” you’ll understand why – her music is freakin’ dope!

“Weird Awakenings” is the title track of L’FREAQ’s upcoming EP, which is due out in the fall, and will reportedly feature themes of self-discovery, and concealing oneself from the real world.

Speaking of worlds, the video for “Weird Awakenings” has L’FREAQ wandering through quite the trippy one as she looks for, and finds, love. Check it out, and get your L’FREAQ on.


* NYC-based singer-songwriter Brooke Moriber has performed everywhere from Broadway stages to indie music venues, and her latest single, “The Last Goodbye,” is a fantastic adult-contemporary pop song with soaring, emotional, vocals.

A timeless piano ballad, “The Last Goodbye,” sounds like it was tailor made to be a Top 40 hit in any of the past four decades (not to be confused with being Taylor made, but that’s a “Delicate” subject).

If you’re a frequent reader of this column, this isn’t your first “hello” to Moriber, and after listening to this song, you won’t want to say “goodbye” to her anytime soon.


* As I’ve mentioned in the past, one of the coolest aspects of being an indie band is that your album’s life cycle is exactly as long as you want it to be. There’s no label telling you that if you don’t have a hit single they’ll stop pushing the project, you can push your album for as long as you want. Brooklyn rockers Washer seem to completely understand this, as they just released a video for their song “The Scab,” which is off of their 2017 album All Aboard

The video for “The Scab” combines tour footage with a film project helmed by Washer’s Kieran McShane, who makes up one half of the duo along with Mike Quigley.

Washer is currently recording their third album, which is tentatively scheduled for a late Fall / early Winter release via Exploding In Sound Records, and you can see the video for “The Scab” right here.


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