NYC Scene Report – The FunkLabb, Cautious Clay, & Hot Knives

This week’s NYC Scene Report features The FunkLabb stepping out from the shadows, Cautious Clay dealing with the hard truth about relationships that have run their course, and Hot Knives feeling ready to “Bloom.”

* You may not immediately recognize the name The FunkLabb, but you definitely know of their work. The duo of Ed Lawson and Wes Davis first met back in 1994, and have worked behind the scenes with everyone from The Notorious B.I.G., to Will Smith, to Allure. Now The FunkLabb are ready to be front and center, as they plan on releasing a series of independent singles throughout 2021, the first being “Mama Said No,” featuring Myah Marie.

Discussing the song in a statement, Davis said, “We decided to release ‘Mama Said No’ first to introduce The FunkLabb to the world with a song that not only makes you want to move your body, but has depth musically, lyrically, and definitely vocally. The track is very dramatic – it rises, falls, and drives in different sections, and Myah wrote a song that complements that structure perfectly, and is catchy as hell! We loved it instantly. The hook stays with you – whether you want it to, or not – and that is the fundamentals of a great song 101!”

Lawson added that when it comes to FunkLabb’s methodology, “Funk goes beyond music. It’s the nastiness in a song – that dirt. We definitely try to embody that. At the same time, we’re always in the Labb creating. We’ve been in the record business for quite some time, but we’ve finally decided to put ourselves out there now.”

Click play on “Mama Said No,” and get acquainted with The FunkLabb.

* Cautious Clay knows a thing or two about relationships, and that includes when one has run its course. This is the subject matter of his latest single, “Roots.”

Clay explained the song in a statement, saying, “‘Roots’ is about having an established history with someone, and coming to the often-difficult realization that things ultimately will not last because of elements in the relationship that are toxic. I tried to make that sentiment known in the first verse, ‘From atoms up to comets, life is never promised, you could make me wanna lie and be dishonest.’ It’s about wanting to put yourself out there, and be emotionally vulnerable to a fault, however ultimately knowing what’s best is for both people to separate, and move on.”

We’ve all been there, and on “Roots” Cautious Clay makes something incredibly difficult a bit less heartbreaking.

* Have you ever heard the phrase “like a hot knife through butter” (or am I a thousand years old spouting old-timey dialect that has you wanting to call me grandpa)? It means to do something quickly. I think it’s apropos, as once you listen to Brooklyn-based rock trio Hot Knives’ latest single, “Static Bloom,” it won’t take you long to be into the band.

“Static Bloom” is off Hot Knives’ upcoming album, Making Love To Make Music To Make Love To, which is due out May 7th via Northern Transmissions and Look At My Records.

With a classic rock meets indie rock vibe, “Static Bloom” is the kind of song I’d love to hear performed live. Here’s hoping that will be able to happen later this year. For now, I’ll continue to click play.

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