NYC Scene Report – Scruffy Pearls, tha Joint, & more

This week’s NYC Scene Report features Scruffy Pearls “Letting Loose” with a fantastic soul-pop jam, O.I.S.D. members Joey Golden and Jonathan UniteUs sparking tha Joint, R&B duo Lion Babe asking “Why,” and Trixie Whitley hitting listeners with her soulful “Touch.”

* If you’re looking for an incredibly joyous soul-pop song that will have you getting up out of your seat and moving, look no further than Scruffy Pearls’ latest single, “Letting Loose.”

“Letting Loose” was produced by RJ Gatsby and Ryan Corn, and features frontwoman Carly Brooke’s powerful, soulful vocals. Believe me when I say hers is a voice you won’t soon forget, and the vibe is one you’ll feel all throughout your body.

A full length Scruffy Pearls album is in the works, with an eye on a Summer release, and the band, which has been impressing live audiences throughout NYC for years, has a show coming up this Saturday, January 19th, at Rockwood Music Hall Stage 2. If you attend, there’s a pretty good chance you’ll see me in the crowd, “Letting Loose.”


* O.I.S.D. members Joey Golden and Jonathan UniteUs have created a new musical endeavor together named tha Joint, and their first release as tha Joint is a really unique, self-titled, EP that brings an entirely new vibe to hip-hop.

Influenced by Japanese jazz-funk fusion artists, the EP came together over the course of four whirlwind days.

Check out the single, “One Punch Man,” the title of which was inspired by the Japanese superhero webcomic, turned manga, turned animated series of the same name, and look for flashes of clips from the series in the video.


* NYC-based R&B duo Lion Babe have released a cover of Carly Simon’s “Why,” adding a caribbean twist to the ‘80s song.

The original version of “Why” was on the soundtrack for Soup For One, a 1982 box office bomb about a cable television producer in New York City determined to find the perfect woman. The movie is most known for its killer soundtrack, which included “Why,” as well as contributions from Chic, Teddy Pendergrass, Sister Sledge, and Debbie Harry.

Check out Jillian Hervey and Lucas Goodman’s version of “Why,” as I, obviously, seek out the reportedly terrible film the original is from (you all know I love bad movies!).


* Trixie Whitley is about to make you feel her “Touch,” and lemme tell ya, it’s a soulful experience.

“Touch” is the latest single from the Brooklyn-based artist, and it features a vibe that’s beautifully retro, with musical elements of the song inspired by ‘80s and ‘90s R&B jams.

The single is off her upcoming album, Lacuna, which was created in conjunction with Run The Jewels producer Little Shalimar, and will be released on March 29th.

The music video for “Touch,” which is due out soon, will be the first of a trilogy shot by visual artist Hannah Marshall. While waiting for that trio of clips, we can enjoy the single, and feel Whitley’s “Touch.”


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