NYC Scene Report – Razor Braids, Carly Pearl, & Strawberry Launch

This week’s NYC Scene Report features Razor Braids with a gorgeous new version of their song “42,” Carly Pearl with an R&B jam that’s a musical mantra about love, and Strawberry Launch with a post-breakup anthem.

* Razor Braids teamed up with fellow Brooklyn-based indie rock artist Katie Von Schleicher for a dramatic new version of the band’s song “42.”

Starting off with some distinct Mazzy Star vibes, Katie Von Schleicher’s production has a wonderful, gradual build, with the music eventually becoming a roller coaster that mirrors the roller coaster of emotions Razor Braids’ Hollye Bynum is going through in the song.

Discussing “42” in a statement, Bynum said, “‘42’ is about taking every ounce of courage I had to walk away from a situation when everything in my body was telling me to give up. At its core, it’s really a song about learning what is love, and what is not. Abuse isn’t love even if someone is saying all the right things. Abuse is just abuse. It was a relationship that made me feel like everything would be terrible forever, and that I would never feel good again, but there was this moment, or a collection of moments, where I realized that I wasn’t in a real partnership, I was alone, and it wasn’t going to get better, and it was up to me to find the strength to leave.”

An absolute masterpiece, “42” is further proof that Razor Braids keep getting better.

* Carly Pearl has been a longtime favorite here with her unbelievably gorgeous, soul-filled vocals, and high vibe music.

Her latest single is an R&B jam titled “Till I Found You.” Discussing it in an Instagram post, she wrote, “This song is incredibly special to me. It captures the depth of how I want to love, and to be loved. It’s meant to serve as a musical mantra we can repeat as we seek the the truest love in all aspects of our lives.”

One especially important type of love on “Till I Found You” is self-love, as it seems the first “you” she wants us to find, and love, is ourselves.

High vibes indeed!

* Strawberry Launch has released a video for their latest single, “Videos.”

Off their 2024 EP Bad Luck, “Videos” is a post-breakup anthem about the only thing a toxic ex has left of you once you free yourself from them.

A haunting indie rock song with a great guitar solo – yes, those still exist in 2024 – “Videos” cranks it up a notch midway through, and ultimately closes out wonderfully heavy. I can only imagine how the adrenaline builds up to that point when Strawberry Launch perform the song live, as it likely culminates with a huge release of energy from the band, and the crowd.

Oh, and I just want to add, for the record, I never keep those kinds of videos. I do, however, encourage everyone to play this video, and get to know the music of Strawberry Launch.

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