NYC Scene Report – JW Francis, Bedridden, & Nikita Lev

This week’s NYC Scene Report features JW Francis teaming up with Paul Cherry for some Iced Merlot, Bedridden taking a “Chainsaw” to things, and Nikita Lev keeping us waiting in suspense just a little bit longer for her Suspend EP.

* JW Francis has been a favorite here for a while thanks to his feel-good tunes, and recently he teamed up with Chicago-based musician Paul Cherry for a three song EP titled Iced Merlot. The first single off the project is the song “Row Row,” and it’s a pure summertime vibe.

A wonderfully lazy tune that’s indie pop meets yacht rock, “Row Row” is like relaxing on a canoe, or small boat, on a nice lake, sun shining on your face, not a care in the world, or a screen in sight … which also happens to be exactly what they did for the video for the song!

Man, if that isn’t enough to make you want to click play, I don’t know what else I could say!

Pour yourself some Iced Merlot, and “Row Row” along with JW Francis and Paul Cherry.

* Bedridden has a “Chainsaw,” but don’t worry, they aren’t wielding it like Limp Bizkit … at least not exactly.

“Chainsaw” is the second single from Bedridden’s upcoming debut album, Moths Strapped To Eachother’s Backs, which is due out April 11th. Discussing the inspiration for the song in a statement, the Brooklyn-based band’s frontman Jack Riley said, “The song is written from my perspective about a time when I made an uncertain decision to move in with a partner and her friend, and a slew of manic stories that ensued after the fact. One of the stories was that of the roommates incessantly searching to buy a new lamp, and how it bothered me. The video is me trying to break through that anger by destroying the lamps.”

Without casting any shade (pun fully intended) to the movie Anchorman, I guess someone doesn’t love lamp.

Click play on “Chainsaw,” and check out Bedridden destroying lamps, and sounding fantastic while doing it.

* For those who’ve been waiting in suspense for new music from indie pop singer-songwriter Nikita Lev, the wait is almost over, as her upcoming EP, titled Suspend, is due out June 27th.

As a precursor to Suspend she recently released the single “Kill Her Mind,” which she described in a statement, saying, “It’s about wanting to stop thinking, wanting to let go, but also knowing you can’t. It’s like your mind is working against you, replaying things over and over, and you just want it to shut off.”

You’ll be able to hear Nikita perform “Kill Her Mind” at a hometown show at Arlene’s Grocery on April 22nd, and you can also give the dreamy pop tune a listen 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.