NYC Scene Report – Best Ex, Caitlin Starr, & Whisper Doll

This week’s NYC Scene Report features Best Ex making the best out of a “Losing Streak,” Caitlin Starr escaping her “Cage,” and Whisper Doll reading the “Sunsigns.”

* Best Ex, which is the performance moniker of indie pop artist Mariel Loveland, feels like she's had a bit of a “Losing Streak,” but she's become pretty adept at turning life’s lemons into lemonade.

“‘Losing Streak’ is a song about doing the best you possibly can with the cards you’ve been dealt,” Loveland explained in a statement, “Life doesn't always turn out the way you planned, and bad things do happen, but I think being a happy and fulfilled person is all about ‘sifting for gold’ in the mess.”

She continued, adding, “Worrying about the things you can’t control does not actually change them, or make your life better. This song is about relinquishing that control, and trying to find happiness even when times are hard.”

“Losing Streak” is from Best Ex’s upcoming album, Good Girl, which is due out November 6th via Iodine Recordings, and it’s an absolute winner.

* Smashing Pumpkins once told us they were a rat in a cage. The Killers claimed they were coming out of their cage, and doing just fine. Now, NYC indie rocker Caitlin Starr, is escaping her own cage.

“Cage,” which is off Starr’s just released EP, Speed Saves, has a real power to it, as she explains, “It’s a call to fight back, and reclaim agency by owning your story, and who you are. It’s perfect for the moment you decide to break out.”

Starr has been having a breakout year, becoming a name to know in the scene, and a must-see artist when she’s on a venue’s bill. I look forward to seeing her again soon, and witnessing her escape her “Cage” live. Until then, I’ll keep clicking play on the video.

* Whisper Doll released their new album, Lucky Clover, earlier this month, and it includes the beautiful indie pop song “Sunsigns.”

Discussing “Sunsigns" in a statement, the band’s frontwoman, Fiona Tagami, said, “This song is about the stage of being super enamored with someone to the point that you’re looking up their star signs and trying to gauge your compatibility with them from afar. I wanna know what the universe has to say!”

I don’t need the universe to tell me “Sunsigns” is great – no only does it sound fantastic, the video has a cat in it, and that’s all you need to sell me on something!

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