Never Too late for a New Release

The Shuffle

Dec 9

The music industry can often seem like a young person's game. Teenage music fans seem to want thrilling new edgy music to do the latest TikTok dances too, while older music lovers seem to want what they already know. Stepping into the music scene young and dumb can not only be a blessing but a often a prerequisite. With no children to care for, no previous failures to haunt you, and no inhibitions to hinder you, the world is your oyster. It’s easy to justify putting all your hard-earned barista tip money into recording a new acoustic album, while packing your entire life up in a little van with people you can barely stand, for weeks on end to promote the album when you have nothing else to do.

Once the humdrum of everyday life lulls you into contentment, why shake things up? There is something to be said about the predictability of a day job with benefits and vacation time. Can you really compare the moment you hold your first born to the moment you first hear yourself on the radio? The drive to make music never dies for some, and for two locals, it’s only gotten stronger.

Back in 2017, veteran Philly songwriter John Faye (Caulfields, IKE, John & Brittany, John Faye & Those Meddling Kids) had shifted his creative energy away from an active music career towards the more insular process of writing a memoir. As the pieces of that puzzle filled in over the next four years, Faye found himself slowly drawn back into jotting down song ideas in his journal and humming melodies into his phone, realizing that music would always occupy a significant space in his creative galaxy.

Embracing collaboration in a way he had never done before, Faye offered his supporters on Patreon a chance to appear on “Orbit,” his first single since 2016, as part of the gang vocal chorus. “Orbit” seems tailor-made for the 20+ multi-tracked voices that comprise the song's massive sing-along hook. The rest of the song was recorded strictly on Faye’s laptop using Logic, a digital recording platform, which turned out to be a game changer for him. Co-written with Nashville-based songwriter Reece Ratliff, and mixed and mastered by long-time studio collaborator Ron DiSilvestro, “Orbit” is the sound of tapping into a pent up energy that has been there all along, but is raring to come out and play.

As Niki Spumante grew up, singing was always part of her life, but seemed more like a hobby than a career option. Unable to shake the desire to perform, Niki did what any sensible female in her 30's would do. She put an ad on Craig's List. This landed her with Mike Z, the brainchild behind popular hip hop and rock fusion band Xtra Alltra, an incredible guitarist, talented multi-instrumentalist and producer. It was after performing together for Gable Music Ventures in 2019, at their first Ladybug Milford event, that Mike suggested they start working on originals. After a little thought, Niki figured, "I can spend my time learning a bunch of other people's music and trying to fit their style, or I can write my own stuff. Music that works for my own voice and my own style." Drawing from decades of writings found in her journal, "Trouble" was born. Produced by Niki Spumante and LiquidBronze and mastered by LiquidBronze, she released “Trouble” independently on September 14, 2021.

“Trouble has one of those hooks that would keep me up at night. No matter how much I tried, I couldn’t ignore the song.”

— Niki Spumante

(Track art by Kevin Francis)

Chris Lewis has played guitar and sung in many bands over the years. He retired at 47 in 2015 to pursue a career in music. He recorded his first album of 9 songs in 2019 under the name Filo Betto, acting as the main vocalist and playing all the instruments, with the exception of horns by his friend Rob Zinn. Unsatisfied with the linear sound, he re-formed the band, but the pandemic hit and lasted longer than then their union. Not yet willing to give up on his desire to put together another album, Chris got busy concocting a plan to rally some players and get into a studio.

“It’s a little hard to find people who are about my age who want to play originals in tiny dirty clubs for little to no pay, all the musicians I know and love and want to work with have steady good paying gigs playing covers.” Chris comments. Teaming up with long time friend Rick Artz from Love Seed Mama Jump, Chris was introduced to himself working for the first time with one of the most respected producers in the state, Ritchie Rubini. After recording once a week for 5 or 6 hours each time, 58 weeks later they had a product that Chris was finally proud of.

“I am completely happy and thrilled how this all turned out! Most of all I have learned to say YES, and to just go with the flow and not force things to happen, just let it be.” Chris comments.