May 14th, 2019
Crys Matthews performs as part of ‘Come Together’ Series in NYC May 15
There aren’t many albums that are more iconic or influential than the Beatles’ Abbey Road. Arts Brookfield and NewSong Music have come together to present the New York City spring outdoor concert series ‘Come Together: New original music inspired by the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ last studio album. We are excited to welcome 2017 NewSong finalist Crys Matthews to perform this Wednesday, May 15.
The ‘Come Together’ series features five free outdoor lunchtime concerts taking place every Wednesday in May. Each concert begins at 12:30 PM at the Grace Plaza, located at 1114 6th Avenue, just north of Bryant Park in Midtown Manhattan.
We took some time to talk to Crys to learn more about her songwriting and how she has been influenced by the the well-loved album.
How has Abbey Road influenced you?
Abbey Road is such an iconic album and has influenced so many artists across so many genres. I remember listening to Musiq Soulchild’s version of “Something” back in college and being so obsessed with it. It’s such a simple song, but it is a textbook example of less being so much more. I hope to master that art some day.
What is your favorite Abbey Road song?
“Something.”
What life and music news would you like to share?
WHAT IS THE SINGING OUT TOUR: Ask anyone in the know about the new generation of social justice music-makers and they’ll mention Heather Mae or Crys Matthews. Mae, a powerhouse performer and earthshaking vocalist, has turned her personal struggle with mental health and body image into an empowering message of self-love, a universal light force that shines for every audience member. Matthews is a powerful lyricist whose songs of compassionate dissent reflect her lived experience as what she lightheartedly calls “the poster-child for intersectionality”. These two singer-songwriters have joined forces with JJ Jones (Girlyman) and Joe Stevens (Coyote Grace) for The Singing OUT Tour. With Jones’s “kinetically charged” percussion and Stevens’s multi-instrumentalist brilliance, the music will be a powerful as their collective message — stand up and sing out.
