Many people may be familiar with Charlene Kaye without knowing it - she's the energetic frontwoman of orchestral NYC band San Fermin.  However, she is also an accomplished songwriter who has been releasing solo records since 2012.  After the successful experience with San Fermin, the soulful singer has been refocusing on her own material and is about to release a new EP entitled “Honey,” under the new, simpler moniker Kaye. A development of the electro pop leanings of Charlene Kaye’s earlier work, Kaye’s full vocal and musical range is on display in the title track “Honey,” an empowering indie pop anthem, complete with a saturated sonic production featuring several edgy and distorted elements, bouncing between pop and rock. The “Honey” EP will be released on August 19th, and you can catch Kaye live at her EP Release show at Mercury Lounge on August 18th.  

Don’t call it a rock opera. Despite his orchestral composition, lyrics that are a dialogue between characters and a “necessary” song order, Ellis Ludwig-Leone, mastermind behind San Fermin, says their self-titled debut is just, “…a sort-of indie-pop record, that's thoroughly composed.” The band had a hell of 2013, and it's ripping the rewards with a two month tour that will take them from the US to Europe, with a single appeareance at SXSW on March 15 at Latitude 30. They'll be playing the BRIC house in Brooklyn on March 28.

Links: Bianca Seidman's interview with San Fermin.

Straight out of Brooklyn, the orchestral pop phenomenon San Fermin will be releasing their debut self-titled LP on September 17th via Downtown Records. Fronted by classically trained composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone, the band (named after the Spanish festival of San Fermín, which features the often gruesome bull run) was assembled after the album was already written and arranged by the young songwriter, who has worked with classical composer Nico Muhly. The album comes together for a hearty, full-bodied emotional and enticing joyride. You can listen to the preview single “Sonsick” below via Soundcloud and check out the video here. Make sure to check them out at Le Poisson Rouge on 9/20/13. – Michael Haskoor (@Tweetskoor)

It's always interesting to see what great backing musicians and songwriters are able to do once they've decided to take the reins to their own project in hand, and start baking their own jams. 23 year old Yale composition graduate Ellis Ludwig-Leone couldn't come better equipped for the adventure. Coming off work for Nico Muhly, through whom he has assisted on arrangements for musicians like Sufjan Stevens, his group San Fermin includes these symphonic influences and more.

Oh.. and he just happens to have enlisted the ladies from Lucius to help out, who if you don't know yet, may have the strongest voices of anyone in Brooklyn. Leading new single 'Sonsick,' off the upcoming self-titled debut, enlists Jess and Holly to take the song through the roof. Make no mistake. This is some big stuff right here. While the song begins simply enough, once the hook comes in, you should be prepared to get carried away. San Fermin's about as ambitious as I would hope for such a young songwriter, and I'm excited to see them when they play 92YTribeca next month on Jan 19th with Anais Kane. - Mike Levine (@Goldnuggets)

This song was added to our SoundCloud playlist of emerging NYC songwriters and roots music bands here.