NYC post-punk duo FRENCHY AND THE PUNK to release 'Midnight Garden' album June 28 as their U.S. tour launches

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey and accessible" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"With melancholic grace, Frenchy and the Punk weave light into their darkness, both visually and aurally... a potent goth-alternative concoction, a boozy blend of classic post-punk infused with daring, catchy guitar work that pushes the boundaries of the genre" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk presents their eighth album, 'Midnight Garden', via NYC indie imprint EA Recordings, arriving one year since their critically-acclaimed 'Zen Ghost' album. This record bursts with dance grooves, guitar-driven upbeat melodies and soaring vocals. Written in France and the USA, this is a post-punk, new wave, dark alternative collection to kick off the summer season.

Torchbearers of a new era in post-punk, their latest single 'Like In A Dream' bathes the listener in it’s reflective, beautiful moodiness, piercing the gloom with flickers of light, following the lead track - the dance floor frenzy 'Hypnotized'.

Formed in 2005, Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist-composer Scott Helland, co-founder of Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr. icons J Mascis and Lou Barlow) and Outpatients. Named one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, they profess a vivid blend of post-punk, dark folk, new wave, goth and punk cabaret. Helland is also known for his exceptional solo music project Guitarmy of One.

On 'Midnight Garden', Stephenson hits her stride - lyrically, vocally and with the synth sounds peppering the album. Helland shows his knack for infectious, and often euphoric, guitar melodies, propelling these tracks and perfectly complementing Frenchy's vocals.

Samantha Stephenson explains, "Midnight Garden feels like a new beginning of sorts. Even though this is our eighth studio album, there’s a lot of rising from the ashes, or starting over energy in these songs. I had a sense of things coming to an end, a kind of clearing the air and moving forward with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose. I feel like I am fully engaged in this music process, more so than ever before. I’m giving it my all, whereas up until a couple of years ago, I was fighting internally with the push and pull of visual arts vs music. I’m ready to let go of the past, I’m ready for a new chapter."

The euphoric title track 'Midnight Garden', with its gothic re-imagining of the Garden of Eden, speaks to soulmates who want to leave the world’s problems behind. 'Sleepwalk Shuffle' is a quirky post-punk track that questions the cultural path we find ourselves on as a society. 'Mr. Scorpion' laments the off-kilter balance of power and imagines a world free of planarian bygone ideologies. The remaining tracks offer up guitar-driven dance grooves with soaring vocals. The album ends with 'End of An Era', a straight up synth-driven track that leaves the listener with the ominous drone, capturing the zeitgeist of our time.

The duo has forged their own distinct path, touring the US and Europe with their artful two-person powerhouse of sound. To date, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Aurelio Voltaire and Faun.

'Lost In A Dream' is available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On June 28, the 'Midnight Garden' album, now available for pre-order, will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally.  After a successful UK tour, the band kicks off their American tour on June 22.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded at Split Rock Studios (New Paltz, NY)
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage (Coventry UK)
Written, performed and produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Nicola Bee

TOUR DATES
JUN 22  Salem, MA - Darq Salem
JUN 25  Transmission Radio Show on WFDU.FM
JUL 11  Pomeroy, OH - Starwood Festival
JUL 13  Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
JUL 14  Columbus, OH - Dirty Dungarees Alt Music Space
JUL 16  Bloomington, IN - The Bishop
JUL 17  Cincinnati, OH - The Comet
JUL 18  Detroit, MI - Corktown Tavern
JUL 19  Akron, OH - Buzzbin
JUL 20  Maple Heights, OH - Maple Grove Tavern
JUL 21  Dayton, OH - Blind Bob’s
JUL 23   St Louis, MO - The Crack Fox
JUL 25  Cleveland, OH - Wizbang Theater
JUL 26  Sherman, NY - Sirius Rising Festival
SEPT 6   Pittsburgh, PA - Pitts Art Fest
SEPT 22  York, PA - Enchanted Festival
SEPT 26 Dark Castle Festival, Louisville, KY
OCT 5/6  Attleboro, MA - Jewelry City Festival
OCT 12  Upper Lake, CA - Hexenfest
OCT 25  Shepherdstown, WV - TBA
NOV 16  Baltimore, MD -  Fairy Scary Ball


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Frenchy and the Punk unveil blissfully alluring 'Like In A Dream' single amidst headlining UK tour

Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey and accessible" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Steeped in a melancholic grace, Frenchy and the Punk weave light into their darkness, both visually and aurally... a potent goth-alternative concoction, a boozy blend of classic post-punk infused with daring, catchy guitar work that pushes the boundaries of the genre" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk presents 'Like In A Dream',
a single that pierces the gloom with flickers of light, their sound steeped in melancholic grace. This is the second offering from their 'Midnight Garden' album, forthcoming via NYC indie imprint EA Recordings.
 
Torchbearers of a new era in post-punk, the duo earlier released the lead track - the dance floor frenzy 'Hypnotized', one year since releasing their critically-acclaimed 'Zen Ghost' album.

Formed in 2005, Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist-composer Scott Helland, co-founder of Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr. icons J Mascis and Lou Barlow) and Outpatients. Named one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, they profess a vivid blend of post-punk, dark folk, new wave, goth and punk cabaret. Helland is also known for his exceptional solo music project Guitarmy of One.

“’Like In A Dream’ was one of the songs we came up with in Paris. I often write lyrics in a stream of consciousness way as if the lyrics were attached to the guitar riff that Scott is playing. It can be that old, ‘which comes first?’, question. Do the riffs present themselves because the lyrics exist or are the lyrics born out of the guitar riffs. Or are Scott and my subconsciouses so connected that they both exist and emerge together? This song is about perspective, the cycle of life, and the ever beautiful embrace of love,” says Samantha Stephenson.

Scott Helland adds, “On ‘Like in a Dream’, in the majority of the song, I play heavily reverbed single note guitar lines. It was a real treat to record, in what I like to call “the Gilmour type of feel”. I wanted those notes to ring and just be felt in an emotive way and to keep within that dreamy floaty-ness that Samantha conjures vocally and lyrically. The single note lines differ from the wall of acoustic and semi electric tones and chords that usually make up our songs, though that wall of sound does come in as the lead up to the end of this track.”

On 'Midnight Garden', Stephenson hits her stride - lyrically, vocally and with the synth sounds peppering the album. Helland shows his knack for infectious, and often euphoric, guitar melodies, propelling these tracks and perfectly complementing Frenchy's vocals.
 
This collection bursts with dance grooves, guitar-driven upbeat melodies and soaring vocals. Written in France and the USA, this post-punk, new wave and dark alternative-drenched cauldron of songs address themes ranging from the gothic reimagining of the garden of eden, rising from the ashes and starting over, to socio-political commentary,

“We filmed the majority of the footage for ‘Like In A Dream’ at Art OMI and sculpture park in Ghent, NY, mostly utilizing the piece by LevenBetts called ‘Zoid’. The minimalist nature of the design and how it captures light with its repetitive geometric shapes seemed like a perfect structure to play within," says Stephenson.

"The stark architecture placed in an expansive landscape mirrors and complements the minimalist and dreamy feel of the song. Another portion of the dance footage was filmed during the recent eclipse in April. It felt like an interesting time to capture movement. In a moment of time when so many came together to witness a beautiful natural phenomenon, it felt like an escape from the mundane which also felt in harmony with the song.”

The duo has forged their own distinct path, touring across the US and Europe with their artful two-person powerhouse of sound. To date, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Aurelio Voltaire and Faun.

As of May 28, 'Lost In A Dream' is out everywhere online, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The 'Midnight Garden' album, which is now available for pre-order, will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally on June 28.  The band has just kicked off their UK tour, alongside Miranda Sex Garden. American tour dates follow in late June.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded at Split Rock Studios (New Paltz, NY)
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage (Coventry UK)
Written, performed and produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Nicola Bee

TOUR DATES
JUN 22  Salem, MA - Darq Salem
JUL 11  Pomeroy, OH - Starwood Festival
JUL 13  Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
JUL 14  Columbus, OH - Dirty Dungarees Alt Music Space
JUL 17  Cincinnati, OH - The Comet
JUL 18  Detroit, MI - Corktown Tavern
JUL 19  Akron, OH - Buzzbin
JUL 20  Maple Heights, OH - Maple Grove Tavern
JUL 21  Dayton, OH - Blind Bob’s
JUL 23  St Louis, MO - Crack Fox
JUL 25  Cleveland, OH - Wizbang Theater
JUL 26  Sherman, NY - Sirius Rising Festival
SEPT 6   Pittsburgh, PA - Pitts Art Fest
SEPT 22  York, PA - Enchanted Festival
SEPT 26 Dark Castle Festival, Louisville, KY
OCT 5/6  Attleboro, MA - Jewelry City Festival
OCT 12  Upper Lake, CA - Hexenfest
OCT 25  Shepherdstown, WV - TBA
NOV 16  Baltimore, MD -  Fairy Scary Ball


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NYC post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk present 'Hypnotized', first taste of their eighth album.

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey and accessible" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Captivating with a sense of adventure... always injects a silver lining into their dusky post-punk" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC-based post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk present 'Hypnotized', a seductive dance floor romp. This is the first taste of their eighth album 'Midnight Garden', released via EA Recordings, which follows their critically-acclaimed 'Zen Ghost' album and Siouxsie tribute 'Cities In Dust'.

This collection bursts with dance grooves, guitar-driven upbeat melodies and soaring vocals. Written in France and the USA, this post-punk, new wave and dark alternative-drenched cauldron of songs address themes ranging from the gothic reimagining of the garden of eden, rising from the ashes and starting over, to socio-political commentary,

Formed in 2005, Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist-composer Scott Helland, co-founder of Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr. icons J Mascis and Lou Barlow) and Outpatients. Named one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, they profess a vivid blend of post-punk, dark folk, new wave, goth and punk cabaret. Helland is also known for his exceptional solo music project Guitarmy of One.

On 'Midnight Garden', Stephenson hits her stride - lyrically, vocally and with the synth sounds peppering the album. Helland shows his knack for infectious, and often euphoric, guitar melodies, propelling these tracks and perfectly complementing Frenchy's vocals.

"Scott came up with the guitar riff for 'Hypnotized' back in 2017. We were staying in a hotel in Atlantic City in-between tour stops. The hotel dated back to the 1930s with beautiful art-deco style decor. It was completely deserted and had an eerie presence - it was definitely haunted. We stumbled upon a lounge area looking over the ocean with a grand piano and spent the afternoon, with the place to ourselves, playing and coming up with song ideas. I didn’t like any lyrics that I was coming up with for that particular riff and it got shelved," explains Samantha Stephenson.

"Once in a while, I’d go back to it but it wasn’t until this past January, seven years later, that it finally took shape. We went to an art opening where photographer and mixed media artist Alice Teeple was showing her ‘Solve Et Coagula’ exhibit. I was very drawn to a book she had created with photographs and French text that she told me was inspired by the French Hypnotist Jean-Martin Charcot and I ended up falling down the Charcot rabbit hole. We were in the middle of working on the new album and I was revisiting that guitar riff, and the hypnosis theme found its way into the song, fitting perfectly after all those years. The theme of hypnosis is a double-edged sword. In one respect, it’s something that feels peaceful and sensual; in another, it feels unnerving in its ability to placate and overpower into subjugation."
 
Drawing inspiration from post-punk legends like The Cure, the upbeat energy and percussive textures of Adam and the Ants, the bewitching mystique of Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the quirky charm of The B-52's, they have crafted a sound that is both nostalgic and refreshingly authentic delivered in an unorthodox way.

About 'Hypnotized, Scott Helland says, "The song sprung from the opening grungy bass line that I played with an electro-acoustic hybrid guitar through octave and distortion pedals. The groove pulses beneath Samantha’s soaring vocals and lets up occasionally to allow me to growl the word "Hypnotized". I love that it’s a confounding track in that it hypnotizes you to move. We love to work with contrasts".

Over the years, the duo has forged their own distinct path, touring across the US and Europe with their artful two-person powerhouse of sound. To date, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Aurelio Voltaire and Faun.

As of April 25, 'Hypnotized' will be available everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. On June 28, the 'Midnight Garden' album will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally. Until April 30, the album can be ordered through the band's Kickstarter campaign. Bookended by US tour dates on either end, the UK wing of their tour kicks off on May 21, when they play Bristol's Exchange with Miranda Sex Garden. American and UK tickets can be found online.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded at Split Rock Studios (New Paltz, NY)
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi
Mastered by Martin Bowes at The Cage (Coventry UK)
Written, performed and produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Artist photos by Nicola Bee

TOUR DATES
APR 25  Greenbelt, MD - New Deal Cafe
APR 27/28  Holly Springs, NC - Festival of Legends
APR 30  Richmond, VA - Black Iris Social Club
MAY 4  Washington, NJ - Rock n Roll SteamFest
MAY 18  Milton, PA - Reign of Terror Presents: World of Fae
MAY 19  Berkeley Springs, WV - Bringing in the May
MAY 21  Bristol, UK - The Exchange (with Miranda Sex Garden)
JUN 1  Wareham UK - Alice’s Wicked Tea Party
JUN 7  Morecambe, UK - A Splendid Day Out Festival
JUN 8   Newcastle, UK - Little Buildings
JUN 9  Edinburgh, UK - Banshee Labyrinth
JUN 14  Leicester, UK - Firebug
JUN 15  London, UK - Dublin Castle
JUN 17  Oxford, UK - Botley Taproom
JUN 22  Salem, MA - Darq Salem
JUL 11  Pomeroy, OH - Starwood Festival
JUL 13  Pittsburgh, PA - TBA
JUL 14  Columbus, OH - Dirty Dungarees Alt Music Space
JUL 17  Cincinnati, OH - The Comet
JUL 18  Detroit, MI - Corktown Tavern
JUL 19  Akron, OH - Buzzbin
JUL 20  Maple Heights, OH - Maple Grove Tavern
JUL 21  Dayton, OH - Blind Bob’s
JUL 23  St Louis, MO - Crack Fox
JUL 25  Cleveland, OH - Wizbang Theater
JUL 26  Sherman, NY - Sirius Rising Festival
SEPT 6   Pittsburgh, PA - Pitts Art Fest
SEPT 22  York, PA - Enchanted Festival
SEPT 26 Dark Castle Festival, Louisville, KY
OCT 5/6  Attleboro, MA - Jewelry City Festival
OCT 12  Upper Lake, CA - Hexenfest
OCT 25  Shepherdstown, WV - TBA
NOV 16  Baltimore, MD -  Fairy Scary Ball


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
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Frenchy and the Punk present ‘Gear Geist’ with new video, celebrating the spirit of Britain past. Their Siouxsie tribute 'Cities In Dust’ is also out now

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Captivating with a sense of adventure... Frenchy and the Punk’s music always injects a silver lining into their dusky post-punk. With music this fantastic, we can only hope that their art is not merely a sign of the times but a harbinger of better times to come" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC-based goth pop-alternative duo Frenchy and the Punk present the single ‘Gear Geist’. Essentially translated as Gear Ghost, this song conjures the 'ghost in the machine' idea, which reflects the overall 'mind phantoms' theme of their latest album Zen Ghost'.  The new video for this song was shot in Whitby and Thetford Forest during the duo's UK ‘Zen Ghost’ tour earlier this year.

This follows their October cover version of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ classic 'Cities In Dust', timed for the 38th anniversary of the original release, with B-side 'Monsters'.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, co-founder of Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis and Lou Barlow) and Outpatients. Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the duo profess a vivid blend of post-punk, cabaret and dark folk music.

‘Gear Geist’ is a largely instrumental track peppered with expansive atmospheric and ethereal vocals, adding texture and emotion. The melding of Helland's guitar and organically produced sounds from the guitar, as well as keyboard and electronic embellishments and percussion, perfectly mesh to create an otherworldly soundscape.

"Whenever I sing those parts in the song it feels like a lament, an acknowledgement of the sadness in the world enveloped with a veil of the bittersweet nature of love, beauty, connection and loneliness in life," says Samantha Stephenson.

“It was cloudy and raining in both locations, which was perfect for the mood of the track. The atmospheric and haunting vibe of ‘Gear Geist’ demanded a kind of setting that could reflect that mood."

For this video, Stephenson was able to tap into her many years of dance training and performance to bring a strong dance element to the visuals. Aerialist Nicole Pisaniello from Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus (in Richmond VA) adds a gravity-defying element to that dance theme, sewing up the thread of a gothic embrace to the song.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998. The spark was immediate, powerful and undeniable. They started collaborating on creative projects together, but it wouldn't be until 2005 that they would start to collaborate musically after Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The two began to tour with fevered zeal and striking aesthetic, building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention and club circuits with their boisterous performances.

With numerous recordings under their belt over the years, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners. 

After a full year of touring throughout the USA and Europe, Frenchy and the Punk is now back in New York, writing material for a new album planned for 2024. In the meantime, both the ‘Zen Ghost’ album and the 'Cities In Dust' single are available from fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. ‘Gear Geist’ itself will be offered on a 'name your price' basis via Bandcamp until December 15th.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Single artwork by Samantha Stephenson
Photos by Samantha Stephenson
Video filmed in Whitby & Thetford Forest UK & Host of Sparrows Aerial Circus US
Aerialist in video - Nicole Pisaniello

TOUR DATES
Dec 2-3  WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Steampunk Adventurers Weekend
Jan. 13   COLTS NECK, NJ - Big Top Circus Ball
Feb 16-18  GETTYSBURG, PA - Mythicon
Apr. 6   GALVESTON, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
Apr 19-21  SAN METEO, CA - Clockwork Alchemy
Apr 27-28  HOLLY SPRINGS, NC - Festival of Legends
May 18   MILTON, PA - World of Fae Ball
May 31-June 1 DORSET, UK - Alice’s Wicked Tea Party Alternative Festival


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Frenchy and the Punk release 'Cities In Dust' tribute, marking its 38th anniversary, along with B-side 'Monsters'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Vibrant and danceable. Who says dark can’t also be fun? Zen Ghost, which may be among the year’s best albums to date, is a highly recommended listen" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... beautifully manic"  ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC-based goth pop-alternative duo Frenchy and the Punk present their cover version of Siouxsie and the Banshees’ classic 'Cities In Dust', set for release on October 18, the 38th anniversary of the original release by this game-changing post-punk outfit.

The single comes with the B-side track 'Monsters', a rhythmic new wave-punky guitar-based tale of greed that conjures images of surreal scenes as if in a trippy video game. Reflecting the angst of the moment, it weaves and flows in observation of the theft of the world's abundance by those whose hunger to have it all at any cost knows no bounds.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who co-founded Outpatients and Deep Wound (with Dinosaur Jr.'s J Mascis and Lou Barlow). Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the duo profess a vivid blend of post-punk, cabaret and dark folk music.

This release follows the duo's seventh album 'Zen Ghost', written and recorded during the pandemic and released in October 2022 to critical acclaim. During these same recording sessions, they decided to record the Banshees’ cover after fans seemed thrilled with their live rendition at shows.

Many of the songs on their recent Zen Ghost have also garnered that vocal comparison as well as to Grace Slick and Johnette Napolitano. American guitarist and live looping master Scott Helland, who cut his teeth in the early hardcore punk scene of Western Massachusetts, is an avid fan of the iconic 80s band and Cities in Dust was one of his favorites.

Helland recalls first discovering Siouxsie in the mid-80s upon walking into his favorite record store - Main Street Records in Northampton, MA, noting “It was one of those things I’ll never forget. Seeing a poster of Siouxsie with her teased black hair and the song blasting throughout the store, it was mind blowing. I feel like I hadn’t really been exposed to female musicians in the punk or goth realm until then. She was instantly cool to me."

While also a fan, Stephenson's deep dive into the Banshees’ sound came much later. “I was aware of Siouxsie and the Banshees, but mostly for her stunning look. I loved her image. She seemed to exude fierceness and confidence but I wasn’t all that familiar with the band’s sound. It’s really because our fans constantly mentioned her name that got me falling down the Banshees’ rabbit hole some years ago," says Stephenson.

"It’s never too late to discover great music! Seeing her perform at Latitude Festival in the UK while on tour there this year was so inspiring. She fully embraces her age and still performs with the fierceness I saw and loved in those early days. I so appreciate how creative and inventive the band was and I’m also a fan of Siouxsie’s solo album Mantaray.”

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The spark was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal and striking aesthetic, building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention and club circuits with their boisterous performances.

With numerous recordings under their belt over the years, they've performed with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners. 

After a full year of touring throughout the USA and Europe in support of 'Zen Ghost', Frenchy and the Punk is now back in New York, writing material for a new album they plan to release in 2024. In the meantime, 'Cities In Dust' is available from fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp.

CREDITS
Samantha Stephenson - Vocals, Percussion, Keyboard
Scott Helland - Guitar, Bass, Drums and Drum Programming
Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Jason Sarubbi
Produced by Frenchy and the Punk
Originally performed by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Written by Susan Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke, Steven Severin
Artwork - Samantha Stephenson
Photos by Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Oct. 21  EASTAMPTON, NJ - Autumn Lands Festival
Nov. 4   PITTSBURGH, PA - Witches’ Ball
Dec 2-3  WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Steampunk Adventurers Weekend
Jan. 13   COLTS NECK, NJ - Big Top Circus Ball
Feb 16-18  GETTYSBURG, PA - Mythicon
Apr. 6   GALVESTON, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
Apr 19-21  SAN METEO, CA - Clockwork Alchemy
Apr 27-28  HOLLY SPRINGS, NC - Festival of Legends
May 18   MILTON, PA - World of Fae Ball


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
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Spy-themed surf rock from GUITARMY OF ONE. New single ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ is out now

“An accomplished ex-punk who has made the striking transition to atmospheric soundtracks” ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Helland has tapped something interesting and, dare we say, magical... Soundtracks for the movie in our minds" ~ PopMatters

"Fom hardcore punk to thrash metal, to folk-punk cabaret, to working with J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), and more; Helland never fails to surprise with his continuous evolution as an artist" ~ Ghost Cult Magazine

"Outlandish, playful, mysterious... plays out like the soundtrack to an old detective television show" ~ Alt77


NYC-based surf rock artist Guitarmy of One presents the single ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’, the first taste of his forthcoming album ‘The Wave Files’. Crowdfunded via Kickstarter, this record picks up where ‘The Spy Detective Collective’ LP left off.

Guitarmy of One is the solo project of guitarist Scott Helland, who combines the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality. Taking listeners on a sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres.

Helland got his start playing bass guitar in the 80s-90s hardcore punk scene, first with Deep Wound, which he formed with J Mascis and Lou Barlow (of Dinosaur Jr.) and later with East Coast hardcore and crossover thrash stalwarts Outpatients, School of Violence and Darkside NYC. Going solo in the mid-90s, he released numerous eclectic instrumental albums before forming post-punk dark pop cabaret duo Frenchy and the Punk in 2005  with French singer Samantha Stephenson.

"I wanted this album to be music you want to travel with - in your mind or physically. It’s action music, and I think it should ignite your imagination and take you on a journey. Wordless music relies on the visuals it creates so if it can take you on a sonic adventure across continents, or at least counties, my work is done," says Scott Helland.

"The idea for this album is rooted in spy and detective shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I want the music to be a sonic equivalent of those shows and movies where you’re riding the waves of intrigue and espionage so the music has to match that sense of urgency and excitement."

Influenced by Spanish guitar, punk and metal, Guitarmy of One conjures up images of secret agents, high-speed chases, and hidden agendas through his intricate layered compositions. His mix of surf guitar techniques (i.e. reverb-drenched chords, lightning-fast tremolo picking, and tremolo bar vibrato albeit with a Bigsby bridge pedal) creates a sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

As a full-fledged espionage-inspired surf rock act, Guitarmy of One takes us on a thrilling musical journey, blending the realms of instrumental guitar, surf music and the mystique of spy themes within the one person band format. Helland weaves his mysterious and generous acoustic-electric melodies over propulsive spy riffs and electro beats, layering and building patiently toward engrossing payoffs.

Scott Helland explains, "Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ is inspired by the 1966 song by Johnny Rivers ’Secret Agent Man’. It starts with a reverb soaked low guitar octave and then goes into the main driving bass line and drum beat and the reverbed guitars blast in after that. It was one of the last songs I wrote for the album so naturally I thought it should be the first single as it has this fresh upbeat vibe. I think for the first single it captures the excitement of The Waves Files theme."

Guitarmy of One’s live performances are a spectacle as the stage becomes a laboratory of sound, as layers of guitar riffs, bass lines, and percussion intertwine and overlap, creating a lush and dynamic musical tapestry. Armed with a guitar, loop pedals, drum pads and an array of effects pedals, Helland creates a symphony of sound right before your eyes.

As of June 23, "Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ will be available across digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp, where the full album can already be pre-ordered. On August 18, 'The Wave Files' album will be released on CD, as well as digitally.

CREDITS
Written, performed and produced by Scott Helland
All instrumentation by Scott Helland
Engineered by Jason Sarubbi Split Rock Studio, New Paltz, NY
Mastered by Jason Sarubbi
Cover Art by Nukui Bogard
Layout and Single Design Samantha Stephenson
Video Filmed and Edited by Guitarmy of One
Artist photos by Samantha Stephenson

LIVE SHOWS
JULY 4  Brooklyn, NY - Coney Island Brewer @1:30pm
SEPT 1-3  Atlanta, GA - DragonCon 2023
OCT 7  New York, NY - Unsteady Freddie's Surf Rock Shindig


Keep up with Guitarmy of One
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Store | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Soundcloud | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Email

NYC-based Guitarmy of One presents new spy-themed surf rock on ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ single

“An accomplished ex-punk who has made the striking transition to atmospheric soundtracks” ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Helland has tapped something interesting and, dare we say, magical... Soundtracks for the movie in our minds" ~ PopMatters

"Fom hardcore punk to thrash metal, to folk-punk cabaret, to working with J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), and more; Helland never fails to surprise with his continuous evolution as an artist" ~ Ghost Cult Magazine

"Outlandish, playful, mysterious... plays out like the soundtrack to an old detective television show" ~ Alt77


NYC-based surf rock artist Guitarmy of One presents the single ‘Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’, the first taste of his forthcoming album ‘The Wave Files’. Crowdfunded via Kickstarter, this record picks up where ‘The Spy Detective Collective’ LP left off. The first video in what will be a short series sees this agent bust his buns to finally meet up with Agent Camille.

Guitarmy of One is the solo project of guitarist Scott Helland, who combines the thrilling sounds of spy-themed instrumental surf guitar music with punk vitality. Taking listeners on a sonic adventure to the realms of intrigue, danger and surf-soaked excitement, Helland channels that raw and unconventional spirit into a quirky fusion of genres.

Helland got his start playing bass guitar in the 80s-90s hardcore punk scene, first with Deep Wound, which he formed with J Mascis and Lou Barlow (of Dinosaur Jr.) and later with East Coast hardcore and crossover thrash stalwarts Outpatients, School of Violence and Darkside NYC. Going solo in the mid-90s, he released numerous eclectic instrumental albums before forming post-punk dark pop cabaret duo Frenchy and the Punk in 2005  with French singer Samantha Stephenson.

"I wanted this album to be music you want to travel with - in your mind or physically. It’s action music, and I think it should ignite your imagination and take you on a journey. Wordless music relies on the visuals it creates so if it can take you on a sonic adventure across continents, or at least counties, my work is done," says Scott Helland.

"The idea for this album is rooted in spy and detective shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s. I want the music to be a sonic equivalent of those shows and movies where you’re riding the waves of intrigue and espionage so the music has to match that sense of urgency and excitement."

Influenced by Spanish guitar, punk and metal, Guitarmy of One conjures up images of secret agents, high-speed chases, and hidden agendas through his intricate layered compositions. His mix of surf guitar techniques (i.e. reverb-drenched chords, lightning-fast tremolo picking, and tremolo bar vibrato albeit with a Bigsby bridge pedal) creates a sonic landscape that is both nostalgic and forward-thinking.

As a full-fledged espionage-inspired surf rock act, Guitarmy of One takes us on a thrilling musical journey, blending the realms of instrumental guitar, surf music and the mystique of spy themes within the one person band format. Helland weaves his mysterious and generous acoustic-electric melodies over propulsive spy riffs and electro beats, layering and building patiently toward engrossing payoffs.

Scott Helland explains, "Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ is inspired by the 1966 song by Johnny Rivers ’Secret Agent Man’. It starts with a reverb soaked low guitar octave and then goes into the main driving bass line and drum beat and the reverbed guitars blast in after that. It was one of the last songs I wrote for the album so naturally I thought it should be the first single as it has this fresh upbeat vibe. I think for the first single it captures the excitement of The Waves Files theme."

Guitarmy of One’s live performances are a spectacle as the stage becomes a laboratory of sound, as layers of guitar riffs, bass lines, and percussion intertwine and overlap, creating a lush and dynamic musical tapestry. Armed with a guitar, loop pedals, drum pads and an array of effects pedals, Helland creates a symphony of sound right before your eyes.

As of June 14, "Top Secret Agent Man on a Wire Tapped Phone at Sea’ will be available exclusively on Bandcamp. It hits other digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music, on June 21. On August 18, 'The Wave Files' album will be released on CD, as well as digitally.

CREDITS
Written, performed and produced by Scott Helland
All instrumentation by Scott Helland
Engineered by Jason Sarubbi Split Rock Studio, New Paltz, NY
Mastered by Jason Sarubbi
Cover Art by Nukui Bogard
Layout and Single Design Samantha Stephenson
Video Filmed and Edited by Guitarmy of One

Artist photos by Samantha Stephenson

LIVE SHOWS
JUNE 23-25  Harpursville, NY - New York Faerie Festival 2023
JULY 1  New York, NY - Parkside Lounge @8pm
JULY 4  Brooklyn, NY - Coney Island Brewer @1:30pm
SEPT 1-3  Atlanta, GA - DragonCon 2023
OCT 7  New York, NY - Unsteady Freddie's Surf Rock Shindig


Keep up with Guitarmy of One
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Store | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

Keep up with Shameless Promotion PR
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Soundcloud | LinkedIn | Email

NYC-based American-French duo FRENCHY AND THE PUNK present 'If The World Doesn't End First'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Vibrant and danceable. Who says dark can’t also be fun? Zen Ghost, which may be among the year’s best albums to date, is a highly recommended listen" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's early punk' scene" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review

NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk present their new single 'If The World Doesn't End First', a love song wrapped in an impending apocalyptic scenario that is inspired by current events, past fears and the knowledge that, in the end, the things that don’t matter pass and the one thing that does remains.

This is a superb taste of their seventh album 'Zen Ghost', released via EA Recordings, following up high energy singles 'Mon Souvenir' and Siouxsie-esque 'Come In and Play'. Here, their shadowy sound takes an even darker turn towards the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. Dark times make for dark songs.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist of Outpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascisand Lou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.

"I have a very clear memory of seeing the apocalyptic film ‘The Day After’ as a child and being totally traumatized by it. I had a recurring nightmare for months afterwards that I was running home during a nuclear war to die with my family, I didn’t want to die away from them. It was the Cold War, it felt like the end of the world was possible back then," says Samantha Stephenson.

"Extreme circumstances tend to put things in focus and in perspective. The past six years politically and culturally have been very intense. The pandemic felt like the culmination of years of social and cultural anxiety. There was a point where, after our US and European dates were all cancelled in 2020, we were trying to book some shows with the expectation that it would be possible again in early 2021 but the situation kept shifting. A promoter, suggesting a new possible show date, ended the email with ‘if the world doesn’t end first’. That phrase really hit me. It took me back and I started thinking about how all the trivialities and ridiculous things that we worry and stress about, things that in the end don’t matter, vanish in the face of survival and we are left with the one thing that does matter - love."

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released numerous recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014) and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

French-born, but raised in the UK and USA, Stephenson’s study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled a quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts and was a vital player on the region’s fertile early hardcore punk scene.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Over the years, they've performed live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners.

The 'Zen Ghost' LP is out now and can be found across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It is also available on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Dec 2 Camden/London - Black Heart (with Before Victoria & Flesh Tetris)
Dec 6 Edinburgh, UK - The Wee Red Bar
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball (with Professor Elemental)
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo
April 22/23 Apex, NC - Festival of Legends


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

NYC-French postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk present seventh full-length album 'Zen Ghost'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Vibrant and danceable. Who says dark can’t also be fun? Zen Ghost, which may be among the year’s best albums to date, is a highly recommended listen" ~ The Spill Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's early punk' scene" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review

NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk present their new 'Zen Ghost'album. Their seventh long-player record, released via the EA Recordings, follows the high energy lead track 'Mon Souvenir' and Siouxsie-esque single 'Come In and Play'.

Dark times make for dark songs. On 'Zen Ghost', the duo's shadowy sound takes an even darker turn. An inward spin, into the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. But despite its more pronounced moodiness, like the rest of the band’s oeuvre, 'Zen Ghost' offers plenty of opportunities to dance in the darkness.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist of Outpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascisand Lou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.

"We started writing Zen Ghost at the end of 2020 and have a few tracks that were written as recently as Spring 2022. It highlights the darker tones of what we do and is influenced by the environment in which we all live in at the moment," says Samantha Stephens.

"The core theme to the album is ‘mind phantoms,’ the ghosts of our past that reside in our minds and can influence our present. The theme of breaking the chains of life choices that don’t align with one’s true authentic self has been rampant in the lyrics throughout the years. This record delves into the remnants of the voices and experiences that can still haunt us. This is the album we've always wanted to make."

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released numerous recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014), and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

French-born, but raised in the UK and USA, Stephenson’s study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled a quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts and was a vital player on the region’s fertile early hardcore punk scene.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Over the years, they've performed live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners.

As of October 28, the 'Zen Ghost' LP can be found across fine digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. It is also available on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded & mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Dec 2 Camden/London - Black Heart (with Before Victoria & Flesh Tetris)
Dec 6 Edinburgh, UK - The Wee Red Bar
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball (with Professor Elemental)
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo
April 22/23 Apex, NC - Festival of Legends


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

NYC-French duo Frenchy and the Punk preview 'Zen Ghost' with latest Siouxsie-esque single 'Come In and Play'

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's early punk' scene" ~Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review


NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk has released 'Come In and Play', an upbeat Siouxsie-esque delight and the second enchanting single from their forthcoming 'Zen Ghost' album. Their seventh long-player record, this will be released via the EA Recordings label on October 28.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist ofOutpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascis andLou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.

About 'Come In and Play', Samantha Stephenson says, "I was named after the character in Bewitched. My mom was a fan of the show. It sparked a curiosity and enthusiasm for all things mystical and magical from an early age. I could be quite solitary and eventually dove into a meditation practice. That feeling of going inward and exploring the inner workings of the esoteric realm always felt very comforting."

Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Mon Souvenir', an unapologetically new wave nugget, propelled by chugging acoustic chords, that reflects the album’s central theme of transcending ‘mind phantoms’ - the experiences from the past that linger within all of us.

Dark times make for dark songs. 'Zen Ghost' was written and recorded during the downtime of 2020-2021. Here, the duo's shadowy sound takes an even darker turn. An inward spin, into the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. But despite its more pronounced moodiness, like the rest of the band’s oeuvre, 'Zen Ghost' offers plenty of opportunities to dance in the darkness.

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released numerous recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014), and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

French-born, but raised in the UK and USA, Stephenson’s study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled a quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts and was a vital player on the region’s fertile early hardcore punk scene.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Since then, they've performed live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners.

'Come in and Play' is now out everywhere, including Apple Music,Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'Mon Souvenir' can also be found. The 'Zen Ghost' album will be released on October 28 and is available for pre-order digitally viaBandcamp and on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded and mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Oct 08 Poughkeepsie, NY - Gallery 40
Oct 15/16 Shepherdstown, WV - Shepherdstown Fae Festival
Oct 22 Nyack, NY - Prohibition River Live
Oct 28 Baltimore, MD - FaerieCon
Dec 2 Camden/London - Black Heart (with Beyond Victoria & Flesh Tetris)
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud |Apple Music | Spotify

NYC post-punk duo Frenchy and the Punk release 'Come In and Play', a Siouxsie-esque preview of their 'Zen Ghost' LP

"Explosive, subdued, confrontational, soothing, spikey, and accessible, an incredible blend of alt-rock shade and alt-folk light" ~ Big Takeover Magazine

"Penetrating psych-soaked post-punk... Brimming with their signature cinematic drama and that unforgettable voice" ~ Global Texan Chronicles

"Bombastic... a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's early punk' scene" ~ Amplify Music Magazine

"An inspiriting slice of post punk hued, new wave nurtured rock ‘n’ roll... under the skin and hungrily stirring the imagination in a flash" ~ Ringmaster Review

NYC-based postpunk duo Frenchy and the Punk presents 'Come In and Play', an upbeat Siouxsie-esque delight and the second enchanting single from their forthcoming 'Zen Ghost' album. Their seventh long-player record, this will be released via the EA Recordings label on October 28.

Frenchy and the Punk is vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Samantha Stephensonand guitarist-composer Scott Helland, who was co-founder and bassist of Outpatients and also Deep Wound (along with Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascis and Lou Barlow). Influenced by The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde and The B52’s, the duo thrive in their trademark blend of post-punk and dark folk music.

About 'Come In and Play', Samantha Stephenson says, "This song was named in relation to a character in Bewitched, my mom was a fan of the show. It sparked a curiosity and enthusiasm for all things mystical and magical from an early age. I could be quite solitary and eventually dove into a meditation practice. That feeling of going inward and exploring the inner workings of the esoteric realm always felt very comforting."

Earlier, the band released the lead track 'Mon Souvenir', an unapologetically new wave nugget, propelled by chugging acoustic chords, that reflects the album’s central theme of transcending ‘mind phantoms’ - the experiences from the past that linger within all of us.

Dark times make for dark songs. 'Zen Ghost' was written and recorded during the downtime of 2020-2021. Here, the duo's shadowy sound takes an even darker turn - an inward spin into the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. But despite its more pronounced moodiness, like the rest of the band’s oeuvre, 'Zen Ghost' offers plenty of opportunities to dance in the darkness.

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released numerous recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014), and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

French-born, but raised in the UK and USA, Stephenson’s study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled a quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts and was a vital player on the region’s fertile early hardcore punk scene.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC in 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Since then, they've performed live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione, and opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners.

'Come in and Play' is now out everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp, where 'Mon Souvenir' can also be found. The 'Zen Ghost' album will be released on October 28 and is available for pre-order digitally via Bandcamp and on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded and mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Oct 08 Poughkeepsie, NY - Gallery 40
Oct 15/16 Shepherdstown, WV - Shepherdstown Fae Festival
Oct 22 Nyack, NY - Prohibition River Live
Oct 28 Baltimore, MD - FaerieCon
Dec 2 Camden/London - Black Heart (with Beyond Victoria & Flesh Tetris)
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify

NYC cabaret punk duo Frenchy and the Punk present 'Mon Souvenir', previewing new album

"Bombastic, Frenchy and the Punk find a happy medium between the sonic atmosphere and thoughtful melancholy of post-punk music and the unmistakable drama of cabaret... as beautifully manic as some of the finest artists on America's 'early punk' scene" ~ ​Amplify Music Magazine


New York cabaret-inspired art rock duo Frenchy and the Punk have announced that they will soon release their seventh album 'Zen Ghost' via EA Recordings. Slated for release in late October, they present the first taste of this album with lead track 'Mon Souvenir', an unapologetically new wave-y nugget propelled by chugging acoustic chords. With its refrain of “If I can feel / I can heal”, the song reflects the album’s central theme of transcending ‘mind phantoms’ - the experiences from the past that linger within all of us.

Frenchy and the Punk is made up of singer, percussionist, and lyricist Samantha Stephenson and guitarist and composer Scott Helland. Influenced by such icons as The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, Blondie, Concrete Blonde, Adam and the Ants,The B52’s and Serge Gainsbourg, the duo have become known for their trademark blend of dark folk, post-punk and cabaret-influenced music.

"Mon Souvenir - the idea of mind phantoms - is the pervading theme of the album. Meaning 'My Memory' in French, this song' deals with the idea of those experiences that haunt us even when we think they are gone. We can build layers of protection through the years that end up masking our true emotions, making it difficult to heal. It may take a lifelong journey to shed those layers, get to the core and finally transcend those experiences," says Samantha Stephenson.

Photos by Alice Teeple, except as indicated via Google Drive

Dark times make for dark songs. 'Zen Ghost' was written and recorded during the downtime of 2020-2021. Here, the duo's shadowy sound takes an even darker turn. An inward spin, into the pair’s previously unexplored personal planes and interpretations of the insanity of our increasingly tumultuous age. But despite its more pronounced moodiness, like the rest of the band’s oeuvre, 'Zen Ghost' offers plenty of opportunities to dance in the darkness.

French-born, but raised in England and America, Stephenson’s early study of piano and dance ignited her eventual rejection of corporate conformity and fueled her quest to lead a truly autonomous life through art and music. A son of jazz-loving teachers, Helland grew up in Western Massachusetts, where he was a vital player on the region’s famously fertile early hardcore punk scene. He was also co-founder and bassist of Deep Wound (along with future Dinosaur Jr. founders J Mascis and Lou Barlow), as well as Outpatients.

Helland and Stephenson met in NYC 1998, when Stephenson spontaneously jumped on stage to accompany Helland during his solo guitar performance. The artistic union was immediate, powerful and undeniable. The two began to tour with fevered zeal, turning heads with their striking aesthetic, steadily building fervent fans on the mystical-folk/steampunk festival, coffeehouse, convention, and club circuits with their boisterous, revival-like live shows.

Tapped as one of the Top 25 duos in the US by Yahoo! Music, the freewheeling pair has released a raft of recordings, including the acclaimed albums 'Happy Madness' (2010), 'Hey Hey Cabaret' (2012), 'Elephant Uproar' (2013), 'Cartwheels' (2014), 'Bonjour Batfrog' (2014), and 'Hooray Beret' (2019).

The live element is very important for Frenchy and the Punk, having opened for Thomas Dolby, Dinosaur Jr., The World Inferno Friendship Society, Rasputina, Cruxshadows, Hurray For The Riff Raff and The Young Dubliners. They have also performed together live with Dead Can Dance's Peter Ulrich and Dresden Dolls' Brian Viglione.

As of September 8, 'Mon Souvenir' will be released digitally everywhere, including Apple Music, Spotify and Bandcamp. The 'Zen Ghost' album will be released on October 28 and is available for pre-order digitally via Bandcamp and on CD via the band's website.

CREDITS
All songs written by Samantha Stephenson and Scott Helland
Samantha Stephenson - lyrics, lead vocal, percussion, keyboard
Scott Helland - guitar, bass, drums, backing vocals
Jason Sarubbi - upright bass on 'Church of Sound'
Braxton Bellew - additional electric bass on 'Church of Sound'
Recorded and mixed by Jason Sarubbi at Split Rock Studios, New Paltz, NY
Mastered at The Cage, Coventry UK by Martin Bowes
Cover photo by Alice Teeple
Pen and ink drawings by Scott Helland
Album cover design by Scott Helland and Samantha Stephenson

TOUR DATES
Aug 28 Poughkeepsie, NY - Porchfest
Sept 04 Hannibal, MO - Big River Steampunk Festival,
Sept 10 Westampton, NJ - Burlington Amphitheater Concert Series
Sept 17 York, PA - Enchanted Fae Festival
Sept 24 Clarksville, OH - Earth Warriors
Sept 30 Troy, NY - Troy Night Out
Oct 08 Poughkeepsie, NY - Gallery 40
Oct 15/16 Shepherdstown, WV - Shepherdstown Fae Festival
Oct 22 Nyack, NY - Prohibition River Live
Oct 28 Baltimore, MD - FaerieCon
Dec 10 Exeter, UK - Yule Ball
Feb 4/5 Manchester, CT - Stupid Cupid Steampunk Festival
Feb 18/19 Gettsyburg, PA - MythiCon Festival
April 01 Galveston, TX - Galveston Steampunk Festival
April 8-9 Baltimore, MD - Between The Worlds
April 15/16 Chicago, IL - Chicago Steampunk Expo


Keep up with Frenchy and the Punk
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Soundcloud | Apple Music | Spotify |