RVA Playlist #112: Drook wins Newlin Music Prize

Plus songs from Lunch $pecial & REIN, White Beast, Bri Bevan, and JH Burns.

First, congratulations to Drook for winning this year’s Newlin Music Prize for the album The Pure Joy Of Jumping.

The Newlin Music Prize aims to raise awareness of the diverse music scene in Richmond, Virginia. Voted on by a jury of more than 100 local musicians, journalists, artists, photographers, and activists, Drook’s record was part of the Newlin Music Prize’s short list alongside 19 other records.

I’ve been getting back into doing more long-form feature writing on Richmond music and I’ve been really enjoying it. Earlier this month, I interviewed local synth-pop artist IONNA for Style Weekly about her upcoming album Supernatural and reinventing her musical identity as a cyborg. You can read the article in full here.

Last week, I celebrated St. Patrick’s Day on WRIR 97.3FM with a collection of Irish bands and songs about drinking. Thanks to everyone who tuned in. If you were out drinking instead, I understand. I’m back on “The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit Show” on Monday, March 31, 9-11pm, playing an assorted mix of songs still to be determined.

And in new discoveries this week, I got to experience the fun music of new jazzy funk pop band Zinia, who performed at the Silent Music Revival during this year’s James River Film Festival. They don’t have any official music out yet that I can find, but their next show will be at Gallery5’s First Friday event on May 2.

Plus, a bunch of new local music popping up in my inbox, including:

• A new song from noise-punk group White Beast’s upcoming EP Home Alone with Destructo Disk’s Molly Gordon on as official drummer.

• Indie country from JH Burns’ phenomenal new EP Close Enough.

• A team-up of musical powerhouses Lunch $pecial, REIN, and Catie Lausten on a great track.

• A sweet and somber new track from singer/songwriter Bri Bevan that made me tear up quite a few times.

• And a lovely classical piece by composer Paul Willson that’s been real helpful in getting me focused on my day’s work.