With the release of his new album Lonely in a Crowd, songwriter Rich Restaino brings together classic folk and jazz-era song structures with contemporary indie-pop sensibilities.
The album is comprised of beautifully-layered melodies, introspective and thoughtful lyrics, and a real roots-rock style that borrows equally from bluegrass as it does from ragtime. Of course, having instrumentation that includes mandolin, violin, and melodica don't hurt either.
Originally from New York, Rich Restaino has been self-releasing original music most of his life. Eventually moving to Austin, TX, the multi-instrumentalist has spent plenty of time playing guitar, drums, bass, and mandolin is various Austin outfits including the reggae collective Mr. Brown, indie-folk group the Lennings, and string-band folkies Sara Shansky & the Titanic Dance Band. He also co-founded the dirty doo-wop-punk outfit The Late Fees. More recently, Rich has released a record of original music with his brother Stephen, produced records for other artists, and worked on his Lonely in a Crowd release.
The first single, "Drunk on the Company Dime,” is a funny, catchy folk-pop song with attributes of an instant classic of the genre.
Other singles include songs like "In a Crowd," which is built on a catchy melodica-and-fiddle hook, a rhythm that really swings, and backing vocals that seem to borrow a bit from musical theater. "I think more and more of us are feeling this way—as if we just can’t relax in public,” Restaino said of the song. “As technology allows us to do more of life’s mundane tasks from the comfort of home, going out demands more and more gumption, and comes with more perceived perils, for a certain type. I happen to be of that type.”
Although there are many varying styles of music and different types of stories told from different perspectives, Restaino’s singular worldview might be the threat that holds it all together. The Lonely in a Crowd album’s classic songwriting approach is bolstered by Restaino’s lyrical style, which may be darkly humorous, but is still consistently heartfelt. It seems there was nothing held back in the making of this record. This of course, is one of its greatest strengths.
After being a part of more than 20 releases over a nine-year period, there has definitely been an evolution in Restaino’s process and his sound.
“The newest record finds me feeling more confidence in my singing, which is the biggest change as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I quit smoking in 2011 and have worked to really worked at improving my phrasing and breath control. As well, stylistically this record eases off the R&B/soul feel that I had been known for as leader of Rich Restaino & the Obits. I also think my writing improved a lot because, in 2014, I joined a club where I had to write a song a week. The structured discipline ended up yielding some nice results.”
Restaino has played the International Pop Overthrow Festival multiple times in Austin, has appeared on Balcony TV, an international web music series, and plans on a small tour this summer that will include dates in and around his Central Texas home, as well as some on the east coast.
To learn and hear more of Rich Restaino and the Lonely in a Crowd album, please visit:
The album is comprised of beautifully-layered melodies, introspective and thoughtful lyrics, and a real roots-rock style that borrows equally from bluegrass as it does from ragtime. Of course, having instrumentation that includes mandolin, violin, and melodica don't hurt either.
Originally from New York, Rich Restaino has been self-releasing original music most of his life. Eventually moving to Austin, TX, the multi-instrumentalist has spent plenty of time playing guitar, drums, bass, and mandolin is various Austin outfits including the reggae collective Mr. Brown, indie-folk group the Lennings, and string-band folkies Sara Shansky & the Titanic Dance Band. He also co-founded the dirty doo-wop-punk outfit The Late Fees. More recently, Rich has released a record of original music with his brother Stephen, produced records for other artists, and worked on his Lonely in a Crowd release.
The first single, "Drunk on the Company Dime,” is a funny, catchy folk-pop song with attributes of an instant classic of the genre.
Other singles include songs like "In a Crowd," which is built on a catchy melodica-and-fiddle hook, a rhythm that really swings, and backing vocals that seem to borrow a bit from musical theater. "I think more and more of us are feeling this way—as if we just can’t relax in public,” Restaino said of the song. “As technology allows us to do more of life’s mundane tasks from the comfort of home, going out demands more and more gumption, and comes with more perceived perils, for a certain type. I happen to be of that type.”
Although there are many varying styles of music and different types of stories told from different perspectives, Restaino’s singular worldview might be the threat that holds it all together. The Lonely in a Crowd album’s classic songwriting approach is bolstered by Restaino’s lyrical style, which may be darkly humorous, but is still consistently heartfelt. It seems there was nothing held back in the making of this record. This of course, is one of its greatest strengths.
After being a part of more than 20 releases over a nine-year period, there has definitely been an evolution in Restaino’s process and his sound.
“The newest record finds me feeling more confidence in my singing, which is the biggest change as far as I’m concerned,” he said. “I quit smoking in 2011 and have worked to really worked at improving my phrasing and breath control. As well, stylistically this record eases off the R&B/soul feel that I had been known for as leader of Rich Restaino & the Obits. I also think my writing improved a lot because, in 2014, I joined a club where I had to write a song a week. The structured discipline ended up yielding some nice results.”
Restaino has played the International Pop Overthrow Festival multiple times in Austin, has appeared on Balcony TV, an international web music series, and plans on a small tour this summer that will include dates in and around his Central Texas home, as well as some on the east coast.
To learn and hear more of Rich Restaino and the Lonely in a Crowd album, please visit:
