Joyride, the highly anticipated debut album from acclaimed bassist and bandleader Karina Rykman, has finally arrived.
Known for her infectious enthusiasm as well as her musical talent, the joy that Rykman radiates on stage translates beautifully to her first full-length album, which combines dreamy psych indie pop, rock, and groovy funk. The album features Rykman’s bandmates from her eponymous trio—Adam November (guitar, loopers, effects) and Chris Corsico (drums)—as well as contributions from Veronica Stewart-Frommer and Marlo Shankweiler of Melt, drummers Johnny Kimock and Josh Greenzeig, and keyboardists Aron Magner (The Disco Biscuits) and Elijah Fox. It was co-produced by childhood friend Gabe Monro and Phish‘s Trey Anastasio, whose playing is also featured on five of the album’s nine songs, including the title track/lead single.
Rykman’s friendship with the Phish guitarist goes back to when she attended middle school with his daughters. After making a name for herself as Marco Benevento‘s bassist—a gig she got on the recommendation of Dave Dreiwitz (JRAD, Ween) while she was a senior at NYU—Rykman reconnected with Trey at The Peach Music Festival in 2021 and was surprised to discover he was familiar with the singles she had released, some of which have been reworked for her new album.
Rykman reflected on the impact of their meeting:
Trey and I hadn’t seen each other since pre-pandemic. But at this music festival, he ran up to me and referred to each of my singles by name. I had no idea he knew what I was up to, musically speaking. I went to middle school with his daughters, and we’ve been ‘family friends’ for a long time, but it wasn’t until that moment in July 2021 that he really became a musical peer. The amount of selflessness and care he has shown in his mentorship toward me is awe-inspiring. I could never thank him enough for all he’s given me.
“When I first heard the early demos, the first thing I said was more Karina,” Trey added. “Turn up the bass, sing more, and step out. What makes me most happy about the finished album now is that to my ears, it sounds like Karina unapologetically. It has her nature. It has her incredible joyous outlook that I know is real because I saw it in her when she was a kid.”
After dropping the album at midnight, Rykman shared a social media post expressing her excitement: “I’m crying tears of joy and relief and fear and disbelief as I board this plane to go play a festival today, knowing what we worked so hard on now belongs to you,” she wrote. “It’s not in my protective clutches, on hard drives, being secretly and tirelessly worked on. It’s here, right now, and it’s yours. May it accompany you the way it’s accompanied me for the past few years – without judgement; with bravery to face the unknown, with the confidence to fuck around and find out. I love this record and I hope you will too.”
Listen to Joyride below (using the playlist icon in the top right corner to navigate songs) or on your preferred streaming platform.
Rykman will celebrate the release of her debut album with her biggest headline tour to date. She is currently on tour traveling North America with top-billed sets at Secret Dreams Music & Arts Festival (8/18), All In Music & Arts Festival (9/9), The Miracle In Mundelein (9/10), Wormtown Music Festival (9/15–17), and East Aurora, NY’s Borderland Music Festival (9/17). Click below for a full list of tour dates, and visit her website to purchase tickets.
Karina Rykman – Joyride