True Americana doesn't often come via New York, but that's exactly what Numbers And Letters has emerged with, spurred on from years of songwriting, drinking, church-attending, pool-playing and living in the former industrial wasteland that is north Brooklyn.
Fronted by singer/songwriter Katie Hasty, Numbers And Letters' songs are sparse, lush and sad, with a tinge of hope that comes from growing up in a flat, quiet place.
When Hasty moved to New York-by-way-of-Chicago-by-way-of-Kansas in 2004 to become an editor at Billboard magazine, she also learned to play guitar and write some songs. After years of studying opera, classical piano and choral music, she abandoned her traditional background.
"I wanted to start doing lean, contemporary songs. I wanted to make pop songs that had a definite start and finish," she says.
Numbers And Letters is a project formed from Hasty's songwriting and a band was formed. Guitarist/noisemaker Clifton Hyde has played with an eclectic array of acts like Sigur Ros, Mandy Moore and Lou Reed, guitarist Joe Lops cut his teeth in a number of bands in Portland, Maine. Drummer Adam Blake also plays with New York band the Films and bassist Cassidy Holden has played more shows in the past year than there are days in the year, with jazz and classical troupes.
Armed with a notebook at all times to jot down lyrics as they strike, Hasty pulls from the spirit of acts like Emmylou Harris, M. Ward, Califone, Nick Drake, Will Oldham, Feist, Whiskeytown and Nina Nastasia.
Numbers And Letters' debut self-titled EP was recorded by Sammy Rubin (Project Jenny, Project Jan) throughout 2007 at Music For Picture in Manhattan. Eric Feigenbaum (Gordon Gano, Lowry) put the final touches on the mix; "Numbers And Letters" was released April 13, 2008.
"Most songs are relationship-driven, made-up memories, friendships, loss, reflection... about God, faith, death and sex," Hasty says. "I pick a topic and find the my best or least favorite memory of it to lock it into that theme."
by Molly Brown
photo by Will Femia
Contact: Katie Hasty
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