ProStudioMasters.com

For Upstate, the last few years have been a time of profound exploration and self-discovery. As the band knocked off milestone after milestone on the road, their sound, their lineup, and even their name all underwent dramatic metamorphoses. Challenging and thrilling all at once, those changes have finally culminated in the sextet’s dazzling new album Healing, a collection that showcases both their remarkable growth and their adventurous blend of folk, R&B, jazz, gospel and rock and roll. Recorded primarily over six days at the Clubhouse studio in Rhinebeck, NY, Healing is Upstate’s first release with new member Allison Olender, their first with four contributing songwriters, and their first since shortening their name from Upstate Rubdown. It’s also their first project to be produced by The Wood Brothers’ percussionist Jano Rix, who helped the group embrace their transformation and lean in to their unique lineup without sacrificing any of the gorgeous harmonies, eclectic, purely acoustic arrangements, and unforgettable performances that have defined the band since their earliest days. Upstate first emerged from New York’s Hudson Valley—a region often referred to by NYC folk as upstate New York thus the band’s moniker—in 2015 with their debut, ‘A Remedy.’ The Poughkeepsie Journal raved that the group “need[s] nothing more than their voices to channel rhythm and stoke your emotions,” while Chronogram hailed their “infectiously sunny organic stew,” and The Alt called them “toe-tapping, contagious, and fun.” The album earned the band festival performances from Mountain Jam to FreshGrass, as well as a slew of national headline dates and support slots with everyone from The Felice Brothers and Phox to Marco Benevento and Cory Henry.