If It's Too Loud...

Photo by Michael Leviton Joanna Sternberg is one of those artists that comes so close to being a completely mainstream singer/songwriter, but something about their sound just sets them apart. Their latest single, "People are Toys to You," is the kind of song that could be a huge hit. It's a little folky without being purely folk, and it has this killer blues sound to the guitar. It's a sweet song that isn't trying to hide the venom hiding behind the chipper sound. But Sternberg just has this outsider artist sound to their music that will most likely keep this from going too mainstream, but gives "People are Toys to You" a sound that is going to be irresistible to many of us. Sternberg is a captivating artist that is perfect if you keep going back to artists like Daniel Johnston or The Moldy Peaches. Joanna Sternberg says of their new single: “I wrote this song while I was in a rush walking to the subway with my double bass. I was upset about something an...

Photo by Shervin Lainez Joanna Sternberg plays Americana that feels familiar while still not quite sounding like anyone else. Their new single, "I've Got Me," is so close to just being a straight up roots song, but it's just... not. They just have such a unique voice and songwriting style that the song just doesn't quite fit into any branch of folk, roots, or Americana. The closest artists I can compare "I've Got Me" to are Daniel Johnston or Kimya Dawson, but it's a little more traditional than either of those artists. I know I'm making Sternberg sound like a complete outsider artist, but they're really not. As unique as "I've Got Me" may be, it has enough rooted in mainstream folk that it has some crossover potential. Joanna Sternberg says of their new song: “I do not remember if I wrote this song before or after reading the poem 'Oh Yes' by Charles Bukowski , but the song is definitely meant to reflect the same se...