The other day as I was working on a groove, the word “Spotify” bounced into my head and I started singing the word to the groove. Just so happens that as a w…
Kristina Stykos is a music producer, recording engineer, songwriter, radio host and performer based in Vermont. Her recording studio, Pepperbox Studio, is solar, wind and generator powered and fully off-the-grid. She founded a record label, Thunder Ridge Records, in 2005 to release her own material and has since produced over 15 albums for herself and clients.
Her newest solo album Horse Thief (2015) is fresh out of the starting gate & garnering an array of impressive reviews:
“Horse Thief is an examination of love and aging inspired and informed by a lifetime spent both battling and embracing the harshness and isolation of rural Vermont. Like love, Stykos' unforgiving wilds both require and return strength. But they will also, like love and time, exact that very strength from you. It is a complex idea, brilliantly explored on the songwriter's latest, and likely greatest, record.” Dan Bolles, music editor, Seven Days, US
“Kristina's songwriting skills, both musically and lyrically are top notch. Her word choices are flawless. The sadness in some of the songs (some heart wrenching) is deep, her lyrics are powerful, have meaning and grit behind them. There is humor too. And bounce! I listen to so much music and these days it is hard to find a great beat and tune, catchy as all heck and good lyrics. It seems that either the words are, quite bluntly, shite and the music is good, or the other way around, or it's all crap. But not here. Oh, no, not here. I grew up listening to master song writers from Paul Simon to Elvis Costello, and Stykos hits the mark on Horse Thief, totally!” - Reviewer Simon Brooks, US
“Horse Thief is musically sophisticated, with superb production values. Stykos has become a talented engineer and producer. This is mature songwriting, relationship-gone-awry songs primarily from a woman’s perspective, delivered in the soaked-in-life voice that is Kristina Stykos. This should be her breakout album both sonically and visually.” Art Edelstein, arts correspondent, Barre-Montpelier Times-Argus
Kristina was awarded the “Best Songwriter of 2013” designation from one of Vermont’s major daily newspapers, the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, for her release Wyoming Territory. This album was supported in its development by the Ucross Foundation & Brush Creek artist residencies of Wyoming.
After her first self-produced release, In The Earth’s Fading Light (2005), was designated “Best Vermont Album of the Year” by the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus, Kristina completed the next phase of her audio engineering education by earning a production certificate at the Berklee School of Music in Boston.
Her recent albums include two collaborative projects, Beautiful Blood (2013) with singer-songwriter Steve Mayone of Boston, and Raven (2011) co-produced with Grammy-nominated pianist Philip Aaberg of Montana.
The other day as I was working on a groove, the word “Spotify” bounced into my head and I started singing the word to the groove. Just so happens that as a w…
This music video filmed and edited by Kristina Stykos with help from Julie James features track #3 from Kristina’s album “Wyoming Territory” released in 2013…
An original music video featuring the song “Redwing” by Kristina Stykos from Wyoming Territory [track 11] (c) 2013 Kristina Stykos/Thunder Ridge Records; all…
“You’ll Never Love Me” by Kristina Stykos © 2014 Thunder Ridge Records; recorded and mixed by Kristina Stykos at Pepperbox Studio, Chelsea, Vermont. http://w…
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