Karina Rykman Brings New Album "Late Checkout" to Hulaween

Karina Rykman arrives at Suwannee Hulaween behind the momentum of her recently released second album, Late Checkout, and her national television debut on CBS Saturday Morning.

The New York singer, songwriter, and bassist released Late Checkout in September, three years after her debut, Joyride. Recorded with longtime collaborator Gabe Monro at Trey Anastasio’s The Barn in Vermont and LCD Soundsystem’s DFA Studios in New York, the album moves freely between brighter indie rock, hazier guitar work, heavier riffs, and quieter moments without spending much time in any one place.

That is especially apparent on “Shoegaze Summer.”

There is some haze in there, but the title only tells part of the story. The song opens around a bright, instantly catchy guitar line and a groove with considerably more buoyancy than the name might suggest. As the song progresses, the guitars get thicker, the edges get rougher, and by the final stretch, the song has worked itself into something far heavier and deeper than expected.

“Within its dreamy, reverb-drenched atmosphere comes the pummeling weight of riff after riff,” Rykman says. “It’s catchy and heavy. It’s dreamy and full of left turns. Ethereal drift one minute, and pure adrenaline the next.”

That range carries across Late Checkout. “Riverside Drive” moves with a brighter, more immediate rush, “Where You At?” slows things down, and “Balcony” leads us somewhere darker. Rykman’s bass is central throughout, often carrying as much of the melody and personality of the songs as the guitars or vocals.

That same bass has also put Rykman on plenty of stages. Beyond her own touring schedule, she has performed and collaborated with artists including Trey Anastasio, My Morning Jacket, Khruangbin, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Warren Haynes, and others. Just days after releasing Late Checkout, she and her band made their national television debut on CBS Saturday Morning.

Now the tour brings Rykman to Suwannee Hulaween with a record that gives her band plenty of ground to explore onstage.

Karina Rykman performs Friday, October 23 at Suwannee Hulaween in Live Oak, Florida. Check out our full Hulaween lineup preview for more of what caught our attention on this year’s lineup, and visit Hulaween’s website for passes and festival information.