YACOVELLI drops new single “Since Emilia”

Fronted by songwriter, producer and longtime musician Alex Yacovelli, YACOVELLI is a project that’s intrinsically linked to New York’s underground music scene. The band channels what it calls “Nu York” neo-grunge, punk and alternative rock into something driven by DIY energy and adventurous experimentation. Having previously performed with Rich N Pretty and Not Your Queen’s English, Alex brings decades of experience into a project that feels at once based in independent rock traditions and determined to stride towards something new.

Working from a suburban garage studio, YACOVELLI creates music that captures the energy and unpredictability of genuine rock and roll as well as their surroundings. Alex Yacovelli has spent more than twenty years walking his own path within New York’s music sphere, resulting in a philosophy that revolves around what he calls “The Zepp Effect,” an approach that comfortably shifts between delicate acoustic folk passages and explosive garage rock without treating either as an endpoint. The contrast becomes the defining feature of the band’s sound, allowing emotion and volume to collide within the same creative world.

Years spent immersed in the underground circuit have brought impressive milestones along the way; Alex has played with Weezer at Madison Square Garden while also performing at respected New York venues including Mercury Lounge, Rockwood Music Hall, Bitter End, Arlene’s Grocery and Edison Ballroom. Appearances at the Pleasantville Music Festival in his hometown further confirmed his reputation as a performer capable of translating his studio work into an equally compelling live experience.

An Honourable Mention in the John Lennon Songwriting Competition placed Alex alongside artists including Meghan Trainor, while Perez Hilton highlighted his performance during NYU Ultraviolet Live. The recording catalogue reflects that same steady progression and after the debut EP Sweet Nimbus Nothings in 2009, Alex followed two years later with his first full-length album, Electri-Fi. Since then, a series of singles and collaborations with Rich N Pretty, Keoni Boyer and Lauren Stockner have expanded the project’s musical reach while preserving its unique identity.

Their sonic adventure now reaches another compelling expression with “Since Emilia,” the fourth single from YACOVELLI. Produced entirely by Alex himself, the song serves as both a tribute to the golden era of 90s grunge and a confident statement of where the project stands today. Opening with the Baglama, a traditional Greek folk instrument that functions as a miniature version of the Bouzouki, the song initially creates a sense of quiet anticipation before abruptly giving way to a crunching rock riff where chugging guitar rhythms, punching drums and wah-drenched leads ring out.

Rolling with moody vibes as Alex’s expressive voice floats above the alternative rock arrangement, the track surges into a gripping chorus where lively guitar leads dance alongside belted vocal hooks to craft an enthralling musical experience. Propelled by energising drums and stacks of absorbing instrumentation, the track channels a dark Alice in Chains-esque aesthetic to serve up a truly invigorating rock experience from start to finish. Constructed as a poetic riddle, the song encourages listeners to search for meaning without ever providing definitive answers, allowing different interpretations to arise while its rousing instrumentation provides an epic momentum beneath the mystery.

Anthemic, memorable and utterly engrossing, “Since Emilia” delivers a potent alternative rock jam packed full of arresting vocals and exquisite musicianship, putting the powerful sound of YACOVELLI on spectacular display. With “Since Emilia,” YACOVELLI once again demonstrates that the pure spirit of grunge remains fertile ground for reinvention while continuing to forge music that honours rock’s past while confidently claiming its own place within the present.

Listen to Since Emilia below

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