Girlyman
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Girlyman

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Band Folk Acoustic

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"The Hartford Courant"

"Sweet, sassy, serious and, at times,playfully confrontational …
Girlyman is an infectious combination of rock music, folk songs, classical roots, punk sensibilities and just plain fun." - Richard Kamins


"The Washington Post"

Tuesday, December 16, 2003

On Sunday night, Doris Muramatsu of Girlyman pointed out that her group's "competition" across town was Simon and Garfunkel. Paul and Artie wouldn't have played a room the size of Iota since their Tom and Jerry days. But the the young Brooklyn trio Girlyman has had access to gifts S&G never received.

Muramatsu, Nate Borofsky and Tammy Greenstein have been shaped by such post-MTV elements as genre-benders They Might Be Giants, college gender studies and the proving ground of a turn-of-the-century folk music boom.

They used their inheritance well, opening with a splendid version of Simon's "Born at the Right Time" that recast it as a creation myth for a "Girlyman" -- a creature born to do the unexpected. Though sexual ambiguity resurfaced in the evening's set, particularly in Greenstein's stunning, up-tempo "Young James Dean," Girlyman's primary mission is musical rather than polemic. The group's strength lay in its harmonic, multi-instrumental mastery of buoyant, pop-folk numbers with elusive, poetic lyrics, from a cover of Patty Griffin's "Mary" to Borofsky's own "Viola," which recently won an Independent Music Award.

Sure, Girlyman is unlikely to pack MCI Center anytime soon. But would those "Troubled Waters" guys dare to tackle a funky version of "Rock Me Amadeus"? Not in a New York minute.

- Pamela Murray Winters


"Billboard"

"Part of a new breed of songwriters influenced more directly by Ani DiFranco than Woody Guthrie ... healthy doses of musicianship and humor." - Dylan Siegler


"Village Voice"

"...really good, really unexpected, and really different...go hear this band yourself and see how they eschew labels and blend musical genres..." - Andrew Aber


"Performing Songwriter"

"Breaks new ground ... extremely mature songwriting ... few [groups] have made music sound this sublime." - Jonathan Flax


"Club Passim"

"Girlyman is truly a musical treasure. With gorgeous songs and
detailed arrangements, they are a breath of fresh air every time I hear
them. Girlyman is just what the music world needs!"

- Matt Smith, Manager


"Falcon Ridge Folk Festival"

"Girlyman is one of the most talented and interesting young groups on the acoustic scene." - Anne Saunders, Artistic Director


"WERS-FM, Boston"

"They were so beautiful that I almost started crying. I experienced one of those perfect, blissful, ethereal moments of being completely in
love with the music. I can't overstate how incredible it felt." - The Coffeehouse


"Sarah Lawrence College"

"What's the best thing about a Girlyman performance? Is it the group chemistry, the innovative harmonies, the wonderful guitar playing or
the terrific songwriting? I can't choose and neither will you. Don't miss an opportunity to hear this wonderful trio perform." - The Pub


"The New York Observer"

"Girlyman. Don't listen for any Schwartzenegger or Hanz and Franz references, just harmonies that will raise the gooseflesh on your delts and glutes." - Frank DiGiacomo


Discography

Remember Who I Am (Girlyman) - LP - 2003
Amaze Me: Songs in the Key of Peace (Various) - Compilation LP - 2003
Introducing Girlyman (Girlyman) - EP - 2002
Shadow Of A Habit (The Garden Verge) - LP - 2001
Never Enough Time (Nate Borofsky) - LP - 2001
500 Miles (Nate Borofsky) - LP - 1998

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

WHAT IS GIRLYMAN?

Imagine a modern-day Peter, Paul & Mary – only edgier, and with a quirky sense of humor. Doris Muramatsu, Ty Greenstein, and Nate Borofsky are long-time musicians and friends who create a rich, poignant, playful sound that crosses genres and genders.

Girlyman’s harmony-driven style veers from contemporary folk to country rock to pop, with each member effortlessly switching off songwriting duties, lead vocals, and a range of instruments, including baritone guitar, djembe, banjo and mandolin. As the New York Observer puts it, "Don't listen for any Hanz and Franz references, just harmonies that will raise the gooseflesh on your delts and glutes."

WHO IS GIRLYMAN?

Doris and Ty got their start in 1998 as the Outmusic Award-winning duo The Garden Verge, and Nate as a Boston Music Award-winning singer-songwriter. Due to housing complications, the three musicians ended up renting an apartment together in Brooklyn in 2001. "It was a 'hey-you-got-your-chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter' situation," explains Ty. "We immediately began to sing in a soprano-alto-tenor configuration."

Their first rehearsal was scheduled for September 11, 2001 - needless to say, it was postponed. But, according to Nate, the events of that day affected the group's vision: "After that, we thought it was really important to go into this new project with the intention to have fun, to do what felt right, and not take ourselves so seriously. We started by calling ourselves 'Girlyman.'"

WHAT HAS GIRLYMAN DONE?

In a very short time, Girlyman has generated an impressive buzz. The group was voted "Most Wanted to Return" at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, and won the 2004 Independent Music Award in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter category. Girlyman's robust 2004 festival season includes appearances at Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Philadelphia Folk Festival, Boston Folk Festival and many others. The group has been featured on Minnesota Public Radio as well as several national television shows, including PBS's In the Life newsmagazine.

In the fall of 2003, Girlyman independently released its debut CD, 'Remember Who I Am.' The CD sold several thousand copies before being picked up by an indie label (to be announced summer 2004). Scheduled for a September 7, 2004 re-release, 'Remember Who I Am' captures the dynamic chemistry of the musicians' combined talents. Sing Out writes, "Any moment when the entire trio sings is a highpoint of the album, rendering listeners temporarily disabled," while Song Circle calls it "a record of subtle beauty that reveals more depth with every spin."

The album's closing song, "Amaze Me," was chosen as the title track for a compilation released nationally this fall by Rubberneck Records. The compilation, entitled Amaze Me: Songs in the Key of Peace, also features songs by Kris Delmhorst, Edie Carey, Holly Near, and Tret Fure. 100% of proceeds are being donated to organizations working for peace.

WHY "GIRLYMAN"?

"Like I said, we didn't want to take ourselves too seriously, and with a name like 'Girlyman,' we're constantly humbled," explains Nate. "Also, Girlyman refers to our annoyance with traditional gender roles," Nate explains. "And," adds Doris, "if
you put us all in a blender, you'd probably end up with a girly man."

For more information about Girlyman, see www.girlyman.com. For booking and other inquiries, contact Genevieve Barber at gen@girlyman.com or (718) 207-7403.