Rykarda Parasol
San Francisco, California, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
"Rykarda Parasol and Collin Hegna (BJM) are All Out of Fucks
The artists catch up about ‘70s Italian films, Christmas music, and more."
more online - Talk House
more online - BUST Magazine
more online - Spill Magazine
more online - thepugrock
more online - Culture Addict (France)
San Francisco musician Rykarda Parasol describes her music as rock noir, a sound that evokes film noir mixed with such heavies as the Velvet Underground, Nico, and Leonard Cohen. Younger folks might draw Nick Cave, PJ Harvey, and Mark Lanegan comparisons, as Parasol employs a similarly low vocal range to deliver her torrid tales, but she creates her own otherworldly atmosphere by accompanying herself on guitar and piano. On “My Spirit Lives in Shadows,” Parasol lets some vulnerability show, while still keeping her identity intact. Rykarda Parasol looks and sounds like a mysterious, dangerous seductress smoking a cigarette and waiting for you in the dark shadows that exist somewhere among love, death, and rock ‘n’ roll. [Michael Levine] - BUST
"San Francisco's moody goth-folk collective Rykarda Parasol and (her band) have got more than a few things going for them. Their arsenal is rife with Jim Jarmusch-esque musical imagery: Reverb-dripping whammy-bar leads anchor saloon-piano vignettes, all cemented by Parasol's sinister vocals. Her rustic croon (the female counterpoint to a broodier Nick Cave) sounds as if it could crumble under the weight of its own vulnerability; it's less the focal point for lyrical profundity as it is the lead instrument in her catalog. When live with the potent Tower Ravens, Rykarda Parasol employs only as much enthusiasm as it would take to roust a crew of zombies at a cemetery set—gravely gothic and extremely good." RJP - Portland Mercury
"The Lady to Watch": And while her name might make you think of an umbrella, her music will inspire slightly more complex imagery. Rykarda Parasol plays what sounds like gothic jazz - dark and smooth, with a touch of whimsical Americana and chamber pop. Her voice draws an easy comparison to Nico in the days of the Velvet Underground or PJ Harvey circa anytime, but with a lighter edge and range of sound. In a way, Rycarda Parasol blends Tom Waits' noir tendencies with Nick Cave's stinging rock, but maintains uniqueness with the fact that she's, you know, female." - The Deli Magazine, SF
Undisputed Album of the Year, 2007 ***** - Weitzeit, Germany
SXSW Picks: “In the lazy, hazy tradition of fellow salvation shucksters Nick Cave and Siouxie Sioux. Delivering a smoky, gin-tinged salve to soothe the souls of the wicked.” 2004
- Austin Chronicle
“A genuine musical force in her own right. Parasol weaves gothic, bluesy tales of desire and strength, compassion and solitude. She's just what I need.” - San Francisco Bay Guardian
Rykarda Parasol's music should be filed between: Rock noir and Americana boudoir. Nick Cave meets Nico and the Velvet Underground meets the Black Heart Procession. - SF Chroncile/96hours
LIFE IS BUT A DREAM
By Falling James
Photo by Amanda Boe
Rykarda Parasol
“Life is short, and life is sad/So let’s carouse, we’ll pretend we’re glad,” Rykarda Parasol croons grandly over the circling “Peter Gunn” guitar riffs and decadently swanky sweep of horns on “A Drinking Song,” from her upcoming album, For Blood and Wine. The “rock noir” chanteuse from San Francisco is all about shadowy atmosphere, but rueful ballads like “Widow in White” possess a melodicism and elegance that’s more affecting than most goth-cabaret dirges. The gigantic introductory chords of “Maggie” slam like Link Wray’s iconic “Rumble,” before melting into a funereal procession that sounds like Siouxsie Sioux fronting the Gun Club — it’s weirdly gorgeous. “Covenant” has an incantational, Patti Smith–style momentum, and “No Sir (Ain’t No Man Gonna)” is defiantly moody. Parasol, who created the “secret location art salon” the Hive and has worked with the Bad Seeds’ Blixa Bargeld, is obviously kind of intense, finding great beauty in great sadness. For her, every day is gloomy Sunday.
- LA Weekly
Discography
1) For Blood and Wine (just released 2009!)
by Rykarda Parasol. Self Reelase available on Amazon, iTunes, eMusic, Napster, Rhapsody , etc
2) Our Hearts First Meet, 2007
by Rykarda Parasol,
Released 2008, Glitterhouse (Europe)
2) Here She Comes..., Rykarda Parasol
Released April 2003, EP.
Originally Released by Blood of the Young Records
Re-released 2007 by Three Ring Record on iTunes.com
Photos
Bio
For those familiar with Rykarda Parasol’s music, know it has steadily progressed from the dark to light while still maintaining Parasol’s darkly-tinged voice and subdued off-center style. Her work has been likened to artists such as the Velvet Underground, Lee Hazelwood, Serge Gainsbourg among others.
Parasol released her fifth album, “Tuesday Morning”, October 24th, 2023. The album captures the cool shadowy chic so often aligned with her music. A mélange of psych, yé-yé, Motown, garage and dark folk influences that were present in her third and fourth albums (Against the Sun / Color of Destruction) respectively, Parasol’s latest album continuous the steady path of opening up her sound. Listening to her work chronologically, one can hear the personal voyage in parallel to the musical one. Parasol is currently working on her 6th album ETA October 2025.
RIYL: The Velvet Underground, Nico, Lana Del Rey, Patti Smith, Jacques Dutronc
Links
