Karina Rykman

BIOGRAPHY

Late Checkout sees Karina Rykman expanding her kaleidoscopic musical universe with the vibrant on-stage energy of her road-tested live band and a new focus on lyrical storytelling. The album – which follows 2023’s critically acclaimed debut LP, Joyride – plants a truly distinctive flag in modern psychedelic indie rock, at turns shimmering and ethereal, hypnotic and explosive, and always joyfully present in the here and now. Standout moments abound, from the dreamy, reverb-drenched “Shoegaze Summer” and emotional love letter to the grind, “Riverside Drive,” to the tender “Where You At?” and the sleek darkwave of “Balcony,” the latter of which demonstrates the wide scope of Rykman’s seemingly infinite sonic range while also professing what might be her one-of-a-kind career’s overall mission statement, “The destination is not our concern / This is the journey: let it burn.”

Born and raised in NYC, Karina Rykman began playing in bands in her early teens while attending countless live gigs as a fan. Her prodigious prowess on the bass guitar soon landed her a number of high-profile television gigs, spanning America’s Got Talent to backing up pop star Julia Michaels on NBC’s TODAY. Rykman’s talent and infectious spirit saw her invited to join pianist Marco Benevento’s combo (as recommended by Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz). 2023’s Joyride kicked off what has proven to be an acclaimed solo career with its jubilant brand of sonic exploration, highlighted by the title track, “Joyride,” featuring signature lead guitar from avowed fan, longtime friend, and co-producer Trey Anastasio.

Along with her still-evolving body of studio work, Rykman has spent much of the past half decade on the road, honing her craft by playing countless headline dates with her namesake band, stealing the show at festivals across the country, sitting in with the 8G Band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, and supporting and collaborating with such diverse creators as Phish’s

Trey Anastasio, My Morning Jacket, Khruangbin, Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nels Cline, the Gaslight Anthem, Warren Haynes, and her hometown’s beloved gourmet institution, Zabar’s, with whom she partnered for the jam-filled, tie-dye “Babkarina.”