New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


?>

 

Highwind Premieres Video for "2023"


By Gary Wien

originally published: 01/03/2020

(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- Highwind, a two-piece pop-rock outfit based out of Asbury Park, is premiering the video for "2023" - a stand-alone single that is available on Spotify, iTunes, iHeart Radio, Bandcamp, and pretty much anywhere you can buy or stream music.

Highwind was founded by guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, Chris Russo Jr. as a solo project in May 2018.  He approached producer CJ Rarela to record some demos, which they liked so much that the recordings became the first full "How've You Been?" EP. Months after the recording process, Chris was joined by bassist, vocalist, songwriter, and producer, Dan Synn. The duo played nationally from late 2018 and through 2019, as well as taking the time to write their newest release. When playing live, Chris plays guitar and sings, Dan plays bass and sings, and they have fill-in members join on guitar and drums.

“2023” is the first co-written by the duo and New Jersey Stage asked Chris Russo about the song.

"The song, '2023,' is about episode 03 from an anime series called, 'Sword Art Online.' explained Russo. "I wrote the song after hanging out with one of my closest friends and one of our producers, CJ Rarela. We watched a few episodes of the show that night, and it was my first time ever watching the series. I felt so moved and inspired by the episode from the show that the song came naturally. We recorded the song with Pete Zengerle (Jet Jaguar, Hang Tight, Telltale, Sentinels), and had the song mastered by Jay Maas (State Champs, Title Fight, Defeater, Polar Bear Club)."

Highwind is currently writing new material and plan to head to the studio in the Spring to record new music. The band also plans on touring throughout the year.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



"We are currently working on booking our first run of shows for the year, so no shows booked yet, per se," continued Russo. "However, we do have a music video shoot on January 26th at the Clubhouse of Toms River that all are welcome to come and be a part of! It's basically going to be an acoustic show, and we want people to just come and hang out. Bring your friends, make new ones, and come be a part of our next single! There is a Facebook event page for it, so all of the information is in one place."

You can follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Highwind wants to spread one message through their music; that it is okay to be open and honest with yourself and others. Their songwriting involves a raw expression of honest emotions. These songs are there to encourage their listeners to speak out and be open about how they feel. 

PHOTOS BY KRIS KHUNUCHAK MULTIMEDIA



Gary Wien has been covering the arts since 2001 and has had work published with Jersey Arts, Upstage Magazine, Elmore Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Backstreets and other publications. He is a three-time winner of the Asbury Music Award for Top Music Journalist and the author of Beyond the Palace (the first book on the history of rock and roll in Asbury Park) and Are You Listening? The Top 100 Albums of 2001-2010 by New Jersey Artists. In addition, he runs New Jersey Stage and the online radio station The Penguin Rocks. He can be contacted at gary@newjerseystage.com.



Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Night

Night Ranger

Friday, April 04, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music


 

SOLOMON

SOLOMON plays DYLAN

Friday, April 04, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

McDonald’s

McDonald’s Gospelfest 2025

Saturday, April 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Stoned

Stoned Soul Picnic: Joni, Carole, Laura

Saturday, April 05, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Grunin Center - Studio Theater
1 College Drive, Toms River, NJ 08754
category: music


 

The

The Nighthawks

Saturday, April 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 



Advertise with NJ Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info





 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz at Princeton University presents the 2025 Jazz Festival on April 12th

(PRINCETON, NJ) -- Jazz at Princeton University presents the 2025 Jazz Festival on Saturday, April 12 from 1:00pm to 10:00pm. The lineup includes performances by Roxy Cross, Warren Wolf, Matt Stevens, Princeton University Faculty Septet, and Jazz at Princeton's and the Program in Latin American Studies present the Creative Large Ensemble, directed by Darcy James Argue and special guest Etienne Charles (trumpet).



Grammy

Grammy Award Winners and Jazz Icons the Yellowjackets Come to Bell Theater in April

(HOLMDEL, NJ) -- Celebrate Jazz Appreciation month with the Yellowjackets, which Jazz Times describes as an "electric-acoustic outfit whose smart, often challenging and unpredictable compositions draw from fusion, post-bop and contemporary jazz." These jazz icons are headed to Bell Theater at Bell Works in Holmdel on Thursday, April 24, 2025.



NJPAC

NJPAC presents R&B superstar Tyrese Gibson

(NEWARK, NJ) -- R&B superstar Tyrese Gibson will perform at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 7:00pm. He is set to deliver an unforgettable night featuring his chart-topping songs like "Sweet Lady" and "How You Gonna Act Like That." Concert goers can anticipate a memorable experience as Gibson captivates the audience with his powerful vocals and engaging stage presence.



Jersey

Jersey Arts Podcast: Bewitched by Botti - A Chat with the Grammy Winning Trumpeter

Jazz fans, rejoice! Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti will be gracing the stage of the Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, April 12, 2025.



Get

Get the Led Out to Play Three Nights at Scottish Rite Auditorium

(COLLINGSWOOD, NJ) -- Get the Led Out (GTLO) takes over the Scottish Rite Auditorium for shows April 24-26, 2025 at 8:00pm each night. From the bombastic and epic to the folky and mystical, GTLO has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The concerts are presented by the Camden County Board of Commissioners.