Strongest Point(s): There are many strong points with Bird With A Broken Wing. As mentioned above, the arrangement and vocal work are fantastic. The instrumental performances, particularly in the guitar, are equally impressive. The guitar solo matches the attitude and energy of the song, while still making its own statement. Nice work by all involved.
Zachary Larson@RadioAirplay
NEW YORK CITY-BASED INDIE LABEL YOUNG PALS MUSIC RELEASES LAUREN RATHBUN’S POP BALLAD, ‘BIRD WITH A BROKEN WING,’ EVOKING THE SWEET NOSTALGIA OF THE 70’S
New York, NY, October 25, 2022 — NYC-based singer-songwriter Lauren Rathbun has issued her latest track, “Bird With A Broken Wing,” an evocative ballad fringed with the glamorous sparkle of 70s pop/rock, highlighted by the refreshing splash of Lauren’s inimitable, contralto vocal — its strength and emotive quality reminiscent of such icons as Barbra Streisand, ABBA’s Frida and Agnetha Faltskog and the late Olivia Newton John.
Produced by Ayhan Sahin, the powerhouse rock ballad is Lauren’s third original release under the Young Pals Music imprint, the NYC-based independent label that has proved to be the perfect home for Lauren’s multi-faceted creative talents.
“Bird With A Broken Wing” opens with a reflective acoustic guitar refrain, gently underpinning Lauren’s endearing solo verse, as she seeks guidance at the end — or perhaps the beginning — of a journey. The pre-chorus bursts into a duel between piano and electric guitar, building in texture and intensity to a euphoric guitar solo and high-octane refrain, as Lauren carries the song with beauty and poise to the clouds above.
Lauren’s commitment to creating authentic, moving music that touches the hearts of listeners is what motivates her as an artist. She explains, “2021 was a particularly challenging year, and I found great solace in music following some personal setbacks. When Ayhan approached me with an idea he had about revisiting a song he had written years ago, I heard lyrics that really resonated with me: I will fly over mountains, sing without you. We worked together on some new material for what became this fresh take on ‘Bird With A Broken Wing’, and it proved a truly meaningful experience to sing and record it anew.”
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| Rathbun with music producer Ayhan Sahin during the 64th Grammy Awards in Las Vegas |
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| Rathbun’s Second Single “Into You” |
“Bird With A Broken Wing” is adapted from Ayhan Sahin and lyricist Selcen Pamuk Phelps’ full-length rock musical Swedish Style. The project — first developed in the 1990s and inspired by the real-life stories that surrounded Swedish supergroup ABBA — features a quartet of musicians on the brink of superstardom, dealing with love, loss and the pursuit of artistic immortality.
Lauren continues, “I am grateful to Ayhan and his writing collaborator Bernadette O’Reilly for their expertise on this new track, and to my parents who continue to be so supportive of my musical endeavors. I hope the unique lyrics and story of this song find their way to listeners’ hearts, just as it did mine.”
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| First Single from Rathbun “My Almost Lover” |
Born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, Lauren fell in love with musical theater as a teenager, graduating with an honors degree from the University of Utah for Musical Theatre Performance, shortly before her move to New York City in 2016.
As 2022 draws to a close, Lauren is in the final stages of recording her debut album with Sahin and O’Reilly at Young Pals Music. Set for release next year, the album will showcase her timeless voice through a mix of musical genres, combined with her ability to impart heartfelt sincerity into every note.
Lauren Rathbun’s ‘Bird With A Broken Wing’ is out now across all digital platforms
Follow Lauren on Instagram, Facebook, Apple Music & Spotify
For media enquiries please contact (917) 693-2688
Notes to Editors
Songwriters: Ayhan Sahin, Selcen Pamuk Phelps, Bernadette O’Reilly, Lauren Rathbun
Publisher: Young Pals Music (2022)
Producer: Ayhan Sahin
Musicians: Mike Sorrentino (drums), Carras Paton (bass), Gene Blank (guitars), Rob Preuss (piano and synth), Keith Fluitt (back vocals)
Executive Producer: Bernadette O’Reilly
Mixed and Engineered by Ayhan Sahin @ 2CStudios
Mastered by Ryan Smith @ Sterling Sound
Photography by Ayhan Sahin
Artwork Design by Emre Emirgil
Music video for our latest single “I Like You” is finally finished and I’m happy to at last bring it out to the daylight. Again like my previous music videos, it’s all self made with the phone I currently have, getting my inspiration from the bands I love to sing like, people I interact daily and from the scenery and footage I capture from random occasions. When all these activities meet with suggestions and recommendations from my creative friends like Bernadette or Lauren or Chuck and Emre, I see a vision forming in my head and I go for it.
This time the completion of the video took a little longer because of some personal issues that I encountered along the way; like the unexpected eye surgery that totally took away a couple of my months as well as my creative passion. But all comes to a good ending with a positive attitude and a stubborn smile, even though missing two of my very front teeth at a time when we would be shooting this video.
Eventually, eyes heal and teeth get replaced and what we are left with becomes the presentation of the art that never puts our inspirations into rest.
I’m happy that I was able to finish this work, because one thing that improves me as an individual is to be able to start and finish whatever I commit to.
Now onto the next projects. Life is good !!
Ayhan Sahin
Bringing some holiday cheer into the new year, Bernadette O’Reilly and Ayhan Sahin have teamed up to produce a disco-pop anthem that is sure to impress. Filled with vibrant sounds and plenty of Christmas cheer, the new single is a vibrant take on the classics, offering a multi-coloured, festive experience that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
With all the colorful glitter, ornaments, and decorations put up in homes all over the world throughout the holiday season, it’s nearly impossible to fathom how bland, recycled, and ordinarythe music can be. This year, artist Ayhan Sahin has teamed up with a whole crew of verifiable all-stars to create an exciting new Christmas classic that is guaranteed to be the gift that keeps on giving.
Released on Christmas day through Soundcloud, ‘All I Want This Christmas’ finds Bernadette O’Reilly and Ayhan Sahin in fine form, delivering a crisp, pop-inspired piece that flows with lines like “December is here, gift giving time, love is in the air”. Accompanied by a talented roster of musicians, including some sublime back vocals by Jerri BoKeno and Keith Fluitt’, the song is a perfect snapshot of the Christmas season, as well as a powerful illustration of the collective’s talents. Out &available on all major music platforms – “All I Want This Christmas” is destined to heat up the charts and playlists this winter!
In a dynamically vibrant display of bright, bold, and beautiful Disco-infused rhythm and grooves, the song delivers the celebratory spirit that people genuinely WANT to hear around the holidays. Delighting listeners with irresistible hooks, sensational instrumentation & stellar vocals combined, Sahin has enlisted the talents of Mike Sorrentino on drums, Carras Paton on bass guitar, Emre Yilmaz and Gene Blank on guitars, Rob Preuss on piano besides Jerri BoKeno and Keith Fluitt on supporting vocals, in addition to the truly legendary songwriting skills of Bernadette O’Reilly to assist in creating a song with the real magic of Christmas infused into every single moment. Unified through a vision to rock out a memorable anthem for all to enjoy this holiday season, the sparkling results speak volumes on behalf of a mission fully accomplished & highlight finale for 2021 and undeniably for 2022 as well – “All I Want This Christmas” is THE song to bring everyone together this year, the next year, and so on – it’s a brilliantly welcome twist on the yuletide vibes that your speakers are craving, now available online.
Available through Young Pals Music, a burgeoning force among post-millennial independent record labels, the song is a wonderfully spirited and free-wheeling release, creating a sense of magic that runs to the very roots of singer, songwriter, and producer Ayhan Sahin.
Offering services tailored to developing and established artist development, songwriting and collaboration, Young Pals Music has been featured on CNN, The Los Angeles Times, Playbill, MTV, Yahoo! Music, Fox Morning News, and more, ushering in a new form of music production, support, and collaboration.
Official Website – Facebook – Twitter – YouTube – Young Pals
The production is composed of a brilliant tempo buoying the song through the ecstatic highs of the rock ‘n’ roll era showcasing Rathbun shine through with a sincere, hearty voice that’s both comforting and just a little mischievous. The bridge of the piece is perhaps the most appealing, with Rathbun’s vocals soaring through the high notes in ease and a boisterous guitar solo hammering in the 70s-era vigor all the harder.
New York-based Producer and Songwriter, Ayhan Sahin has recorded a milestone achievement after receiving honors in two categories at the just concluded The Akademia Awards.
The Akademia Awards seeks to reward the best artists in the arts and entertainment industry. Each year, artists who have exemplified class and excellence in various genres of music and have won the love of fans receive awards.
This year, Ayhan Sahin shined with intensity at the recently concluded The Akademia Awards winning the “2020 Artist of the Year in Pop-Rock Genre” and the “2021 Rising Stars” awards. Ayhan Sahin has had a jolly-good career ride, and clinching these awards is proof of his efforts towards serving music lovers top-rated, infectious bliss songs.
This is not the first time the award-winning Turkish-born Pop artist is winning double honors at the awards ceremony held by TheAkademia. In April 2018, Ayhan won “Best Rock Song for Pop” with the single ‘Drink’ and “Best Music Video of the Year” for his ‘L.A. Nights’ single.
Winning double again in this year’s TheAkademia Awards shows how much of a consistent fellow Ayhan Sahin and his Young Pals label are. After receiving the awards, Ayhan Sahin said, “My music and thus this recognition is a mutual effort and combined skills of many talented musicians and writers who work with me in my productions with Young Pals Music.”
He further added that “I am always aware that as one, I can only see the mirror and its reflection, but with collaborative work, I will be reflected fully to the world.”
Over the years, Ayhan Sahin and the Young Pals Music label have continued serving sizzling hot retro-pop tracks, incorporating disco sounds from the 70s and 80s with a refined touch. The New York-based company offers developing and established artists songwriting and collaboration, vocal and instrumental recording, mixing, merchandising, and consultancy services.
With the double honors at The Akademia Awards, Ayhan Sahin assures that the label will intensify its efforts to release quality songs from artists signed to the group and collaborate with other key players in the industry so fans can stay thrilled all year round with the best of Pop music.
About Young Pals Music
Owned by Producer and Songwriter, Ayhan Sahin, Young Pals Music is a full-service independent record label based in New York founded in 2007. They offer songwriting and collaboration, vocal and instrumental recording, mixing, merchandising, and consultancy services. Some of their releases have enjoyed features on CNN, The Los Angeles Times, FoxNY, Univision, Telemundo, Playbill, MTV, Yahoo! Music, Fox Morning News, “The Wendy Williams Show” and Style Network; and heralded by USA Today, New York magazine, MTV, Perez Hilton, and The New York Daily News. For more information about Young Pals Music label, please visit https://youngpalsmusic.com/.
I’m thankful to receive The Akademia Awards for 2020 Artist Of The Year in Pop-Rock genre, and 2021 Rising Stars categories.
My music and thus this recognition is a mutual effort and combined skills of many talented musicians and writers who work with me in my productions with Young Pals Music. I’m always aware that as one I can only see the mirror and it’s reflection, but with collaborative work, I will be reflected fully to the world.
Ayhan Sahin’s fourth solo single marks the finale release from the
long-awaited full-length collaborative project “Pop”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOVEMBER 18, 2020
The upcoming and long awaited album “Pop” features iconic artists of pop music’s timeline such as The Village People’s iconic cowboy Randy Jones, platinum selling artist Anita Ward, veteran recording artists Jerri BoKeno along with Keith Fluitt, Christi Bauerlee, and David Keeley. .All songs are cowritten and coproduced by Ayhan Sahin with hit songwriter Bernadette O’Reilly who has also worked for three decades in music management and Artist Development… Overall, the singles released from the POP album saw critical recognition from award shows winning awards for categories, “Best Pop Song”, “Best Video” and “Best Singer.” Last but not least, Randy Jones’ single “Hard Times’” hit the Billboard Charts to claim a one month run on the Dance charts building a legendary status for Randy to be the only member of The Village People who achieved success as a charting solo artist.
Ayhan Sahin’s fourth single from “Pop” comes at a moment to reveal the reality of these times. Boldly written, the new song “Come And Get Me Now” opens up with all odds at stake as Sahin gets into emotion immediately, sInging “Don’t have another song in me.” Having the potential of establishing an immediate concern. Sahin contiunues: “I’m losing all my gravity, I’ll count to three and scream” Feeling the urgency of the singer’s plea for a saviour, it never gets old or redundant to hear the repeating verse always followed by the loud and direct message “Come and Get MeNow. The song spies a Bowie influence with pure harmonic ABBA-esque backing vocals. It’s a melody-driven retro-pop redux. If this was the writer’s intention, they nailed it.
London producer/remixer Tim Cox brings two fresh club mixes to the table. (“Tim Cox Club Mix” and its radio edit “Come And Get Me Now (Tim Cox Remix)” which is released with the single.
Sahin finalized the launch with a music video that was shot at the beach during the summer of 2020. He says “ I shot this video with my phone with little cost but tremendous care and endless hours of work knowing that this year is all about appreciation, tolerance and hope.
To make the product more attractive, Young Pals Music has also released a photo book of pictures taken during the shooting of the video at the exquisite boardwalk and beaches of a deserted Fire Island.
https://youngpalsmusic.com/product/601547
Contact Information:
MIKE @ Young Pals Music
Tel: 917-693 2688
Email: ayhan@youngpalsmusic.com
Website: https://youngpalsmusic.com, https://www.youtube.com/user/youngpals
Happy to announce that the music video to our latest song
“Come And Get Me Now” is ready and up on YouTube.com. The making of the video for me was a long journey to decide on what the message was. Although everything emotional is and can be related to our troubles with the pandemic in 2020, I still wanted to maintain a brighter side of a character in the story of our music video who is lonely, left alone in solitude and yearning for the days gone by. We first shot essential footage at a church in upper east side late May with Bernadette and Emre while we were doing the photoshoot for the cover of the single. We came a long way with the post production, but I still was not in love with the dark side of me that was exposed. I looked ugly, I looked old and I looked tired. It was bothering me.
Right after that day we shot the footage, I went to Fire Island and stayed there for the entire summer thanks to my friends Gene and Steve. It was great to be away from the city during the pandemic, and the protests going on. I was admiring the scenery of the island. Somehow seeing the environment on a daily basis made me discover new corners and details about the place, although I’ve been there at least once or twice every summer through the years. I was taking all these pictures day and night, sunrise/sunset, full moon/stormy weather, sunny beach/deserted beach, and everything I took daily was landing on a last picture of the boardwalk that connected our unit to the beach. At one point, my friend Al suggested that I take periodic footage of the boardwalk just to see if it would bring any inspiration.
It’s an interesting concept almost like writing a diary to see what changes the nature suggests to a stationary object with differing conditions. The fact that I was able to edit the things I was filming instantly with Final Cut Pro made me ask myself “why not use this for the upcoming single’s music video.” To bring a brighter view to the story we wrote in the song with Bernadette was intriguing. Things we suffer from past choices, future doubts of incompetence, and its effect on the present— they would all be optimistic to find a way to deal with just like how the nature finds its way with everything—even pandemic. This routine went on till September 13. That’s when I started editing the full song video.
Among the people in my network who I mostly rely on to play my ongoing work for early insights and critics is Lauren. I am always comfortable showing early stages of my work to get a constructive feedback when I feel I’m too much involved with the project. Her eyes and ears are very well trained to get a vision of the artist and his/her raw work during its formation. Plus our relationship allows her to be sincere without holding back any aspect. So when I showed her the first edit, she gave me all these thoughts on the phone. The same day she sent me three different takes of her dancing on the track just in case I needed to use. I ended up using her footage that she sent from the West Coast in the instrumental outro thinking what better way to relieve stress and strain that we bring with the song than a water-ballet turning the track into a dance number by throwing cyber lights and entertainment, with multi images of sirens dancing on the waves, making you feel like you’re watching a Vegas show. At least that became the vision in my head.
It’s November 2 now. I finalize the music video with a fulfilled heart and a content soul.
The music we recorded were all made possible with the talented and renowned musicians I work with who understand my style of music– they almost feel like my band and very gracious to be involved in my productions namely Mike Sorrentino in drums, Carras Paton in bass guitar and horn sections, Emre Yilmaz and Gene Blank in guitars, Rob Preuss in synth and keyboards, Thomas Gallaher in piano. And besides these names, Keith Fluitt, Jerri Bocchino and Lauren Rathbun add additional and background vocals to give it the Abba vibe that I die for.
Cagri Keskin designed the artwork for the project. I am proud to feature his work with his company Donum Noktasi as our display on every project bringing in the cover of the record from suggestions into reality. In the meantime Chuck prepares the wording of our presentation. His writing becomes our press release, and in many cases turns into the liner notes of the record we are producing. Just like Bernadette and Emre, I am grateful to him for being there all along since day 1, sharing our enthusiasm and positive vibes with every record since 2007.
Looking back, I realize Bernadette and I have been working, writing music almost for 15 years. on and off here and there this and that. Our partnership goes beyond business where I accept her as one of my true closest friends in life that I can trust and enjoy the time with.
Our new song is out. It comes with a challenging story at a challenging time where we all face a little bit of doubt about future. Our intention is to spread out light with fire when the thoughts are at their darkest. Please leave us some comments on YouTube.
Ayhan
AYHAN SAHIN 
