Brooklyn Band Savoir Adore Takes Over CMJ With 8 Showcases

By Annie Reuter

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – For Brooklyn-based Savoir Adore, what began as a 48-hour challenge between two friends soon morphed into a band.

A band that's scheduled to play 8 different showcases at the CMJ fest this weekend.

"Deidre [Muro] and I were both solo artists in New York. We were frustrated with our current situations so we said, 'Why don't we try to collaborate over the weekend? See what happens,'" says Paul Hammer.

Over the course of that weekend Hammer and Muro decided to record an EP and gave themselves rules, which included no acoustic guitar.

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"That EP formed the band. It was never intended to be a band; it was just a fun recording project that ended up getting passed around," Hammer said. "We were so excited at what we created that we kept doing it."

Formed in a NYU dorm room, Savoir Adore has since expanded to a five-piece. The band is currently working on a 7" due out next month and a sophomore LP. Citing the Beatles as an influence, Savoir Adore explained their unique music.

"We're really inspired by bands like the Beatles where they were making incredible three-minute pop songs but also really pushing the boundary of what people would normally hear," Hammer said. "It's experimenting within a pop framework."

Muro agreed, citing their music "comes from a place of playfulness."

Having traveled to numerous festivals, both talked of the convenience of CMJ for New York acts.

"We've both gone to SXSW and it's such a different experience because at the end of the night of CMJ we can go home to our own beds which is very, very nice. It's the best of both worlds," Hammer said.

"The festival itself is not too different from the rest of the year in New York. Every band comes here at some point," Muro added. "You can pick and choose what you want to see, but if you miss something you know you're going to see them again in the next year."

A hub of live music, New York has no shortage of venues.

"I think the best part is that you have a place where you can perform regularly. You have a channel and avenue where you can do that all the time and for better or for worse people will listen and you get to perform," Muro said.

While both agree the New York music scene is a constant battle, the positives outweigh the negatives.

"In New York you have a community of people you can work with and collaborate with. There are only a handful of places where you can create the art and you can be at the epicenter of where the art is distributed," Hammer added. "It's difficult, but it's also really exciting. There's always that potential everyday that you can go to a show and you can meet someone who might completely change the way your career is going."

Savoir Adore is keeping busy as they perform four showcases of their own along with additional sets with French Horn Rebellion.

Savoir Adore
October 20 - 5:00 p.m. at Cake Shop
October 21 - 10:30 p.m. at Santos Party House
October 22 - 5 p.m. at Bowery Electric, 10 p.m. at Pianos

With French Horn Rebellion
October 21 - 11:30 p.m. at Santos Party House, 2:30 a.m. at Brooklyn Bowl
October 22 - 9 p.m. at Spike Hill

Annie Reuter is a freelance writer and the founder of YouSingIWrite.com.