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Numbers And Letters

About Me


"A nice and wailey sort of alt-Americana, reflecting Kansan roots—which seems to make people a little angsty."—Bklyn Song of the Day
True Americana doesn't often come via New York, but that's exactly what Numbers And Letters has emerged with, spurred on from years of songwriting, drinking, church-attending, pool-playing and living in the former industrial wasteland that is north Brooklyn.
Fronted by singer/songwriter Katie Hasty, Numbers And Letters' songs are sparse, lush and sad, with a tinge of hope that comes from growing up in a flat, quiet place.
When Hasty moved to New York-by-way-of-Chicago-by-way-of-Kansas in 2004 to become an editor at Billboard magazine, she also learned to play guitar and write some songs. After years of studying opera, classical piano and choral music, she abandoned her traditional background.
"I wanted to start doing lean, contemporary songs. I wanted to make pop songs that had a definite start and finish," she says.

Numbers And Letters is a project formed from Hasty's songwriting and a band was formed. Guitarist/noisemaker Clifton Hyde has played with an eclectic array of acts like Sigur Ros, Mandy Moore and Lou Reed, guitarist Joe Lops cut his teeth in a number of bands in Portland, Maine. Drummer Adam Blake also plays with New York band the Films and bassist Cassidy Holden has played more shows in the past year than there are days in the year, with jazz and classical troupes.
Armed with a notebook at all times to jot down lyrics as they strike, Hasty pulls from the spirit of acts like Emmylou Harris, M. Ward, Califone, Nick Drake, Will Oldham, Feist, Whiskeytown and Nina Nastasia.
Numbers And Letters' debut self-titled EP was recorded by Sammy Rubin (Project Jenny, Project Jan) throughout 2007 at Music For Picture in Manhattan. Eric Feigenbaum (Gordon Gano, Lowry) put the final touches on the mix; "Numbers And Letters" was released April 13, 2008.
"Most songs are relationship-driven, made-up memories, friendships, loss, reflection... about God, faith, death and sex," Hasty says. "I pick a topic and find the my best or least favorite memory of it to lock it into that theme."
by Molly Brown
photo by Will Femia
Contact: Katie Hasty

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/3/2006
Band Website: http://www.numbersandlettersmusic.com
Band Members: Katie Hasty , Clifton Hyde , Joe Lops , Adam Blake, Cassidy Holden
Influences: death, the songs of Cole Porter, boyfriends, ex-boyfriends, pretend boyfriends, Jesus Christ, summer camp, drinking, humiliation, Hong Kong, a clever retort that comes too late, the Handsome Family
Sounds Like: Joe: "Two old people f*cking."
Record Label: None

My Blog

Uncommon Music: My First Interview!

10 Questions: Katie Hasty of Numbers and Letters New York-based Americana group Numbers and Letters released their first album earlier this year. These do-it-yourselfers offer up melody and lyrics in...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:40:00 GMT

Time Out New York: "... spins rich roots pop..."

"Brooklyn quintet Numbers and Letters spins rich roots pop shaded with the sort of Southern-gothic vibe that we're told comes only from, you know, the South."Time Out New York, April 2008. Click here...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:36:00 GMT

The Deli Magazine: "...recalling the best Memphis chanteuses of the past..."

What would we do without Numbers and Letters? Deli Fashion Update: this summer old is new  which is why Numbers and Letters is going to be dropping old-timey folk tunes all over your Fifth Avenue be...
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:33:00 GMT

Hooves on Turf: "but theyre Americana all around..."

"Numbers And Letters may have taken up residence in Brooklyn, but they're Americana all around..."Hooves on Turf, July 21, 2008. Click here for the full post!
Posted by on Wed, 13 Aug 2008 13:29:00 GMT

Atoms 4 Peace's M@N!C MOND@Y M!X!

Nashville blog Atoms 4 Peace included Numbers And Letters’ "Dark Adam" as part of its M@N!C MOND@Y M!X, right beside other amazing acts like Headlights, Jon McKiel, Andrew Bird and a bunch of ot...
Posted by on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:18:00 GMT

"A new act thats worth checking out for some authentic feeling americana/folk..."

"A new act that's worth checking out for some authentic feeling americana/folk is NUMBERS & LETTERS. With songs crafted around a grandmother and the South, it's refreshing to hear something that a...
Posted by on Sat, 15 Mar 2008 23:29:00 GMT

"N&L's music is a musical hybrid of new americana, alt-country, boozy death ballads."

Saturday night, I took in a Numbers & Letters show at Pianos. Lead Number Katie was celebrating her birthday and she and the band played a tight, energetic set, punctuated by the occasional hearty...
Posted by on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:19:00 GMT

largehearted boy: daily downloads

Hot dog! Numbers And Letters got a shout out on music blogger extraordinaire largehearted boy's daily downloads page on Jan. 19, 2008. And in fine company, too!Argyle Johansen: several tracks [mp3] ot...
Posted by on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:15:00 GMT

"...theyre a fast-rising band with a gifted singer-songwriter at the helm"

"Katie's got a great set of pipes, whether cooing in her jazz-inflected encore, ringing out in falsetto for a song about Jesus or digging in for a from-the-gut M. Ward cover. I'm eager for the upcomin...
Posted by on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:11:00 GMT

"... which seems to make people a little angsty."

"... they play a nice and wailey sort of alt-Americana, reflecting Kansan roots--which seems to make people a little angsty."From music blog BKLYN Song Of The Day, March 19, 2007
Posted by on Mon, 11 Jun 2007 12:12:00 GMT