This latest track from Abby Payne checks all of the boxes for me in terms of a happy surprise. The production is flawless, it's a beautifully written song, her voice really steps to the front in terms of the mix, and overall it feels like a heartfelt and genuine anthem to personal vindication with a burning sense of purpose.

During the darkest months of the pandemic, Abby Payne stared longingly out of the window of her Brooklyn apartment, and eventually began using the process of songwriting as a sort of musical therapy for herself. Channeling fellow east coaster Bruce Springsteen, she soon found herself penning a song that was roots-based, reflective, and gritty. It was a coming home of sorts.

I look for answers in the streets
I ask the ghosts that dwell in me
But maybe I should let them be and watch the road
Only see the road ahead of me.

Night Ride, the latest from Brooklyn's own Abby Payne, is a showcase of both resilience and raw talent. It would be the first song Payne played with her band when the lockdown lifted, and rightly so. It serves as testament to Abby's ability to thrive in a period of discomfort.

Payne grew up singing with her musical family on a dairy farm in Western New York, later studying jazz voice at SUNY Purchase. She’s a fixture on the New York City live music scene. She is also a founding member of the Round Table, a female artist collective that seeks to create more community and opportunities for women.

Visit Abby Payne on Instagram.