Philadelphia’s “gypsy soul rock-n-roll” Velvet Rouge drop a new single, and book local performance dates.
While you can’t always judge a band by its name, I can categorically state that the Philadelphia area’s Velvet Rouge and the band’s self-described brand of “gypsy soul rock-n-roll” does indeed have glamor and glitter as part of its make up.
Formed by West Chester native Gina Castanzo (now known as Gina Zo) after her 2016 stint on NBC’s The Voice (Blake Shelton’s Team Blake) and a brief run of acclaimed solo albums, Velvet Rouge uses female empowerment as its lyrical calling card, and the inspiration of Florence and the Machine, Stevie Nicks and Jane’s Addiction (who they plan to cover in an upcoming track) as part of its sonic heritage. Adventurous avant-garde fashion is also a part of Velvet Rouge’s display as Gina was once Director of Marketing for the Rittenhouse area women’s boutique, Joan Shepp.
After their 2021 debut EP, Dark Hallways, Velvet Rouge spent the rest of the pandemic recording a fresh set of singles at Miner Street Recordings in Fishtown with War on Drugs producers Brian McTear and Amy Morrissey behind the wheel. And while “Save Me” is released today, August 5, two additional tracks, “Ocean Size” and “15th Street” are scheduled for September and October drops, respectively. In addition to the new singles, Velvet Rouge has gigs planned for August 26, (opening for Remember Jones at The Queen in Wilmington, Delaware) and September 16 at Dobbs on South – duck.
Of the band’s name, and what emotions she’s conjured from its juxtaposition of words, Zo writes, “Imagine someone you loved turned their back on you. Or the moment you thought someone you trusted was honest with you, you find out they lied. Imagine a secret of yours got leaked. Or a person you just met doesn’t tell you who they really are. That makes you mad. It makes you feel things you’ve never wanted to feel. It makes you… well, Velvet Rouge: the color you exude when you are betrayed by someone you trusted.”
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