Press Kit
The Nineteen Twenty formed in early 2020 out of a need for connection. A conversation backstage at a theater about a songwriting collaboration was brought to life remotely by the COVID-19 shutdown. Over four months, the new duo wrote, recorded, and produced songs entirely without ever being in the same room together, using the magic of the internet to create a sound that is a mix of both their unique musical styles and sensibilities. The result of this collaboration is their first album, Chaos + Cocktails. It is a blend of Americana songwriting, catchy hooks and bedroom-pop production that connects the familiar with the ethereal. Its seven songs discuss all things love, loss, anxiety, despair, and hope. Things that are all part of the up and down, day to day swings of our times.
Over 25K streams in the first two weeks across Spotify, Apple and Amazon.
The Nineteen Twenty consists of Colin Donnell; a St. Louis born, NYC based actor and musician known for his roles on and off-Broadway, including Almost Famous: The Musical alongside Cameron Crowe and on-screen in shows such as CW’s Arrow, Showtime’s The Affair and NBC’s Chicago Med and Brian Usifer; a native of New York’s Hudson Valley and NYC based musician with Broadway credits including Frozen, The Book of Mormon and Kinky Boots, the Grammy winner for Best Musical Theater Album in 2013 with music by Cyndi Lauper in addition to developing shows alongside names such as Huey Lewis, Lamont Dozier, Neil Diamond, and The Avett Brothers, to name a few.
Listen.
“I’m knocking on your door
Why won’t you let me in
I know what all the waiting’s for
And it’s tearing at my skin”
Press.
And so “connection” is at the heart of The Nineteen Twenty.
Connection with ourselves: “…Make peace with the sound of the chaos around you”, longing for Connection with others: “…put your glass heart next to mine so I can feel them beating in time” connection with our darkness: “…I wanna tell you lies but I need to say that I’m not ok”, our demons “…the bottle that’s sat on the shelf just opened it’s mouth, been awhile since I’ve seen you now here’s to your health…” and trying to connect to hope “…maybe there is more, than the world before, cause we can do anything if can pretend this is not the end”.
In a world where everything and everyone we hold dear has been strained and tested, Chaos + Cocktails is a reminder that our ability to connect (with ourselves, our family, friends, and the world) is our biggest weapon against despair.