Singer/songwriter Marian Mastrorilli returns to her roots with the release of her new single, A Shore Thing (My Jersey Shore). A joyous celebration of the shore's eternal power to restore us (and itself after Hurricane Sandy), the song evokes the Jersey Shore's boardwalk culture, driving "down the shore" as a rite of passage with the first friends who got their licenses, and the endless draw of the ocean. The new song was released on May 13, 2023, and will be included on Mastrorilli's forthcoming CD, currently in production and due out in early 2024.
Mastrorilli’s spark of inspiration came while attending a music festival in Asbury Park during the summer after Hurricane Sandy, “when familiar smells and sounds like sea salt and crashing waves were mingled with sawdust and construction, as the Shore was once again showing its resilience.” However, the song’s true soul goes way back to annual family vacations at Ortley Beach and Seaside Heights, with days spent riding on rafts in the ocean and nights on boardwalk amusement rides. The song’s acoustic guitars, accordion and mandolin conjure the boardwalk’s carnival vibe.
To realize her vision for A Shore Thing, Mastrorilli called upon the talents of local music compatriots Mike Mills (acoustic guitar), Maggie Mills (backing vocals), Josie Bello (accordion), Spencer G (mandolin), and Chris Howard (percussion), as well as her husband, Glenn Govier (bass). The track was recorded and mixed by Kevin Kelly at The Workshoppe East in Huntington, NY.
The beach and New Jersey have always figured prominently in Mastrorilli’s songwriting. Her first album featured the single At Palisades, a paean to the legendary Palisades Amusement Park, once located in her hometown. The video for the song was featured at NJ’s Ridgewood Film Festival and has had more than 95,000 views.
A Shore Thing (My Jersey Shore) is the second single off Mastrorilli’s new CD, following the October 2022 release of Cardinal in the Snow. Mastrorilli’s music is available on most major platforms, including Apple, Amazon, Bandcamp, Pandora, and Spotify.
Born and raised in Cliffside Park, NJ, singer-songwriter Marian Mastrorilli has been writing songs and performing throughout the New York/New Jersey area since her late twenties. Well-established as a Hudson Valley artist as leader of the band Project Mercury, she’s claimed Huntington, NY as her new homebase since relocating there in 2018. She has been embraced by Long Island’s acoustic/folk community and was recently a featured performer at NOOM (North Shore Original Open Mic), Folkie Fest's "Unstoppable Women of Song," and Songwriters of Long Island showcases. In addition to her original music, Marian volunteers with Musicians on Call, both as a bedside performer at NYC hospitals and streaming live to the City of Hope's network of over 30 hospitals.
