No manual comes with life; you have to figure out how to put it together as you go. The cold, hard truth is that lessons come with experience, but for Miss Velvet, it has been about growing with each pain.
Originally from New York, Miss Velvet has been around music since she was a child when her mom used to take her to musicals, concerts, and the opera. Enriching experiences, it seemed like the music infectiously spread through her, and soon, Miss Velvet was born. After years of plugging away with her band, full of aspirations, an opportunity to open for the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic presented itself in 2018. Exciting, soon Miss Velvet attracted broader attention with her powerful and soulful Rock-n-Roll voice.
A turning point for the singer, circumstances outside anyone’s control with the COVID lockdowns seized touring, leaving forward-moving progress at a standstill. There was a clear bump in the road, and it was also around this time that Miss Velvet decided to uproot from the comfortable surroundings of New York and move out to California. It was a big move that left her feeling like a stranger in a strange land, and coupled with the stresses of change, she became the proud mother of not one but two babies back to back. Embracing a new chapter with open arms, Miss Velvet used motherhood as a form of enlightenment and purpose rather than seeing it as a dampening of her Rock-n-Roll dreams. Inspired, she soon adapted and worked on her terms, writing material to become her debut solo album, Traveler. Released in 2023, Traveler was a robust collection of songs that showed that Miss Velvet was heading for big things as both a vocalist and songwriter. Working closely with Esjay Jones (a talented Grammy-featured record producer) who produced and assisted in co-songwriting, it was evident that the picture was only beginning to come clearly into focus.
Applying the ups and downs of everything to the music that made up Traveler, Miss Velvet now takes a bold step forward with her new EP Triptych. Released on March 21, 2025, through Miss Velvet’s own Mother Ride Records via The Orchard /Sony, the latest release is more than music—it is a cinematic concept piece that engages the senses.
Broken into three parts, Miss Velvet confesses that Triptych tells the story of betrayal, transformation, and self-liberation. A set of songs playing out at just over fifteen minutes, there are seven tracks (three of which act as interludes between the movements), all full of raw Rock-n-Roll emotion. Honestly, it feels like something a Classic Rock band from yesteryear, like Led Zeppelin or The Who might have recorded because they clearly distinguish between the songs and purpose. Quite inviting and old-fashioned yet modern and daring simultaneously, it is safe to say Miss Velvet took a chance with Triptych and has found success.
Memorable, the three main tracks (“Pistols at Dawn,” “Strut,” and “Hallelujah”) have unique qualities at every turn. Full of unforgettable melodies, the music of Triptych is almost mystical, while Miss Velvet bears her most profound emotions in a raw, sincere manner. On top of this, the EP has the companionship of three exceptionally well-produced Rock music videos with visuals that only add to what Miss Velvet is looking to accomplish here.
Overall, Miss Velvet is a lady of Rock-n-Roll with class, talent, a soulful heart, and introspection that is hard to come by. That is why Cryptic Rock recommends digging deeper into the music and gives Triptych 5 out of 5 stars.
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