Born in the Bronx, New York, Alynda Segarra leads Hurray for the Riff Raff, an American folk-blues and Americana band from New Orleans, Louisiana. Segarra’s neighborhood life helped her develop an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown.
Segarra’s Puerto Rican heritage informs her music. Although her mother was a New York City Deputy Mayor, Alynda became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when she was young.The American country fascinated Segarra and she left her home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains. The Wall Street Journal describes Segarra’s singing: “She has a subtle, expressive voice that she wraps around songs that draw on the sounds and styles of the American South and her lyrics often take an unconventional tack on traditional subjects.”
In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut, Small Town Heroes. The record features original songs written or co-written by Segarra and features fiddler Yosi Perlstein, keyboard player Casey McAllister, Sam Doores on guitar and Dan Cutler on bass.
Describing Segarra’s music, NPR says: “Segarra’s morning-after alto might be the least showy great voice to hit the national scene this year.”
In 2007 she became part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra and later, Hurray for the Riff Raff released two self-released albums by 2010. In 2011 the band was featured in connection with the HBO “Treme” program in a newspaper article spotlighting their tune “Daniella” as one of New Orleans’ essential songs.
The band’s performance at the 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival was released and followed by four albums, The Navigator, dropped in 2017.
In 2021, Nonesuch Records announced Hurray for the Riff Raff’s debut album on the label, LIFE ON EARTH will be released February 18th, 2022. Its eleven new “nature punk” tracks on the theme of survival are music for a world in flux—songs about thriving, not just surviving, while disaster is happening.
We play Hurray for the Riff Raff play on Sacramento’s K-ZAP 93.3 FM. Download our free app: http://www.k-zap.org/apps/
Discography
Crossing the Rubicon (EP) (2007)
It Don’t Mean I Don’t Love You (2008)
Young Blood Blues (2010)
Hurray for the Riff Raff (2011)
Live at 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (2012)
Look Out Mama (2012)
My Dearest Darkest Neighbor (2013)
Small Town Heroes (2014)
The Navigator (2017)
Life On Earth (2/18/2022)
Video