Coffee Nap
written by: Cait Elizabeth
Edited by: Travis Ryan
Introductions
Recipe for a Coffee Nap: One part dreamy synth-pop, one part sentimental emo; stir and serve in a lab beaker, enjoy forever. This group of musical mad scientists disguised as a band is comprised of Mike Nowotarski (vocals/multi-instrumentalist), Rene Sanchez (vocals/multi-instrumentalist), Maria Diaz (vocals/multi-instrumentalist), Jon Francke (bass), and Maria Scutari (drums). With a combined melodious curiosity, the band serves up a fresh and comforting yet exciting sound when we need it most.
Their debut EP Dandelion Wishes released in December 2019. The three-track collection, born in Mike’s bedroom in 2016, feels like an otherworldly escape from the madness of 2020. Serene and poignant, it’s easy to set sail into the oasis of Coffee Nap’s soundscape.
Writing usually begins with a little snippet. Sometimes it’s Mike “noodling on a guitar” that kicks things off—or more recently, Jon floated an idea of a bass line and chord progression that particularly took root. Other times Maria or Rene will offer up fully-formed songs for the band to further collaborate on. As most do, the songs begin as broad strokes; the team embraces experimentation, layering unique sounds and out-of-the-box techniques to create the genuine Coffee Nap sound. They push the envelope by asking questions like, “Hey, what would it sound like if we put Rene's saxophone through a vocoder? Or what if we had Mike play accordion on this punk tune?” We imagine there is a wonderful evil lair where Coffee Nap conducts their procedures.
Show & Tours
Coffee Nap is known to inhabit venues such as The Velvet Lounge, Mr. Beery’s, and 89North alongside local favorites like AllOne, Crisis Crayons, Scatterbrained., and Playing Dead. You may have also seen Mike Nowotarski playing a virtual solo set during the VBT Live 36-hour Broadcast fundraiser for Artly World during COVID quarantine!
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Inspirations & Influences
Coffee Nap might be a relatively new band on the Long Island music circuit, but it’s already proven to be something exceptional for the members. “There's something really special about the way a room full of musicians can sit together and listen and get to know each other with their instruments without saying a single word.” The connection between the audience and the performers on the stage is a language all its own.
“Make Art! All the time! Make good art and bad art! Just make art and put it out into the world and over time you’ll find trusted people to share with. And that’s the best feeling in the world.”