Doors at Seven, a DIY collective that prioritizes building community and supporting independent artists, has been a well-known feature of the New Paltz music scene for years, regularly hosting live music events in various DIY spaces with large turnouts. Recently, the collective expanded to book music all over the Hudson Valley and into New York City, as well as operating an editorial blog, podcast and daily radio shows. This marks a new era for Doors at Seven as a business.
Ash Hausrath, the Editor-in-Chief for Doors at Seven’s editorial projects, said, “It’s really exciting to be a part of something like Doors at Seven, and I am beyond grateful that I have been along for the ride, as it has continued to blossom into such an incredible environment for musicians and music fans alike.”
Doors at Seven has recently started rolling out a weekly newsletter with exclusive content and highlights, created by a staff of over a dozen writers. “We meet weekly to discuss coverage of available pieces shared with us from publicists, curated playlists made specifically with our audience in mind and ways we can shine a light on the community that continues to build us up,” Hausrath said. “Our staff writers always have projects in motion, so there is always something to look forward to from us.” The newsletter is available through a subscription on their website, doorsatseven.org.
Another project that has ramped up with the business’s expansion is its artist management and booking. Currently, Doors at Seven represents the bands Alliteration, Gartenhead, New Vision, No Momentum and Yankeegirl, with their locations ranging between Philadelphia, the Hudson Valley, New York City and Long Island.
“We’re really an artist-first collective, just trying to support independent music as much as we can,” CEO and founder, Noelle Janasiewicz said. “I just wanted to best support the bands that I believe in the most, and them having the trust in me to do so is the biggest honor.”
The newest entry to the Doors at Seven catalog is Steeping DIY, a podcast that dives into conversations with local artists over Doors at Seven’s favorite drink — hot tea. The project produces weekly episodes every Friday. The most recent episode with Michael Cera Palin is out now on all streaming platforms.
“It’s great, because it’s usually a band we’ve had play on one of our live shows, so it really gives the audience a better chance to connect with the band outside of their music,” Janasiewicz said.
Despite all this growth, Doors at Seven is still deeply connected to the New Paltz community. “The Doors at Seven scene and the New Paltz scene have a symbiotic relationship. Doors at Seven wouldn’t be what it is without the support from the community we have found in New Paltz,” Hausrath said. Even as a remote member of the collective, having moved back to Buffalo after graduating from SUNY New Paltz last spring, “I can feel the love these communities share,” they added.
“The reported turnout from shows Doors at Seven has put on is a testament enough to the relationship we have cultivated with the community in New Paltz,” Hausrath continued. “If we continue on the upward trend that we have been on lately, I think there is a lot of promise for our future as an organization, which means lots more to come – more shows, more editorial content, more for everyone to enjoy.”
To see more of the Doors at Seven collective, New Paltz music lovers can head to their upcoming shows: March 23 at Snug Harbor, March 24 at the Jewish Congregation of New Paltz Community Center and April 4 at the New Paltz Community Center.