Irene Pena - Press + Radio

Press

This Is Rock'N'Roll Radio - Shimmer Away shout outs

If it wasn't enough that "Shimmer Away" was played this last Sunday night on one of my favorite radio programs of Westcott Radio, fellow Patreon creator Carl Cafarelli wrote this super sweet entry about the song:

"Aw, how could anyone not love Irene Peña? Her track "Must've Been Good" was one of the many highlights of our 2017 compilation CD This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 4, and I continue to thank my pal and former Goldmine colleague John Borack for hipping us to the beauty, the splendor, and the wonder of Irene and her music. This new acoustic number "Shimmer Away" is available at Irene's Patreon page, and it's a tease for an electric version to follow. Whether it's unplugged or louder'n all the wattage in the world, ya gotta love it. C'mon. How could anyone not love Irene Peña?"

Please go check out and support Carl's blog post at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=2449453

06.23.20
https://carlcafarelli.blogspot.com/2020/06/10-songs-6232020.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR18XjeLwdYXcD1RUE3v1BwPCOLRBJ5ZTahyW_wzcEt5TzGvUiHxDJsZ5Ys

'Irene Peña (a groovy Rickenbacker fest titled "Own Sweet Time")'

How thankful am I to be asked (and enthusiastically agreed) to be part of Futureman Records (a benefit for "This Is Rock'n'Roll Radio")? (The answer is : SUPER THANKFUL!)

Goldmine Magazine's John Borack gives the above "shout out" for my contribution of "Own Sweet Time", and says the following about how he grades this compilation:

"Various Artists - Waterloo Sunset: Benefit for This is Rock 'N' Roll Radio (Kool Kat/Futureman)

A 12-track sampler of indie pop acts paying tribute to former Goldmine contributor Carl Cafarelli and Dana Bonn's ultra-cool This is Rock 'N' Roll Radio program (which airs most Sunday evenings online and via SPARK! community radio in Syracuse, NY). The title track is a nice, faithful cover of the Kinks' classic, performed by an ad hoc combo that includes many of the artists who contribute their own original tracks to the compilation. Elsewhere, excellent unreleased cuts from The Click Beetles (supremely catchy Merseybeat), Eytan Mirsky (the rockin', rollin', cereal-lovin' "Flakes"), and Irene Peña (a groovy Rickenbacker fest titled "Own Sweet Time") lead the way, along with previously issued goodies from Vegas With Randolph, the Armoires, Gretchen's Wheel, and Pacific Soul Ltd (the bubblegummy soul anthem "We Go High"). A fine collection. Grade: A"

06.03.2020
"Power Pop Plus" New Music Reviews: June 2020
John M. Borack reviews some recent pop-oriented releases

Interview on Mike's Daily Podcas t, chatting about everything under the sun!

04.22.18
Link to full interview: Mike's Daily Podcast - Organizer

Irene Pena enters our radar as an adept young singer and songwriter whose new EP, Trying Not To Smile, did the opposite of what its title suggests, bringing a broad grin regardless. A five song set, it shows a singular spirit, a sound that’s upbeat and infectious, and a determined drive and delivery that affirms the fact she’s in this game for keeps. In some ways it’s reminiscent of the giddy girl groups of an exacting ‘80s vintage — sparkly, robust and unencumbered by angst but smitten by attitude. Pena provides the perfect anecdote for today’s sobering times, a reminder that music can lift us out of our doldrums and yes, put a smile on our face when needed. BTW, nice to see my writer pal John Borack pitching in on drums for three tracks. It’s clear proof that even we geeky writers can also practice what we pitch.
01.25.18
Lee Zimmerman, Goldmine Magazine

"Trying Not To Smile" named in "Top 10 EPs of 2017" list from "Bash on Pop"
01.18.18
David Bash, International Pop Overhtrow

01.06.18 Interview with Mike Matthews
on Mike's Daily Podcast
Click to listen

Pop Garden Radio's Top 25 Songs of 2017

Here are the Top 25 most played songs on Pop Garden Radio for 2017. It was a fantastic year for new music, no doubt about that. This year we once again had two Artists of the Year. Congratulations to Irene Pena and Fernando Perdomo for capturing this honor.

...(click here for the entire playlist)
01.01.18
Pop Garden Radio, AM1300 WMEL, Florida

Irene Peña is a sweetie. Her songs are sweet (even when they imply mature grit beneath the sweet veneer), and her public persona is sweet (even as her dedication to her craft remains determined and steadfast). Our recognition of Irene's overall sweet-as-cake demeanor derives from our interactions with her, especially when we play her music on This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. She seems surprised. She seems delighted. She is, one suspects, fully as sweet as she seems.

...(click HERE to read entire article)
08.02.17
Carl Cafarelli, Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do)

Poptopia Parkway radio program plays "Shut It Down"
04.12.17
Lon Palmer, 90.7FM, Everett, WA - KSER.org