Article Contributed by Big Hassle Media
Published on 2026-07-23
Acclaimed singer-songwriter-bassist Karina Rykman has released the bouncy and propulsive title track from her soon-to-be-released sophomore album, Late Checkout.
The song has a steady, driving beat and an intoxicating guitar lick that carries Rykman through hotel lobby rebellion, snorkeling in the bathtub, and wringing every last drop out of the moments in between. The title says it all: not concerned with the destination, not in any rush to get to the next thing. Just completely, joyfully present in the space and time available.
“‘Late Checkout’ is, at its core, about presence, making the best of wherever you are, right now,” says Rykman. “This song came from a jam on a hot summer day with Adam November and Chris Corsico, and was expounded upon afterward with Gabe Monro. It’s built around Adam’s guitar loop and a driving beat that erupts into an explosive chorus. Late Checkout is at once dreamy and full of adrenaline—both lines I love to tow. I could make platitudinal comparisons to artists I love that this song might sound like and borrow inspiration from, but the thing I love the most about this song is how much it sounds like the three of us. The title says it all: enamored with the journey, not concerned with the destination—just joyfully present in time and space.”
WATCH THE “LATE CHECKOUT” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
Rykman’s long-awaited second studio album, Late Checkout, was recorded with longtime collaborator Gabe Monro at Trey Anastasio’s The Barn in Westford, Vermont, and LCD Soundsystem’s DFA Studios. The album arrives via Karina Rykman/High Rotation Records on Friday, September 25. Pre-orders and pre-saves are available now.
The album was heralded last month with the intoxicating first single, “Easy Rider.” Built on a thick bass groove, the cinematic, sun-drenched track traces a conspiratorial escape down the California coast, with Rykman’s unhurried vocals cutting through the golden haze with impossible coolness. An official music video is streaming now on YouTube.
WATCH THE “EASY RIDER” OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
PRE-ORDER/PRE-SAVE LATE CHECKOUT
Rykman—accompanied as always by her tried-and-true bandmates Adam November on guitar, loopers, and effects and Chris Corsico on drums, as well as a newly expanded band—will mark the arrival of Late Checkout with a busy U.S. tour schedule.
The run kicks off with a hometown headline return and record-release event at New York City’s Webster Hall on September 25 and continues into December. Highlights include a two-night stand at Garcia’s Chicago on October 8 and 9 and a debut headline performance at West Hollywood’s historic Troubadour on November 6.
Rykman is also set for a number of top-billed festival appearances, including the AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, July 24–25; the Hoochenanny Festival in Fairport, New York, on August 16; and Hulaween in Live Oak, Florida, on October 23. Additional dates will be announced.
For updates and ticket information, visit karinarykman.com/tour.
KARINA RYKMAN — TOUR 2026
JULY
July 24–25 – Johnstown, PA – AmeriServ Flood City Music Festival †
AUGUST
August 16 – Fairport, NY – Hoochenanny Festival †
SEPTEMBER
September 25 – New York, NY – Webster Hall
OCTOBER
October 2 – Philadelphia, PA – Ardmore Music Hall
October 3 – Richmond, VA – Richmond Music Hall
October 8 – Chicago, IL – Garcia’s Chicago
October 9 – Chicago, IL – Garcia’s Chicago
October 10 – Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
October 11 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry
October 13 – St. Louis, MO – Atomic
October 14 – Nashville, TN – Row One
October 16 – Austin, TX – Brushy Street Commons
October 17 – Dallas, TX – Club Dada
October 18 – Houston, TX – White Oak Music Hall — Upstairs
October 21 – Atlanta, GA – Aisle 5
October 22 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Music Hall
October 23 – Live Oak, FL – Hulaween †
October 24 – Charleston, SC – The Charleston Pour House
October 25 – Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle — Backroom
NOVEMBER
November 5 – San Diego, CA – Winstons
November 6 – West Hollywood, CA – Troubadour
November 7 – San Francisco, CA – The Independent
November 12 – Bend, OR – The Domino Room
November 13 – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios
November 14 – Seattle, WA – Barboza
November 17 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club
November 18 – Salt Lake City, UT – State Room
November 21 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
DECEMBER
December 3 – Portland, ME – Portland House of Music
December 4 – Cambridge, MA – The Sinclair
December 5 – Burlington, VT – Higher Ground
† Festival appearance
Late Checkout sees Karina Rykman expanding her kaleidoscopic musical universe with the vibrant onstage energy of her road-tested live band and a new focus on lyrical storytelling.
The album, which follows 2023’s critically acclaimed debut LP, Joyride, plants a truly distinctive flag in modern psychedelic indie rock. It is at turns shimmering and ethereal, hypnotic and explosive, and always joyfully present in the here and now.
Standout moments abound, from the dreamy, reverb-drenched “Shoegaze Summer” and emotional love letter to the grind, “Riverside Drive,” to the tender “Where You At?” and the sleek darkwave of “Balcony.” The latter demonstrates the wide scope of Rykman’s seemingly infinite sonic range while also professing what might be her one-of-a-kind career’s overall mission statement: “The destination is not our concern / This is the journey: let it burn.”
Born and raised in New York City, Karina Rykman began playing in bands in her early teens while attending countless live shows as a fan. Her prodigious prowess on bass guitar soon landed her a number of high-profile television gigs, spanning America’s Got Talent to backing pop star Julia Michaels on NBC’s Today.
Rykman’s talent and infectious spirit saw her invited to join pianist Marco Benevento’s band after a recommendation from Ween bassist Dave Dreiwitz. Her 2023 debut, Joyride, launched what has proven to be an acclaimed solo career with its jubilant brand of sonic exploration. The album was highlighted by its title track, featuring signature lead guitar from avowed fan, longtime friend, and co-producer Trey Anastasio.
Along with her still-evolving body of studio work, Rykman has spent much of the past half-decade on the road, honing her craft by playing countless headline dates with her namesake band, stealing the show at festivals across the country, sitting in with the 8G Band on NBC’s Late Night with Seth Meyers, and supporting and collaborating with such diverse artists as Trey Anastasio, My Morning Jacket, Khruangbin, Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Nels Cline, The Gaslight Anthem, and Warren Haynes.
She also partnered with her hometown’s beloved gourmet institution Zabar’s for the jam-filled, tie-dye “Babkarina.”
KARINA RYKMAN
LATE CHECKOUT
Karina Rykman/High Rotation Records
Release Date: Friday, September 25, 2026
TRACKLIST:
1. Easy Rider
2. Late Checkout
3. Shoegaze Summer
4. Riverside Drive
5. Zoom Out
6. Childlike
7. 90
8. Old Enough to Know Better
9. Seafood Towers
10. Balcony
11. Spacecase
12. Where You At?
