Hurray for the Riff Raff#Alynda Segarra

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Hurray for the Riff Raff

| image = 2014 Pop Conference - Alynda Lee Segarra 05.jpg

| landscape = yes

| caption = Alynda Segarra, the band's frontperson, in 2016

| origin = New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.

| genre = Americana

| years_active = 2007–present

| label = {{hlist|Born to Win|Nonesuch|ATO|Loose Music}}

| associated_acts = {{hlist|Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship|Dead Man Street Orchestra|Sam Doores|The Deslondes}}

| website = {{URL|hurrayfortheriffraff.com}}

| current_members = Alynda Segarra

}}

Hurray for the Riff Raff is an American band formed in New Orleans in 2007 by Alynda Segarra, a singer-songwriter from the Bronx, New York.

As Segarra's project, the group originally performed different styles of folk music while releasing several albums independently.

Background

Alynda Mariposa Segarra (formerly known as Alynda Lee) was raised by their aunt and uncle in the Bronx where they developed an early appreciation for doo-wop and Motown. They are of Puerto Rican heritage.{{cite web|last=Swenson|first=John|title=Radio Zeitgeist: Hurray for the Riff Raff's Alynda Lee Segarra|url=http://www.offbeat.com/2014/02/01/radio-zeitgeist-hurray-riff-raff-alynda-lee-segarra/|work=OffBeat |access-date=February 3, 2014|date=February 1, 2014}}

Segarra became a regular attendee of hardcore punk shows at ABC No Rio when they were young. They left their home in the Bronx at age 17, spending time crossing North America, hopping freight trains.{{cite web|last=Keyes|first=J. Edward|title=eMusic Selects Q&A: Hurray For the Riff Raff |url=http://www.emusic.com/features/spotlight/20010_201002-qa-selects-riffraff.html|work=eMusic|access-date=February 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315033742/http://www.emusic.com/features/spotlight/20010_201002-qa-selects-riffraff.html|archive-date=March 15, 2010}}

Around 2007, Segarra became a part of the Dead Man Street Orchestra, a hobo band that was documented in a photo essay by Time magazine in 2007.{{cite magazine |last=Heil |first=James |date=January 19, 2007 |title=Time Photo Essay: The Ballad of the Hobo |url=http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2007/hobo_band/ |url-status=dead |magazine=Time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219055017/http://www.time.com/time/photoessays/2007/hobo_band/ |archive-date=February 19, 2011 |access-date=March 3, 2011}} Segarra traveled with the group for two years, releasing two independent albums and embarking on freight train tours across the country.

Musical career

File:Hurray for the Riff Raff - Haldern Pop Festival 2017-12.jpg Festival 2017.]]

In 2008, Segarra self-released Hurray for the Riff Raff's first studio album, It Don't Mean I Don't Love You, followed by another self-released album, Young Blood Blues, in 2010. In February 2011, Hurray for the Riff Raff were featured in an article in UK newspaper The Times based around the HBO TV series Treme, with their track "Daniella" having been included in the show's selection of New Orleans' essential songs.{{cite web |date=February 1, 2011 |title=Hurray for the Riff Raff - The Times |url=http://loosemusic.com/hurray-for-the-riff-raff/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-in-the-times |access-date=March 3, 2011 |work=Loose Music |archive-date=February 9, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209103711/http://loosemusic.com/hurray-for-the-riff-raff/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-in-the-times |url-status=dead }}

On March 21, 2011, Hurray for the Riff Raff released their self-titled CD on Loose Music in Europe, composed of Segarra's favorite songs from the band's two previous records. Tracks from this indie-label debut release by the band received airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 6 Music.

In May 2012, Hurray for the Riff Raff released Look Out Mama on their own label, Born to Win Records, as well as on Loose Music in Europe. No Depression said it "sounds like something The Band would’ve had playing on a Victorola while making Music From Big Pink in Woodstock."{{cite web|last=Gibson|first=Donald|url=http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/exclusive-premiere-hurray-for-the-riff-raff-look-out-mama|title=Hurray for the Riff Raff|work=No Depression|date=April 16, 2012|access-date=May 24, 2012|archive-date=September 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928235755/http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/exclusive-premiere-hurray-for-the-riff-raff-look-out-mama|url-status=dead}} The album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at The Bomb Shelter Studios and produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes).{{cite web|last=Schlansky |first=Evan |url=http://www.americansongwriter.com/2012/04/video-premiere-hurray-for-the-riff-raff-look-out-mama/ |title= Hurray for the Riff Raff |work= American Songwriter |date=April 23, 2012}} The record features the single "End of the Line".

My Dearest Darkest Neighbor was then released on July 1, 2013, through Mod Mobilian Records and This Is American Music. The album was previously available only as a Kickstarter reward and in limited local release and featured handmade covers.{{cite web|last=Hurrayfortheriffraff|title=Help Hurray for the Riff Raff Release Our New Album|url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1667604631/help-hurray-for-the-riff-raff-release-our-new-albu|work=Kickstarter|access-date=February 3, 2014}}{{cite news|last=Fensterstock|first=Alison|title=A take on John Lennon's 'Jealous Guy' heralds Hurray for the Riff Raff's new cover CD, due July 1 |url=http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2013/06/a_take_on_john_lennons_jealous.html|access-date=June 16, 2013|work=Times-Picayune |date=June 12, 2013}} Tracks on the record include songs by Townes Van Zandt, Billie Holiday, Leadbelly, John Lennon, Lucinda Williams, Joni Mitchell, Hank Williams, and George Harrison, and features Segarra's interpretation of Gillian Welch's "Ruination Day".

The Wall Street Journal describes Segarra's singing thus: "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 unconventional tack on traditional subjects."{{cite news|last=Danton|first=Eric R.|title=Hurray for the Riff Raff Streams 'I Know It's Wrong (But That's Alright)'|url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/11/26/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-streams-i-know-its-wrong-but-thats-alright/|access-date=February 3, 2014|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=November 26, 2013}}

Spin previewed a video of the band's song "St. Roch Blues".{{cite web|last=McGovern|first=Kyle|title=Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff Honor New Orleans in 'St. Roch Blues' Video|url=https://www.spin.com/2014/01/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-new-orleans-st-roch-blues-video/|work=Spin|access-date=February 3, 2014|date=January 14, 2014}}

In February 2014, Hurray for the Riff Raff had their ATO Records debut with Small Town Heroes.{{cite web|title=ATO Welcomes Hurray for the Riff Raff|url=http://atorecords.com/featured/ato-welcomes-hurray-for-the-riff-raff/|work=ATO Records|access-date=February 3, 2014|date=June 30, 2013}} The record featured “The Body Electric,” a song that NPR's Ann Powers called “The Political Song of the Year” in 2014 and says the album "sweeps across eras and genres with grace and grit."

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."{{cite web|last=Powers|first=Ann|title=Hurray For The Riff Raff's New Political Folk|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2014/01/22/265039131/hurray-for-the-riff-raffs-new-political-folk|work=NPR|access-date=February 3, 2014|date=January 23, 2014}}

In early July 2016, the band played the Danish festival of Roskilde to an enthusiastic audience.{{cite web|url=http://www.dagsavisen.no/kultur/musikk/slik-husker-vi-roskilde-2016-1.748517 |title=Slik husker vi Roskilde 2016 |website=Dagsavisen.no |date=July 4, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2017}} In December 2016, they announced a new record, The Navigator, on Pitchfork with the first single from the album, "Rican Beach." The album was released on March 10, 2017, on ATO Records.{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/news/70190-watch-hurray-for-the-riff-raffs-video-for-new-song-rican-beach/ |title=Watch Hurray for the Riff Raff's Video for New Song "Rican Beach" |publisher=Pitchfork |date=December 5, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2017}}

In late 2018, Segarra joined organizers of the Newport Folk Festival to travel to Puerto Rico and deliver instruments to various public schools.{{Cite magazine |title=Hurray For the Riff Raff On Her Energizing Visit to Puerto Rico: Musicians 'Keep the Resistance Alive' |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8491198/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-palante-interview-puerto-rico-resistance |magazine=Billboard}} During that visit, Segarra played their first concert at La Respuesta in Santurce.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2018 |title=Hurray for the Riff Raff Goes Home to Puerto Rico |url=https://www.latinorebels.com/2018/12/04/hftrrpuertorico/ |website=Latino Rebels}}

In 2019, HftRR's "Pa'lante" won Best Music Video at the SXSW Film Festival Jury and Specials Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sxsw.com/film/2019/announcing-the-2019-sxsw-film-festival-jury-and-special-awards/|title=Announcing the 2019 SXSW Film Festival Jury and Special Awards|date=March 13, 2019|website=SXSW|language=en-US|access-date=May 3, 2019}}

In 2021, Nonesuch Records announced Hurray for the Riff Raff's debut album on the label. Life on Earth was released on February 18, 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."{{Cite web|url=https://www.nonesuch.com/journal/hurray-riff-raff-aka-alynda-segarra-nonesuch-debut-life-earth-february-18-2021-10-28|title=Hurray for the Riff Raff, aka Alynda Segarra, Makes Nonesuch Debut with 'Life On Earth,' February 18|date=October 28, 2021|website=NonesuchRecords|language=en-US|access-date=December 13, 2021}} Leading up to its release, Stereogum made it their album of the week, noting that the album's "sonic backdrop is fluid yet unmistakable no matter what form it takes. Even at their most synthetic, these tracks come across as earthy and alive—an extension of their environment. Even at their smallest and quietest, they feel huge.""[https://www.stereogum.com/2175254/hurray-for-the-riff-raff-life-on-earth/reviews/album-of-the-week/ Album Of The Week: Hurray For The Riff Raff Life On Earth]" by Chris DeVille. Stereogum. February 15, 2022. Accessed February 19, 2022. The album was met with critical acclaim upon its release.{{Cite web|title=LIFE ON EARTH by Hurray for the Riff Raff |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/life-on-earth/hurray-for-the-riff-raff |website=Metacritic.com|language=en |access-date=September 7, 2022}}

Hurray for the Riff Raff released their eighth studio album "The Past Is Still Alive" on February 23, 2024.{{Cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/4Lwy5hFH1NTDb6kQZ5pTSy?si=wBZ3TZW2TEKnKf7v-aB-DA|title=The Past Is Still Alive|date=February 23, 2024|website=Spotify|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2024}} The Associated Press named the album to its list of the best work from 2024, calling it a "beautiful portrayal of the U.S." and noting that Segarra pulled from their background as a hitchhiker, train hopper and outsider artist to document adventures "that can only happen far from home."{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/best-albums-2024-cc1c5c3690daebf29601ca4392801c7b|title=AP’s top albums of 2024: Beyoncé, Charli XCX, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, Mk.gee and more|date=December 5, 2024|website=AP|language=en-US|access-date=December 14, 2024}}

Personal life

Segarra lives in Chicago,{{Cite web|url=https://chicagoreader.com/music/music-feature/alynda-segarra-hurray-riff-raff-past-alive/|title=Alynda Segarra makes a home in Chicago|first=Noah|last=Berlatsky|date=December 11, 2024|website=Chicagoreader.com|access-date=March 10, 2025}} is non-binary,{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/life-on-earth-by-hurray-for-the-riff-raff-review-segarra-swaps-americana-for-the-mainstream-rd5cwx06x | title=Life on Earth by Hurray for the Riff Raff review — Segarra swaps Americana for the mainstream | last1=Hodgkinson | first1=Will|website=The Times}} and uses they/them pronouns.{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/hftrr?s=21&t=j_1xs4JHxP67UqrVuy93fg |title=hurray for the riff raff|website=Twitter.com|access-date=July 16, 2022}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Label
2008	It Don't Mean I Don't Love You	self-released
2010	Young Blood Blues	self-released
2012	Look Out Mama	Born to Win Records / Loose Music
2013	My Dearest Darkest Neighbor	Mod Mobilian Records/This Is American Music
2014	Small Town Heroes	ATO Records
2017	The Navigator	ATO Records
2022	Life on Earth	Nonesuch Records
2024	The Past Is Still Alive	Nonesuch Records

=Other=

class="wikitable" ! Year !! Title !! Label
2007	Crossing the Rubicon (EP)	out of print
2011	Hurray for the Riff Raff (Compilation)	Loose Music
2012	Live at 2012 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival