Stroik’s Posthumous Debut "65th And York" Reveals A Lost Pop Visionary

Written By: Big C

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Photo Credit: Andreas Laszlo Konrath

If melodies could haunt, Stroik’s would linger forever. Three years after his untimely passing, bedroom pop mastermind Drew Stroik finally makes his long-awaited debut with 65th And York. Born in suburban Chicago, Stroik grew up surrounded by rhythm and melody, later connecting with Chase and Bruce Driscoll to reimagine his demos in New York. Though struggles with poverty, depression, and addiction eventually silenced him, his music never stopped. "65th And York" now carries that legacy forward. Heralded by the tender single Desert Time, co-produced and co-written by Ivy’s Andy Chase, the collection introduces the world to a singular voice that fused innocence with invention, imperfection with brilliance. Chase recalls:

Previously, Stroik referred to his songs as ‘generic pop,’ but to the world at large, they are far from that. Every one of his tracks carried raw intimacy and human emotion, made with nothing more than a childhood guitar, a plastic Yamaha keyboard, and his honest, soft voice.

That intimate alchemy is alive on “Desert Time,” a song that stretches vulnerability into shimmering resonance, proving why Stroik’s catalog of over 100 unreleased songs has been regarded as imperfectly perfect. Accompanied by an official lyric video and a trailer for the forthcoming documentary Drew Stroik: Unknown Pop Wizard, the release offers a long-overdue glimpse into the artistry of a musician gone too soon. With the album available for pre-order and the documentary on the horizon, Stroik’s art remains an echo of what might have been and a reminder that true creativity never dies. Stream “Desert Time,” watch the lyric video, and pre-save the album today here.

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