With Euphonious, Irv Lyons Jr. blends Latin rock, jazz, and blues with his Native American heritage, delivering love-inspired songs and reimagined covers that showcase his soulful artistry and genre-defying versatility.
With Euphonious, Irv Lyons Jr. delivers a vibrant fusion of Latin rock, jazz, and blues that pays homage to his Native American heritage while celebrating universal themes of love and resilience. From his soulful guitar work to his evocative vocals, the album is both a personal manifesto and a genre-spanning musical journey.
On Euphonious, Lyons seamlessly blends influences as diverse as Santana’s sensual rhythms, Steely Dan’s jazzy complexity, and the electrifying blues energy of Stevie Ray Vaughan. Recorded at Syracuse’s Subcat Studios, the album boasts original compositions laced with jazz-infused Latin grooves, alongside inventive reimaginings of iconic tracks like Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile."
“Euphonious is inspired by love - my real-life experience of being in love,” Lyons explains. “It’s a collection of beautiful love songs, all with a Latin influence. I’ve always been drawn to the sensual rhythms of Latin music, and this album is my best work to date. Every track is radio-ready, filled with Santana-esque guitar riffs, a sexy rough voice, and powerful drum tracks that create a sensual musical experience.”
Lyons’ artistry is deeply intertwined with his Oneida Nation roots. Over the years, he’s become a fixture in Central New York’s music scene, earning a SAMMY (Syracuse Area Music Award) for his work with the Ripcords, where his songwriting has showcased his versatility across blues, roots rock, and Latin instrumentals. His collaborations with icons like GRAMMY winner Joanne Shenandoah and performances alongside legends such as Dickey Betts and Kenny Wayne Shepherd further highlight his impressive career.
Additionally, two songs from Euphonious have been nominated for the Native American Music Awards: "Burning Love" is up for Best Blues Recording, and "New Love Song" is in the running for Best R&B Recording.