The Cynz ‘Confess’
Singer-Songwriter Cyndi Dawson is a gem and records for Jem. She’s a Little Girl Lost, as the title of East Brunswick band The Cynz famously proclaimed on their last album where they covered 1978’s “Tell That Girl To Shut Up” by Holly & The Italians and 1989’s “Room Without A View” by The Smithereens. Guitarist Henry Seiz is her partner-in-composition and plays a chunky amalgam of classic punk amid an in-your-face pop snarl. Their take on David Bowie’s long-lost “Can’t Help Thinking About Me” (1966) is one of the highlights of Jem Records Celebrates David Bowie, released earlier this year.
On January 23, all bets are off, as their new album, Confess, brings the band to a whole ‘nother level. They revitalize two of their previously released singles—“Woman Child” and “Heartbreak Time.” They also cover Tom Petty’s “You Wreck Me” to joyous proportions. The push-and-pull dynamics of the song keep it bristling and bubbling in true rock’n’roll time, fusing punk-rock and instant classic-rock. As produced by Kurt Reil of The Grip Weeds, with guests Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith Group) and Arno Hecht (Uptown Horns), the album might be the first great rock’n’roll record of 2026.
“The Cynz have been on a constant evolution in their 16-year journey,” Dawson explains. “From our beginnings as a mostly angry punk band, we have grown and found comfort through music. Exploring other sides of ourselves has enabled us to experiment with many genres of musical influences.”
To that end, they’ve traversed the globe bringing their brand of stylish bombast to crowds across America and Europe.