Taylor OhrynFebruary 06, 2026Effie Zilch The Kitchen Sink EP, The Kitchen Sink EP release, New EP, Bay Area indie folk, lo fi acoustic EP, Redtone Records release, kitchen recorded sessions, Evergreen music video, When I Paint My Masterpiece cover, Bob Dylan tribute, San Francisco counterculture sound, acoustic folk blues, intimate home recordingsComment

BAY AREA DUO EFFIE ZILCH RELEASES NEW EP "THE KITCHEN SINK"

EFFIE ZILCH - THE KITCHEN SINK EP

VIA REDTONE RECORDS

LISTEN: THE KITCHEN SINK EP

Bay Area duo Effie Zilch, comprised of GRAMMY-winning artist Steve Wyreman and vocalist/guitarist Evanne Barcenas, has released their new EP, The Kitchen Sink, via Redtone Records. The project embraces a laid-back, lo-fi aesthetic and offers listeners a warm refuge from the noise of modern life.

The Kitchen Sink grew out of the duo’s habit of capturing early ideas in the kitchen on a finicky four-track recorder. Songs that didn’t quite fit their previous albums were tossed into a file nicknamed “the kitchen sink.” Upon revisiting the folder, which had become quite full, the band discovered a cohesive mood: intimate, unpolished, and deeply human.

Intentionally keeping the overall “comfort food” feel of their conception moments and refraining from polished vocals, over-processed mixes, and studio gloss, the pair instead favored kitchen utensil percussion, saturated acoustic guitars, and early morning voices. “This project was mostly intended to nourish ourselves,” they explain. “But alas, food is best when shared.”

Today, the band is also releasing the playful music video for “Evergreen,” an album track that opens with a free-time verse before swaying into a waltz that feels like the swinging doors of an old saloon. Two weathered guitars set a pensive tone that gradually blooms into an open-door hootenanny. The song invites everyone inside: “If you’re down and out, or all about, don’t mind, just dance with me.”

“Saint Lucia” calls on the patron saint of vision and clarity, drifting along with the gentle country-blues feel of Mississippi John Hurt. Its homespun rhythm, created with kitchen utensils and a chopping board, inspired the EP’s title and earthy spirit. It also features their stripped-down take on Bob Dylan's classic, “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” Inspired by seeing him perform the song live in their hometown amphitheater, Barcenas and Wyreman recorded their version in the kitchen’s soft, resonant acoustics. They also incorporated alternate lyrics Dylan sang that night, replacing the familiar “Coca-Cola” bridge with the line, “sailed around the world in search of crimson and clover, sometimes I feel like my cup is running over,” a sentiment that perfectly mirrors the EP’s sense of creativity.

WATCH: “WHEN I PAINT MY MASTERPIECE”

The name Effie Zilch comes from a figment of Herb Caen’s imagination, a fictional muse he wrote for during his decades at the San Francisco Chronicle. But the real-life Effie Zilch took that borrowed name and built an unexpected second life around it, stepping into studios and onto stages. Together, the pair have become modern torchbearers for the Bay Area’s storied countercultural sound.

Effie Zilch released four albums between 2022 and 2025: Trinity Vols. 1 & 2, Live in Concert Halls and Bookstalls, and Multitudes. Wyreman brings decades of experience shaped by work alongside producers No I.D. and Ricky Reed, as well as collaborations with artists including Jay-Z, Rihanna, John Legend, Logic, and Leon Bridges. His touring years have placed him on stages with Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, and Richard Ashcroft. Barcenas took a more circuitous route, delving into the tech world, teaching, and motherhood before returning to her first true and torturous love: music. Playing guitar was once a means to a creative end for her, as the band’s main lyricist and melody-maker. Now, it’s evolved into a vehicle for mediation and release. When the pair combine forces, Barcenas’ melodies meet Wyreman’s groove, and pure magic is made.

Musically, Effie Zilch nods to the legacy of Bob Dylan, Jefferson Airplane, Jimi Hendrix, and The Staple Singers, while also drawing inspiration from the poetry of Walt Whitman, the paintings of Maxfield Parrish, and the compositions of Maurice Ravel. Their shared love of art in all its forms seeps into every note.

With its relaxed spirit and warm, timeless textures, The Kitchen Sink feels like a quiet morning before the world wakes up - familiar, restorative, and full of heart. The EP is available for purchase and streaming HERE. Be sure to follow Effie Zilch at the links below for all the latest news and updates.

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Taylor Ohryn