Sputnik The Band w/ Jake Pinto

Emerging from the vibrant New York City music scene, Sputnik The Band compellingly explores the American pop tradition. Fronted by the ethereal and dreamy voice of singer/songwriter Genie Morrow, and grounded by the versatile instrumental talents of Nigel Rawles and a rotating cast of New York’s best studio and live musicians, Sputnik The Band creates music that feels like a beloved mix tape left by a gone but never forgotten friend.

Their discography, which includes the albums Meet Sputnik, Shine On…, 333, The Lew Bracker Album, and Loves You (out Nov 7, 2025) showcases their ability to blend the familiar warmth of classic pop with fresh, innovative sounds. Each album offers a unique perspective, weaving rich narratives and evocative melodies into a cohesive, masterful study in pop’s enduring appeal.

Sputnik The Band’s music caught the attention of renowned producer Carl Glanville, known for his work with legends like Keith Richards, U2, and Frank Sinatra. Glanville’s collaboration with the band has resulted in recordings that are nothing short of stunning, adding a chillingly beautiful dimension to their sound.

Jake Pinto’s eclectic musical story has shaped a charmingly honest solo debut rich in instinctive melodicism and cultured arrangements. His songs are at once confessional and celebratory, marrying timeless songsmith instincts and 70s musicality with nuanced funkiness and shadows of jazz.

A jazz musician since his early teens, Jake attended NYU for jazz piano and was soon booking gigs worldwide, including at the Blue Note in New York City and Milan, and major festivals. While still in college, he found himself already playing alongside genre luminaries like François Mouton, Ralph Lalama, and the late Lew Soloff. Simultaneously, Jake was a founding member of afrobeat buzz band EMEFE, whose 2012 debut album was praised as “fresh and inventive” by All About Jazz. Known for exuberant live shows incorporating funk, hip-hop, and rock & roll, EMEFE went on to play prestigious engagements including the Montreal and Rochester international jazz festivals.

Yet despite these parallel successes, Jake grew burdened by what he terms “institutional demotivation.” Though he learned a lot, ultimately his college years left him with this feeling of knowing too much and caring too little.

A rediscovery of his teenage passion for writing songs on guitar and singing, just for fun, snowballed into a rock & roll band called The YeahTones, a cathartically explosive trio that toured coast-to-coast. The YeahTones landed high-profile placements in movie trailers like 2019’s Villains and TV shows including Shameless. Soon, Jake was an in-demand songwriter, signing a publishing deal and working with The Shadowboxers, Jeff ‘Dynamite’ Silverman (Truth and Soul), Tor Miller, and many more.

As well as continued touring with Magic City Hippies and Antibalas, plus a burgeoning career writing music for TV and film, the now bi-coastal Jake is planning solo shows and always deep into writing his next project.