Brooklyn-based artist Avery Friedman recently brought her vulnerable and optimistic sound to City Winery for a special “NY Slice” performance, featuring tracks from her 2025 debut album, New Thing. Originally from Cleveland, Friedman’s path to music was born out of a period of isolation following a traumatic mugging in New York City. “Avery Friedman never set out to become a musician, but found her way there almost by accident,” noted Alisa Ali, explaining how Friedman traded her therapeutic city walks for a guitar to process her experiences. Accompanied by her producer and guitarist James Chrisman, she performed a setlist that included “Underbelly” and a medley of “Into” and “New Thing.” Since opening for Mt. Joy last autumn, Friedman has quickly moved from recording in her apartment to becoming a rising voice in the indie scene, with her lead single “Flowers Fell” earning praise for its raw honesty and introspective depth.