We had the opportunity to sit down with the kinetic, Karina Rykman, badass bass player from New York City who is making waves in the indie, jam, and live music scenes about her influences, upcoming tour, and notable collaborations.
A Closer Look Karina Rykman
Karina Rykman has been making a name for herself as a powerhouse bassist from New York City, known for her electrifying performances, often jumping around the stage with contagious energy. In addition to being a bassist, she is also a singer, and a songwriter known for her genre-blending sound that spans funk, rock, and improvisational jam music. Some consider it indie-pop; however she is clearly carving a unique path of her own.
Rykman first gained attention through viral bass videos on social media, and quickly became a standout presence in the live music scene. Rykman’s debut album, Joyride, was released in 2023, and the title track was produced by Phish’s Trey Anastasio, a significant influence in her life, which has deep roots. She explains how seeing Phish more than 160 times has helped shape her as an artist, along with her deep respect for the band as musicians.
In 2025, Rykman celebrated her largest show to date with a Webster Hall sell-out, where she debuted “I’ll Be Your Johnny on the Spot” by Ween.
Notable Collaborrations for Rykman
Karina is an active member of the music community, and has had some notable collaborations, which we go into in our interview, including a breakthrough moment playing with Phish bassist, Mike Gordon, at Nectar’s in Burlington, VT. Another career-defining collaboration took place with My Morning Jacket in 2024, then she proceeded to open for them on tour, which featured her on stage with MMJ throughout – a true watershed moment for Rykman.
What’s Next for Rykman?
Karina is actively recording her follow-up album to “Joyride,” and is playing at Widespread Panic’s Panic en la Playa this week, then hopping back on tour with Pigeons Playing Ping Pong next month. Tour dates can be found here.
