Vaiano's Paisanos Recreate Early 20th Century New York Stringband Music

The group's upcoming self-titled debut album draws from immigrant musical traditions that circulated in New York in the late 1920s and early 1930s.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 10:49am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Vaiano's Paisanos, a string band that includes Rachel Meirs, Maxwell Apra, Van Burchfield, Quentin Bardinet, and Albanie Faletta, has released the lead single "Ardo D'Amore" from their upcoming self-titled debut album. The group's repertoire is rooted in early 20th-century recordings made in New York City, featuring Italian mandolin music, Cape Verdean fiddle tunes, pre-Belafonte calypsos, and Venezuelan waltzes.

Why it matters

Vaiano's Paisanos is preserving and celebrating the diverse musical traditions that flourished in New York City's immigrant communities during the early 20th century, a vibrant cultural legacy that has often been overlooked.

The details

The string band's sound is built around the interplay of Rachel Meirs' winding violin lines and Maxwell Apra's tenor banjo, with additional instrumentation from Van Burchfield, Quentin Bardinet, and Albanie Faletta. The group first came together while busking in New Orleans, but Meirs traces the project's foundation to her time at Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre, where she encountered the historical recordings that would later influence the band's direction.

  • Vaiano's Paisanos released the lead single "Ardo D'Amore" in March 2026.
  • The band's self-titled debut album is upcoming.

The players

Vaiano's Paisanos

A string band that specializes in recreating the immigrant musical traditions that circulated in early 20th-century New York City.

Rachel Meirs

The violinist and mandolinist who leads Vaiano's Paisanos and traces the project's foundation to her time at Brooklyn's Jalopy Theatre.

Maxwell Apra

The tenor banjo and mandolin player in Vaiano's Paisanos, who collaborates closely with Meirs on the group's sound.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Almost everything in our repertoire was originally recorded in New York City. It's not that we chose to play immigrant music; it's that we come from a society largely made up of immigrants, and this music is a beautiful byproduct of that melting pot, as are we.”

— Rachel Meirs, Violinist and Mandolinist

What’s next

Vaiano's Paisanos will begin a tour with The Forty Drop Few in April, with the run set to conclude at Asheville's Shellac Bash.

The takeaway

By drawing from the rich musical traditions of New York City's immigrant communities in the early 20th century, Vaiano's Paisanos is helping to preserve an important cultural legacy and celebrate the diversity that has long defined the city's vibrant music scene.