Cleveland Native Pens Memoir on New York's No Wave Era

Adele Bertei's book 'No New York' explores the women who shaped the influential underground music scene.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 11:24am

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An abstract illustration using bold, jagged black silhouettes and high-contrast shapes to conceptually represent the raw, experimental energy of the No Wave underground music scene.A memoir by a Cleveland native explores the women who shaped the pioneering No Wave music movement in 1970s New York.Cleveland Today

Adele Bertei, a Cleveland native, has written a new memoir titled 'No New York: A Memoir of No Wave and the Women Who Shaped the Scene.' The book expands on her previous work 'Peter and the Wolves' and delves into the influential No Wave music movement that emerged in New York City in the late 1970s.

Why it matters

The No Wave scene was a pivotal moment in underground music history, with artists like Bertei pushing the boundaries of punk and experimental sound. Bertei's memoir provides a firsthand account of the women who were central to shaping this avant-garde cultural moment in New York.

The details

Bertei's memoir 'No New York' explores her experiences as part of the No Wave scene in the late 1970s, a time when unconventional and abrasive music was thriving in the city's underground. The book builds on Bertei's previous work 'Peter and the Wolves' to offer a deeper look at the women who were integral to the No Wave movement.

  • Bertei's new memoir 'No New York' was published on March 29, 2026.

The players

Adele Bertei

A Cleveland native who was part of the influential No Wave music scene in New York City in the late 1970s. She has now written a memoir titled 'No New York' that explores the women who shaped that underground movement.

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The takeaway

Bertei's memoir provides a firsthand account of the women who were central to shaping the avant-garde No Wave cultural moment in 1970s New York, offering readers a deeper understanding of this influential underground music scene.