NYC funk-rock outfit Circus Mind are taking listeners on a powerful journey through time with their latest single, “The Battle of Brooklyn”. Seamlessly merging history with the present day, the track digs deep into the borough’s roots, spotlighting both the Revolutionary War and the modern-day realities of gentrification. This acts as the follow-up to their previous single “NOLA Song“.
Inspired by a surprising spark, lead vocalist and songwriter Mark Rechler found himself struck by the legacy of the land beneath his feet. After hearing a segment on NPR about the 1776 Battle of Brooklyn, and having recently moved to the Greenpoint neighbourhood, the weight of local history hit a personal chord.
“It struck me that the very ground I was walking on held so much history,” he said. “I started digging into it and suddenly the lyrics just poured out. The song started to write itself—and that’s always the best kind of creative rush.”
From there, “The Battle of Brooklyn” took shape—visually vivid and emotionally charged. The opening verses paint a raw picture of colonial warfare, complete with references to reinforcements, flanking manoeuvres, bone boxes, prison ships, and the harrowing aftermath of battle. But as the song unfolds, it pivots to a more modern war: gentrification. bulldozers, rental prices, and community upheaval replace muskets and bayonets in a poignant comparison of conflict across the centuries.
Musically, Circus Mind are right at home, delivering their signature blend of funk, rock, and soul with a gritty groove that keeps the energy pulsing. The warped sound is something we’ve come to expect from the band and it works with their hard-hitting lyrics, it sure does with this one. The band have once again managed to fuse socially aware lyricism with an irresistibly infectious sound—an approach that has become their trademark.
“The Battle of Brooklyn” stands as both a tribute and a wake-up call. It reminds us how the past echoes into the present, particularly in a city as ever-evolving as New York. For Circus Mind, the track isn’t just another single—it’s a powerful statement on identity, place, and resilience.
“The Battle of Brooklyn” is available to download and stream, right now, across all platforms, via Outhouse Music.