From Chaos to Calm: Craig Greenberg’s ‘Some Peace of Mind’ Is NYC Soul at Its Realest

New York City’s favorite piano poet Craig Greenberg is back, and this time, he’s bringing the horns.

The multi-award-winning singer, songwriter, and self-proclaimed “post-millennial piano man” drops his newest single, “Some Peace of Mind,” an upbeat, boogie-woogie ode to finally finding calm after the chaos. It’s the kind of track that feels like sunshine on the subway, soulful, grounded, and seasoned by a lifetime of hard-won lessons.

Greenberg has been a staple of NYC’s live music scene for over 15 years, known for his sharp lyricism, Billy Joel-meets-Ben Folds piano energy, and larger-than-life storytelling. But “Some Peace of Mind” marks a fresh chapter, not just musically but personally. “It took me into my 40s to really feel inner peace,” he shares. “But it feels good to be in a place where I don’t go off the rails from daily dramas like I used to.”

Produced by Wayne Silver and recorded at The Ice Plant in Long Island City, the single bursts with personality and groove, featuring Indofunk Satish on trumpet and Seth Eisenstein on saxophone, marking the first time Craig’s brought live horns into his catalog. Add in Hiroyuki Matsuura on drums and Tony Tino on bass, and you’ve got a sound that feels both classic and electric, a reminder that real musicianship never goes out of style.

Despite its playful rhythm, “Some Peace of Mind” carries a message of resilience. It’s about growth, forgiveness, and turning every heartbreak, setback, and existential meltdown into art. “Though the song has a truthful message, it’s light-hearted,” Craig says. “I just want it to get people moving and feeling good.”

It’s that duality, joy wrapped in honesty, that makes Craig Greenberg such a rare breed in the modern scene. With five albums behind him, hundreds of shows across the world, and a reputation for electrifying live performances, he continues to remind us that storytelling and soul still matter in the age of algorithms.

“Some Peace of Mind” will serve as the opening track to Craig’s upcoming 2026 full-length album, setting the tone for what’s shaping up to be his most inspired work yet. So, if you’ve been looking for something real, something that grooves but also means something, Craig Greenberg’s got you covered. Because sometimes, finding peace of mind sounds exactly like this.

"Some Peace of Mind" feels both joyful and reflective. What moment or realization in your life inspired this new sense of calm?

Well, it came in part from, after having resisted for a while, accepting that I'm now in "middle age", and for the first time in my life, I'm not just moving forward, but also looking back, and reflecting on things I've done and accomplishments I've had. It comes from the realization that I'm no longer trying to "become" something. Obviously, we want to always be growing as people, but what I'm talking about is a feeling of being established in my place in the world, which gave me a sense of peace and allowed me to relax into myself.  

The song has "Some" in the title because it is only some that I feel I've attained. I'm still nowhere near being completely at peace, lol. 

You've been compared to Billy Joel and Ben Folds, but your sound has clearly evolved. How would you describe your unique lane in the modern piano rock landscape?

Well, those guys were huge influences on me, and I'm trying to keep in the piano rock tradition. But I've had my own life experiences that make me who I am (for example, starting as a songwriter while living abroad in Chile and Spain), and I use them in my music.  I also think my lyrics tend to come from a more introspective and emotional place. I've also been pretty outspoken about my political views at work.

This track features live horns for the first time in your career. What inspired that addition, and how did it change the energy in the studio?

Well, it's something I've thought about doing for a while, but the right song hadn't come around.  But right from the jump in writing "Some Peace of Mind," I was hearing brass in the intro, so when it came time to record it, that was the first instrumentation we (i.e, myself and co-producer Wayne Silver) added after the basic tracks.  Indofunk Satish (trumpet) and Seth Eisenstein (saxophone) did an excellent job of picking up the vibe I was going for, and it definitely informed the rest of the production on the track.   

I wanna send some praise to the rhythm section too--my long-time drummer, Hiroyuki Matsuura, and Tony Tino on bass, really nailed the groove on the tune as well!

You've performed in over a thousand shows around the world: from Lincoln Center to Cambodia. How have those experiences shaped your songwriting perspective?   

Well, experience and travel only broaden your perspective, and that certainly seeps into and informs your songwriting. I think it always helps as a writer to try to see as many angles of a situation as possible, to have the broadest palette to sculpt from (I'm overlapping mediums here, but you get my point!), and getting outside of your daily routine is a great tool for keeping vital as an artist.  

You've said the song is about resilience and turning hardships into art. What's your personal process for transforming life's chaos into something musical, and maybe even joyful? 

Well, the best thing about being a songwriter/artist is that whatever's happening in the world, or in my personal life, that's all fodder for my creativity.  At this point, writing music is how I process existence. 

And the song touches on some of the hardships I've had, both dealing with others (e.g., the lyric "I've been crushed a million ways, but it's what I've gotta say"), and my own moody temperament ("Mood is gonna rise again, I know I'll get there in the end").  We all go through pain and suffering in life, but to be able to turn that into art is a gift, and I think staying positive and joyful is a choice we make.