SHEILA TROY
Sheila Troy is an R&B and Blues singer from Victorville, CA. She was one of the winners of the High Desert Karaoke contest sponsored by Valley Hi Toyota/Honda and Y102 radio.
Sheila performed “Stormy Monday” at our studio and her recording was played on local radio.
GAILYN ADDIS
Album: Self-Titled
Category: Electronica/Alternative
Road Records Catalog #RR5199
Produced by Gailyn Addis and Conrad Askland
Publishing by Askland Publishing
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The Gailyn Addis self-titled album is truly a unique release for the recording studio Road Records. Imagine the sultry vocal stylings of Chrissie Hynde mixed with urban beats, southwestern flavored guitar work, electronica synth parts mixed with moody yet sometimes satirical lyrics and you have an idea of the sound of Gailyn Addis.
Gailyn is from Los Angeles, CA and has extensive experience as a touring performer and vocalist throughout the United States and Asia. She is one of the hardest workers we have seen at the studio and it really shows in her finished product
She is also featured on the Road Records releases New Faces Volume Two and New Faces Volume Three
Her vocal style has been called a blend of Chrissie Hynde, Portishead & Sarah McLachlan but Gailyn Addis’s radio friendly mix of electronica with steel guitars, congas & live drums driven by sensual lyrics with pop hooks and spiritual overtones, reflects the unconventionality and diversity of her past
Having lived in 10 different cities by the age of 17, she became independent at an early age and immersed herself in music. She sang in school plays, choirs, churches, high school bands and a college duo
During college in Colorado, however, Gailyn sought enlightenment and adventure in Southeast Asia. “Living and working in the Orient changed me. I felt awakened and inspired. I wrote my music and poetry with more depth and clarity than before.” Experiencing some of the hardships and spiritual diversities of other countries at times seemed profoundly overwhelming, but for Gailyn proved to be ultimately inspiring and she found herself performing her music in this unlikely environment
After returning to the U.S. and studying voice and dance, Gailyn resumed her travels in Asia–this time as a full-fledged singer, performing in 2,000 seat showrooms, hole in the wall clubs, and everything in between. During one tour in Japan, she worked with classical keyboardist and independent producer, Conrad Askland. The two struck up an instant rapport and began writing together. “With his background in classical and country music and mine in rock and alternative–and,” she laughs, “with both of our twisted senses of the world, we’re creating in unconventional ways. Sometimes I feel like the music is dictating to me how it should be written, instead of vice versa, and that’s very powerful.”
And powerful is a good word to describe her music. Gailyn writes of “other-worldly” experiences and unconscious desires in the seductive and ambient Unrestrained, Nine of Swords, and The Witching Hour. Combining a catchy chorus with moody, melodic verses has created a sure fire hit in Best Lie. Not without a sense of humor, she makes fun of her own contradictions in the upbeat Close the Door and Never Looked Good in White. She finds “freedom” in Waters of Babylon, and in the melodic, ethereal Search For Me, she longs for reunion in the afterlife with a departed loved one
Gailyn Addis’ debut album “. . . possesses honesty and integrity” and “groundbreaking uniqueness. . . We admire this artist’s attempt at something beyond the norm.” Music Connection Magazine, July 1999
Sarah Caruso
Sarah Caruso has recorded four album cuts at the Road Records recording studio. The songs are a mixture of Allanis, Fionna Apple and Jewel. She is one of our favorite young artists at the Road Records recording studio. Sarah was produced by Dom Calvano and Conrad Askland and will be featured on the Road Records compilation CD New Faces Volume Four (Sarah Caruso - “The Right Touch”). She is from Victorville, California.
One of Sarah’s songs was used in the Road Records radio ad during mid 2001. Her music is very popular at her high school, especially with her many local radio plays!
From Sarah About Her Music:
I basically grew up here in Hesperia, and have been singing my whole life. I’ve always been a very dramatic person, and very in touch with my emotions, so my expiriences with love and many other feelings contributed to my music. I love to look at the artists on T.V. and imagine what it would be like to be them, or just be like them. I think it’s a fantasy beyond imagination.
The first that I recorded for my demo album is titled “Stupid Girl”, and it came from a very painful and traumatic time in my life. I remember exactly what I was feeling when I wrote it and I was so full of anger and love and hate. If you really listen to the lyrics, you can tell that it came from a very harsh break-up when I couldn’t make up my mind if I loved or hated the guy that it was about.
The second song titled “Whispers”, was also written about the same relationship, but took on a much sweeter note. It was still written out of pain, but also some sort of comfort, and that’s when I started letting myself heal from the whole experience.
The third song titled “We’ll be together again” came from the same basic place as “Whispers”, but there wasn’t as much emotion behind it.
And last…. “The Right Touch”, was a last minute addition to my demo album that I had written about a year ago, before anything dramatic happened in the relationship, and it’s basically just a sweet up-beat love song.
At the time when I was experiencing the pain and loss, it didn’t seem like anything could benefit from it, but without those experiences, this album could’ve never happened for me, at least not the way that it did…. so I don’t have any regrets.
Dom, Conrad, and Sean are awesome people as well as musicians, and they did a great job on my album….Thanks Guys!!!!! It was great working with you!!!
