Retro Active: Volume 2

发行时间:2008-01-01
发行公司:CD Baby
简介:  Gregory Douglass is an undeniable, pure talent. With six critically acclaimed, independent full-length albums under his belt, 27-year old Douglass delivers the songwriting skills of an "old soul" and "the voice of an angel" (Seven Days). His evocative amalgamation of contemporary folk, pop, and rock have been compared to Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, Patty Griffin & Rufus Wainwright. Douglass’ numerous accolades include being a finalist for both the 2005 International Songwriting Competition and the 2004 Independent Music Awards; he was the winner of the 2003 GrammyFest Awards in New York City, as well as the inaugural performer on the American Red Cross "Save A Life Tour” in 2003. Douglass actively appears at listening rooms, clubs, festivals, and on campuses throughout the U.S., and has shared the stage with They Might Be Giants, India Arie, Jason Mraz, Margaret Cho and many others. Douglass’ music video “Hang Around,” charted for six consecutive months on LOGO TV’s "Click List" Top 10 Video Countdown in 2008.      In November 2006, Douglass released his sixth studio record Up & Away, immediately following the critical acclaim of his 2005 Stark release. According to Instinct Magazine, "Up & Away channels everyone from Stevie Wonder to Fiona Apple in a way that's terrifyingly mature for someone so young." Up & Away adorns a retrospective of Douglass’ life thus far, from the confessional chant-like opening track, “Light Don’t Shine” to the epic finale, “Up & Away,” declaring that “every new song seems an answer to prayers disregarded & undermined / oh what a life.” The sullen “Into The Sunset” summons it’s inspiration from the motion picture Brokeback Mountain, brooding over “a promise untouched by forces unknown to lovers.” It evokes a kinship in production to Douglass’ earlier releases, Teeter and Pseudo-Rotary but poses the secure sense of maturity that was introduced in his prior Stark release. “I wanted to really capitalize on my love for vocal harmony in this record as I had yet to do so; that’s the real signature on this record,” says Douglass.      Douglass has mastered the art of grassroots promotion with the help of his fan base. His last three recording efforts were financed almost entirely by the support of his fans pre-ordering records and contributing donations directly through his website. House Concerts hosted also by fans make up a large portion of his national touring. “As a full-time independent artist, it is important to come up with intimate, new ways to remind people your still there,” Douglass proclaims.      Douglass was born and raised in rural Vermont, winning local talent shows in his early teens. He taught himself to play the piano & guitar and began writing his own songs during junior high. While attending Brewster Academy, a college-prep boarding high school in New Hampshire, Douglass composed and recorded the material for his first two albums. On graduation day, the schools’ Headmaster presented him with a music award publicly announcing that Gregory was the first student he would ever encourage NOT to go to college, advice that convinced him to immediately pursue music full-time. Today, Douglass has firmly established himself as a serious musical talent around the globe.
  Gregory Douglass is an undeniable, pure talent. With six critically acclaimed, independent full-length albums under his belt, 27-year old Douglass delivers the songwriting skills of an "old soul" and "the voice of an angel" (Seven Days). His evocative amalgamation of contemporary folk, pop, and rock have been compared to Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, Patty Griffin & Rufus Wainwright. Douglass’ numerous accolades include being a finalist for both the 2005 International Songwriting Competition and the 2004 Independent Music Awards; he was the winner of the 2003 GrammyFest Awards in New York City, as well as the inaugural performer on the American Red Cross "Save A Life Tour” in 2003. Douglass actively appears at listening rooms, clubs, festivals, and on campuses throughout the U.S., and has shared the stage with They Might Be Giants, India Arie, Jason Mraz, Margaret Cho and many others. Douglass’ music video “Hang Around,” charted for six consecutive months on LOGO TV’s "Click List" Top 10 Video Countdown in 2008.      In November 2006, Douglass released his sixth studio record Up & Away, immediately following the critical acclaim of his 2005 Stark release. According to Instinct Magazine, "Up & Away channels everyone from Stevie Wonder to Fiona Apple in a way that's terrifyingly mature for someone so young." Up & Away adorns a retrospective of Douglass’ life thus far, from the confessional chant-like opening track, “Light Don’t Shine” to the epic finale, “Up & Away,” declaring that “every new song seems an answer to prayers disregarded & undermined / oh what a life.” The sullen “Into The Sunset” summons it’s inspiration from the motion picture Brokeback Mountain, brooding over “a promise untouched by forces unknown to lovers.” It evokes a kinship in production to Douglass’ earlier releases, Teeter and Pseudo-Rotary but poses the secure sense of maturity that was introduced in his prior Stark release. “I wanted to really capitalize on my love for vocal harmony in this record as I had yet to do so; that’s the real signature on this record,” says Douglass.      Douglass has mastered the art of grassroots promotion with the help of his fan base. His last three recording efforts were financed almost entirely by the support of his fans pre-ordering records and contributing donations directly through his website. House Concerts hosted also by fans make up a large portion of his national touring. “As a full-time independent artist, it is important to come up with intimate, new ways to remind people your still there,” Douglass proclaims.      Douglass was born and raised in rural Vermont, winning local talent shows in his early teens. He taught himself to play the piano & guitar and began writing his own songs during junior high. While attending Brewster Academy, a college-prep boarding high school in New Hampshire, Douglass composed and recorded the material for his first two albums. On graduation day, the schools’ Headmaster presented him with a music award publicly announcing that Gregory was the first student he would ever encourage NOT to go to college, advice that convinced him to immediately pursue music full-time. Today, Douglass has firmly established himself as a serious musical talent around the globe.