Musician’s Biography Service
“I feel pretty lucky having run into Trevor. The Bio he penned for me is
both spot-on and beautifully written. Trevor uniquely combines a keen
understanding of the music industry with the writing acumen of a polished
author. I will definitely return to work with Trevor Dye whenever the
opportunity arises.”
“Not only does Trevor Dye have some really strong writing skills, he also has a very good understanding of what a musician/band bio is about and what it needs to accomplish. He came back with a focused, accurate and entertaining bio that skillfully expressed the essential elements. I’m impressed.”
- Marco Mahler
“Trevor got into my head and captured the essence of my world with words.”
Samples Biographies
Why get a professional bio?
Many times your band bio is the first and - in the case of a poorly written bio - the last contact you’ll have with a journalist, booking agent, potential management, record labels,and so forth. They’re all looking for one thing, the story; a story to write about, a story that will draw listeners to a show, a story that will sell records. A chronological rattling of facts doesn’t give a reader insight into the minds beind the music. And a simple profile of individual band members fails to communicate give identity to the band as a whole.
In my years as a freelance music journalist (Free Magaine, JamBase, HypeZine, The Celebrity Cafe, 1340 The Magazine) and working a day job as a Digital Publicist for over 100 bands (ranging from Independent to major label artists), I’ve seen several that do it right, and countless that have it wrong. Every band has a story, so tell yours!
What you get-
- A biography that successfully and creatively articulates the story of your band
- A one-on-one phone interview (or, if you’d like, in-person if you’re in the New York City region) with a professional music journalist.
- Complete authority over the final product.
- Post-completion strategy session to go over your press kit and tips on how to approach music journalists.
My Latest Sample:
Sideways Reign Biography
Sideways Reign, based in Union, Washington, is a band representative of the artistic sensibilities of the masses. They’re your local barkeep, the hard-hat wearing construction worker, or the ice cream maker on the corner; on and off stage they remain the approachable, everyday guys you grab a beer with after work. In the same sense, Scale Mt. Epic, the band’s six track debut EP, offers something for the broadest of audiences with a genre defying blend of rock, blues, folk, and reggae wrapped in a “F*ck The Man” vibe we can all appreciate.
The double entendre Sideways Reign serves as a nod to their Pacific Northwest roots and as a reference to the political tyrannies that they stand firmly against. In essence, the group got its start over ten years ago when vocalist and lead acoustic guitarist Justin Stang and vocalist and lead electric guitarist/bassist Casey Dehe – cousins who have come to be more like brothers – spent their summers playing together between visits to New York and Washington. After the countless hours of jamming grew more intense, the additional elements of a full band became a necessity. Through local acquaintances, Stang and Dehe hooked up with drummer and Washington native Mike Dennis. Later, after sensing the limitless potential of Sideways Reign, Cody Goodwin decided to sidebar his aspirations as a singer/songwriter to focus on bass and round out the band’s permanent line-up.
Many of the songs were geared to be acoustic driven, but the full band setting offered the enriched sound and energy Stang and Dehe were searching for. Their live performances can quickly turn a room of indifferent listeners into captivated fans. The combination of electric and acoustic instruments adds the element of flexibility to their sound. Even when one member is unable to make a show, they conquer the axiom “real life happens” with their uncanny versatility as musicians. Whether it’s Casey stepping in on bass or a stripped-down acoustic set, Sideways Reign never withdraws from an opportunity to put on one of their consistently great shows. As a result, they’ve been able to reach fans throughout the northwest in a variety of settings, ranging from intimate coffeehouses to large performance halls.
Scale Mt. Epic is aptly named after the band’s pursuit of “epic jams” during their long practice sessions. The album, which was released in the Summer of 2007, was recorded in a live, full band setting - often in only a few takes - to avoid overproduction and add continuity between their live and recorded sound. What you hear on the studio album is a true representation of what you’ll find at a Sideways Reign show. The sound falls somewhere in the realm of Dispatch, John Butler Trio, Ben Harper and the likes. Stang’s vocals come across as part Citizen Cope and part Ray LaMontagne with a hint of Neil Young’s soulfulness, and Dehe’s electric driven, reggae influenced groove’s evoke thoughts of Sublime. The songwriting speaks of the trials and tribulations of everyday life for regular people. Their masterful ability of storytelling stems in part from the time Stang and Dehe spent around campfire sing-alongs in their youth. Many of the poetic verses bring a sense of hope we can all identify with, whether it’s love gained and lost, feeling voiceless and disenfranchised, or the weariness of the daily grind.
In the end, nothing holds more importance than creating a connection with the listener. For Sideways Reign, success could mean nothing more than finding a place on the soundtrack to someone’s life. Their debut EP, Scale Mt. Epic, comes as our introduction to Sideways Reign and their unique blend of originality and down-to-earth authenticity. While heavily touring the northwest region, the band is also currently at work on their first full-length album, set for release in the Summer of 2008.
Marco Mahler
As the landscape of music is carved throughout time, the work born solely to contribute to that progression is something to be appreciated. With lyrical aspirations of Dylan and a healthy admiration for the innovative guitar work of Bert Jansch, the contribution from acoustic singer/songwriter Marco Mahler is immense. Born of Swiss heritage and living as a dual citizen in the United States and Switzerland, his international travels have given him a wide appreciation for music, ranging from traditional Irish folk to mainstream Hip Hop. This range shows through in the debut album, Design in Quick Rotation, which has been described as “music that captures the dawn of Sunday morning and embodies it through verse and song.” Under each gentle melody, Mahler’s whispery vocals seem to be offering access to a profound secret, creating a rare intimacy between artist and listener.
Design in Quick Rotation breathes perspective, as Mahler crafted much of the album while working to revitalize a log cabin nestled in the Appalachian foothills. During this period in the scenic mountains, Mahler, for the first time, took on the roles of father and husband, and the album is charmed with that same sense of newness. The final inspiration for the record’s completion, however, came when Mahler parted with the mountains of Virginia for the livelier pastures of Brooklyn. This contrast in location can be felt as a subtle undertone throughout the album. His creative release was fueled by nature, but the time in New York, a microcosm of art and culture, gave Mahler a strong desire to see his passion for music come to fruition.
The move north was more a coming home for Mahler, as several years of his past were spent submerged in the artistic atmosphere of a pre-gentrified Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY. This period proved to be crucial in the development of his sound. His tendency of being an intense listener allowed him to fully absorb the music swirling around the area. Playing the New York City subways – mainly for the challenge of committing an indifferent crowd of commuters – gave Mahler confidence in his original material and enhanced his improvisational skills as a guitarist. It wasn’t just music, however, that was influential in his development; reading the work of his wife, an accomplished poet, further broadened his horizons through her unique approach to written word.
In the end, the music has the feel of a dreamy lullaby. Yet, there was no carelessness in its creation, with every word holding strong value to each refined lyrical verse. There is an indefinable quality to it, landing somewhere in the realm of Sufjan Stevens, Belle and Sebastian, or Nick Drake, yet shying from the melancholic for a more upbeat rhythmic vibe. Design in Quick Rotation, the debut album from Marco Mahler, takes the singer/songwriter genre to a new place; an organically grown record that serves as the introduction to a brilliant musician.
