It's no secret that music is a hard business. Dominated by
huge conglomerates that hold a virtual monopoly on essentials such as
production, marketing, and distribution, it is a daunting mountain for the
aspiring artist to climb. Those lucky enough to be anointed as the next flavor
of the month stand to gain fame and fortune, but often at the cost of creative
and personal freedom. They are groomed and tweaked to perfection, then fed into
a machine that fulfills every dream and whim so long as they deliver a look and
sound that can be marketed to the masses.
Enter the
independent artist. These do-it-yourselfers often pay for expenses out of their
own pockets, book their own gigs, play to smaller crowds, and generally have to
do all the unglamorous behind-the-scenes leg work to get their music out. Many
hang on to their day jobs and consider themselves lucky if their musical
pursuits end up breaking even. Yet in spite of all this, many find that the
career autonomy and artistic freedom far outweigh the obvious advantages of
having a label's support. One such "indie" artist is Eve Selis who has become
something of an iconic figure in the San Diego music scene. A striking, slender
blonde with a powerful voice and commanding stage presence, she has released
five albums since 1998 and has a new one called Angels and Eagles, due to hit
the streets shortly after this article goes to press. She glowingly reports
that it was produced by herself and her band, and that they were able to make
an album that isn't "an obvious follow up to the last CD. A label would have
nixed some of our songs and ideas."
Following
her own beliefs that "hard work always pays off" and "nobody will care about
your music or career as much as you," she and her supporters have taken full
advantage of Internet technology as well as some very ingenious marketing ideas
to get their music to the listening public. "You can't stop a tidal wave.
Technology is what it is, and the music industry needs to change its paradigm."
Her last album, 2004's Nothing But the Truth was financed by loans from her fan
base, all of which were repaid from subsequent sales. Angels and Eagles was
funded by donations from fans who were compensated with exclusive rewards based
upon the amount of their contribution. Media coverage, networking, and a
professional work ethic have resulted in over 2.5 million legal Internet
downloads, brisk album sales, a clutch of music awards, and a full touring
schedule that frequently takes her across the country and overseas. Concert
performances in the UK have garnered her an enthusiastic British fan base and
an impressive amount of exposure in their press and over their airwaves. She
and her band are currently looking forward to breaking into other countries
with a number of dates in Norway coming in the near future.
As for the
music? It's an irresistible mix of rock, country, R&B, gospel and pop
music, delivered with great skill and sincerity. This latter quality is particularly
important, as she makes sure to point out, "You can tell when someone is giving
a song lip service. If they don't believe in it, why should I? It's very
humbling when somebody comes up and says one of my songs touched their heart.
That's the ultimate compliment because you write songs as an outlet for your
soul." Often called "the Queen of Roadhouse Rock," Selis' music appeals to fans
of artists like Lucinda Williams, Melissa Etheridge, the Eagles, and Steve
Earle. She has also been compared to Sheryl Crow, Emmylou Harris, and Bonnie
Raitt. While reluctant to give her music a label, she allows that the term
Americana might do. It's descriptive of her sound but it's also an open-ended
genre that encompasses a wide range of styles.
Although
she now enjoys a respectable amount of success on the strength of her own
songs, it hasn't always been that way. Selis recalls the days when she fronted
the Heroes, a highly regarded cover band that performs spirited renditions of
classic songs. While it was a good gig, she notes that much of her effort was
spent mimicking others. Yet as a result, she learned a lot about delivering a
vocal performance because "you figure out their techniques and then you start
taking chances and risks… you take your influences and make them your own."
Because of all the work she put into perfecting her technique, she has become a
highly sought-after vocalist for studio sessions, weddings, and corporate
events. Her voice can be heard in some enduringly familiar commercial jingles.
In the
early '90s she found herself working with guitarist Marc "Twang" Intravaia.
Both were doing a DoD (Department of Defense) tour, entertaining troops
overseas during Operation Desert Storm. They already knew each other from
having played in various bands but had not yet joined forces to write songs.
During a sound check, Selis improvised something over one of Intravaia's
original guitar licks, and it was then that they realized they were onto
something. Before long they wrote their first song together. As she tells it,
it was the start of a "great creative relationship that never existed with
others I've worked with before." She fronted their band Kings Road before
deciding to go solo (but keeping him close at hand). Selis says that Intravaia
has always been encouraging and supportive, telling her that she should sing
songs "the way you'd sing it." His own musical resume includes playing with
such high-profile artists as Kenny Loggins, America, Kim Carnes, and B.J.
Thomas, but it is his role as Eve Selis' guitarist and musical partner that
gives him his greatest success and satisfaction.
Other
members of the band are "Cactus" Jim Soldi, an amazing guitarist who has
played with the likes of Ricky Skaggs, Johnny Paycheck, Waylon Jennings, and
the legendary Johnny Cash. He has toured the world and has appeared at the
Grand Ole Opry, the Royal Albert Hall, and the Forum as well as a host of
television shows. His wife, Sharon Whyte, holds down keyboard and accordion
duties. Among the people Whyte has accompanied include Kim Carnes, Juice
Newton, Dan Seals, and Tim Flannery. She has recorded with Chris Hillman and
Herb Pedersen, and was recently a member of the house band in the Primal Twang
stage show. Bassist Rick Nash's credits include Comanche Moon, the Steely
Damned, and Robert Vaughn. Rounding out the rhythm section is Larry Grano, a
relative newcomer to the band, filling the drum throne long occupied by Bob
Sales. Grano is a multiple San Diego Music Award winner who is also an
instructor in the San Diego branch of the School of Rock. He has opened for and
backed up an impressive lineup of musical legends like Denny Laine, the Everly
Brothers, Tom Scott, and Alan Parsons. (See page 8 in this issue for an article
about Larry Grano.) As the Eve Selis Band, this group has shared stages with
such big name acts as the Doobie Brothers; Crosby, Stills and Nash; Counting
Crows; Joan Osborne; and Jewel. Needless to say, Selis holds her musical
partners in very high regard and is never more pleased than when they all receive
praise as a band. "I'm the one standing out front holding the microphone, so
when people go out of their way to say how great they are, I'm very proud."
Live, they
put on a highly-charged show in which Selis is clearly the focus. She flashes
her megawatt smile and immediately establishes a warm rapport with the
audience. At a recent house concert, she and the band demonstrated a loose
confidence, connecting with people they knew and making newcomers feel welcome.
As experienced performers, they appeared to be as comfortable in front of a
crowd as they were with each other. Immediately shifting into high gear without
any warmup, it was as though there was a telepathic connection between them.
Their highly polished playing contrasted favorably with their casual stage
presence. They work together superbly, creating a unified sound that perfectly
frames Selis' high octane voice. The soaring vocal harmonies, courtesy of Marc
Twang, Cactus Jim, Sharon Whyte, and Larry Grano are the perfect final touch.
These guys could write a textbook on ensemble playing, so flawless is their
execution. When it's time for a solo, everybody makes room to let the featured
performer shine, and it's not just the guitarists who create the fireworks.
Bassist Nash and accordionist Whyte each had moments in which they were able to
demonstrate their considerable abilities. Perhaps the greatest surprise was the
comic relief provided by Grano. In addition to drumming, he is a master of
lightning-fast quips and improvised song parodies. His leering
re-interpretation of "The Girl From Ipanema" (retitled "The Girl With
Emphysema") had Selis, the band, and the audience rolling with laughter. Yet
through it all, Selis holds it together with a tremendous presence of mind and
a seasoned sense of showmanship that keeps things entertaining, even in the
face of distractions or technical difficulties. Expressively punctuating the
songs with an impeccable theatrical sensibility, she savors each note and
lyric, making sure that the audience does too. As good as their recorded work
is, it's their live show that properly showcases the incandescent chemistry
among this group of musicians.
While the
Eve Selis Band has accomplished a great deal in the world of music, she
maintains that "we still have a life. If you're signed to a major label, you're
at their beck and call. Someone like Jewel toured continuously for years. To
me, family is more important than selling a million CDs." She and her husband
Tom (who supports the cause with his skills in graphic art and computers)
recently added a son to their family, which also includes their 13-year-old
daughter. So it's yet another benefit of doing business independently that they
are able to book tours of reasonable length in order to maintain a normal and balanced
home life. The rest of the band sidelines with other artists and projects, and
they even have their own act called Cactus Twang and Whyte, which frequently
takes the stage at many San Diego venues.
Selis
professes to a strong belief in angels. "I want to see one, and I believe we
have it in us to become like angels through our actions. We all have the
ability to do or say the right thing to make the world a better place." True to
her word, she participates in several charity events every year, raising funds
and awareness for causes like breast cancer research, cerebral palsy, and
relief for San Diego wildfire victims. One of her best friends and biggest fans
is Jessica Smith, who has cerebral palsy. Though wheelchair bound, she
enthusiastically attends concerts and even convinced Selis to get a
"Heart-Shaped Tattoo" with her to honor the song with the same title. Both
displayed them proudly at the house concert, though Eve reported with a grimace
that hers was still fresh enough to smart! In keeping with the theme of angels
and hearts, Selis and her band are committed to giving back in any way they
can. Their song "65 Roses" is available exclusively as a download from iTunes,
with all proceeds going toward cystic fibrosis research.
Interestingly
enough, she had a brush with a different kind of winged spirit while singing
the national anthem at Phoenix's America West Arena. As part of the show, an
American bald eagle was released, but before landing on its handler's glove, it
briefly lighted on Eve‘s head. Later, a Native American said that she was
anointed and blessed by her contact with the sacred bird. One would be
hard-pressed to argue with that. Eve Selis is indeed blessed with a powerful
voice and anointed with a gift for making music that touches people. She has a
true entertainer's spirit and an artist's soul that informs her work onstage
and off. Through hard work, ingenuity, and perseverance, she and her band have
taken concert stages, airwaves, and Internet servers by storm. With a gleam in
her eye, she asserts that, "I want to sing until I'm 80!" Rest assured, people
will be listening.
The Eve
Selis Band's new album Angels and Eagles debuts at the San Diego Museum of
Contemporary Art in La Jolla on Saturday, May 31, 8 pm. Go to www.eveselis.com
for more details.