About Bobby Doran
Bobby Doran
Rock/Pop/Acoustic
Denver,CO
BIO: WROCK & SOUL From a modern, acoustic-driven, rock and roll vibe, to radio-friendly pop, and a jazzy guitar style, the young, Rhode Island born, singer/songwriter has been making a name for himself with a soulful voice, and a free, unique style, saturated with lyrical melodies that range from intimate to eerie.
MUSIC | DISCOGRAPHY The late months of 2007 into 2008 have been spent recording new studio material, including the songs "Believe", and "Santa Fe". Bobby has teamed up with William J. Smith, nationally known for producing tracks by Sheryl Crow, and Taylor Hicks, recording in Nashville's, Sound Emporium Studios, which has been recognized for past production of Bob Dylan, Garth Brooks, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, and REM. A date has been set for Spring of 2008, for the new release, titled: "The Great Unknown E.P." featuring the new Nashville recordings, along with other studio tracks and unreleased material. The new release will be up soon in the 'Listening Booth" page, plus, album details, including track list, artwork, credits, lyrics, etc., available soon. Look for it on Itunes!
Bobby Doran's debut, indie studio album, "Best Kept Secrets" (2003), proves to be a foundation for fan favorites, in "Secret", "95", "All She Wrote", "Everything I've Ever Wanted", "Wait for You". BKS is the first glimpse of his writing style s: a taste of jazz chords, leading to powerful choruses, rock-oriented guitar solos, tied together with catchy vocal-melody lines. Produced by Jeremy Carlson, formerly of Colorado Springs, CO, now residing in Knoxville, TN, and the help of Ben Kersey (Drums), the album showcases Bobby’s songwriting/arranging capabilities. “It’s was my first recording experience”, he explained, “I spent hours trapped in a hot closet, for the better part of the summer, laying down tracks. It was well worth it, and I’m proud of the way everything came out, for recording in a room, about the size of an elevator! I learned a lot from the experience” The album looks into more progressive, John Mayer/Dave Matthews-inspired guitar riffs, in "Sunrise", "Girl In A Black Dress", and "No Escape". The eleven-track album was inspired by Bobby's college experiences, touching subjects of love, angst, and pure anger, where nothing is taboo.
Best Kept Secrets was soon followed up by a collection of live and unreleased tracks."Live & Acoustic: 2004-2005", introduces BKS-like tracks: "You're So Innocent", "The Long Day Is Over", "Cross Your Heart", "4th of July". Also, expanding his musical voice, and range of influences in the songs: "Second Time Around", "Lucky", "A Perfect Sky", "Can't Stop (It Feels So Right)", and "Waiting for the Sky To Fall". “Most of the tunes on the LA disc were recorded with one or two microphones, plugged into a CD burner. Though I think the quality is really lacking on a few tracks, it’s still one of the favorites. The tracks were mostly live cuts I had thrown together. On a dynamic level, I wanted it to be the complete opposite of my first collection of work, show more of my diversity, but remain true to where I want to go with my music. Hopefully, the possibilities remain endless, as far as the art of everything goes”
Most original, abstract work, subject matter, and some of the best lyrics to date, "Live: In Syndication" (2006) was produced as a stripped, acoustic/electric conduit, for songs like: a fast and heavy, pumping acoustic-driven, "Punch-Drunk Love", "Line Up", "In the Eyes of A Hurricane", "Seventeen", the Beatles/Queen-influenced, "Clever Girl", "The Last Empty Page", "Winter Rain", an upbeat Lifehouse/Goo Goo Dolls/ Matchbox 20 sounding, "Believe", and "Boogeyman", a dark, cold, eerie, near-seven minute, down-tuned vision of lost hope, addictions, skeletons, and complete paranoia. “It was never my intention to put together so much ‘stripped’ material, it just seemed to be convenient to sit down and just do some live tracks, then lay the other parts down to add some color. Though it’s safe to say that about ninety-nine percent of the universe has never heard any of my music, but the people that do enjoy what I have to offer are extremely important to me, so I pay them back with playing my butt off, having new material, and keep the whole movement of things going strong, and full speed ahead. I just write so much music that I feel great about from a songwriting/listening perspective, it’s all stuff that I want to see, hear, and enjoy. I trust that my feelings about the music connect with the audience on some really weird level. I don’t think about it all that much; I’m just flattered that everything seems to have worked out, thus far anyway”.
LIVE SHOW: Live, either solo/acoustic, with the acoustic band, or the full band, the energetic concerts are something to be seen, developing a following on the road, making new friends from New England to Los Angeles, and opening for national acts, such as Blues Traveler, Teitur, Taylor Hollingsworth, Mason Jennings, Micheal Franti & Spearhead, and Matthew Moon. The music keeps on coming in a steady rollercoaster ride, with brand new song ideas, jams, improv, audience participation, bringing out the best of the music. The unique, solo/acoustic show is not only limited to the everyday, stripped acoustic/electric solo performer, he brings live-looping to a new, listening excitement. Inspired by the loop stylings of Keller Williams, Howie Day, Tim Reynolds, Bobby adds a mix of live looping by recording guitar parts, drum beats, bass lines, harmonica, vocal harmonies, even guitar solos, all live. “After seeing Howie Day and Keller, I was hooked. I ran out and put together a collection of guitar and vocal effects and started abusing my acoustic guitar until it made the right ‘thump’ sounds. It’s a blast to be able to piece things together like that, live. In a way, it separated me from the pack of hippies and folk singers around town, haha.”
With the help and friendship of Bob Jones, who has been a regular piece of the live band from the beginning, providing a second guitar, vocal harmonies, and percussion work into the mix, the acoustic band was formed in 2007, breeding new life and a progressive flair to the live show. With Kris Moeller and Jubilee laying down the bass-lines, and acoustic rhythm, Bob Jones' unique style of percussion and backing vocals, the acoustic band has held its own, recently winning the KBCO, Battle of the Bands, in Denver, creating a new and exciting buzz. Winding down with the final, summer months of 2007, David Taylor of Northern Colorado has proven his drumming capabilities, of late, playing a steady role in the full-band, rhythm section. Also, the addition of Jubilee Miremba, a surreal bassist with Ugandan roots, has found a groove with the music, as well as the live show. The late months of 2007 have been spent recording new studio material, including the songs "Believe", and "Santa Fe". Bobby has teamed up with William J. Smith, nationally known for producing tracks by Sheryl Crow, and Taylor Hicks, recording in Nashville's, Sound Emporium Studios, which has been recognized for past production of Bob Dylan, Garth Brooks, Waylon Jennings, Trisha Yearwood, and REM.
INFLUENCES | INSPIRATION: Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Gavin Degraw, Matchbox Twenty, The Beatles, The Doors, Queen, Damien Rice, Beck, Lifehouse, Jason Mraz, James Hetfield, Dave Grohl, Radiohead, Coldplay, Oasis, Chris Cornell, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Alice in Chains, Bob Jones, Sublime, O.A.R., Dispatch, Goo Goo Dolls, STP, Teitur, Ben Harper, Mayfield Four, Tantric, Mason Jennings, Teitur, Green Day, Days of the New, James Morrison, Ryan Adams, Muse, Our Lady Peace, Five for Fighting, Elton John, Billy Joel, Eminem, Slash, Kirk Hammet, Marty Mcready, Tim Reynolds, Randy Rhoads, Mark Tremonti, NIN, Trent Reznor, Howie Day, Jack Johnson, Keller Williams, Aerosmith, Collective Soul, Cake, Weezer, Smashing Pumpkins, Silverchair, Fiona Apple, Tool, Hum, 311, Kyle Riabko, many more.
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