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To The Fallen Records - Giving A Voice to Military Artist
07/15/2008
To The Fallen Records
Like many members of the Armed Forces, when former active duty Army officer and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Captain Sean Gilfillan returned from his tour of duty in January of 2006, he was looking for a sense of purpose.
While in the military, the longtime music fan met an impressive amount of fellow soldiers who were also extremely talented musicians, and it surprised Gilfillan that most of them were having a hard time gaining a following and getting their unique voices heard in the world. Even after finishing his tour, during which he earned the prestigious Bronze Star for his brave service, Gilfillan remained in touch with many of these soldier-songwriters. They continually filled his email inbox with mp3’s of their latest tunes, whether they were politically-charged hip-hop tracks, heartfelt country love songs to their loved ones back home, or heavy rock jams that expressed the intensity and frustration of military life.
After meeting and having many meaningful conversations with friend and fellow Rhode Islander Ms. Sidney DeMello, Gilfillan realized they shared a common bond through their families’ shared histories of dedicated military service, which between them includes all four grandfathers distinguished as WWII veterans. While Gilfillan was a third-generation Army veteran following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, DeMello was raised in the shadow of Newport’s naval base and currently has a brother serving in the Army as well. The pair’s further interests in current events, politics and especially music gave birth to a new idea.
Sean had always been interested in the production and recording techniques of music since he was a child, and his military experience gave him extra insight into the singular world of music created by soldiers. Meanwhile, Sidney offered a unique perspective as both a civilian with several family members serving in the military, as well as someone who appreciated music on a direct, emotional level. Combining these complimentary approaches with their keen business sense, a new purpose was born: To The Fallen Records.
By the summer of 2006, this creative spark created a whirlwind of activity. Taking their name from a tattoo that spans Gilfillan’s back and honors seven of his comrades killed in action in Iraq, To The Fallen Records moved in just six weeks from the initial concept to the manufacturing of their debut CD: To The Fallen Records Presents Hip-Hop: Volume I. The pair quit their day jobs and launched the label with a compilation of hip-hop artists culled from current and veteran soldiers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard. The label is dedicated to music spanning all genres, with compilations covering rock and country set for release in December 2007: To The Fallen Records Presents Country: Volume I and To The Fallen Records Presents Rock: Volume I.
While seeing and hearing so much musical talent while in military, Gilfillan was struck by the fact that, no matter how hard they tried, no traditional record label was willing to make an investment in them.
“These guys have full-time jobs,” Gilfillan says of his music-making comrades. “No label can sign them or put them on tour--their schedules are too crazy. So they’re forced to give it up, or do music on the side. This can wear an artist down. With To The Fallen Records, these talented guys can get back to their first love. While continuing with the stability and pride that comes with military service, they no longer have to set their dreams aside, and their voices can be heard.”
DeMello continues, “When you hear about military life in the media, usually you hear from some general or other high-ranking official. And so there’s a huge disconnect between the real guys and girls in the trenches of military service and civilians. Soldiers aren’t always comfortable talking about their experiences, but when they make music, it opens a dialogue and gives us a whole different perspective into their daily lives, how they feel and think. It’s not always all about bombs and destruction, there’s an enormous array of emotions and feelings involved that you would never would get access to otherwise. As listeners, we become their peers.”
Regardless of genre, To The Fallen offers a platform for these powerful voices to get their messages across to fellow soldiers as well as civilians and the public at large. A non-partisan label, To The Fallen’s mantra is “It’s not about politics, it's about music.” Considering that the men and women making music on the label are the same brave soldiers defending our right to free speech, they have earned the right to say what they want to say, regardless of their political persuasions. To The Fallen Records concentrates on quality music, and makes a point of presenting an array of opinions from people that aren’t running for office, and have no agenda other than asking for some respect.
In addition to providing civilians with extraordinary insight into their sometimes tumultuous world, the music featured on To The Fallen Records holds special significance to fellow soldiers and veterans. As the intensity of wartime experiences can be overwhelming and difficult to put in words, music acts as a cathartic and highly expressive healing force that breeds understanding and knowledge. A perfect example is the song “Walk with Me” on To The Fallen Records Presents Hip-Hop: Volume I, in which soldier and rapper Soldier Hard acts as a war tour guide, giving the listener an intimate diary of his daily struggles in Iraq. Likewise, rocker and Army drill sergeant Merq wrote “Don’t Try to Save Me” for To The Fallen Records Presents Rock: Volume I, describing a particularly intense Iraq mission that reveals a dark side of the experience that you won’t hear anywhere else.
But describing a military experience certainly isn’t the only criteria for an artist to be included on a TTFR release; the subject matter can cover anything. For example, songwriter Zach Johnson’s “We’ll Be Together” was composed with a laid-back feel as a love letter to his wife to capture the mellow mood of their relationship.
First and foremost, TTFR’s music always has a high standard of artistic quality above all else, regardless of the song’s subject matter. Whether it’s the flow of a rapper’s rhymes, the melody of a country singer’s chorus or the emotion in a rock song’s guitar solo, To The Fallen Records produces heartfelt music with a universal appeal and the intention to affect music fans in a positive way.
Part of this universal appeal is the timeless quality that comes from artists who want to leave a meaningful legacy. It goes without saying that the men and women of the military are driven by sense of mortality; you won’t hear any disposable pop drivel or escapist dancefloor fantasies from these artists. Being away from home, a fear of dying, struggling with love and relationships— these themes are not specific to the military, they appeal to life in general.
Sean and Sidney have already received tons of emails from both fans and the artists themselves, whose excitement at seeing these CDs online, in record stores or at the PX of their local base is palpable. Not only are they finally getting a chance to realize their musical dreams, but the resulting pride is a much-needed morale boost that makes them better soldiers.
“This is ongoing,” says DeMello of the label. “Military musicians will exist as long as wars do. Their unique perspectives deserve their own place to congregate—To The Fallen Records. We don’t plan on going anywhere.”
To The Fallen Records will release three volumes per year, showcasing a variety of military artists and musical genres that delivers mainstream music appeal. The label also gives back to the military by donating a percentage of proceeds to organizations dedicated to honoring the fallen, or assisting disabled soldiers and their families. For more information about To The Fallen Records; guidelines for submitting recordings for consideration; or to purchase CDs, visit www.tothefallenrecords.
Contact:
Erik Stein
Scoop Marketing
213-639-6162
estein@solters.com
