DECEMBER 1999

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM SPOTLIGHT
FROM THE DESK OF SALLY

The daughter of a professional baseball player and part-time jazz drummer, FDOS's Jeryl has an ear for hook-filled melodies. Out promoting her new CD, Everything and Nothing, we caught up with Jeryl for a quick cyber-interview.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: Your sound is described as dynamic pop/rock or power pop. Can you tell us a little more about it? 

JERYL: The music I write seems to always have pop roots but I like to stick in a little alternative and aggressive stuff too. I grew up listening to Billy Joel, The Police, Queen, Blondie, The Pretenders and Top-40 radio. I never really got into the heavy metal or glam rock music.

I think I'm very influenced by eighties music. I¹m not ashamed to say it. (laughs) My musical tastes are all over the place. I'm really into girl bands.

I¹ve only been playing guitar for six years, so I¹m still learning and trying to find my niche. I really do enjoy songwriting. And lately I try and play any instrument I can get my hands on. Everything and Nothing has a little bit of everything. Some heavier stuff, poppy stuff and even a sappy song here or there. I write from life experience.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: Congratulations on the new CD.

JERYL: Thanks, I¹m really excited that it’s finished. Being in the studio for so long took me out of the loop for a while!

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: I read that it was co-produced by Scott Norton, who was a sound engineer for the Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Paula Cole, Varnaline and Sheryl Crow. How did you hook up and what was it like working with him? 

JERYL: I met Scott through my brother Jay who also has a band called Dira. They recorded their full-length with Scott too. But ultimately it was sort of a “six degrees of separation” thing. He knew a friend of ours and we ended up working with him.

Working with Scott was a really great learning experience. He just opened his studio a few weeks before I got in there to start tracking. He is great with sounds and we both put our heads together to try and put out the best product we could. His recording studio is like being at home, so there was no red light syndrome and I'm happy with the final product. 

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: We also heard that you’re looking for a new guitar player, bassist, and drummer to back you as you promote the CD. Where do you go to look for a backup band and how hard is it to find other musicians that will support your vision?

JERYL: I've worked with some really great musicians, past and present. I have an arsenal of people that can sit in with me. I would really like to find a few committed people who can understand my goal for the project and who also want to have some fun. I have some great things planned for FDOS.

Finding people. Hmmm... I basically put all my feelers out to try and find people; ads in the paper, Internet musician searches, etc., etc. My publicist, Joyce Poplar, does a lot of the leg work for me. We have somewhat of a screening process now so no one’s time gets wasted.

I’m hoping that now that I have the finished CD in my hands, people will hear it and find me. That would be great. Bottom line, it's really hard to find people. There is a shortage of bass players on this earth!

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: The assumption is that if you have a CD out you must have some kind of financial backing. How do you fund your career?

JERYL: I wish! I’m signed to a small independent label called Shark Bite Records. A lot of what I do is funded by myself. The record label is not really in the position right now to totally fund my CD but they have helped me as much as they can.

I basically work two jobs to fund everything. I have my own business, CD duplication and graphic design and a part-time job on the side. So CD duplication is not a problem for me. That is a big chunk of money that I don't have to worry about. Now I am working on distribution and getting the CD to radio stations.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: What else does the world need to know about From the Desk of Sally?

JERYL: Well, FDOS would like to see the general public support the independent music scene more. It has a lot to offer. I think there is a lot more to a music career than MTV and a big fat record deal. Although who would pass that up?!

I play for the love of it. I’m proud to have finished this CD. It wasn't easy. I started it with a full band and finished it myself. I can actually look at it and say, wow, I have audio documentation that I actually existed on this earth and did something that I love to do. I have a lot of respect for all the independent bands and musicians who work hard to support and promote their own careers.

FDOS has great plans for the present and future. CD release parties, newsletters, touring, acoustic shows, on-line concerts, writing music for an independent short film, and networking with others. I am currently writing new songs for a second release. But, that can wait for a while! It's time to get this one out. I’m really proud of it.

As far as what the world needs to know about FDOS--love us, live us, learn us. Pick up the CD. Its official release date is December 9th which, by the way, is my birthday!

I want to thank you for this opportunity to be interviewed by ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM. I wish you luck in the future. Wish me luck too. I’m gonna need it.

ROCKBANDLOUNGE.COM: You got it Jeryl!

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