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By Laurie Heuston Mail Tribune August 27. 2015 9:00AM Gypsy Soul unveils its new album at EdenVale Winery in Medford Singer Cilette Swann and multi-instrumentalist and producer Roman Morykit Cilette Swann and Roman Morykit of Gypsy Soul may have an upper hand in today's corporate aspect of the music recording industry. Producing its own albums, the Jacksonville duo doesn't adhere to trends and stays true to ideas of what its music should sound like. "We can make our own choices," says instrumentalist and composer Morykit. "Audiences have diverse palates. We don't conform to one particular style because that's just not who we are." "Our fans listen to a range of music, classic rock, blues, jazz and old Motown-style soul," vocalist Swann adds. "Managers have always wanted to narrow our sound to an uncomfortable place for us. We'd hear, 'Love you, babe. Now we're going to change it.' " Gypsy Soul's new album, "True," actually starts with a wholehearted jab at the recording industry titled "Your Kind." "Just a little jab," Morykit says. "It's all determined by bean counters now. No one's really taking interest in the human element. When Cilette was writing the lyrics, we realized it would have a universal appeal." Morykit and Swann avoid any preconceived notions when they begin new songs. Whatever a song suggests is what the duo goes with, following it wherever it leads them. "It's an approach we started using with our last album, 'The World is My Country,' and it's quite successful," Morykit says. A number of the songs on the new "True" are live performances recorded at Dennis Dragon's studio in Williams, while others took shape in Morykit's and Swann's home studio. "We asked our fans what they liked about our performances," Morykit says. "For many of them, it was the live experience, the interaction between me and Cilette on stage. We wanted to capture that magic, but we didn't want to make a live record. So 'True' is kind of a hybrid. A performance album, if you will." "Your Kind," "Mirabelle," "6000 Miles," "You're Everything to Me," "Hallejulah," "He Wore Sandals in the Snow" and "Amazing Grace" were done live at Dragon's, then Morykit overdubbed instrumental Dobro tracks in the home studio to enhance the recording. "We kept the live parts," he says. "There are a couple of squirrely moments where I hit notes slightly under or above the frets, but it doesn't matter. You can feel the performance's energy when you listen to the tracks. That's more important than perfection. There are many ways to correct things in the recording process, but that doesn't always mean you should." Southern Oregon musicians bring additional musical weight to "True." Michael Forney plays drums on "Mirabelle," "Your Kind" and "You're Everything to Me" and djembe on "Amazing Grace." Mikey Stevens plays a scorching trumpet solo on "Gotta Be Real," and Michal Palzewicz plays cello on "Mirabelle" and "Sandals in the Snow." Other songs on "True" — "Gotta Be Real," "Long Long Ride," "We Are What We Believe" and "Magic Carpet Ride" — were recorded at the home studio using prerecorded drums. Swann's lilting, honey-soaked vocals deepen on "True." "Sandals in the Snow," especially, has more of a somber, reflective sound. The song was first recorded in 2004 at The Rogue Theatre in Grants Pass for Gypsy Soul's live "One Beautiful Night." When Swann and Morykit revisited "Sandals" for the new album, the key was changed from major to minor, giving it a darker feel. "I've always loved the lyrics," Morykit says. "'I caught a glimpse of a man today, had the kind of face that life had betrayed, he wore sandals in the snow.' Great opening lines for a song, but the vocal didn't quite work for the subject matter. It was too jolly, too happy and jaunty." "It is a statement about homelessness, after all," Swann says. She also pulls off a good rendition of "Amazing Grace" — no mean feat for any singer. Swan and Morykit plan a staggered approach to releasing their new CD that will start with their annual concert and party on Sunday, Aug. 30, at EdenVale Winery, 2310 Voorhies Road, Medford. The duo will be on hand to mingle with guests from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wine tasting and appetizers will be available. The concert will be at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20 for the concert, $35 for the concert and the party, and can be purchased at EdenVale, Music Coop, 268 E. Main St. and Enoteca Wine Bar, 17 N. Main St., Ashland, or online at gypsysoul.com. Gypsy Soul will present CD release concerts in October at MIM Music Theater in Phoenix, then in early December at The Triple Door in Seattle. An official release on iTunes will take place in January or February. http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150827/ENTERTAINMENT/150829752 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->