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Biography: Royal Wood
Citing such notable influences as Randy Newman and Tom Waits, Royal creates music that explores emotion. "A musical amalgam of recent heroes, with the poetry of one perhaps to come." - Kurt Swinghammer.Beginning on the piano at the age of four, Royal Wood became a multi-instrumentalist by his early teens. In fact any instrument he could get his hands on was explored and devoured. His school's music program had a sign-out policy for any instrument smaller than the tympani - and they all found their way home to his bedroom -even the drums came home for the summer months.
After finishing school Royal moved to Toronto where he immersed himself in the music scene and started his own record label Sherpa Records. He shared the same bill as Sarah Slean and members of the Skydiggers at a Jeff Buckley Tribute. He began playing guitar and keyboards for local singer songwriter Kat Goldman and even landed a spot in the NXNE 2002 concert series. All the while working away in the studio to release an album - one that would be carefully written, performed and produced by Royal himself.
Now with the added drumming talent of Adam Hay (Sarah Slean and Martina Sorbara) and trumpet/flugel horn by Sarah McElcheran (Sarah Slean, Young Ideas, Hawksley Workman) Royal has several songs completed and has released his first recordings entitled "The Milkweed EP".
"A beautiful five song mini-album that somehow manages to blend the songwriting of Tom Waits with a vocal style reminiscent of Jeff Buckley" - www.umbrellamusic.com
With the EP now released on www.maplemusic.com and www.umbrellamusic.com, and working with Paquin Enteratinment (agency for acts like Hawksley Workman, The Be Good Tanyas) Royal has several shows booked including NXNE 2003, and has enlisted an all-star cast of musicians to fill the task of back-up band. It includes local musicians, David Matheson on keyboards (Moxy Fruvous), Maury Lafoy on bass (Starling, Supers, Sarah Harmer), Adam Hay on drums and the occasional addition of Sarah McElcheran on trumpet/flugel horn.
Royal is also back in the studio again with plans to release his first full-length album later this year. It will be once again written, performed and produced by Royal - with a few added guests along the way; including well-known Canadian performers like Mia Sheard.
With a video for "Chamomile" now made thanks to VIDEOFACT, Royal's "The Milkweed EP" topping many college radio stations and a full length album on the way, Royal Wood is an artist whose time is at hand to be heard.
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