One. It's a natural high! Being on stage, singing and performing your own material (or cover songs) is truly a natural high, especially if the audience is with you! When your band is in sync, the vibe is right, and you've hit your stride, there is simply nothing like it. My mother-in-law, Gretchen Cryer, took her act on the road and wrote a great song that sums this up called “Natural High.” Pictured below: L-R: Robin Cryer Hyland (vocals), Phil Hyland (vocals & guitar), Pemberton Roach (back up vocals and bass), Dale May (back up vocals and drums), & Tito Ortiz (guest electric guitarist on live shows). Photo credit: Dale May Photography
Two. You're on the scene. Every city worth its salt has a music scene. You'll know it when you step into it. NYC in the early 1990s had a burgeoning music scene. There was a move back to coffee houses and intimate listening. And there were still the legendary clubs like CBGBs, but even CBGB's opened up CB's 13 Gallery when the poets and acoustic guitar-wielding artists came knocking. One such artist was Jeff Buckley, who road-tested his new songs at the infamous Cafe Sin-e. When you tap into your town's music scene…YOU are on your way! Picture below: image of a Girlfriend postcard announcing a show at CB's Gallery.
Three. You are an artist! That gnawing in your gut you feel every morning when you wake up, reminding you that the creative spark inside of you is turning into a forest fire. How can you NOT write, record, create, perform, and play out? For me, it was too powerful a force to deny.
Four. Oh, the People You'll Meet! I remember my dear friend, Rob McCulloch, asking me to come over to his East Village apartment and do some songwriting. Man, there was never a cooler invitation than that. Rob is a gifted songwriter, and I felt honored that he'd even ask me. I started working seriously on my very first songs at this time with his help, and Rob went on to play in my band at various times, and he recorded my very first demos. He recorded (and played and sang on) one of my favorite songs, “Lost Point,” and I am so grateful. He and I are still friends, as are the rest of my former bandmates. Pictured below: Phil & Rob, East 4th, Lower East Side, early 1990s.
Five. You will grow as an Artist/Songwriter/Musician/Vocalist! Iron sharpens iron. I never considered myself a “great” singer. I knew early on I wanted a pro vocalist to join me on this quest. I found her; she was in a musical I happened to be in the audience at the Actor's Playhouse in Greenwich Village, and, truly, I fell in love. This girl could sing! Her name was Robin. I married her. She and I founded the NYC indie band, Girlfriend, and it was a wild journey. Two kids later…we're still here! Pictured below: Robin Cryer Hyland, Summer of 1993 at Hi-Life Bar & Grill, 83rd & Amsterdam. Robin waited tables there, and I lived down the street.
Six. Oh, the places you'll see! Music takes you places! Not just cosmically but physically. If you start touring, you will discover cool cities and small towns, the awesome people that live there, and the ones that attend your shows. The ones that buy your merch and form a bond with you. The friends who let you crash on their couch as you pass through town. The memories you make are priceless. Enjoy the ride! Write great songs! Picture below: Girlfriend, Southern Tour mid 1990s, Savannah GA stop. L-R: Robin, Phil, Paul & manager, Camille.
Seven. You never know who you'll open for! My band, Girlfriend, was a regular on the NYC club circuit in the ‘90s. We recorded and released our debut album, “The New Me”. We had our record release party at a club called Shine. The owner of Shine, Marcus Linial, was a fan and a champion of our music. Marcus was also a successful recording artist and continues to work in the music industry. Shortly after our release, he invited us to open for the ’80's New Wave icon, Howard Jones. Just a handful of years before this invitation, I was a high school kid who loved Howard's music, which was all over MTV and Top 40 radio at the time. Opening for Howard Jones was a huge deal for me. This is exactly the kind of crazy stuff that happens when you follow the music and put yourself out there. You gotta celebrate the small wins because there's a lot of heartache too.
Eight. I forgot what eight is for.
Nine. Music is spiritual. I love rock 'n Roll, British Invasion, New Wave, Hip Hop, and Classical. I love writing about the classic themes in the great American songbook. Music is a gift from God. The creator gave us the ability to create songs, sing, and share. Amazing! I turned my back on God for a long time, but somehow, some way, I returned to Him, and it has been incredible.
Ten. The journey is everything. I chased the dragon for a bit. I really wanted a major label deal (and we met with a big one), but it never materialized. I got disappointed and frustrated. But what really happened is I lost sight of why I started playing music in the first place. It was fun! I got to hang out with my buddies and learn chords and new songs. I lost touch with that, and it was a dark place to be. I would compare myself to other bands or songwriters I looked up to (and sometimes I still do today), but I gotta just stick with the basics. If I can do this…the rest is all gravy! Pictured below: L-R, Robin, Tito, Dale, Pemberton & Phil on the floor. Photo by Dale May Photography - Williamsburg, Brooklyn NY 1990s.
