From banging on pots and pans to playing in various different states, Julian Bell from the suburbs of Washington, D.C, is a singer/songwriter with various different style influences ranging from percussive pop to expressive blues.

Currently going to school in Chicago Julian is perfecting his craft and playing around the area. Writing songs about the various things that go through his head, such as life, love and everything else in between, headlining at festivals or your local coffee shop, Bell’s goal is to make music that people will love and enjoy. Julian is currently in the studio working on his debut E.P. which will be out late Spring/early Summer.

Paul's main stylistic interest is progressive rock and metal, as he was always learning from straight-ahead jazz/fusion rock and traditional classical music in the early years with two professional musician parents. Having been named for jazz saxophone virtuoso Paul Desmond and his sister for jazz piano pioneer Bill Evans, the years before high school were crucial to developing a sense of rhythm, melody, and harmonic structure from exposure to players far ahead of their time. Later though Paul moved to the more flamboyantly aggressive style of heavy metal in his adolescent years, enjoying the testosterone fueled power and attack of bands like Metallica, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, even Queen! Yes, even Queen.

There always needed to be a strong element of melody and unique varied style even inside this often extreme genre of heavy metal though. Apropos to the jazz and Broadway exposure from earlier childhood, he eventually found that satisfaction in more progressive bands such as Dream Theater, Symphony X, and Angra. With virtuosic unique players just as individually famous as the bands they comprise, players like John Petrucci, Michael Romeo, Steve Vai, Kiko Loureiro Jordan Rudess and Mattias IA Eklundh round out a varied style of guitar players who all push the envelope musically and technically, constantly. Paul also uses Ibanez guitars and Line 6 amps exclusively, Planet Waves Cables and Dunlop picks.

It all started with piano in the tender years, with a jazz pianist father and classical piano teacher mother, the stage was set to be inundated with the absolute best from opposite spectrums of musicality. Whether it was listening to Glenn Miller records before recess or air conducting Bach and Stravinsky before his friends came over, Paul was constantly immersed in the language and ideals of music of all kinds. Constantly tagging along to his father's jazz trio gigs, or his mother's piano lessons, Paul picked up everything he heard like a sponge eventually developing good facilities on the piano by ear. Later, at his fathers' suggestion, he tried out an acoustic guitar that was sitting around the house and was taught the first few chords every child learns…it went nuts from there.

At about 16, headlong into the heavy metal phase with all his friends, his father brought home a video tape from a local consignment store. Still in the shrink wrap, this video showcased parts from the instructional videos of four virtuoso guitarists from the 1980's: Ritchie Kotzen, George Lynch, Paul Gilbert…and Yngwie Malmsteen. Having been learning Metallica songs for some time now (no small feat at that age), he was STUNNED. The guitar could be PLAYED like that?? Needless to say, he bought all four full tapes and learned everything he could from every one…practicing for hours and hours day and night every day. It all paid off by winning the first two rounds of the Guitarmageddon competition at Guitar Center.

Around 19 or so, the call of Theatre and Acting found a voice inside Paul and drew him to pursue it professionally. Having spent three full seasons with Virginia Musical Theatre, and portraying roles in several Discovery Channel documentaries, playing in bands and rock music went on hold for awhile.

These years proved crucial to developing a craving for emotion and thematic complexity in music that much of metal simply does not provide. Combining the aggression and power of heavy metal with the thematic beauty of Broadway and movie soundtracks seemed impossible…until he found the progressive metal mastery of Dream Theater one day. This style of music captivates audiences around the globe in and out, and Paul KNEW that this was it…it was where he needed to be.

Moving up to the DC metro area was now a new environment to explore music and finding new horizons. House of Echo represents a much more progressive side of Rock and Soul, and what styles and musicality Paul brings to the table is sure to launch into the next era.

Denise Johnson has played in the music industry for years, with the church being her strongest inspiration.  She formed an all girl gospel  band called Rejuvenation.  The band opened for artist like Helen Baylor, Angela & Veronica, Daryl Coley and More.  She has played for many churches and gospel organizations.

She eventually ventured into the secular industry where she was exposed to many artists and musicians.  She was asked to audition for the all girl band "Syxx", in which most of the girls where from the Salt N Pepper band called 4YP (4 Your Pleasure).  During the 4 year span,  they performed in front of Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight and many more.

She later formed another band called "LadyRhythm".   This group of talented lady musicians also performed all over and played at Casino's, festivals, and opened for many artists. 

She has played for Iyanla Vanzant's Inner Visions WorldWide Graduations, and was contracted to Nintendo to promote and perform their music program called  "WiiMusic" 3 years ago.  She is currently preparing to go on tour with a hip hop artist and plays for David Tauler Music as well as other great local bands.  She is a proud member of Women in Jazz.  and is currently preparing for a Spring Tour with national recording artist Yo Gotti artist.

She believes that honesty and humility are important in the music industry along with good work ethics.   She loves to inspire and encourage musicians to use their creativity and God given talents to reach the world.    She encourages them all to go into business for themselves, and DO what they love !!  CREATE MUSIC.

Limitations encourage creativity.

A good artist isn't afraid to throw away a good idea.

Don't take yourself too seriously.

Musical influences
Alison Mosshart
David Bowie
Dave Grohl
Jack White
Jimi Hendrix
John Fogerty
Justin Hawkins
Prince
Tom Morello

Music makes her heart go pitter-patter. She loves it when her voice is in the pocket, when she is lost in the moment, and when voices come together in an awe-inspiring harmony.

Growing up dancing in front of the TV and singing along to her favorite artists, it’s no surprise that music is a big part of her life.

Taylor first seriously thought about music in grade school while watching a high school musical. Inspired, she joined the school chorus and the rest is history.

Her classical background and a heart for soul make her a truly unique vocalist.

Kyra Koh, a classically trained soprano, has been singing in public for as long as she can remember. Her love of performing inspires her career in the arts. Kyra received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at the Catholic University of America. In 2003, she was a winner in the Urban Philharmonic's Paul Robeson Vocal Competition and was voted “audience favorite”. Kyra was a member of the Loudoun Lyric Opera and currently performs with the David Tauler Music Group.

It’s GOOOD TO BE A BASS PLAYER! I wouldn’t want to be on stage playing anything else!

I was born to groove! If it ain’t groovin, I ain’t interested!

I like to think that I found the bass, in reallity, it found me. My 1st instrument was the saxaphone which I played into highschool. I started cheating on the sax in the 6th grade, stealling moments with my cousin’s electric guitar but playing basslines on it. I was completely uninterested in strumming chords.

Backstory:

I am a transplant from Boston Mass. I got my first bass from a friend for $60 bucks. It was a fender jazz knock-off from Sears and I was thrilled. I began teaching myself how to play at that moment, a process that continues to this day, a journey with no end.

My cousin and I began making music at an early age (I was in the 6th grade). We figured out how to multi track by rigging up a couple of tape decks together, and a compulsion was born. My love for producing music and playing bass would only grow stronger as the years went by.

I started playing in bands and doing studio work in high school, playing everything from Funk, and Rock, to R & B and Gospel. I was exposed to a number of great musicians throughout the years learning valuable lessons from every person I worked with. I have traveled and recorded and produced an number of amazing artists.

My evolution as a musician began to move at light speed after high school and throughout college. I was now playing with accomplished musicians and vocalists that had tremendous talent. These are the people that had the biggest impact on my evolution as musician- much more than any single national recording artist.

My Inspirations are many and range in styles:

Cameo, Marcus Miller, Led Zepplin, Steely Dan, Queen, Fred Hammond, Sting, Miles Davis, Funkadelic, Arosmith, Foo Fighters, Jill Scott, Earth Wind & Fire, the Beatles, Stevie Wonder, The Jackson's, Jimmi Hendricks, Tribe Called Quest.

Here’s a partial list of my favorite bass players in no particular order:

Brad Baerwald. Studio 51.

The man behind the man.