John Dyer
johndyer@papertrumpet.com
www.papertrumpet.com
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"One Among" (2000) is the solo debut from singer/ songwriter John Dyer. "One Among"'s fourteen original tunes were written in Fort Worth, Texas...recorded (with Mike Smith) at Seventh Starr Studio (kind of a funky little shack on a hill) in Parkersburg, West Virginia...and mastered by Brent Lambert at The Kitchen in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The CD features a 16 page booklet of photographs, original drawings, and handwritten lyrics. Songs include: "It Just So Happens", "Better Off", "Lava Fair", & Dyer's signiture "Initial Canoe". Dyer creates an "orchestrated porch" sound with layers of acoustic and electric guitars, harmony vocals, pump organ and hand percussion.
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SELECTED QUOTES
* "John Dyer's ONE AMONG will get under your skin in a good way...cryptic,
stream-of-consciousness lyrics...deceptively complex arrangements...a
compelling achievement." -Rick Cornell - THE MUSIC MONITOR
* "Transcendental musings. . . where mysticism meets the pickle barrel.
John Dyer puts an element of danger into the singer-songwriter tradition."
Charles Jones - Synergen
* "Sort of a rustic folk-art eccentric, with a playful vocal style. Not nutty
in a lost, Syd Barrett kind of way; more of a warm, intuitive approach to
stream-of consciousness lyrics." - Tad Dreis - Musician
* "Well constructed compositions, infectious melodies with intelligent lyrical
content...an engaging delivery, and outstanding musicianship. John Dyer is
a modern day songsmith of the finest caliber." - Rick Ramirez - Temple Ball
Productions
* "I've lived in this town of musicians (Chapel Hill, NC) for six years and
John's music is the first that I feel comfortable sandwiching in mixed
tapes between the likes of Dylan and David Byrne. He's not there yet, but
he will be." - Matthijs Schoots, author of IF NOT A HERO
* "John Dyer plays the guitar and then he takes it higher, and then he takes
your breath away." - Ruy Burgos-Loéce - Writer & Translator
* "Dyer's rhythmic meditations hum with awareness & good humor. A gentle,
sophisticated & deeply-flowing talent...candy for the soul" - theXpo
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BIOGRAPHY
John Dyer is a vocalist, guitarist, and lyricist whose ventures include solo and ensemble performances as well as composing and performing for live theater & dance productions. In New York he has performed solo at the Knitting Factory, Living Room and Galapagos Art Space. He is the recipient of two Meet The Composer Grants through the Home For Contemporary Theatre & Art for Lake Simons’ What's Inside the Egg? (2003) and the Simons/ Dyer adaptation of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (2006), He has received Dallas/Fort Worth Critic's Forum Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Design for the Original Music of Alice’s…(2003) and for Outstanding New Play ‘03 –‘04 for Up in Auntie’s Attic (A Gentle Haunting) written & directed by Johnny Simons. Collaborations include North Carolina’s Paper Hand Puppet Intervention & Choreo Collective and New York's Thread Dance Theatre. Solo recordings include One Among (2000), Phantom Fire (2003) and his new album Gostayplay (2004) that was named Best Album Finalist (Folk/ Singer Songwriter category) at the 2006 Independent Music Awards. Dyer’s "Hot Owl" recieved an Honorable Mention for Best Song/Performance in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition.
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AWARDS/ GRANTS
* Independent Music Awards 2006. Finalist - Best Album “John Dyer -
Gostayplay” (Folk/ Singer-Songwriter).
* Meet the Composer Grant. Sponsored by HERE Theatre - New York, NY for
“Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” 2006
* Jim Henson Foundation Seed Grant - Awarded to Lake Simons, in collaboration
with Composer John Dyer for “White Elephant” (working title) 2006
* International Songwriters Competition 2005. Finalist/ Honorable Mention Best
Song Performance “John Dyer - Hot Owl”
* ASCAPLUS AWARD 2005-2006
* Dallas - Fort Worth Theatre Critic’s Forum Award for Outstanding New Play
‘03 -’04: “Up in Auntie’s Attic (A Gentle Haunting)” Written & Directed by
Johnny Simons. Music by John Dyer
* ASCAPLUS AWARD 2004-2005
* Top Ten Indie Release of 2003/4 on “Off the Beat-n-track” Radio Show:
“John Dyer - Gostayplay”
* Jim Henson Foundation Grant - Awarded to Lake Simons, in
collaboration with Composer John Dyer, for “Alice’s Adventures in
Wonderland” 2003/2004
* Outstanding Achievement in Design - Original Music for "Alice’s Adventures
in Wonderland" Dallas - Fort Worth Theatre Critic's Forum Award 2003
* Meet the Composer Grant - in conjunction with HARP (Here Artist in
Residency Program)- Home For Contemporary Theater & Art/ HERE Theater,
NY,NY - for "What's Inside the Egg" 2002/2003
* Finalist – North Carolina Songwriters Co-Op Songwriting Contest 2000
* Best Folk/Acoustic Group -Drama Tiki- 1998 – Ft. Worth Weekly – Ft. Worth,
TX
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DISCOGRAPHY
* John Dyer - "Gostayplay" 2004
* John Dyer - "Up in Auntie's Attic (A Gentle Haunting)" 2004 Music for a play / with Words by Johnny Simons
* John Dyer - "Phantom Fire" 2003
* APB Records Compilation - "Triangle Tracks" 2001
* John Dyer - "One Among" -2000
* John Dyer - "Mighty Vivid Cricket +" -2000
* Drama Tiki - "Live Selections" -1997
* Drama Tiki - "Pluses and Uncuts" -1997- Out takes and uncut tunes from "Sweet & Sour Change" sessions
* Drama Tiki - "Sweet and Sour Change" -1997
* Drama Tiki - "Settle" -1995
* Drama Tiki - "Peeking" -1992
* John Dyer - "Dreams, Riffs and Instruments" -1992- Music from "The Overcoming of Despair" (a play by William Clark III)
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more at: www.papertrumpet.com
contact: johndyer@papertrumpet.com
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