Album Notes

The Story of Waveland

The concept behind Waveland is to create music that makes an emotional connection with people. The kind of music that can be both delicate and intense, that transcends all labels and boundaries.

Shane Kraus, Chris Ruffolo, and Sean O'Malley all grew up in the suburbs of Chicago. Shane and Chris met in high school where they became friends and musical collaborators. Their musical expedition took them from Chicago to San Francisco and then eventually to Los Angeles, all the while playing in several different bands. Sean went straight to Los Angeles after a brief post-college stint in Chicago...with a guitar and a notebook full of songs to pursue a solo career.

One late night in the summer of 2003, Shane heard one of Sean's songs played on local radio station KCRW and somehow tracked him down. At the same time Chris was just moving into town looking for a new creative endeavor. Well, one thing led to another and pretty soon the three sat in a room together. After a few lengthy jam sessions and great deal of esoteric musical interaction, Waveland was on their way.

"When we first got together I was really drawn to the potential of creating something full of passion and guts that was truly unique...and when I felt how our three different musical styles blended, I knew we had something special" says Sean.

After hours of debate about what to call their new project, they all decided on the name Waveland, naming themselves after a street that runs through the Wrigleyville neighborhood in Chicago. A tribute to their roots and to the source of their musical inspiration.

With a fast growing fanbase and the recent completion of their self-titled EP, Waveland is primed and ready to burst on to the scene.