Beautiful Losers CD

Outsider singer-songwriter Simon Joyner has been putting out beautiful, distinctive music since the early 1990s, and this compilation, which collects singles he recorded between 1994 and 1999, is one of the best representations of his art. Quirky, emotive, and capable of striking a perfect balance between thoughtful sensitivity (especially in his moving lyrics) and punky, ragged passion, Joyner is a freak-folkie who both embodies that label and stands well outside of it. BEAUTIFUL LOSERS is full of true troubadour music: honest, unadorned, and totally individual.

The Beautiful Losers are the musical duo made up of singer/songwriter Raj Ramayya and guitarist Brett Boyd.  Self-described as “electro-acoustic Indian alternative rock”, The Beautiful Losers’ music focuses on vocal melodies accompanied by electric and acoustic guitars and adds elements of traditional East Indian instrumentation and world music.  TBL are influenced by classic artists as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, The Eagles, U2, Nirvana and Fleetwood Mac yet still represent the modern sound of artists like Travis, Coldplay, Nittin Sawhney, and Radiohead. TBL’s live show features Ramayya and Boyd on vocals and guitars accompanied by musicians on bass, drums, violin, and sometimes the use of digital backtracks. Recent activities include playing the Fuji Rock Festival 2005 in Japan, appearing in San Francisco at the Radio Alice Emerging Artist Showcase and the Recording Academy (Grammy) Showcase, and working with Amnesty International in their Songs For Human Rights and Rock For Human Rights events.  TBL also appear frequently at Japanese animation conventions in the U.S. where they are gaining popularity in the anime community.  Besides their frequent activities in San Francisco and Tokyo, TBL have also toured Seattle and have pending dates in the L.A and Orange county areas.  In addition, TBL are making roads into Canada and performed at Canadian Music Week 2005. The Beautiful Losers’ latest CD “Peace, Love, & Xmas” was released in Japan November 23, 2005 on their own Beautiful Records, and has received critical acclaim and frequent broadcast on Japanese radio and television. Ramayya and Boyd recorded their first full-length CD in San Francisco with producer John Rewind, and it was released in Japan on March 23, 2005 by Neoplex Records and Virgin Music Japan.  The album features a host of distinguished guest artists including Pete Sears (Jefferson Starship, Rod Stewart), Habib Khan (the premier Indian sitarist in North America), Bobby Black (steel guitar virtuoso for Commander Cody and Asleep At The Wheel), and Eric Gorfain (James Blunt, Christina Aguilera, Page & Plant).TBL`s song "Alien Sun" has been featured on National Public Radio’s syndicated show "All Songs Considered" where it received rave reviews.  Alien Sun is also now in regular rotation on Tokyo’s number one radio station (76.1 Inter FM), and the Alien Sun video is being in rotation on MTV Japan and Sony Music On! TV along with their second video “Fairweather Friend” from the hit Japanese TV Tokyo drama Deep Love. Ramayya and Boyd often perform in Japan where they do various work in music.  Ramayya is well known for his collaborations with Yoko Kanno having sung and written the lyrics for Strangers on the “Wolf’s Rain” soundtrack.  He also sings “Ask DNA” and penned the lyrics for “Cosmic Dare” on the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, and is credited with voice acting work including the Biohazard game “Heroes Never Die”. Boyd’s work in Japan includes producing and writing lyrics for artists such as Japanese punk super heroes Hi-STANDARD and Hawaiian 6.  He is also the guitarist for the Japanese digital hardcore band Wiggle, which is known for their eccentric pieces created for the TV ad campaign which launched Toyota’s revolutionary bB car (Scion XB in North America).  For more information visit:  www.thebeautifullosers.net and www.myspace.com/thebeaut