Gypsy Soul

"Cilette Swann's voice is haunting and Roman Morykit's musicianship is superb. Their music stirs the soul and moves the spirit." - Monica Rizzo, PEOPLE Magazine

”Four stars.” “...Catchy, folk-based pop/rock songs with inventive arrangements suggested what a second Buckingham Nicks LP might have sounded like if Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had not joined Fleetwood Mac.” - ALL MUSIC GUIDE

"Gypsy Soul is one of the most brilliantly instrumented and vocally adept bands alive and kicking. The most original material in the folk-rock scene today, totally unique and captivating." - Orange County WEEKLY

"A gorgeous mix of rich female folk, pop, jazz with touches of bluegrass. This is highly enriched folk that nourishes the dried up gardens of the soul." - CD BABY

THE PLAYERS:
Cilette Swann: lyricist and singer. Born in Canada of S. African and Irish heritage.
Roman Morykit: composer musician and producer. Born in England of Ukrainian and Italian heritage

SOUNDS LIKE:
A cross between Sheryl Crow and Eva Cassidy meets Coldplay and Fleetwood Mac.

Click HERE to download a PDF of the full Bio.

Back In 1990, Cilette Swann and Roman Morykit were both searching for something.
Imagine being an American in Paris learning to sing in French, phonetically. That’s how Cilette began her career, singing in Paris jazz clubs. Imagine living in London, being signed to major recording contract with A&M Records, and watching it fall out from under you, mid-recording. That’s how Roman found himself needing a change.

Both were feeling creatively stifled and through a series of life’s coincidences, they found each other in Edinburgh, Scotland. Recognizing a musical kinship, they started writing songs together and Gypsy Soul was born. Their musical relationship blossomed into love and the two got married in November 1991.

Earlier that year, on a flight back to Scotland after visiting Cilette’s family in the US, the pair met a Los Angeles movie producer. After chatting about the industry, they ended up buying her a train ticket as she had no local currency. Little did they know that this gesture would result in her setting up numerous meetings with Cannon Pictures and others, which inspired a move to LA.

More...

For the next few years they wrote more songs and cultivated their sound playing in LA venues such as The Troubadour and Luna Park. Then with the financial support of friends and family, they decided to record their debut CD, “Test Of Time” in 1995. While in the studio, Cilette was working for the French camera company, Aaton who were so impressed with the music, that they offered equipment - free of charge - to produce a music video. With 14 volunteers and donations from other LA production companies, Cilette’s assistant, a budding filmmaker, directed the band’s first video for the single, Silent Tears. Inspired by the duo’s passion, a friend, Michael Eames of PEN Music Group, Inc., financed the pressing of the first 1000 CDs.

Armed with their audio and visual wares, the duo started to tour and attracted the attention of a small independent record company. They released the CD nationally and Silent Tears hit the Top 40 AC radio charts with artists such as Celine Dion and Brian Adams. However, just as the single was taking off, the record company ran out of money and the duo’s career was stalled.

Again, friends and family supported the band as they sat out the remainder of their contract for a year and wrote more songs. Roman and Cilette then made the decision to start their own record company, marking the birth of Off The Beaten Track Recordings. They secured national distribution and released their sophomore effort, “Sanctuary.”

Since that time, Gypsy Soul has released ten albums along with a live DVD recorded at the Triple Door in Seattle. They have sold over 1.5 million downloads worldwide as well as over 120,000 CDs in the US alone. Michael Eames, who has now been their publisher for over 15 years, has licensed their music in TV shows and movies which have aired over all over the world. Besides worldwide digital release and physical release in the US, the duo's recordings have also been physically issued in Korea, South Africa and Japan, (where Silent Tears was chosen as the theme to a popular TV show).

In 2008, Gypsy Soul’s fans donated over $27,000 in funding for the duo’s 9th CD, “Wanderlust.” Roman and Cilette continue to tour the Western States and Europe, playing venues from coffee houses to art and wine festivals and theaters that seat anywhere from 200 to 2000 people. Despite their unique, multicultural sound, the duo has managed to earn a Top 40 hit at AC Radio, a Top 5 hit in the International New Age charts and a Top 10 hit on the Folk DJ charts winning numerous independent music awards (including, Lilith Fair and Just Plain Folks) along the way.

Recognizing the generous support they have received, Cilette and Roman pay it forward at every opportunity. They continue to produce annual fundraisers for food banks, bereavement centers, alcohol recovery centers and AIDs clinics as well as music career workshops at colleges. Is this a rags to riches story? Not at all, but it is a story of perseverance, belief and loving support from their friends, family and fans. A true American story.