Tristen Shields releases debut album 'Migrations'

An unfamiliar, unique intro brings listeners into the album with a static digital track blended into piano which eases its way into guitar and a soft, soothing voice and hints of cello. 

Migrations, Tristen Shields' debut album, available in stores May 25, has transparent layers of emotion that evoke intense feelings in a seductive and secret fashion.  

"I am trying to convey a sense of space and intimacy with my music and this record I feel represents that aim," said Shields. 

Shields' music uses a haunting fusion of traditional folk-style guitar and nouveau electronic beats.  

"I decided to record the album in the fall of '02 based on the fact that I could not take my career to the next level without a record to support," said Shields. 

His lyric style is built more in an abstract verse style than stereotypical overt messages. 

Shields describes his lyrics as thought feelings and experience liked together by a common emotion or mood.  

"My songs are rarely about just one thing of experience. It's a more comprehensive expression of myself and the world at large," said Shields. 

The lyrics can stand alone on a page without his full breed of accompaniment. 

He considers himself a writer and a lyrical fanatic first and a musician second. 

Shields attributes his love of both electronic and folk music to the fusion sound of his music. 

"I wanted to take the electro/acoustic thing to a different place. Much of what had been done before was a 'sprinkling' of electronic effects," said Shields.  

"What we wanted to do was fuse the two genres together in a musical coexistence - the acoustic and the electronic are dependent upon each other for the record to work." 

For his electronic expertise and recording style, Shields chose Michael Bond of Datawaslost Records to record, mix and master the album that took exactly one year to complete. 

"[Michael] and I met at Cody's [Café] and based on his ideas I knew he was the guy," said Shields. 

"I really wanted a complete departure from the  

average singer/songwriter record and he was the only guy I met that could help me with that." 

Aside from electronics and folksy guitars and harmonicas Shields does appeal to some part of every music fan with three more up-beat, pop-friendly songs. "Drama Queen" is bright and fanatically catchy with layers of bongo and digital snare drums mixed into Siamese guitar tracks that make you want to sing along.  

Shields considers "Drama Queen" to be his most accessible song on the album. 

"['Drama Queen'] is one of my rare endeavors into a type song based mostly on a failed relationship... and its just so darn catchy," said Shields. 

The record ends with what Shields deems as his masterpiece, "The Nightingale." 

The digital effects built into the mainframe of the song build a tension until the song begins with a down stroke of guitar washed with cello and female vocal accompaniment behind it. 

"'The Nightingale' is a microcosm of what I try to do with my music. Intimacy, space, emotive content, digital landscape - it's all there," said Shields. 

Shields has been working the past three months to build a promotional base for his upcoming album, including the CD release party at York Street Café. 

"I have been doing hours worth of research, making phone calls, sending e-mails: meeting with attorneys, booking agents, promoters and venues, contacting the movie and television industry, etc. You name it and I have contacted them," said Shields. 

Shields said the best thing about finishing the album is getting to see his vision come to fruition. 

He is satisfied with how the final product turned out and already has plans for his next endeavor. "I am pleased with the record, which is the most a perfectionist can expect. I don't hate it. Next time I will use more live drums mixed in with the digital variety," said Shields. 

Shields has a way of combining intimacy and intensity delicately and meticulously so that it gets into listeners heads. 

"When your music reaches into someone's life and they can take comfort in knowing that someone else has been there too - that's the best thing about writing," said Shields. 

Shields has been touring in neighboring cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Nashville to gain exposure. He also has plans for a U.K. tour with stops in Glasgow, London and Dublin this summer.  

Shields will be performing with a full band the night of the CD release made up of musicians that contributed on the album. 

The CD release party is at 9 p.m. Friday, May 21 at York Street Café in Covington.  

There is a $10 cover that includes a copy of the Shield's new CD.