Damian Giglio

Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lifestyles Page D1

By Jane McBride
The Enterprise




Meet Damian Giglio:

* Born and raised in Beaumont; parents are Sam and Cindy Giglio.
* Played a lot of sports in school, but begged his parents for a guitar; they thought he wouldn't sit still long enough to learn. He practiced three hours a day, proving them wrong.
* Took guitar lessons from Paul Steinman at Guitar and Banjo in Beaumont, where he later worked for four years.
* Communications graduate of University of North Texas.
* Influences include Tonic, Third Eye Blind, Motley Crue.
* Thinks a good song needs three elements: lyrics that tell a story, a good melody and a good hook in the chorus. (The Beatles are the best, he said.)

As an adolescent coming of age in the '90s, Damian Giglio believed the only thing better than being on MTV was becoming a rock star.

"When I was a kid, MTV had just started and music videos were very new. It was the thing everybody was watching," Giglio said. "I grew up watching all the musicians I idolized on MTV, so I wanted to see myself there one day."

Rock stardom is not yet a reality, but the Dallas singer-songwriter who grew up in Beaumont has made it to MTV.

Giglio's song, "The One" was featured on MTV's reality show, "The Hills" this past season.

The lyrics to "The One" are open to interpretation; they can say different things to different people, he said. Those who know him well know the song is about meeting his wife, Nicole.

While all his friends were finding their way into the music industry, he was waiting for his turn, Giglio noted on his MySpace page.

"My friend Taylor was on tour as the guitarist for Ryan Cabrera. Edgewater had gotten signed; Graham Colton had gotten signed and was opening for John Mayer and Kelly Clarkson; Blue October had gotten re-signed; My friend Heath was now the guitarist for Bo Bice from 'American Idol,' and on and on."

Giglio got the MTV gig through shared contacts, built through years of networking.

"You trade connections. It will help you and help them. I found someone on MySpace that got me a direct contact to (MTV). I submitted my stuff and didn't hear anything back for a month. Then out of the blue, they e-mailed me and gave me a phone call so they could get the contract to me," Giglio said.

The singer is hoping the interest the show generated for his song ("The One" has been downloaded from iTunes more than any of his others) will be a career-maker.

"The main thing it does is add credibility. MTV is endorsing it, saying it's worthy to be played on their network. Hopefully, that says something to record labels and makes it easier to get signed, which is my dream. I've been steadily working toward this for so many years."

The contract Giglio signed licensed his work to "The Hills"; more songs could appear in the future on any of the shows.

"I also signed with another music supervisor at MTV who produces 'Real World,' 'The Challenge,' 'Road Rules' and 'The Bad Girls Club.' I'm licensed now for any of those shows if they find a scene that matches one of my songs."

Has Giglio set a date at which he would he shelve his dream?

"I'm not giving up. There's no way," he said. "My songs have good messages and I want them heard. As long as I write songs people want to hear, I'll keep writing them."

Giglio said he currently is negotiating for a "big show" in Beaumont in May.

His music is available on iTunes and cdbaby.com



CAPTION:
Provided photo - jump page - Beaumont native Damian Giglio's song 'The One' was used on MTV's reality show 'The Hills.'


- By Jane McBride

Reviewer: Dana Melancon; KBTV NBC Channel 4

"We have a lot of musical talent in Southeast Texas; must be something in the water. But Have You Heard by Damian Giglio is the real deal. Its an instant hit with music delivered from the hip. Written by Damian, these songs will stand the test of time. Have You Heard is worth the buy!"

- KBTV NBC Channel 4

By:Tommy Mann Jr.

An Area Musician will realize just one of his many dreams Saturday when he officially releases his first record.
Damian Giglio is realeasing his Cd "Have You heard?" at Antones Saturday night. He is the opening Act for the Dallas based outfit, Flickerstick. Giglio said his style of music is Pop-Rock oriented and radio friendly, and comes from a variety of influences.
Giglio wrote all ten songs on "Have you Heard?" which has great meaning for him, especially the lyrics. " I feel the lyrics are the most important part and too many bands use generic lyrics these days." When Damian was in a previous band called Farmer Brown, one highlight was playing in front of 400,000 fans at Blockbuster Rockfest. In his other band, Plasma Jack, he often shared the stage with bands such as Bowling for Soup, Ryan Cabrera, Blue October, Flickerstick, Deep Blue Something and more.
Giglio was forced to relocate to Dallas when Hurricane Rita destroyed his home. He was back in forth from Beaumont to Dallas on weekends to complete the album. " Life took me on a wild ride to get these songs recorded. Its been nuts and I feel that I can handle alomost anything at this point!" To get a sneek peek at Giglio check out his website at www.myspace.com/damiangiglio - The Orange Leader

Music Resume

(940)453-1949

Summary

•My music was featured on the number one show on the Mtv network in 2007
•Marketed three independent CD’s to major radio and received airplay.
•Over 10 years of management, booking, advertising, and sales experience



Experience
•Have studied every music genre intensely for over 20 years
•Marketed my music to the biggest Music Supervisors at the Mtv network
•Established relationships with local and national music industry contacts
•Sold thousands of my own independent recordings world-wide
•Performed for 500,000 people at the “largest one day music festival” of all time
•Have over 10 years experience at scouting music talent
•Established relationships with local and nationwide media personalities, Tv shows, radio programs, newspapers, e-zines, merchandise companies, recording studios, recording engineers, professional musicians,
•Performed with major label talent such as Ryan Cabrera, Blue October, Bowling for Soup, The Nixons, Deep Blue Something,
•Performed and recorded concerts with the North Texas Men’s Choir

Education
Bachelor of Science-Communication
Double Minor in Music and Italian Studies
University of North Texas-Denton, Texas

Other Information
Eagle Scout, Co-Founder and Vice President of the Italian Club, Member of
Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Chapter Involvement Officer 1997-1998

Computer Skills
Microsoft Word, Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Publisher, Internet Tools
- dg

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January, 7 2008

Damian Giglio signs with MTV

When you think of recording artists who have emerged from Southeast Texas, country stars like Mark Chesnutt, Tracy Byrd, Clay Walker and George Jones usually top the list – yes, country is still king on the Texas Gulf Coast. However, singer/songwriter and Beaumont native Damian Giglio is steadily making a name for himself in the pop-rock genre.
Giglio, who now lives in Dallas, has a very distinctive and clean pop sound that is getting very favorable notice from music industry decision makers. In fact, Giglio’s single “The One” has been featured on MTV’s top-rated “The Hills” program. This boost to Giglio’s career occurred during Episode 5 of the hit TV show’s 2007 season. Since then, the talented Southeast Texan has signed contracts to have his music licensed for four additional MTV Network programs: “The Real World,” “Road Rules,” “The Challenge,” and “Bad Girl’s Club.”
“As a kid, I always dreamed of being on MTV; and with the recent licensing of my songs for their shows, I got the chance,” Giglio said.
In addition to his MTV exposure, Damian will be featured in an upcoming issue of Texas Music Magazine. Giglio’s journey from his childhood Beaumont bedroom to the stage and network television hasn’t been an easy one. “I began getting really serious about writing and singing after I had an ankle injury and could no longer play soccer as a teenager,” he said. “I had never performed or sang before putting a band together for the high school talent show. Once in College, I realized that in order for me to grow as a musician, I needed to branch out and get to a major metropolitan area. I played in countless bands before moving to Denton to attend the University of North Texas.”
For the next several years, Giglio endured the usual ups and downs that most musicians face. He enjoyed a successful run with a popular North Texas group called Plasma Jack, which, before breaking up, shared the stage with notable rock acts like Blue October, Ryan Cabrera, and Flickerstick. “Shortly after Plasma Jack split up, I ended up suffering an injury to my back. I needed a lot of physical therapy so I wound up back in Beaumont – a place that I hadn’t lived for almost 8 years,” Giglio explained. “Now that I was back in the bedroom where I grew up, I began what would be the most creative period of my life. I wrote 37 completed songs and countless random verses and choruses during the next two years.”
Giglio would undergo more trials and tribulations before releasing his critically acclaimed 2006 CD, “Have You Heard?” “Life took me on a wild ride to get these songs recorded. Now, I’m living in Dallas and my dreams are becoming a reality,” he said.
On Jan.5, Giglio played his first headlining gig, capping off a five-band concert at Dallas’ famed Firewater club. For samples or to purchase “Have You Heard?,” visit www.myspace.com/damiangiglio His CD is also available at Itunes. Damian Giglio is a very promising singer/songwriter and it’s great to see another Southeast Texan making a name for himself on a larger scale – Go Damian!

- Examiner-Damian signs w/ Mtv

Home > Life & Arts
3/24/08

By Robert Rich
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Independent musician Damian Giglio licenses his songs directly to music supervisors for airplay on shows like "The Hills."

Damian Giglio always dreamed of being on MTV, but when it finally happened, it was a little different than he had imagined.

The singer-songwriter from Beaumont, Texas, wasn't featured in a music video, but in an episode of the network's pseudo-reality show "The Hills." Giglio has subsequently signed other contracts with the network, licensing his music to be featured on four additional programs, including "The Real World" and "Road Rules."

"It all happened through different contacts I made online," Giglio said. "I was able to get to the music supervisor of 'The Hills,' and then about a month later I got the contract."

Giglio is representative of a new trend in today's music culture, one in which artists don't have to be on a major label, or even an indie one, to get recognized and gain fans. Giglio is currently unsigned and did not realize the situation when he went about marketing his music to MTV.

"I was just excited to be able to be on the show and get heard," Giglio said. "I did some research and started noticing just how big of a trend it really is."

No longer are label A&R people the sole decision makers when it comes to scouting and discovering new artists. With Web sites like Myspace and PureVolume, fans can search through new artist listings and find music they like all on their own.

"It's both good and it's bad," Giglio said. "It means there are a lot more people competing for contracts and audiences, but it helps guys like me get out there without a record label. I can promote my stuff."

Movies and television shows have become the new "it" medium for representing new artists, as recent situations highlight. Feist rose to prominence when her song "1234" was featured in an Apple commercial, and indie darlings The Shins can thank the movie "Garden State" for their ascension to fame.

"Everybody's just trying to find ways to stay afloat," Giglio said. "Even the major labels now are just trying to get by. The music business is in turmoil, and they really don't know what to do."

Giglio cites bands like Tonic and Third Eye Blind as the main influences for his sound.

"I really developed my sound by just listening to all these bands that I liked and trying to learn from how they write," Giglio said. "But of course I have my own styles and ideas, so it works."

Giglio, a self-proclaimed MTV junkie, said that he does indeed watch the shows his songs appear on, thanks in part to his wife.

"I do watch 'The Hills.' My wife is an avid fan," he said. "In fact, had I not been watching it the night my song was featured, I wouldn't have known it was even on there."

Giglio has several gigs planned, including a benefit for a 4-year-old leukemia patient in April, and is opening for the band Vallejo in May. Although he appreciates the opportunity to be featured on television, Giglio said his ultimate goal is still to get a record deal.

"The licensing opportunities that happened are just a positive step," he said. "I still want to do it the old-fashioned way, getting the record deal and putting in the hard work."

Giglio's debut album Have You Heard? is available via iTunes and CD Baby.


- University of Texas