Biography

 

My music is different than anything that is on the radio or that you will find in a store. I called it Contemporary Music. It's honest, thought-provoking, infused with passion, dedication and hope. I am a classically trained Bari-Tenor Lead Vocalist who can belt with strength, conviction and purpose. I call it a vocal attack. I am a voice teacher and an expert in close harmony, having directed, arranged and conducted The Wheaton College Gentlemen Callers All-Male A Cappella Group for 7 years. I have been in and out of relationships my entire life. I have learned the hard way that you have to love yourself . As The Buddha taught, you must Be A Light Unto Yourself. My music is a testiment to that. It is about fostering inner strength despite impossible circumstances. It is about investing time in yourself so that you can gradually become a better, more patient and compassionate human being. And it's about the Cosmic, Sacred Love between two souls, and the steps that it takes to find both the right person and yourself.

 

My music is complicated - harmoncially as well as lyrically. To be honest not a lot of people can follow my changes. I went to college majoring in English: Dramatic Literature and Theater and Double-Minored in Music: Theory, Composition and Voice. I'm used to arranging counterpoint for a 16-part vocal ensemble. I think in terms of close harmony, lines of motion and artful dissonance.

 

I wrote this album for my wife (who I have never met) and my unborn children as a way of communicating with their souls... as I wait to reunite with them here on Earth.

 

As my MySpace Profile states: I am an Enigma wrapped in a Riddle, surrounded by Paradox interlaced with the complex Yin-Yang Harmony of the 12 Tone Scale. Zen Master, Master of Metaphysical Philosophy. I am a Rock Star.

 

I'm influenced by some of the greatest vocalists of our age: Chris Carrabba and Jason Gleason of Further Seems Forever, Sting, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Adam Duritz - the epic lead singer of Counting Crows (perhaps the most underrated band in America), Jonatha Brooke, Stevie Wonder - But as a person I am motivated by people who make change: His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Gandhi... and just as people: Charles Bukowski, Anthony Bourdain...

 

Purpsose

 

I am a Lightworker - a Reiki Practitioner who heals by touch. I am on a quest to find my soul mate. This music is the soundtrack to my life. Loss, failure, redemption and triumph... The heartbeat of the world.

 

Discography

 

I am about to release my debut solo album - The Lightworker's Union, which chronicales my life as a Boston-based Singer/Songwriter over the past 10 years since I graduated from Wheaton College in Norton MA. I have streaming tracks posted on my MySpace www.myspace.com/dante34 www.purevolume.com/markdantetroiano www.reverbnation.com/markdantetroiano

 

Gear

 

When it's just me playing out at a small club like "In A Pig's Eye" in Salem MA I play my Guild Jumbo Acoustic Cutaway. I use 12-Gague Elixir Polyweb Strings. It's really an amazingly honed and brilliant instrument. I have alwayd been an admirer of Jonatha Brooke (formerly of The Story) and that is the model that she plays on tour. When recording at The Starbase Studio in Malden MA we use Sonar 6 PC Software and a large condenser mic to capture the magic. In that situation I can be found playing a classic White Fender Stratocaster or a new Parker Fly electric guitar. On some tracks I play my other guitarist Rich Mascia's Ovation 12-String. I also write all of the basslines on a Grey 5-String Ibanez Sound Gear Bass. For Piano / Keyboard I have a full-sized Alesis QS7 71 Key Midi Sythesizer. When I'm laying back in a club and someone else takes the stage, I play the Djembe or perhaps the Mandolin and add some lush intervowen harmonies.

 

Stage

 

As far as stage size is concerned, we have a stage that I play out on every Wednesday Night at Avenue C in Malden MA 8:30pm - 2:00am, and another at Casey's Bar in Somerville MA, every Thursday Night 8:30pm - Midnight. I don't think it's about the size of the stage... it's about the passion that you bring to the song. I'm far happier to sing to one person in my bedroom who is truly listening than to 20,000 people who are not, and I have done both.

 

Studio Musicians:

 

Mark Dante Troiano - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar (Guild), Electric Guitar, Piano

Don Schulze - Lead Guitar, Bass, Midi Keyboard Sequencing & Drum Sequencing, Studio Engineer - The Starbase

Rich Mascia - Lead Guitar

David Sartory - Bass / Studio Engineering - Moppet Music

David Griffin - Trumpet

Jenny Jones - Violin

Andy Friedrich - Jazz Guitar

Jeff Pearlstein - Djembe, Dumbek, Conga

 

Touring Band:

 

Mark Dante Troiano - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar (Guild), Electric Guitar, Piano

Lauren Bateman - Bass / Drums

Joe Bellitti - Bass / Drums

Jack Norcoss - Lead Guitar

Chuck Whiting - Hammond B-3 Keyboard

 

Photography:

 

Rick Macomber

Patrica Foxx