Acoustic roots rock duo favorite returns to Snohomish venue
Published 1:30 am Thursday, October 18, 2018
Emotions get in the way when fans try to explain what Gypsy Soul means to them.
One such fan, Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater’s Sharon “Corkie” Cordisco, gave it her best shot anyway.
“I have so many emotions about that duo,” said Cordisco, the theater’s manager. “They are the two of the most endearing artists that I’ve ever personally met. Our audiences love their music.”
Love is an understatement for the Thumbnail Theater. The acoustic roots-rock duo — singer-songwriter Cilette Swann and multi-instrumentalist Roman Morykit — is returning for its seventh appearance at the Snohomish theater Oct. 20.
The feeling is mutual. Swann and Morykit, from Jacksonville, Oregon, say they keep coming back to Tim Noah Thumbnail Theater because it offers an intimate and personable place to share their music.
“It’s awesome when you play in front of people who want to hear you,” Morykit said.
Swann and Morykit met after both moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue music in the late ’80s. Swann, a Canada native, previously sang with famed French jazz artist Alain Mion while living in Paris; the British-born Morykit was a studio musician and former bassist for U.K. band Raising Cain.
“I had heard Cilette sing, and that was pretty much the convincer,” Morykit said.
They began writing and recording music together, blending Swann’s nearly four-octave range with Morykit’s composing virtuosity. They also fell in love and married in 1991.
In nearly three decades, Gyspy Soul has released 14 albums and have had their songs featured in the TV shows “Felicity” and “90210” and the 2003 film “Quicksand.”
They also made it to the Billboard Top 40 with “Silent Tears,” and won the International Acoustic Music Awards in the Folk/Americana/Roots category and the Independent Music Award for Best Cover Song with “Angel From Montgomery” by Bonnie Raitt and John Prine.
Their popular blend of roots rock, blues and jazz — with themes of spirituality, love and unity in the lyrics — has kept them on tour.
Not bad for a duo that independently produces its music. While they’ve had opportunities to sign record deals, they value the creative freedom they have without one.
“We realized that it was only the two of us who are going to have our best interests at heart,” Swann said.
It’s also allowed them to connect with their fans on personal levels. If they were backed by a label and hopping from booking to booking, crowds would start to feel anonymous.
“That’s the gift of being independent — you get to have those deep relationships,” Swann said.
Evan Thompson: 360-544-2999, ethompson@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @evanthompson
If you go
What: Gypsy Soul
Where: Tim Noah Thumnbail Theater, 1211 Fourth St., Snohomish
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 20
Tickets: $20
More: 360-568-9412 or www.gypsysoul.com
