TARA DYER STOYLE: Sharing pieces of your soul

Music has played many roles in my life: therapist, friend and lifesaver, just to name a few. And no matter what emotion you’re feeling or what you might be going through, there’s a song for that.

The classics are my “go-to” — Etta James, John Lennon, Gregg Allman — beautiful voices of musical ghosts haunting me with their melodies and lyrics. Then there are the living legends: Bob Dylan, Robert Plant, Bruce Springsteen and Elton John. Artists who changed the face of music and history, all while writing and performing songs that are the stuff that will shake your soul if you allow it to.

I also have a great love for new music, struggling bands with these things in common: each comprises talented musicians and songwriters, each with a sound that reflects influences of the greats but with a unique, modern twist, each undiscovered by the masses but far more deserving of the attention and affection bestowed upon the cookie-cutter sound-alikes that flood the radio waves.

I work in radio and as the person in charge of what’s being played, I feel a certain responsibility to share new talent when I find it. Not only to take them a step further in their musical journey or just to add a great song to our playlist, I share these musicians’ works because I don’t want anyone to miss an opportunity to hear the artistry that comes from people who play and write music not because they have a multimillion-dollar deal but because they truly love what they do and if they didn’t write the lyrics down, set them to music and play them for someone they would languish … like a painter who paints a thousand masterpieces that no one ever sees. The beauty must be shared.

People often ask me how I find these relatively unknown bands. Occasionally friends share them. One thing I have learned in my 48 years is that no matter how much I think I know about music, there is always someone who knows a lot more. Those people have introduced me to some amazing bands and for that, I am grateful.

Rolling Stone magazine is a good source if you’re searching for new artists of any genre. Online or in their magazine, you’ll find a list in every edition. Periodically, I search youtube for new music. I also pay close attention to festival posters. There are always some bands listed (in the smallest print) that I have never heard of.

There are a few discoveries I’ve made recently that I think are worth a listen. Hailing from the great state of Texas, Texas Radio has a rough and rowdy rock sound that I have difficulty comparing to any band I’ve ever heard. Also from Texas, A Red Arrow sums it up when they call themselves “The best rock band you’ve never heard.” From Lockport, N.Y., mix a little Three Dog Night and CCR and you get Handsome Jack. Glorietta, from Glorietta, N.M., is another band with an interesting sound that should be heard and shared.

I read somewhere that when a person shares a song with you, they are sharing a piece of their soul. These artists and their music are now a piece of mine and I hope will soon become a piece of yours.

Tara Dyer Stoyle is the Operations Manager of Rock 105 radio, WFFM 105.7 and 100.9, in Tifton. She has been an on-air personality for 22 years.

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