Winter Roberts | Biography Having spent many years exploring the road less traveled Winter Roberts is a bohemian soul who has lived an unconventional and colourful life of extremes. Born in the UK, but raised in Ibiza, he went on to spend nine years based out of Hamburg and travelling Eastern Europe, becoming fluent in four European languages along the way. A sing songwriter since his teens, his early career was spent signed to a German record label called Teldec (later to become East West Records). From 87-89 Winter Roberts found himself performing all over the Eastern Block, winning the prestigious Sopot Song Festival in Poland, touring Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, and spending an amassed 6 months in East Germany over that two year period. He become somewhat of a local celebrity, with TV appearances including many appearances on Intervision (the eastern equivalent to Eurovision, but with 725 million viewers) and guest appearances on major Moscow TV shows. One of his most vivid memories of this time was landing in Moscow and being tailed by teenagers all singing his songs - his first indication of the power of media. Another memory from these years is of performing with his band in between live sex-shows on Grosse Freiheit, in Hamburg's renowned Red Light District, just one in a long list of bizarre and unusual gigs Winter Roberts has played in his time. Having released a number of singles across Germany and Eastern Europe, Winter Roberts decided to come back to the UK, as times in Hamburg had gotten hard with the effect of the unification of Germany showing strongly on the housing market and later, the economy as a whole. After nine years in Hamburg speaking only German, which he learnt from the street up, his reception in London was comically confused. Introduced to the likes of Boy George as 'My friend from Hamburg' by a good mutual friend, Miles was mistaken for being a German, who spoke surprisingly good English, but with a distinctly dodgy accent. This was never spoken about, and years went by before anyone discovered the truth. During his first few years on the London music scene Winter Roberts met up with and worked with an inspiring crowd of musicians, including Kevin Armstrong (Guitarist / Producer to David Bowie and Keziah Jones amongst others), Blair Mackichan (who won a Brit Award for Will Young's 'Your Game') and JC 001 (Worlds Fastest Rapper '92 and Beat-boxer extraordinaire). Endless Open Mic Sessions and pub gigs ensued, countless private parties, a bizarre list of duet encounters with the likes of Sir Tim Rice, Sir Andrew Lloyd-Webber and even with Jimmy Tarbuck at his house singing Oldies together on his hearth! Residencies at hip hangouts including the world-famous Cuckoo Club in W1 and Mamilanji on Chelsea's Kings Road have helped build up loyal fan base of twenty and thirty something 'Londoners About Town'. Recently signed to independent record label Sidewalk 7, Winter Roberts is launching Daymaker, a live album, recorded earlier this year at well-known music venue The Bedford. Daymaker clearly reflects Winter Roberts exceptional singing and song writing talents, whilst illustrating his live-performance skills, which are second-to-non. An understated artist, Winter Roberts has fine-tuned his musical talents over 3 decades and his style is a subtle mix of 'feel-good' acoustic songs to sing-a-long to and touching melodies that grab at the heartstrings. His lyrics reflect his articulate and somewhat philosophical take on life, whilst possessing a wit and honesty rarely expressed by the new school of songwriters launching on today's music scene. Having met his heroes, Johnny Cash and Jose Feliciano, Winter Roberts may be too modest to consider himself on the same plane as these musical legends, but those who witness his live performances are rarely in any doubt that he is continuing their legacy and will one day be regarded as a musical great. Winter Roberts | Releases 'Shoo-Lallelujah...' Self-released acoustic album with Stephen Dunphy on Spanish Guitar, this was recorded in a small basement and went on to travel the world, acquiring great acclaim from music lovers, the highest accolade coming from Lord Henry Cobbold of Knebworth House. "- 'Head in You Cloud' is of course, the best love song written in many years... - the CD has been the soundtrack to the summer at Knebworth for 2005" Sidewalk 7 Independent Record Label Sidewalk 7 signed Winter Roberts to record for them in 2005, after discussing new ways of entering a market already saturated with pre-fab acts and multi million pound strategies. 'Escapado' A four track Taster came from a recording session with the great Steve Brown (Wham, George Michael, Manic Street Preachers), to be used for promoting a sunnier approach to the radio waves. Comprising of a 14-piece band including Strings and Horns, this was placed strategically to a warm reception in response to its Island-Style attitude. Two singles released: 'Head in Your Cloud' b/w 100 Miles a Minute. March 20th '06. Received well at the regional stations, this track was picked up and played heavily over a fortnight by Steve Wright on BBC Radio 2, raising national interest for this 'newcomer'. It still however failed to chart... 'Sha La La La in My Life' the ballsy, tongue in cheek Caribbean opener to 'Escapado' was released on June 24th. It is still receiving a response never before experienced by a new artist on BFBS 1 & 2 (British Forces Broadcasting Service) to a worldwide audience of 200 million, with British Regional and National Radio picking up on it as we speak. The song is about where expectation meets escapism, something Winter Roberts is a great believer in. He says: "A lot of people find themselves in jobs, or situations, that they feel isn’t really them. It's only the power of one's imagination that either gets you through it, or gets you out of it!" Humour, he believes is as important as anything else in the medicine chest. Daymaker - Live Album Whenever Winter Roberts rehearsed with his mighty talented band (surprisingly not that often), he always missed an audience not being there. Not because being cooped up in a room was strange to him, but more because everything already sounded performance-perfect from the first run-throughs and it seemed a shame it wasn't being heard by anybody. The concept of recording the awaited album with a live audience was born. Winter Roberts | Releases (cont.) With two weeks preparation, a club was booked and 14 songs were recorded and filmed live to an audience of 200. It was a bit of a gamble (after all, ANYTHING could have happened on the day!), but the result is 'Daymaker', a cross between the 'best of' and encouraging new material from this singer-songwriter. The CD is due out on September 18th 2006; A DVD of the event will be up for release at Christmas time. Web: www.winterroberts.com
