Artist description Alive and well, fronting a new state of mind Stephen Gause and his band Sol Gratis come soaring to life from a year’s work in the studio bearing a product worthy of the new century. These Nashville-based musicians have crafted an album that revives a passion needed in modern music with something fresh and edgy. Beautiful Time is a lyrical life-discovery wrapped in soaring melodies and thick vocal harmonies. The production mixes guitar-driven anthems with a scattering of vintage keyboard sounds from moog, to melotron, to rhodes -but all with a modern twist. Aggressive, groove-centered drumming and highly melodic bass playing can be found along with the occasional addition of raw loop programming, classy piano, and rich string arrangements. The songs are sometimes aggressive but never overwhelming, occasionally introspective but comfortably communicated, mostly fun, and always positively driven. It is a rock album but still bears the singer/songwriter touch of Stephen's roots. Beautiful Time is a self-contained custom album proving the talents of these young men.

Music Style Their sound is rock in production with pop melodies but still bears the singer/songwriter touch of Stephen's folk roots.

Musical Influences Bearing an original and unique sound, Stephen respectfully hints a myriad of influences ranging from U2, to Neil Finn, to Pink Floyd, to Jeff Buckley, to Radiohead, to Toad the Wet Sprocket, to Sting, and the Beatles.

Similar Artists This newest record is a little U2 with the edge of Radiohead and the pop vibe of Vertical Horizon.

Artist History Stephen's debut album, Bury Me, was released in spring of 1997 with regional success. This album received a positive review in the INDIE section of CCM magazine, July 1997. The album found its success at the grassroots with Stephen’s passion for follk/rock song-writing. Losing the Rat Race was a track from this record included on Gate Record’s benefit project for the homeless, The Gleaning. This album was fueled by Gate Record’s own Silers Bald as well as Eli and Wes King. Beautiful Time is the sophomore release with the same team of producers/band/project members assembled to complete this newest venture. The aspiring musicians and producers met while completing studies in music and music business at Belmont University in Nashville. Stephen and his band toured the college, club, and coffeehouse scene extensively from 1996 to 1998 playing full-production shows as well as acoustic sets while building a small following throughout the southeast and midwest.Stephen Gause and his band Sol Gratis have spent 1999 ‘reinventing’ their sonic identity in preparation for a new album and a new tour. In conveying the foundation of this project Stephen says, "We’ve always wanted to be apart of something that was built from the ground up. Somewhere along the way we figured out that we could create art together-art that stood for something. The first record was an experimental springboard and this one represents a coming-of-age. We’re only on the edge of what we want to achieve creatively in the years to come. For me its about the spirit that moves the art. God gives me a glimpse of Himself through music. We don’t claim to be the best musicians in the world-we just want to create art that comes from a source greater than us. If its ever about me then my perspective is wrong. We have a lot of energy built up and we’re ready to show our fans that we love performing as much as we love making records," says Stephen on plans for touring. ‘It’s a beautiful time to be alive’, sums the theme of this album and the future of Stephen and his band. No fly-by-night attempts at musical stardom, but instead a genuine need to communicate his stories and make great music for a very long time. Alive and well at the beginning of the world. A musical force to be reckoned with in the near future. Stephen Gause and the Sol Gratis Project, on tour near you sometime this century.

Group Members Producer/Lead Singer/Writer- Stephen Gause (alias-‘Dook’): This Nashville based vocalist is the frontman for SG band and produced the debut, Bury Me, as well as this most recent venture, Beautiful Time. Stephen has established himself as a writer, artist, and producer. He looks forward to working as producer with various artists outside of his own ventures through his company Invertigo Productions. This company parented production and manufacturing of both Bury Me and Beautiful Time. He wrote eight songs at 100% on Beautiful Time and co-wrote on the other five. Stephen has a Commercial Music degree from Belmont University with emphasis in voice and production. He was one of three featured artists in the 1997 Commercial Showcase at Belmont. Stephen is originally from Columbia, SC. Some of his favorite records include U2-Joshua Tree, Beatles-Revolver, and Jeff Buckley-Grace.Co-producer/Bass Player- Aaron Sands (alias-‘Sandman’): He is also the bass player for the multi-platinum artist on Essential Records, Jars of Clay. Aaron has toured with Jars for five years and recently completed bass tracks on the band’s third album, If I left the zoo. Aaron has also played for acts such as Bigsby, Jill Phillips, and various other regional acts. He was also a co-producer on SG band’s debut, Bury Me. Aaron is a Nashville area session player. He was a Commercial Music major for three years at Belmont University. Aaron is originally from Bloomington, Illinois. He loves anything by Stevie Wonder and anything that grooves. Co-producer/KeyboardPlayer/Writer- Matt Stanfield (alias-‘Fluffy B’): He has in his resume production/player credits on various major label and independent projects as well as co-writer credit for a #1 CHR song with the band Plumb on Essential Records. He also played keys for two years touring with this band. He was a co-producer on Essential Record's Vibe Central for the Jars of Clay Remix projects. Matt co-wrote two of the tracks on Beautiful Time, including the title track. He is a Nashville area session player and was also a co-producer on SG band’s debut, Bury Me. He has a degree in Commercial Music from Belmont University with emphasis in music technology. Matt is originally from Durham, NC. He loves Mono, William Orbit, and also just about anything that grooves.Co-producer/Drummer/Engineer-Ben Phillips(alias-‘The RA’): He has played drums for Pop/country artist, She Daisy, Warner Alliance artist Sarah Jahn, and countless other regional artists. He is also a successful engineer and has mixed various album projects for the Benson Music Group. Ben mixed two of the tracks on Beautiful Time. He is a highly respected Nashville area session player and engineer. Ben was also a co-producer and chief engineer on SG band’s debut, Bury Me. He has a degree in Music Business from Belmont University. Ben is from Atlanta, Georgia. Ben listens to everything from Jonatha Brooke to Miles Davis.Chief Engineer-Jimmy Jernigan (alias-‘Rudy’): He is a highly talented engineer and producer with credits on various major label and independent projects. He has toured as front-of-house engineer/production manager with Pop/country artist She Daisy, Essential artist Plumb, Sarah Jahn, Clay Crosse, and Sol Gratis. While all of the producers of Beautiful Time assisted with engineering, Jimmy contributed to the majority of the engineering and mixed eleven of the thirteen cuts on this album. Jimmy is in demand on the road as a live engineer and in Nashville as a studio engineer. He graduated with a degree in Music Business from Belmont University. Jimmy is originally from Hot Springs, Arkansas. He loves Paul Simon but will still dig up his old AC/DC albums from time to time.

Instruments 5 piece- Lead vocalist/guitar, BGV/bass,BGV/keys,Guitar,Drums

Albums Debut album-"Bury Me" 1997. Sophomore release-"Beautiful Time" 2000.

Press Reviews CCM magazine 1997 gave their first album "BURY ME" a positive review."Beautiful Time" is a featured indie album on Beatmart.com's online positive music poll.

Location Nashville, TN - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).