Artist Information Biography The release of ‘Somewhere in the Fade’ feels a lot like the day you get your driver’s license according to singer/songwriter Jeff Rolka “I had a lot of things to get off my chest, “ says Jeff Rolka.  “and ‘Fade’ was the perfect platform to do it.  I studied really hard, I went to the DMV, took the test, and now I can happily drive on!” Produced by Andrew Griffin and Jeff Rolka (Dave Armo, Duff Ferguson) and mixed and mastered by Rob Beaton (Doobie Brothers, Adam Cohen, Santana, Starship, Whitney Houston).  Somewhere in the Fade is Rolka’s second full length CD released fully on his own.  Impressed by his growth, Iris Distribution was eager to handle his digital distribution after he returned from his 2005 National Tour. Rolka’s latest CD, Somewhere in the Fade, was recorded in his own personal studio in Alameda, CA during the winter of 2005.  He spent six months writing and recording 15 songs, 10 of which are included on the album, with guitarists Max Butler (Chuck Prophet), Rich McCulley (Rich McCulley Band, The Mains), Mike Fiorentino (Viv), bassists Kevin White (Chuck Prophet) and Peter Canton (Megan Slankard, Tremolo) keyboardist Justus Dobrin (Viv) and drummer co-producer Andrew Griffin (Viv). While the songwriter originally from Detroit, Michigan continues to explore the themes of love and love lost, his music is more fully realized by the talents of his all-star Bay Area ensemble.  “Don’t Blame Me,” “Every Little Thing,” and the rocker “3 a.m.” are huge in scope and sound.  Recording on a variety of instruments (gtr, piano, bass, wurlitzer, samples), Rolka seamlessly transitions from the alt. Indie flavored “Good Angel,” to an introspective antique vibe on, “Return to Me.” “I wanted to make a record that sonically embodied the highs and lows I have felt.  I wanted it to stand on its own without requiring explanation,” says Rolka.  “The best part is having the people around me to push me to be honest and forthcoming with the stories.  They never let me dodge a bullet!” After recording ‘Dandelion’ over the course of a year and a half on and off in San Francisco’s Potrero Post recording facility, Rolka says it was satisfying to do ‘Somewhere in the Fade’ all at once.  “Dandelion has a lot of heart, but I hear myself changing and growing on the record; as any artist should.  Somewhere in the Fade, however, happened very quickly by comparison, and is a beautiful cohesive vision realized.” Rolka calls the Bay Area his home, and although his roots go back to Motown; California is where he has found an environment conducive to his creative impulses.  “Writing songs has never been better or more fulfilling,” says Rolka.  “Sarah happened for me up on the drive around Tilden Park in Berkeley, CA.  Just myself and my guitar in the back of my truck wondering aloud about someone, and there it was.”  This was only a few months after the release of ‘Dandelion’ and scant weeks after his return from tour. It was then only weeks before Andrew Griffin broached the idea of making a record together, and with the abundance of new, powerful material, the time was ripe. “Getting a band together for these songs blew me away.  When you’re in the same room as Max Butler, Kevin White, Justus Dobrin, and Andrew, magic things happen.  The environment was as open as it could be, and textures in the music reflect these open good willed sessions.  Truly a dream come to life.” Before long the project was in Rob Beaton’s hands, and trips to LA became the norm.  “Rob is a masterful producer/engineer that I feel privileged to work with.  Being an engineer myself, I can appreciate his vision for sound and how to sculpt it.  He reduced me to tears the first time I heard “Sarah” in his studio.  I’ll never forget sitting behind the console as the first piano chords rang out of the monitor.  It was what I had wanted, in the flesh, in my ears, and my poor heart, it broke all over again.” As word spreads, Rolka finds himself booking up further and further in advance.  With release celebrations coming in March of 2006 and several dates before and after already booked, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch him in the Bay Area and along the West Coast Region.  Clubs in Indiana are soliciting bookings as well, and it looks as if the Mid-West will get another chance to hear him. Instrumentation Jeff Rolka, lead vocals, backing vocals, acoustic gtr, piano, wurlitzer, keys, aux percussion;  Andrew Griffin, drums, gtrs, backing vocals;  Justus Dobrin, keys; Max Butler, gtrs, pedal steel; Kevin White, bass;  Rich McCulley gtrs; Peter Canton, bass; Mike Fiorentino gtrs; Dave Armo, aux percussion Discography Dandelion Somewhere in the Fade Links http://www.jeffrolka.com