Irish singer (27), GSOH, N/S, with plenty of talent and oodles of charm seeks media exposure for musical opportunities and maybe more…

He hails from the land of saints and scholars and although Gerry Scullion ain't no saint, his approach to music is certainly scholarly.

A wordsmith in love with the guitar, Gerry's music is a testament to Ireland's rich folk tradition. Match this with a love of the greatest US artists from R.E.M to Sinatra and an EP, 'Hide & Seek' recorded in LA with two highly acclaimed producers - 10-time Grammy winner Rafa Sardina (Alegandra Sanz, Stevie Wonder, Luis Miguel, Macy Gray) and Cheche Alara (Christina Aguilera, Alegandra Sanz, Pink) – and you'll see why Gerry is slowly but surely becoming one of Ireland's hottest musical properties.

So what is an Irish devil and his guitar doing in the City of Angles in 2007?

Let's go back to the start. Jaded with the 'one man and his guitar' sound dominating the Irish music scene at the time, Gerry began a new musical journey in the summer of 2005 with the creation of critically acclaimed Minus Circus. Refusing to fall under the tag of the stereotypical Irish singer-songwriter, Gerry drew inspiration from UK artist Badly Drawn Boy, and created a fuller band sound, whilst maintaining the acoustic core that is evident in alot of his music.

Producing a marriage of slick sounds and wise words, Minus Circus has emulated influences such as U2, Wilco, R.E.M and The Blue Nile. A sound part acoustic, part electric, Minus Circus is entirely captivating.

May 2006, Los Angeles: two stunning showcase performances result in Gerry meeting top producers Rafa Sardina and Cheche Alara. A few months later, they gather in a Los Angeles studio. The results are spectacular.

Merging indie riffs and folk beats to create sweet and sexy sounds, troubadour Gerry allows a subtle but succinct message of hope shine through his work.

Pop tune 'Revolve' is the bittersweet and catchy opening track that sets the tone of this exceptional EP. Bursting with magic moments, 'Hold on Tightly' illustrates how he can produce anthemic rock that lights up the sonic landscape. But he can also go somewhere that's deep and sometimes dark, as we see in 'Good Soul/Bad Soul'.

On the title track 'Hide and Seek' Gerry creates a beautiful Irish folk melody; his own take on the delicate sounds and haunting lyrics of a new age of Irish song-writing.

Backed up by a stellar band – Peter Thorn (Chris Cornell, Linda Perry, Courtney Love), Sean Hurley (Alicia Keys, Ringo Starr, John Mayer, Vertical Horizon) and Toss Panos (Andy Summers, Steve Vai) – this record sparkles with originality.

Focusing on universal themes of love, loss and childhood, 'Hide & Seek' allows Gerry's powerful voice take the lead role and provide the listener with plenty of magic moments.

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Here are some recent Press Quotes:

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"Minus Circus is the nom de guerre of LA domiciled Irishman Gerry Scullion who trades in impeccably produced pop rock that manages to find a perfect middle ground between the electric and the acoustic.On this EP, the effortless swing of the opening track 'Good Soul/ Bad Soul' the gentle beauty of 'Hide & Seek', the addictive hook of 'Revolve' and the more introspective mood of 'Hold on Tightly' make for four different but equally enjoyable tracks."

HOT PRESS (Ireland)- July 2008

"..this is a great, great, great EP"

RWC RADIO (North Carolina) - June 2008

"It is altogether an engrossing EP well worth the attention of those who appreciate the merits of accessible indie-rock with a lyrical edge."

FREQUENCY IRELAND - June 2008

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Previous Reviews

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"..if you can't decide between the vibrant band and singer-songwriter scenes in Dublin, look no further than Minus Circus, whose acoustic brand of rock perfectly blur the line between the two..."

EVENING HERALD - FEB 2006

"...Minus Circus whose sound has an acoustic core amidst the electrics, with delicious guitars truly sparkling. The opening track, the mid-tempo "Take it All", has touches of early REM and Wilco..."The Gem" is slower and moodier with more of that terrific guitar..with passionate vocals by Gerry Scullion. The lighters-aloft brigade might love it."Good Soul/Bad Soul" is a heavier track with a ponderous, nagging rhythm that could reactivate the most lethargic toes. Solid Stuff..."

HOT PRESS - MAY 2006

This is the eponymous debut EP from lively Dublin quartet Minus Circus. Lead track "Take It All" is a near perfect indie/pop moment that boasts a charming guitar riff which would sit comfortably on The Stone Roses' first record (you know the one, the best album in the world ever, better than OK Computer multiplied by Revolver). Next up is "The Gem", a gorgeous wistful ballad that flows effortlessly into the acerbic finale, "Good Soul / Bad Soul".
Impressive stuff.
2/3

CONNECTED MAGAZINE - APRIL 2006