Although just 25 years old, Douglas September has been described as an "old soul" for the earthy, heartfelt way he interprets and delivers a song. This rare quality, combined with his talent for poetic expression as a songwriter, has firmly established September as one of the best of the new voices in modern music, drawing comparisons to such pioneers as Bob Dylan and Tim Buckley. Now, with "Ten Bulls," his debut release on Samson Music, September hopes to deliver his special brand of music, marked by vividly written lyrics and a fresh, contemporary-yet-classic sound, to a wider audience.

Growing up as the youngest in an artistic family of six on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, September began to develop his expressive talents at an early age. He was encouraged by his mother when he first began to play the guitar and he benefited from the musical influences of his older siblings. Also as a child, September became an avid reader and dedicated writer and, at thirteen, he began writing poetry. His passion for literature enabled September to infuse his poetry with a remarkable sophistication-a characteristic that carries over into his songwriting to this day.

At an early age, exposure to folk music set off a responsive chord in September's artistic consciousness. He picked up the guitar and started playing for friends at parties and at local coffee houses. At age 18, September moved to Toronto and soon began attracting attention in the urban coffeehouse and festival scene.

In 1997, September independently released his debut album, "Crows," which drew critical raves and garnered many favorable responses throughout the media and artistic community. He also visited the South By Southwest Conference in Austin, Texas, where he was heard performing at a small club by former Santana drummer and Samson Music Director of A&R, Michael Shrieve. It was a moving experience for Shrieve, who recognized the quiet, compelling quality of September's music, saying, "Outside along the street were 30 bands in 30 clubs, all of them loud and fast, and here was Douglas soft and intimate and piercing through it allŠ My hair stood up and I moved closer to hear and see better; people were quiet, you could hear a pin drop. They were listening so intensely and I knew I wanted to do something with this guy. This is what you look for-straight to the heart."

Shrieve signed September and, almost immediately, the two set about to explore a grittier and more rhythmically urgent direction that had been developing in his writing, with the result being the innovative "Ten Bulls." The album features Shrieve's masterful drumming and a rare treat in the lead guitar of Bill Frisell, who performs an interpretive dance with September's melodic and lyrical compositions, giving the songs everything from siren-like wails to soft, purring pads of counterpoint. The album is a landmark in new music, not only because the poetry and musicianship are superb, but because these two components stay happily married throughout.

Like all great artists who precede him, Douglas September is a dedicated poet and song craftsman. He delivers the fresh perspective of a young, emerging artist through lyrics that have a classic feel. From a wry commentary on commercialism in "Profit Avenue" to the longing for love in "Time It Don't Mean Nothin'" to the poignant loss in the dying of a mining town in "3:54" his expression envelopes such large themes as the wanting of a soul, the deep ache of romantic recollection, and the noble quest for humanity. Providing metaphors rather than first-person "statements," September's songs explore such issues as beauty, conflict and deep reflection, and his words and rhymes have a richness in imagery and a style that evokes timeless poetic voices. With "Ten Bulls," which includes nine September originals and spans a diverse repertoire in musical styles, Douglas September will certainly establish himself as a new voice in contemporary music.

(link to Douglas September page on Samson Records web site)