DIY artist hopes to build following

Gelinas, a West Islander, released his 12-track CD ‘Waiting at the Red Lights’ this summer. Key tracks include ‘Smolder Me’ and ‘Call Me Vegas,’ the latter inspired by friends who named their baby Vegas.

‘Call Me Vegas’ has become a fan favourite, Gelinas said, adding it explores how a person’s fate may be influenced by what their name is. He describes his music as acoustic rock-pop and his influences range from Paul Simon to Led Zeppelin.

“It’s very competitive out there and very hard with no record label backing,” Gelinas acknowledged, but added being an indie artist has its benefits.

“I’m looking at riding the independent road at the moment,” he said. “Getting signed is almost an impossible dream. It’s truly a game. If they pump money into you, you owe them back.

“I’ve learned to be patient with it,” he added. “I don’t want to keep knocking at doors that don’t open.”

As an indie artist, you have total control over your music and with the Internet and digital recording and sales booming, record companies are becoming more and more obsolete, Gelinas said, adding he spent about $12,000 recording his CD. His costs will be reduced on his next CD since he plans to record at a home studio, following in the footsteps of fellow Montrealers Arcade Fire.

“It’s a more comfortable process recording at home,” Gelinas said. “It’ll actually take less time and you can record when the moment feels right.”

As for his immediate goals, Gelinas hopes to team up with a booking agent so he can do out-of-town shows and land a distribution deal to ensure his CD will be available in stores.

Gelinas, who used to perform under the moniker Vox Crosby and had a track on a CHOM l’Espirit compilation, said he recorded his CD over the course of 2006 as he mustered funds for studio time.

“It was actually about 20 days of studio time but over the course of a year,” he said.

Gelinas is currently playing with drummer Tyson Schallmann, who also played on the CD, as well as Shian Ramjohn on bass. He hopes to start working on a new CD with them over the winter.

“Working with a band changes my sound a bit,” Gelinas said, adding his drummer adds a world beat influence and the bass player some Motown.

Gelinas, 32, said he works part-time to “make ends meet” as he forges ahead with his music career. The Concordia University graduate said his BA in English literature and minor in Music help him “compose music and write some decent lyrics.”

For more information or to purchase the CD, check www.marc-gelinas.com.

The trio performs (free admission)

9:30 p.m. Sunday at Cunnigham’s, 75

Ste. Anne St.?