Blue Sky Drive

Who says you can't find love online? Four South Florida Musicians collide with an Angel from the City. This East meets West Coast affair leads to a fated connection. Vocalist - Tricia Sheldon and Guitarist - Lisa Cattoretti hooked up via a local music rag ad and quickly became the driving force behind the band and it's music. Shortly thereafter the duo fell for Guitarist - John O'Neil, Bassist - Dean Robaina, and Drummer - Ryan Baker, evolving into Blue Sky Drive. Their hooky melodies and heartfelt vocals will stay with you ...tasteful, finger-style acoustic picking, electric infused Pop/Rock with ethereal moments. Blue Sky Drive is presently performing their recently released debut EP CD on the East Coast. They look forward to continued writing, recording and releasing additional songs in the imminent future.

Tricia Sheldon was born and raised in Cali wanting to be a singer since she can remember. Through the years, and, with the help of her older sister, her devotion turned to David Bowie, The Beatles, Cheap Trick, Queen, Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac.  The desire for musicianship came when she was 16. It started one summer, with a surfer friend, an acoustic guitar, and a Pianist. Once she picked up the guitar, she had to learn to play, and, although, the rock scene dominated it for her, she soon started singing back-up’s on 70’s songs like Crosby Stills Nash & Young, or James Taylor with her Pianist friend, at a local restaurant.

Tricia was acting at the time, and wanted to go to music school, so she decided to audition for Judy Davis in Oakland. "I knew she had a long wait list and turned down many, I had hoped she’d accept me to study with her, so my current band -- (hard rock lead female fronted) “TC RED” Rob Davis and I quickly recorded some original tunes in which to audition." She got in, and they were off to the SF Bay Area -- (Judy taught many of the greats in show tunes & old standards…Barbara Streisand, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Nat King Cole and many others Janice, mary Martin, Eric Martin Grace Slick, Eddie Money to name a few) Besides, learning how to sing and “present” a song, Tricia learned a lot about the music (and even some tap!)  At that time, she was really digging’ Elvis Costello and Crowded House and Sister’s of Mercy, when Nirvana came out and kicked her ass!  After music school, she moved back to LA and played in a few friends projects, The Johnnies, (mostly covers), Caliyuga (all girl ethereal pop group with 4 part harmonies with Eva Stokes). They played some great LA hot spots. 

After LA she moved to Florida, took a little break for important family business. After growing restless she needed a band again.  Being ‘new girl’ on the scene, It took some time, however, Lisa (my current guitarist) found Tricia online at BandMix. "I was putting my ad up, and she was taking hers down! We couldn’t believe how much we had in common and that we liked *A lot* of the same bands!  Wilco, Metric, Silversun Pick-ups, The Shins, Conor Oberst, Sia, and more, it was a fated call for sure, and from there, Lisa and I proved we could be a dynamic writing duo, partnership, friend, family, band.  That’s when we founded Blue Sky Drive.  Lisa (Bell Fires, Vesper Sparrow) introduced me to guitarist, John O’neil (Young Ones) and then Bassist, Dean Robaina, (Young Ones, Jane Doe) and ultimately, our Drummer, Ryan Baker (Bell Fires, A Moment’s Notice, PuL) Ryan also plays at the Calvary Chapel Kendall."  It was a definitely fated connection.

Take My Hand

Blue Sky Drive just had their CD release party at the Hard Rock, with their self titled debut released in November. They proudly just won the 2nd Honorable Mention from VH1 ‘Song of the Year’ the first, for ‘Take My Hand, and the 2nd for ‘Long to Be’.  Currently, Tricia and her band are playing around South Florida, They will be playing Sweat Records (semi-acoustic) on June 9th, Lisa and Tricia are playing Chrystal Hartigan Presents at the Broward Center on June 11th.  And Native Florida Tap Room & Music Hall in Hollywood on July 13th.  They are working to bring out some new tunes and at least the new single by end of summer, as well as, Lisa and Tricia been submitting songs for television & film.

The songwriting / recording process all depends, sometimes Tricia will write from a story in her head, a title or a sound. "I may bring some of my old words/songs/riffs to the table, And, Often, Lisa will have a catchy riff that will inspire me…we still love acoustic writing nights, however, we writing more as a full-band now.  In which some great new song’s are coming out as of late.  Some of our newer tunes are a little more experimental, more rocking’ and more seasoned as a band, rather than the singer-songwriter feel.  (But, we still have our classic Folk-pop-rock catchy feel too). They record from their “treehouse” The band's guitarist Johnny is a gearhead and set’s all of the band up up for optimal recording - typical, drums first, bass, guitars, etc., (Dean may also record from his home studio too) and, to assist in the details/vocal excellence they will enlist the help of a local producer, maybe, Ryan Sambrook like on the ‘Blue Sky Drive’ EP and/or Zack Ziskin who mastered same.

Tricia would like to inspire hope and positivity through the songs. "If I can help a young kid to feel hope and better about life, I’ve done my job. (Especially in times such as this).  And, I do hope to make a big difference with my charities for all my closest causes through music events as well."

go as far as you can on your own

The internet currently may be saturated with bands,which is actually really great for the artist. An artist, today, has many avenues and tools to promote, put their image together and track their own stats, And, if you are smart, you can keep your money.  Tricia admits to being one to err on the side of support for the artist, however and doesn't think that that means there is no room for the record company, or management, quite the contrary.  Because, when you are ready for that level, you defiantly. want a great record company or indie label, or Management team behind you. The question today with all the tools out there to assist you in getting off the ground as a musician, is, if you can’t take it upon yourself to go as far as you can on your own with your band now, then what record company/mgmt co. is going to back you? In that same breath, you’ve got to have some niche that is very attractive to your listening audience.  It will be very interesting to see where this biz. Is headed.

Tricia sees the business and music moving to more of the same, online, subscription based radio like Spotify? Deetzer?  We are so inundated with technology, at our fingertips at a moment’s notice. One could only guess.

Lastly, Tricia says "know, it’s old hat, but yes, musicians can brush up on their business skills, and ‘The Business’ can be more ‘fair’ with Artists. I am compelled to quote “All I really Need to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten”, some points come to mind for both parties: Share everything; Play fair; Clean up your own mess; Don't take things that aren't yours;· Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody; When you go out in the world, watch out for traffic, hold hands and stick together.