Since the early 90’s the Wild Colonials have been charming music critics and audiences alike with their eclectic rock sound. From the low blow of a didgeridoo to the sweet rub of a violin, to experience the music of Wild Colonials is to take a step into a realm of rock where most dare not go, yet pull it off brilliantly.

Their story began in early 1992 at an Irish pub in Los Angeles called Café Beckett. Singer Angela McCluskey had gathered together a group of fellow musicians to arrange a “musical evening” to showcase her friend/guitarist Shark, who had recently relocated to Los Angeles. Different combinations of players would join in and guest each week. Brought aboard were Paul Cantelon on violin and piano; Scott Roewe on bass, keyboards, and saxophone; and other special guests. The loose musical evening evolved into a regular gig from the group soon to be known as Wild Colonials - named after the Irish song Wild Colonial Boy.

From Café Beckett the group developed a large following and moved to Café Largo with a Tuesday night residency. Their now legendary run attracted everyone from Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, Harry Dean Stanton and Bono to name-drop a few. The buzz that developed in the LA music scene procured the Wild Colonials a record deal with Geffen/DGC Records. Fruit of Life (1994) and This Can’t Be Life (1996) were both released to critical acclaim. The band toured nationally behind both albums with, among others, Chris Isaak, Toad The Wet Sprocket, and as headliners themselves. The group was the second stage headliner on the prestigious Lilith Fair tour in 1997.

Over the course of six short years Wild Colonials had their music featured in over 30 films; thus creating their third album Reel Life Vol. 1 (2000). The album featured songs and score cues recorded and composed for films ranging from Disney’s Mr. Wrong, to the quirky Indie sensation Flirting With Disaster, to the Sundance Film Festival hit Dead Man’s Curve. Guest appearances from Cyndi Lauper on the single If By Chance as well as Angela’s duet with Dr. John Anything But Love. The Reel Life record release party was held in Sundance during the film festival, when the band headlined Slamdance’s Music in Film night.

Touring nationally behind the Reel Life album, the Wild Colonials played a special WYEP invite only performance at The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh that was broadcast on over one hundred and twenty-four AAA radio stations across the country. The band also scored a No.1 AAA Radio Hit with the single Friend.

The Wild's has also been very busy creatively with outside projects. Angela has been a guest vocalist on many albums, among them the new track Deep Down Truth from the Best of The The; and guest vocalist and co-writer on Will You Be Ready from Music Detected by Deep Forest. She was also guest vocalist and co-writer on four songs from the French electronic album Genetic World by Télépopmusik featuring the International hit Breathe. Angela/Télépopmusik were nominated for Best Dance Song Grammy® at the 2004 Grammy® awards! Angela recently released a solo album The Things We Do on Manhatten/EMI produced by Nathan Larson (Shudder To Think). In promoting her album she has toured with The Finn Brothers as well as R.E.M.

Guitarist Shark scored the feature film The Spreading Ground (Dennis Hopper); recently released on DVD. Films scored by Shark coming out next year include, Frozen Stars (Lana Parrilla) and How To Go Out On A Date In Queens (Jason Alexander/Kimberly Williams). Shark was guest speaker at the 2003 International Houston Film Festival. Shark also remixed the Dinah Washington classic Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby? for Verve Records which appeared in the Michael Douglas/Kirk Douglas film It Runs In The Family. DJ Shark was invited to spin for ESPN at the 2004 Superbowl Party in Houston TX as well as events for Dreamworks, Universal Studios and USA Films. Shark also guests on the debut album of Rapper MoPreme (better known as 2Pac Shakur's big brother) from Thug Life. Plus, Shark contributed the track High Hopes to the Pink Floyd tribute album A Fair Forgery of Pink Floyd.

Violinist/Pianist Paul has been busy writing/recording with violinist Lili Haydn on their side project Tryptich, as well as with Eroica Trio cellist Sara Sant' Ambrogio. Paul also guested on the albums, Rejoicing In The Hands by Devendra Banheart, The Golden Hum by Remy Zero, the new Lily Hadyn album Light Blue Sun as well as recording sessions with Lisa Marie Presley.

Multi-Instrumentalist Scott has recently released an album of Salsa/Sanskrit Mantra music, Jai Salsa with James Hanrahan. Scott has also been working as an assistant to composer John Keane on the hit T.V. show C.S.I. (Golden Globe nominated for Best Series). Scott has also scored films and TV shows
including writing the theme for the prime time CBS television series Rescue 911.

All these different solo projects, side projects and new Wild Colonials album came about in the same time that it takes other bands just to get into a studio. As Shark says, "All these extracurricular musical experiences have only enriched what we each bring to making the new album. Basically, we are fans of each others solo work.”

The first of the new tracks from the Wild Colonials, True (With You) is available exclusively on the new Dawson’s Creek Vol. 3. The band is currently finishing up their fourth album appropriately titled Get A Life! which will mark another stage in the life of Wild Colonials.

For more information on Wild Colonials visit: www.wildcolonials.com

For more information on the new Dawson’s Creek Soundtrack Vol. 3 visit:
www.dawsoncreekcds.com