EG Kight brought in her favorite musicians for this album and we got 14 songs recorded. Three original tunes from Biales, one co-write with Kight, and three EG Kight tunes as well.  "I love singing EG's songs, and could do a whole album of her music." The album was recorded at Paul Hornsby's Muscadine Studio, which happens to have gold and platinum albums hanging on the walls.  Southern rock guitarist Tommy Talton played acoustic, electric and slide guitars. Bill Stewart played drums, and Marshall Coats played acoustic and electric bass and piano.  Paul Hornsby did back-up vocals, piano and Hammond B3 organ.  

Here's the players (left to right) Paul Hornsby, co-producer, engineer; Tommy Talton, guitars; Lisa Biales, vocals and guitar; Marshall Coats, acoustic and electric bass; and Bill Stewart, drums.

We gathered around the mixing board and figured out each tune and when we all agreed on a feel, someone would say "That's it!" and we would all rush into the studio and cut the song.  It was inspiring, the energy was pure happiness.

Lisa Biales getting ready to cut vocals for her new album.

Lisa Biales and producer E.G. Kight in the studio working on a song.  The two Songbirds did a duet on the album.  "It's one of my favorite songs, I love singing with EG!"   The album has an Americana ~ Blues flair with songs from Odetta, Ma Rainey, Memphis Minnie, Tommy Talton, Candye Kane, EG Kight, Lisa Biales, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, and The Delmore Brothers.

Oxford-based Lisa Biales will makes her film debut in Francis Ford Coppola’s “TWIXT.”

Lisa Biales and her guitar.

Biales talked about the film while preforming with violinist Doug Hamilton Saturday at the “Wine, Women and Song” gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of Dayton’s Human Race Theatre.

She is the cousin of Kevin Moore, the theatre’s producing artistic director.

A Fairfield High School grad, Biales has made six solo albums, including her latest “Closet Hippie.”

The former administration worker at Ohio University has a speaking role and sings in the film staring Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Don Novello (Father Guido Sarducci). She called it a vampire movie.

Biales said she met Coppola at Duke University. He hugged her and contacted her more than nine months later about the movie. She said they did a little role play over the phone.

Coppola told the New York Times the film with “gothic romance/horror subject matter” grew out of a nightmare he had.

“But as I was having it I realized perhaps it was a gift, as I could make it as a story, perhaps a scary film, I thought even as I was dreaming.,” Coppola said of the flim set to hit theaters in October.

Coppola’s other films include “The Godfather,” “Apocalypse Now” and “The Outsiders.”

by Amelia Robinson (Seen and Overheard) for the Dayton Daily News

"Every time she performs she does a bang-up job, and every year it gets better," said Caroline Croswell, executive director of OCAC.  "Lisa is a wonderful artist and musician," Croswell said and she sought out Biales for the hour-long concert because her music is so diverse.  "We will have a multi-generational crowd and Lisa's music and personality is always perfect ," said Croswell. 

Joined by fiddler Doug Hamilton of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra and the Wildwater Band along with 2008 Cincinnati Conservatory of Music graduate Michael G. Ronstadt on cello.

"The whole show was a great story set to music." ~ Gilda Moore, Concert goer

Coppola describes TWIXT as having “the imagery of Hawthorne or Poe.”  The project grew out of a nightmare the filmmaker had last year. “As I was having it, I realized perhaps it was a gift, as I could make it as a story, perhaps a scary film, I thought even as I was dreaming,” he remarks. “But then some loud noise outside woke me up, and I wanted to go back to the dream and get an ending. But I couldn’t fall back asleep so I recorded what I remembered right there and then on my phone. I realized that it was a Gothic romance setting, so in fact I’d be able to do it all around my home base, rather than have to go to a distant country.”

"I loved the script the first time I read it," remarked Biales.  "After the filming was over and I had a chance to study Coppola's films,  I realized that music, singing and dancing were a common thread among them." Rumor has it, Biales, who has a beautiful voice, charm and style all her own, has a speaking and singing part in the film.

"I got a call from Adriana Rotaru (Coppola's Assistant) on a Monday night.  She connected me to Francis and Anahid Nazarian (Executive Producer) in a conference call.  Francis told me about the film and we did a little role playing over the phone.  It was surrealistic, I was trying to stay focused and not think stupid stuff like OMG!, it's FFC!  I could hear a smile and an exuberance in his voice and that made me comfortable.  When he was done telling me about the film he said, "Well, does this sound like something you'd like to do?" "YES!"  Biales was on a plane at 9am the next morning and the rest, as they say, is history . . . or shall I say, her-story.

Some folks are saying that because this film is independently produced, it will be one of Coppola's best.  But don't take our word for it, look for "TWIXT" in December of 2011 and find out for yourself.

- Ursula Roberts, Reporting for The Universe

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