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The couple started the record label to bring music from servicemembers
to the civilian world and to bridge the gap of understanding about
military life and combat.
“If civilians hear military music, they might understand. They're never
going to be in those shoes, but they can at least empathize and
understand what three tours really does to someone, to someone's
family,” Gilfillan said. “Not only that, but war ... what happens during
war, during patrols, and what it takes to actually psyche yourself up to
go out to war, and the struggles when you come home with [post-traumatic
stress disorder], with relationships, and how every normal everyday
struggle is made more difficult by you being away for so long.”
Since its inception, the record label has grown into a platform to
showcase all military musicians, even those not talking about combat.
But the bottom line, Gilfillan said, has always been quality music.
“If the music isn't good, if the quality isn't there, then we won't
feature you,” he said. “It has to be radio quality.”
In its first year, the record label saw almost instant success, being
featured in Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times and releasing
its first three CDs, which were compilations of hip hop, country and
rock music. Today, the label has a database of about 2,000 artists and
200 producers it works with, Gilfillan said. It also maintains a
database of recording studios that offer discounts to military members.
Establishing a credible record label is very important to Gilfillan, he
said, because he wants to give the military musicians a chance to
establish a fan base, which is key to any musician's success. He said he
follows the military's philosophy that no one person is more important
than the organization.
“To the Fallen will always exist,” he said. “The artists might change, I
might change, but the label will always exist. So, hopefully the name
builds enough prestige where any artist being linked to the name will
get a leg up.”
To the Fallen sells its music online at its Web site and that of the
Army and Air Force Exchange Service, and physically, at Green Beans
Coffee, which has stores in Iraq and Afghanistan. The label is working
on several new projects, including a reality TV show based on military
musicians.
Another new project Gilfillan and his wife are working on is in creating
a nonprofit group that will use musical therapy to help rehabilitate
wounded veterans. The group is in early development, but the vision is a
place where wounded veterans can learn about the entire musical process,
including recording and production, and use it as therapy, Gilfillan
said.
“We would kind of just recruit and train our own military musicians and
give them a trade and, in return, we would do musical therapy for anyone
who needs it,” he said. “I really believe in musical therapy as a viable
way to recuperate.”
To the Fallen already donates part of its profits to charities that
benefit wounded troops, and once the nonprofit organization is
established, money would go into that also, Gilfillan said. But more
important than the money, he said, is giving military musicians an
opportunity to get their music out there and letting the world hear the
quality of music servicemembers create.
“These are not hokey artists,” he said. “This is real music.” |
