**Photos/ Images of Eden Automatic, copyright of their respective owners

by: Kandie Delley {2000}

Kan’s Note: This is my ‘first’ article written as a freelancer. Thanks to Corey Cleghorn [C.E.O/ President- Clout Records].

Backstory:
Corey at the time was publisher of The Dallas Entertainment Journal [D.E.J], and brought me aboard. For some crazy reason this cat loves my writing. [I'm cheesing].   Due to various factors I wasn’t able to get the article published unfortunately [Corey, correct me if I'm wrong;-)]

However, this article launched my freelancing career because it opened doors for me to interview other people.  I pitched it to the Dallas Morning News.  The editor loved my writing style from the article and asked me to interview….LIONEL RICHIE.  YEE HAW! [The Texan in me].

Needless to say, I was awestruck as a budding songwriter/producer myself and interviewing him was a great highlight for me.  I still have that interview recorded and I’ll try to get it on mp3 so you can hear it.

Now Eden is blowing up the web and the west coast. I’m so glad I jumped on their band wagon. SHAMELESS I know, but hey, I love to be affiliated with GREATNESS! And Eden is phenom! I’ve always been a supporter of theirs and we even collaborated on a rock song together. I’ll try to get that loaded as well.

Have a GREAT week cyberpeeps!

Article: Where is the Garden of Eden? [Part 1]

I sat at the bar of the “San Francisco Rose” restaurant off of Greenville Avenue, fidgeting unbearably. I was about to conduct my first interview as a freelance writer. I believe my last pair of nerves had to have been shot anticipating this first assignment. I kept averting my gaze towards the entrance upon the slightest breeze from the doorway.

While drumming my fingers upon the bar panel and quickly skimming notes on the band, I tried to (unsuccessfully) mimic different ways to ask the same questions, in which, the members of the band have probably heard time and time again. Finally, someone tapped my shoulder lightly.

“Are you Kandie?” I nodded and gathered my belongings. “Hi, I’m Annette.”

We shook hands and decided to sit outside, which in hindsight, I know never to do again. Mainly because of the screaming music filtering throughout the establishment, and snippets of conversation surrounding us that distorted the reception of the recorder. Not to mention, the ongoing interruptions of “Mr. Wind” who successfully shuffled material about. Once organized, Annette tucked her shoulder length blond hair behind her ears and slid a cigarette from her purse. She asked if I cared that she smoked, I shook my head.

Annette is the lead singer for the group, “Eden Automatic”, a rock band once based in Dallas, now in Los Angeles. The group is comprised of three additional members including her husband Doug Conlon, a lyricist, guitarist and composer. You can tell there is a deep admiration and a cohesive family unit within this band. The members of “Eden Automatic” came together to create a sound that would make you tap your feet.

“We love for our audience to get involved with our music instead of sitting around and talking about the events that preceded us. Music is suppose to make you dance, let loose, you know, have fun. We’re playing so you can leave your problems on the sideline.”

Annette took another puff from her cigarette and ran her fingers through her hair. I took a sip of my drink and moved the recorder closer to her. I remember thinking she does not fit my imagery of a rock singer. “I love all kinds of music,” she continued, “Music has no boundaries. We play what’s in us.”

Since the age of seven, Annette, has always felt that tugging sensation for singing. It wasn’t until she met her husband, Doug, that she decided to make it her long-term career choice. From an English Literature degree as well as a corporate profession as a graphic and web designer, she could’ve gone various routes to obtain her success.

“I mean, you gotta have an education. But you also have to do what makes you happy. Doug was your typical rock singer. He was awesome I love everything about him. He really inspires me with his words and music composition.” Annette went down memory lane in regards to her first meeting with her husband, and the several members that came waltzing in and out of the band known then as “Somebody’s Sister”.

“We changed members often, mostly because of personal interests. Especially when Doug and I decided to hook up with this supposed record label in Dallas. The label proved to be bogus, but we took the bumps with the bruises. We had decided to move to Dallas anyway. It was a big step to move from family and friends back in Colorado. But I would not change my decision to come here.”

Keep posted for the conclusion of this article. For more information on Eden Automatic visit: www.edenautomatic.com

Or for Annette and Doug Conlon visit: www.myspace.com/theconlons