About the Artist
ORPHAN TRAIN is the new project from Jerold Aram Arslanian. Hailing from Boston and now based in Los Angeles, Aram has been critically acclaimed for his haunting melodies, beautiful arrangements and introspective lyrics. After a taking a year to serve as musical director and guitarist for Lisa Marie Presley and to tour with comedian/singer Sandra Bernhart, Aram is back with his third cd release and new moniker Orphan Train available on Surprise Truck Records June 2004. Highlights include the sexy, Stax/ Motown flavored Bundleful and the AAA-radio-friendly Raise the Rent. A U.S. tour will commence in April 2004.
Aram struck a chord with both indie kids as well as an adult alternative audience in 1997 when his debut East of Western was released on Subliminal Records. His rendition of Something in the Night also appeared on the Capitol/EMI Bruce Springsteen tribute album One Step Up / Two Steps Back (1997). East of Western was toured extensively, including an appearance at the NXNE conference in Toronto as well a sold out performance at NYCs Beacon Theater benefiting the World Hunger Year organization. The attention drew interest from Surprise Truck Records, who released Ghosts In A Season in 2001.
On Ghosts In A Season, produced by analog-enthusiast Steve Refling, we heard the early influences that inspired Arams songwriting, such as The Beatles, Elton John, and Jackson Brown. Aram collaborated with Scott McPherson (Elliott Smith, Neil Finn) who co-wrote several songs and added his distinctive drumming. Matt Fitzell (PJ Olsson) played bass. Chandra and Leigh Watson (Slydell) provided their flawless vocal harmonies. The critics raved (see enclosed press). The albums Bigger Highway was supported heavily by college radio. Two tracks were picked up for the DVD release of Party of Fives first season. Two others were featured in the independent film Night Surf based on the Stephen King short story. Aram toured the album extensively in 2001-2002 both solo and with the dynamic Aram Band.