PROFESSOR BOMBAY SOUND recording studio, San Diego, California.
BELLE + the DRAGON recording session.
Left to right:
Pat, Dave, Sameer
April 2019
Described by Sameer as “an existential crisis put to music,” BELLE AND THE DRAGON’s debut album, BIRTHRIGHTS, examines the beliefs and traditions that every child inherits upon birth, encompassing layers of faith, loss and realization
From the song “Wrestle [with the Devil]" -
“In glory’s firefight
i saw division, wars and birthrights
children grown tall with years keep closed minds,
destroy the world defending old lies.”
This passion project has been a labor of love for Sameer since 2016 when the Texas native, on touring hiatus from his band FLYLEAF, relocated from Los Angeles to San Diego. Transitioning into the next chapter of his life, he was inspired to dig deep into himself exploring his childhood and formative years, evaluating where he had come from, what he had been taught, what he had lost and ultimately empowering him to be more open minded about the journey ahead of him.
The song “In The End," encapsulates Sameer’s personal journey of questioning his own path:
“now i am older,
a child grown sober,
i see the world for what it is.”
As one of the primary songwriters for the alternative rock band FLYLEAF, Sameer composed the lyrics and riffs for BIRTHRIGHTS and recruited his longtime FLYLEAF bandmate and good friend Pat Seals (on bass) and fellow touring musician Wuv of P.O.D. (on drums) to collaborate, with Dave Hidek as the Producer.
This album features the creative talent of the following Platinum-Selling artists:
Sameer Bhattacharya - vocals / guitar / songwriting
BELLE AND THE DRAGON is Sameer’s first solo project which affords him the opportunity to write without a filter. Prior to BELLE AND THE DRAGON, the guitarist was one of the the primary songwriters, and background vocalists for the rock band FLYLEAF since 2002. Sameer also toured with P.O.D. from 2016-2018 playing keys and singing background vocals, and fun fact: FLYLEAF and P.O.D. have been touring and headlining shows together since 2005.
Pat Seals - bass guitar
Currently on tour with CLINT LOWERY, Pat has been friends with Sameer since they were 14 years old…two years later they formed the band PASSERBY and the next year that band was renamed FLYLEAF. When he isn’t slapping the bass, you can find Pat doing other creative things like painting, woodcarving and printmaking. The delicate nuances in his playing, combined with his brutal perfectionism, make Pat one of the most powerful bassists in the industry.
Noah “Wuv” Bernardo - drums
This San Diego native, and larger than life character, is the founding member of and drummer for PAYABLE ON DEATH, P.O.D. since 1992. Always sharing good stories and making everyone around him smile, with drum sticks in hand he slays each time he plays. The BATD team calls him “The GOAT” - The Greatest Of All Time.
Dave Hidek - production / programming
Recorded at the PROFESSOR BOMBAY SOUND studio in North County San Diego, the album was produced and mixed by the incomparable Dave Hidek of The Church Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, PA. A true coffee aficionado, Hidek recently recorded audio for the film A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Prior to Belle and the Dragon, Dave has co-written and headed up pre-production on FLYLEAF’S albums NEW HORIZONS and BETWEEN THE STARS. Hidek has also worked with P.O.D. on remixes for a San Diego Chargers theme song reboot.
PRESS
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https://www.prsguitars.com/index.php/artists/featured_artist/sameer_bhattacharya_of_flyleaf