Doug Roberts signs with 80 One Records
By Kelly Fisher, a&e editor
Posted on February 5, 2007

A few months ago, grad student Doug Roberts sat in his bedroom in Stone Gate, furiously writing and recording songs. Now things are bit different for this aspiring musician.

Roberts has recently signed an Artist Development deal with 80 One Records, becoming the fourth artist on JMU’s record label, joining the likes of Nathaniel Baker, Nelly Kate and Eddie Cain Irvin.

Having graduated in 2004 with a degree in history and interactive media with a minor in music industry, Roberts continued at JMU pursuing a Master of Science degree in computer science and will finish up this May. Even though he loves making music, he hopes to jump into the working world after graduation and keep his music on the side — at first.

“I’m trying to do the whole ‘9-to-5’ thing with computer science and do the music thing on nights and weekends at first,” Roberts said.

But for now, Roberts is all about his new contract with 80 One Records.

Having written more than 50 songs himself, Roberts calls his style “pop-rock, with country overtones in the production.”

Roberts, who is originally from Sterling, has been interested in music since he was a kid and can play a wide variety of instruments, including saxophone, tuba, piano, banjo and accordion. However, his main instrument these days is guitar.

“I grew up listening to Billy Joel, but mainly mid-to-late ‘90s bands is where I get a lot of my inspiration,” Roberts said, naming off bands such as Cake, the Presidents of the United States of America and Ben Folds.

As for his personal favorite of his own songs, Roberts likes “Go South” best because of its lyrics. Some of his other songs, such as “22, “ and “Hope, Faith and Love,” have a more mellow vibe, and “Figure I’m a 6” adds a little bit of country twang.

Roberts finally moved from his bedroom studio when he joined up with 80 One Records this past fall.

“I had played a couple of open mic nights in TDU,” Roberts said. “I knew about 80 One, and submitted a demo.”

Junior Maleika Cole, director of 80 One Records, recognized Roberts’ talent immediately.

“When I got his demo, I just put it in, heard his gorgeous melodies and I was pretty much done,” Cole said. “I knew he was going to be signed.”

Since signing, Roberts held auditions through UPB and put together a band. They are working on recording their debut album in the coming weeks.

As for other students hoping to sign with 80 One Records, Cole encourages them to submit their demos. They are actively looking for new artists.

Roberts urges anyone hoping to get things rolling with his or her own music career to follow their dreams.

“I just wrote in my bedroom for the longest time,” he said. “Get up and go somewhere and see if it works.”

It seems to have worked for Roberts. He and his band will perform Feb. 14 at TDU at 9:30 p.m. To hear some of Roberts’ songs, check out his MySpace page at myspace.com/dougrobertsmusic.