By Tanya Anslemo

A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of running into an old friend, Dylan Emelianoff. I had remembered hearing about Dylan's band, Sai U Drom. It had been years ,about 17 in fact, since I had seen Dylan. Time and life's experiences, as with all people, had chisled away the familiar boyish features of my memory. In their place were the hard, strong features of a man, only recognizable by his eyes. It was in his eyes that I saw the boy I once knew, and his journey to become the man he is today. They say the eye's are windows to the soul. I believe this to be so. The following interview is a brief look into this journey and the start of a new genre of music! Introducing Sai U Drom...

Band Members :

Dylan Emelianoff -vocals, guitars, mandolin, balalaika, keyboards, bass, percussion, sampling, sequencing.

Mike Powers - guitars, mandolin, vocals

Eric Donovan - percussion, vocals Joe Ronze Nickels - bass, vocals

Additional live members past and present -
Elijah Hargrave - vocals, percussion
V Mercy - bass
Kat Morgan - vocals
Eric Matson - guitars, vocals
Andy Selvig - percussion
Nichole Abbot - vocals, keys
Andrew Hassenger - keys
Margaret Turner - vocals

Brief background history on the bands founder, Dylan Emelianoff:

"I traveled for many years by freight train, car, and thumb (and still do but now by car). I usually need to move every 6 months and have been many many places.
Music is one of the greatest accomplishments of the human race and I have dedicated my life to it. Often not able to have some of the "finer" things life has to offer (like money) in order to keep myself immersed in this beautiful art. This is shown through Sai U Drom's poetry." (Dylan is also a published poet under a pen name.)

What experiences in your life, Dylan, have influenced your music the most?

"Love and death. Many of my friends have died as is typical for the traveler scene and where I grew up unfortunately. I consider myself lucky to be alive and to have fallen in love a few times."

How did the band get together?

"I had been writing strange folk/punk songs for years while in other bands. In my travels I met some of the Sai U Drom members in Saratoga Springs and moved there for awhile so we could all play. Sai U Drom members are from many different states and converge together to tour or play shows."

Where has the band traveled/performed and what are some of the bands accomplishments?

"A lot of the major cities in the North East and a little down the East coast and also in the Mid West. Everything we do is D.I.Y, our album was recorded, produced and engineered at my recording studio, Stranger Music Studios. Most of our CD's for the demo were hand made by us. We have had radio play, a few magazine interviews, and most of all shows that have pulled in crowds of over 300.

Does the band have recorded material and if so where can it be purchased? Click the picture to purchase Sai U Drom music!

"Our album, "Songs of Hope and Death", is a demo album that can be purchased on CD Baby and I-Tunes and all those kinda sites. (click the links to purchase from CD Baby or I-Tunes) We are finishing up "In Other Words" right now and that will be available in January of 2010."

Will the band tour in 2009/2010? If so where?when?

"We are working on it and have dates in December 2009 for Albany NY, NYC, New Haven Conn., Burlington VT and some others."(More info will be available on their site, www.saiudrom.com )

What Genre of music do you consider yourself in ?Why did the band choose this genre?

"Gypsy/World/Folk/Punk - or "Stranger Gypsy Folkin Rock" - We all have an avid love for traditional Irish, Russian, and Gypsy music. We also love classical, sludge, crust, punk, black metal, electronica and hip hop, so those forms of music are there to. We are kind of genre-less."

Well Dylan, I beg to differ with you on that one! I do believe you have found your own genre. When someone first hears Sai U Drom's music they may raise an eyebrow and ask themselves,"What is this?" . What I hear when I listen to their music is ... Freedom! Freedom from the everyday, ordinary music. I can picture a group of people gathered around an open fire, singing and dancing and letting their emotions run wild. It is not often we come across people who are as unique and dedicated as Sai U Drom is! Keep up the great work, and thank you for this brief look into your journey!

Be Well and Be Happy My Dear Friends.                          

Visit the Sai U Drom website HERE

 Visit Sai U Drom on Myspace HERE