FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 08/19/2020 

CONTACT: HARRY KAPLAN / 443-797-7983 

(Owings Mills, MD) – Twangri-La Records and singer/songwriter Mike Stapleton have teamed up to release the folk-rock artist’s next album, “Dark and Deep,” this fall (October 16, 2020 release date). It will be Stapleton’s fourth album overall but his first on a record label. “I’m excited to be working with Mike Stapleton,” said Harry Kaplan, president of Twangri-La Records. “He is a brilliant songwriter with a knack for catchy melodies and insightful lyrics.” 

Born in Pembroke, Massachusetts, the 47-year-old Stapleton moved to Wells, Maine when he was 2 years old, where he has been writing songs since he was 21. With a style reminiscent of 1960s folk music and classic rock of the 1970s and 80s, Stapleton considers the Beach Boys, The Beatles, Chuck Berry, Leonard Cohen and Neil Young among his early influences. “I was always a music lover,” he said. “I had some friends who played in high school, including one who was a really good guitar player, who got me into it. I joined a band for about six months. We played a few bars and private parties, but I realized I was more comfortable working solo.” 

Stapleton confesses to being an introvert, having struggled with anxiety and depression for many years, and now channels his feelings and experiences into positive music that he hopes will help  others. “Sitting at home, listening to music and playing music has always been a form of therapy for me,” he said. “I have always loved melodies and word play. I never try to rush a song; I wait for it to come to me.” Before signing with Twangri-La Records, Stapleton released three self-produced albums independently: “Reflections,” “Mid-Winter Blues” and “The Long Haul.” 

One day while searching the internet, he came across Twangri-La Radio, the record label’s Internet radio station. He submitted some of his music for airplay consideration, and Twangri-La owner Harry Kaplan liked it so much that he began talking with Stapleton about releasing a new album on his new record label. “It was really serendipitous, the way we found each other,” Kaplan said. “I was looking for new artists to sign and he was looking for a way to get his music better exposure. I’m excited to work with Mike because he has a voice everyone can love and his music can help so many people.” 

“Most of my songs are pretty mellow, and I hope that people can get some peace from them,” Stapleton said. “A friend of mine lost his 2-year-old daughter to the flu. He sent me a message saying that as he drove home from the hospital, he put one of my CDs in the player and it comforted him during his time of grief. That’s the effect I want my music to have on people.” 

Information about Twangri-La Records is available at www.TwangiLaRecords.com. 

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