Entertainment, Music - Army Times

Military record label drops its first album

When former Army Capt. Sean Gilfillan left the service, he wasn’t sure how to transition back to civilian life. But thanks to his love of music and loyalty to the service members with whom he’d worked, he found success.

Gilfillan, a disabled veteran of the Iraq war, and business partner Sidney DeMello founded To The Fallen Records last year. The label is intended to promote the original music of active-duty, retired, Guard and Reserve military members of all branches.

In 2007, the group released their first album, “To The Fallen — Volume I.” The 14-track hip-hop compilation features members from all four branches, with some artists sending in records from Germany and Iraq.

Gilfillan and DeMello started the project by sending out e-mails to military friends asking for submissions, and the word spread quickly. Over 100 artists sent in tracks for the first album, DeMello said.

The tracks on “Volume I” range in style and message, and though some feature obscene lyrics, DeMello said that the label intended the album to have an authentic feel.

“A big part of our label is that we’re nonpartisan, but we don’t censor or filter the artists in any way,” she said.

The CD sells for $10 and is available only on www.tothefallenrecords.com. The label will donate a percentage of the profits to military and social organizations.

To The Fallen Records is not a hip-hop-only label. “To The Fallen Records: Volume II,” a rock/country album, is scheduled for a September release, and the label intends to produce an album “at least every six months,” DeMello said.

Listen to clips from “Volume I”

• “Overseas”

• “Combat Zone”

• “Eye on Tomorrow”

• “For the Heroes”

• “Ganar”

• “Movin On”

• “My War Cry”

• “Real Soldiers”

• “Reality Check”

• "Rush'em (Military Thugs)"

• “Shed A Tear”

• “Soldier’s Prayer”

• “Soy”

• “Walk With Me”