When writing a bio for Twist of Fate it is always hard to start. How do you describe the band? Created in the 90’s by guitarist Adam Reist and Steel Drum player Dayna Reist, the band has taken on many shapes. In the 90’s the band had various actors from the shows Adam worked on, including guest performances by Melina Kanakaredis, Sharon Leal and Kevin Mambo. Capitalizing on the Steel Drums, the band had a strong island flavor described as Caribbean rock and roll. In 1996 on a trip to North Carolina, Adam and Dayna hooked up with guitarist Jack Rielly. An immediate connection and friendship developed that to this day is the core of the sound of Twist of Fate. The three shared their love for the North Carolina Coast, not taking life too seriously and living everyday as a gift. Musically Jimmy Buffet and Carolina Beach music was a natural early backdrop to convey this philosophy. As Adam, Dayna and Jack’s friendship grew so did the band’s musical exploration. The fascination to use the steel drums in non-traditional ways always intrigued the band. They started to use the pans not just as a lead instrument but also as a foundation, playing underlying chords like a Hammond organ. This proved not only to create a unique sound but also open a wide possibility of different genres the band could now play. In 2004, bass and trumpet player Josh Olivier-Mason joined the band. He was the missing piece. The 23-year-old Josh took to the band’s philosophy in a heartbeat while bringing a youthful enthusiasm to embrace current music while utilizing the band’s unique sound. Twist of Fate began to dive heavily into Reggae and Ska not just that of the current alternative bands but also seeking the Jamaican and English roots. Yet one more Twist of Fate (time you learned the reason behind the name,) brought Drummer Merrill Penalver into the lives of these collected musicians. Merrill’s incredible energy allowed him to slide right into the band family, bringing the beat of his positive spirit into the newest tunes.  This musical journey has led to the birth of their brand new album “Positivity”.

Born out of an idea Adam and Josh came up with while driving home after the band’s performance on the Fox Morning Show in Cincinnati, “Positivity’s” concept was to capture the band and it’s friendship as a stand alone piece of work. The band had developed a unique and diverse sound by playing hundreds of primarily cover gigs and it was time to write their own original songs. They got together for a long weekend, Columbus Day 2008. The concept was to bring to the weekend, song ideas in any form and throw them out to the rest of the band; kind of like making a big pot of stew. All the instruments had been miked so once the beginning of a song came into fruition they could record it. There were no expectations on the weekend. If they got stuff, Great, if they didn’t that was okay too. By the end of the weekend they had written seven brand new songs and revived a few old ones. The first weekend led to a second and third gathering throughout the “off season” winter months and with each gathering the songs became stronger and more polished.  As the spring of 2009 brought the band playing out in public again, the opportunity arose for the songs to be test-driven and various unveiling moments throughout the summer season allowed the songs to finish their growth. 

“Positivity” is an eclectic mix of songs ranging from Reggae and Ska to Folk and straight up Rock and Roll. The band made sure not to alienate their loyal fans by also including a couple songs inspired by their Jimmy Buffet and Caribbean roots. Although the styles of music vary greatly on the album, the record flows nicely from genre to genre as the positive, life is good theme takes the listener from one paradise to another.