Songwriter Malysa makes his musical mark in Nashville by Dennis Smith Special to the Beaver Artscene 27 | Friday, December 13, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Singing for a packed house at Nashville's Bluebird Café recently was a chart-topping experience for Paul Malysa. "There were 300 people who lined up two hours for songwriters' night," he said. "Half the lineup doesn't even seem to get in there. It was pretty wild." Malysa noted the Bluebird setting is part of the popular television music drama Nashville and it occasionally draws celebrities. "It's known that when you perform at the Bluebird someone like (country star) Keith Urban might drop in," said Malysa. "That's part of the attraction." The singer/songwriter/musician, who performs `pop-style country' played three originals. His tunes included the love song Crazy on You, the upbeat Pencils and Racers, plus Ten Days in Paradise, where he encouraged the audience to join in. "I wanted to mix it up a little," said Malysa, who enjoyed a warm reception. "Nashville audiences just love songwriters." The local performer was invited back to the Bluebird and hopes to Partners also have vision for video game, movie based on extreme sport by Dennis Smith Special to the Beaver Retired BMX riders look for smashing success with new book of the band," he said. In real life, he also played drums for the group, Trixie Goes Hollywood. Former Oakville-resident Danyluk has worked as a stunt man. "A lot of actors end up behind the camera," said Lombard. "We wouldn't be adverse to directing the (Smash Bike) film so long as we got bit parts. We're comfortable in front of the camera." In their movie script, the heroes must raise money to avoid losing their Smash Bike building. Then they lose more money playing poker. "It's pretty formula Hollywood," said Lombard. "It's a pretty fun script." They decided to aim for more than a movie and video game. "We decided, let's do a book, there's not a lot of stuff out their for young guys," said Lombard. "It's low-brow humour for kids who like seeing shows like Family Guy. We hope young girls like it, but we're gearing towards young guys." He noted young men (aged 17 and up) are the top purchasers of video games and movie tickets. The book is available at www.amazon.ca. For more information, visit www.smashbike. com. add something different next time. "I'm known for making up songs on the spot," said Malysa. "I'll get there and make up a song right there." He previously performed in the country music capital for the Nashville Tourism Board, CMA (Country Music Association) festivals and Canadian songwriters nights. "It was pretty exciting playing the Bluebird," said Malysa. "It was probably the highlight of my going down to Nashville." He also had a long chat with Eddie Schwartz, president of the Songwriters Association of Canada. Schwartz wrote the song called Hit Me With Your Best Shot for Pat Benatar. Malysa said he and Schwartz talked about how so many people are writing so many songs so fast. "He said `Take the time to write a great song,'" recalled Malysa. His recent album, I'm Country in the City, was co-produced with Les Graham and co-written with John Christensen. "Sometimes John comes up with an idea and sometimes it's me," said Malysa. "We email each other and get together at my home stu- Paul Malysa took the stage at Nashvlle's famed Bluebird Café recently. | submitted photo dio. We play with it and see where it goes." He doesn't mind writing for other performers. "I'd be quite content if one of our songs got picked up by a major artist or credited in a movie or on TV ," said Malysa. "Having the song performed by another art- ist is just as good." He divides time between residences in Streetsville, Mississauga and Oakville, where he's leasing manager for Oakville Infiniti and Nissan. Malysa enjoys holding monthly songwriter nights at his studio. "We have quite a few different artists and it's pot-luck style," said the singer. One such session of Christmas songs is being recorded for In The Country with Dave Woods, an online radio show. He has also performed at Oakville's Moonshine Café on Nashville Songwriters Association International nights. His song, Take Me, was in the Unforgettable Hits 2 compilation with wellknown artists like Norah Jones. Elysa has played Toronto's legendary El Mocambo and the Cadillac Lounge, where he thrilled Canadian-country star Michelle Wright. "Michelle came out and I made up a song for her on the fly," he said. Malysa was a CMAO (Country Music Association of Ontario) award nominee in 2013 and received an award for his palliative care fundraising for the Healing Cycle Foundation. "It's always so good when you give back," he said. "When I hear other people's stories, I could never complain about my day." Malysa has also performed for The Kidney Foundation of Canada and CIBC Run for the Cure events. For more about him, visit www. paulmalysa.com. Turn some BMX bike riders into Punch Blockers, add a Hoop Speeder, toss in The Fight Line and voila -- you have Smash Bike. "It's the fastest-growing extreme sport in the world," said co-creator Kim Lombard. "It has BMX stunts and it's like roller derby." The Oakville man and project partner William J. Danyluk III have just completed a Smash Bike book. They'll be finishing an audio book shortly and have even more plans for their concept. "It could be a video game or it could be workable in a film version," said Lombard. The duo have been to Los Angeles three times to shop the film script with their agent. "People say it's pretty funny," said Lombard. In this extreme BMX sport, Punch Blockers chase their opponents' point-scoring and stunt-making Hoop Speeders. When the BMX riders cross The Fight Line, Former BMX riders William J. Danyluk III and K.A. Lombard have created an extreme sport that combines stunt bike riding and roller derby for their new book, Smash Bike. Their vision includes getting behind the camera for the film version. submitted photos they can make contact with opposing players. The slogan for Smash Bike is Knock Yourself Out. "The way the whole thing came together is we wanted to collect used bicycles," said Lombard. Their goal is to provide bicycles for people in Third World countries, particularly for women. "They can start a business or get through rough parts of town with them," said Lom- bard. They collected a few bikes for their charity and came up with the Smash Bike game. "We're kind of retired BMX riders. We love it," said Lombard. Both are musicians who've worked in the film business. Lombard's credits include acting in a Flashpoint television episode and the movie Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives! "I played the drummer who got kicked out