Members: Anoop Kar (vocals and guitar) Dale Kim (bass guitar) Ankit Mehta (percussion) Alex Vera (lead guitar) Burnt Toast was a project undertaken by four high school seniors from Midland, Michigan. During the summer of 2002, singer-songwriter Anoop Kar and his talented friends Dale, Ankit, and Alex began to improvise together for fun. The amateur musicians’ jam sessions eventually led to the creation of a solid jazz-rock band. From practicing to performing live, the band members gained recognition from the community and continued to push themselves creatively. Although Burnt Toast never played a paid gig, they enjoyed performing at Battle of the Bands competitions, their school talent show, and various parties. In August 2003, after already testing their songs in front of live audiences, Burnt Toast decided to use a digital 8-track mixer and many microphones and convert Ankit’s basement into a makeshift studio. The result of their efforts was an album of eleven songs that is now titled, “Nicely Toasted.” After the recordings were completed, Anoop mixed and produced the album using Cool Edit Pro software and had the record professionally mastered by Jeff Gudenrath of Madison, Tennessee. The album in full was released in 2005. The members of Burnt Toast took pride in their diversity, energy, and spontaneity. From listening to the poppy love songs, “Time and Place” and “Falling,” to the heavier political pieces, “INS” and “America,” audiences have found “Nicely Toasted” to be a uniquely upbeat, expressive, and personal compilation. With his Burnt Toast days well behind him, Anoop is currently in the midst of recording a solo album using Logic Pro and EZdrummer software. The record, which is tentatively titled, “Vital Signs and Dotted Lines,” will be released in 2009. Burnt Toast Band is a member of Sondei Foundation, a network of independent artists committed to philanthropy. At least 25% of the net sales from Burnt Toast will be donated to a non-profit charity dedicated to youth, education, or community development.