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Interviews

Soulisms gets up close and personal with today's finest talent in soul music. Often finding out information about these soul artists you'd not find else where. Keep checking this page! (Hit artist picture for full interview)

Conya Doss

Keite Young

"Things are going good!", says an excited Keite Young. This is the latest signing to Hidden Beach Recordings. And earlier in 2007 Keite Young released his much anticipated debut album The Rise & Fall of Keite Young. Keite Young says, "I think I'm about to plan to play more often live, and that always makes me happy. I am actually looking forward to playing festivals and such in the UK, and some parts of Europe, Japan and Africa. Performing is really the high light of my whole music experience"

"I'd like to work with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Chico DeBarge, Frank McComb, D'Angelo, Lauryn Hill and many more!", admits Conya Doss. "I was always a musician. Growing up, I was surrounded by music and I remember continuously having family gatherings, where I would show case my voice" Conya Doss released Love Rain Down on 2006 on independent music companies. For a female independent soul artist to be on her third album is big news and Conya Doss does not disappoint.

Osunlade

DJ Spinna

Real name Vincent Williams, was born and raised in Brooklyn, USA. He is globally known as DJ Spinna. “It took three years to make. I did the deal with Papa Records right after the release on BBE Music. It took a while due to personal life changes, like my daughter being born and also finding the right artists to do collaborations with. Eric Roberson for example was so busy. It took almost a year for us to finish Butterfly Girl” says DJ Spinna.

“Art and life are the same for me, as a creative person I create what I live, its not the other way around for me. Some make music to create life; on the other hand, the music is the expression and mirror of the life I live” says highly respected musician Osunlade. “At age seven, I knew I wanted to be a musician and started playing piano” He describes his interesting personality. “I’m a very personal man, I’m an introvert, I don’t live a rock star life style"

Tawiah

Irma Thomas

Born February, 18th 1941 in Ponchatoula, Lousiana, her parents quickly moved to New Orleans with her. Irma Thomas attended school, and would be discovered by band leader Tommy Ridgley. Her early musical influences were Pearl Bailey, Cecil Grant, The Five Blind Boys, and especially Percy Mayfield. “Wonderful!” says Irma Thomas.

Tawiah says, “Well the EP is gonna be out on Bush Girl Records! Doin it ourselves thats me n my fab managers! You can expect to hear a lil of me fooling around coz I like to laugh, you can hear a bit of old school cus I like to remember, you can hear a love song and you can expect to hear some guitars and strings and oohs and ahhs! The EP has been quite the process and represents a time in my life its just the beginning!”

Vikter Duplaix

Adriana Evans

“Everything. Life is the greatest inspiration. My life and the lives of ordinary people around the world, I marvel at the way human beings can suffer through the most tragic circumstances and still believe that something out there loves them. I’ve seen children in Latin America in the most horrific condition’s laugh and play as if they were in a Mansion in Beverly Hills. That is what inspires me, the truth of who we really are; love” says Adriana Evans.

“Oh well, that’s such a broad question” replies Vikter Duplaix, he continues. “In general? I mean; I was just inspired to make something that was soothing but fun, and also not too sleepy but still very relaxing. So, I just wanted to make a listening experience from beginning to end that was consistent and took you on a bit of a journey. But didn’t really make you too excited or make you too mellow. You know?"

Marlena Shaw

Marcina Arnold

Marcina Arnold is a secret of talent living in the heart of Central London. I went to meet her in Stockwell. “The deal is in a process, as in a sense, I’m working with these guys, they liked the music and that’s the most important thing. That they are willing to invest money accordingly to help people hear the music, I think Jake had heard some of my music through a DJ friend of his called Nick The Record. Initially my first contact with Jake was when he invited me to do a gig in Hastings"

Marlena Shaw is a legendary vocalist in her own right, and thought of amongst many as a national treasure. Over Sixty years of age, Marlena Shaw has achieved an awful lot, it all began in her hometown Valhalla, New York, USA, as she was heavily raised on Gospel and jazz music. Marlena Shaw says, “My Uncle Jimmy Burgess was jazz trumpet player"

Brian Jackson

Tony Ozier

Tony Ozier released his debut album, Mental Candy. Released on his BeatsGalore Records, Tony Oziers fusion of live band soul, and pinches of hip-hop make this a highly innovative album. “It’s the latest project that I have released yes. My second album, Aural Penetration is done and currently being mastered. I’ve also been doing a lot of production work lately”

“I’m well, celebrated my 54th birthday yesterday, the 11th, and I even survived THAT!” says Brian Jackson. “I’ve done a collaboration with some of my heroes, Ron Carter, Airto, Mike Clark and Linda Tillery. All put together by a young producer named Kentyah Fraser. There are some songs from the Gil Scott-Heron & Brian Jackson catalog, a tune or two from Mike Clark (remember, he and fellow head-hunter, bassist Paul Jackson wrote ‘God Make Me Funky’), a tune by Pharoah Saunders and some improvisational pieces"

Soulisms 2008