Tortured Soul is a group that consist of three members Ethan (Keyboard), Jason (Bass) , and Christian (Lead Vocals& Drums) hailing from NYC playing soulful funky dance music which I discovered a few years ago through a DJ Spinna remix. Their first album “Introducing Tortured Soul” released in 2005 is a must have for any collection with its soulful dance grooves. Tortured Soul released “Did You Miss Me” in 2009 and one of my favorite albums of the year.
Tortured Soul does a monthly show in Chicago at the Double Door every 3rd Friday of the month with the next show this Friday October 16th and I had a chance to do an online interview with them so please check it out below as well as their links.
1) How did the group meet?
Jason: We were originally playing in another band together, a larger acid-jazz funk group called Topaz. Eventually the three of us decided to split off and start doing our own thing, and right about the same time Christian had begun to write songs under the name Tortured Soul. We collaborated on some stuff and decided to use the name for the new concept we were working with - live house music - and we pretty much just rolled with it from there.
2) Who are your musical influences?
Christian: I like all kinds of music but as far as artists that have influenced the music I make go, the list becomes smaller. The list is still long, but to name a few there's:
Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Rod Temperton/Heatwave
Donna Summer, The Bee Gees, Thelma Houston, Chic, Kool and the gang, the Dazz band, Rick James, James Brown
Marvin Gaye, the whispers, the Spinners, Quincy Jones, the Sugar Hill Gang. That's a start.
3) What are a couple of your favorite cities to perform in?
Ethan: We get asked this a lot, and it's always tough to answer since we get such a warm response in a lot of places. Short list? Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, London, Istanbul, Jakarta, Seoul, Manila, Tokyo... Actually I could go on. The enthusiasm we've had the opportunity to receive is truly humbling.
4) What are some of your upcoming projects?
Ethan: We have a couple upcoming singles that we're really excited about, including remixes from DJ Spinna and Mark de Clive-Lowe.
We're also running a remix contest for the title track off the album, "Did You Miss Me," on Traxsource.com, and the winner from that will be featured in an upcoming release in our label, TSTC Records.
We also have something totally new for us. We're just finishing up our first music video, also for "Did You Miss Me." It's looking really good so far! Folks should keep an eye out for that later this Fall.
5) What individual or group do you want to do a song with?
Jason: Our wish list includes some pretty serious heavyweights...Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, Prince. I've always dreamed of working with a legendary producer, like a Rick Rubin or Nile Rodgers
Here are some links to check out the hot sounds of Tortured Soul and find out when they will be in a city near you..…For the DJ's out there check out the remix link see if you have what it takes to remix "Did You Miss Me"
Tortured Soul website:
http://www.torturedsoulmusic.com/
The Tortured Soul Remix Contest:
http://www.traxsource.com/index.php?act=page&page_id=237
Myspace: myspace.com/torturedsoul
Facebook: facebook.com/torturedsoul
twitter: @tortured_soul