'Bring back that joy'- Soul4Soul takes steps to expand musical reach

Hasani Walters, Gleaner Writer

Having been on the local hotel circuit for several years, reggae crooners Soul4Soul are ready to make their entry onto the big stage.

The long-standing group of four have spent the last seven years of their lives mesmerising tourists with their performances, displaying their harmonious melodies and captivating vocal ability.

They have entertained audiences at most of the popular north coast hotels from St Mary right back to Sandals White House in Westmoreland.

In the last four of those seven years, the group has worked extensively doing recordings. That hard work has paid off in some respects as the group has got its fair share of airplay on Jamaica's major radio stations as well as music video rotation on television stations throughout the Caribbean such as RETV, Hype TV and Tempo.

The group has, since its first single, Ina Taxi, enjoyed success from other songs such as Greedy Man and At The Movies.

The latter, a collaboration with reggae artiste Hyah Blaze, was featured at the Palace Amusement theatres between movie breaks for a period of time. Soul4Soul's latest single, Promise is grabbing the group's attention at the moment, as this is the song they hope will expose them to a wider Jamaican audience.

performances

Among their long list of performances are events such as; Peter Tosh's Birthday Bash, Riding West, Jazz and Blues festival, Reggae Sumfest, Western Consciousness, Miss Jamaica World 2008, Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival Queen Competition, Nyamings and Jammings, Curry Fest and Mango Fest.

Negotiations for the group to perform at Rebel Salute and once more at the Jazz and Blues festival are currently under way.

The usual difficulties that come with being involved in a group are present, but they remain focused at all times and this helps to keep them on track.

According to the members, "Though it's four different personalities, everyone has the same direction so it's not that hard. For the last seven years we've been together and have grown to know each other."

"People have the mindset that once you're not from Kingston you're not good, but Soul4Soul is here to prove them wrong. If you have a good product and you keep putting it out there you will eventually get your chance," the group explained.

good disc jockeys

They also touched the issue of payola within the music industry saying that, "Any young artiste new to the scene can tell you that it's not easy to get your songs played, but I want to point out also that there are some good disc jockeys and media houses out there that will play your songs or put out your press release without expecting a dollar."

Jamaica has seen a number of previous male singing groups such as Q, One Third, Kahlil, LUST, Voicemail, TOK, and To-Isis. What makes Soul4Soul different from all these groups they say is, "Soul4 Soul is not a 'hurry-come-up' group. Seven years is not a little time in anybody's life, every night we're together performing. we've stuck together through thick and thin. When nothing is happening we're still together, it's unlikely that when things start to go good we'll disband.

"Everybody in the group could go solo because of the exceptional individual skill each member possesses but when we're as a group that's when the magic happens," they added.

The group is currently working on their debut album which is scheduled to be released very early 2011 as they have already completed more than half of it.

"We don't expect it to happen overnight, it's like building a house, every day you add something," they said.

However, one main aim of the group is to expand their Kingston fan base. "Our aim is to develop our fan base in Kingston because like it or not, Kingston is the mecca, with the new single, we're looking to land a couple of live performances. We're coming to make people enjoy music because music is fun and we just want to bring back that joy to the people. It's like a Bob [Marley] thing, just one love," they said.