Interview with Luke Bass from Soul Movement


Q: Please tell me how and why the Soul Movement was founded. Which musical vision do the members of the band share?

Luke Bass: Singer Sunta Africa had just released a neo-soul album and her producer was looking for a band to back her for live shows. Among the musicians recruited was a local young talented guitar/flute player Sarah G. As well as learning tracks off Sunta's album the band began to write their own material. After playing a local club, the group, then named Sunta Africa and the Nu Life band, caught the eye of a local producer/bassist Luke Bass. After about a month of jamming at Red White and Black Studios, Luke introduced the band to a very handsome horn player who also proved to be a talented MC and keyboard player ( Afro Dz Ak). Encompassing a wide array of musical backrounds and tastes, members of Soul Movement share a vision of a positive creative soul vibe.

Q: How would you describe your sound and who has influenced you?

Luke Bass: We like to consider it non-commercial music with mass appeal. We can be decribed as : urban R&B, positive soul, diverse, groove, neo-alternative, like pink lemonade: cool, smooth and refreshing, and funky soul hop. Our influences include Bob Marley, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Sublime, Sade, Common, Herbie Mann, and Lauryn Hill...these lists could go on and on.

Q: Where do you see you place in today's music scene?

Luke Bass: We're really not sure about that. We've played with hard rock and jam bands and Hip-hop artists but there is not a lot a of local R&B around us. Right now our best niches are collages and community gigs.

Q: Please tell me something about the recording of Get Away. How much time did you need?

Luke Bass: Get Away was recorded at Luke's own Red White and Black Studio. It was originally planned as a demo project but it quickly turned into SM's debut release. From start to finish it took about a month to record. At the time of recording we didn't really have a direction per say, we honestly just wanted something down on record. Get Away was written, recorded, and released within just a couple of months of Soul Movement comming together and, to us, it was just a sneak peak off our potential as a band, and of us as individuals who are passionate about their art.

Q: How difficult or easy was it to get some recognition as newly founded band?

Luke Bass: With such a wide range of appeal we were able to gain an audience fairly quickly (well, ok, having connections with universities in our region as also helped). Our long list of benefit shows has gained us respect among our neighborhoods and schools. Members of Soul Movement believe giving back to the community is important and we are happy to use our music to promote social conciousness in our own backyards. And, Sunta and her sisters have ALOT of friends so that has also helped with attracting an audience. You will find a wide range of people at a Soul Movement show: young, old, black, white, rich, poor, hip hop heads, rockers, and the list goes on. We have found our audience can't be thrown into any particular scene, our music is enjoyed by many.

Q: In which direction do you want to develop as a band?

Luke Bass: GLOBALLY. Wile continuing to find a market in our area we plan to introduce ourselves to an international market. Because of great sites like this one people around the world will be introduced and can listen and buy our music.

Q: In your forum on your website you discuss the topic of covering a song to make it easier to reach new listeners if they search for a certain well-known song on download stores and then also discover that the Soulmovement did this song too. Have you decided which song you will pick and what do you think of cover versions in general?

Luke Bass: We feel cover versions are most effective when an artist adds original twist and flavor. Some Songs SM has discussed covering in the future are: Fever, Summertime, War Pigs, and Dock of the bay. Our upcomming live CD will feature versions of Let's Get it On by Marvin Gaye and No Woman No Cry by Bob Marley.

Q: You've released your album Get Away independently. Do you want to stay an independent band or are you trying to get signed to a record label?

Luke Bass: We're not trying to get signed to a major record label, but if an independent label offerd us a great deal we'd consider it. Currently we are recorded, produced, manufactured and promoted by our own producer/bassist Luke Bass with a bit of help from the band. The only thing a label could offer us is better promotion and distribution which would be great but is not essential to make great music.

For more infos visit soulmovementmusic.com, cdbaby.com and read my review of Get Away.