Tortured Soul takes listeners on a musical voyage with their combination of jazz, soul, funk and house. Comprised of Ethan White, John Christian Urich, and JKriv, the group will be featured at the 2011 One Music Festival in Atlanta. They recently provided insight on their introduction to music and being independent artists. –amir shaw
How were each of you introduced to music?
Christian: My mother and father were professional performers. They acted and sang on Broadway and in Off-Broadway productions and on television for 30 plus years. I can remember my mother had me at the piano singing and repeating what she was doing. There were frequently loud rehearsals with crazy actors, singers, musicians and composers gathered around the piano in my parent’s modest Upper West Side apartment. They all seemed very neurotic, but they were having a lot of fun. So I suppose I was destined to get into the music or entertainment business.
Ethan: My mother played piano as a hobby. As far back as I can remember, there was always a piano playing in the house. They took my brother to piano lessons, but he didn’t like it so they didn’t bother trying with me. But when I was about 7, I asked for piano lessons. Once I started, they couldn’t keep me off. I would sneak downstairs early in the morning and play and sing songs out of my piano book.
What was it like the first day you guys recorded in the studio together?
Ethan: I actually met Christian on a recording session for a different band we played with about 13 or 14 years ago. We didn’t actually speak that day. We just played. I just remember thinking, “Who is this funky ass drummer who keeps staring at everyone like he’s pissed off?”
When did you realize that your fan base was growing?
Christian: One of the biggest confirmations that things were coming together was about five years ago when we went to Cork, Ireland. There were maybe 500 people at the show. We were playing, and when the chorus to “Enjoy It Now” came around, I couldn’t hear myself singing because the crowd was singing it louder than me. I knew then that we were riding a wave.
Why did you decide to go the independent route with your music?
Ethan: We’ve actually worked with labels overseas where we couldn’t do it ourselves. “Did You Miss Me” was released on Columbia in Japan and Dome in the U.K. [and] Europe. Here in the States, we’ve had help from several independent music labels both big and small, but every time a really big fish stepped to the plate, they’ve asked for too much and offered too little. We’re in no way adverse to working with a major or big indie label in the future. It could be really helpful. But maintaining our own independent route allows us to keep those offers in check and consider whether we’re being offered something that is a net positive.
What are the pros and cons of putting out music and running your own label?
Christian: The pros are we have final say about what we do, when the music is ready to release and who we want to work with. We have control over the quality of our “product.” The cons are we have to spend many hours a week dealing with “music business,” which is time that could be spent on making more music, which is what we do best. We also have modest budgets, which don’t allow us to promote what we’re doing as effectively as a major label budget would.
How do you prepare for a live show?
Ethan: We write a set list, do vocal warm-ups and do a shot of tequila. Or two.
What can fans expect from your live show?
Christian: They can expect to get excited, dance and feel really good for a while.
