Soul Purpose: Press

Band Members
Pat Monahan: Songwriter, Bassist, Vocals, And Acoustic Guitar
Joe Freed: Drummer, Percussionist, and vocals
Al Owen: Songwriter, Guitar, and Vocals
Mike Hamad: Guitar, Bass and Vocals


Junior’s Cave’s newest interview is with the dynamic four piece band Soul Purpose. Although their roots are planted in Sarasota, Florida, their musical presence is universal. With a nice blend of Rock and Reggae, Soul Purpose is craving a nice niche in the music industry. Isaac-Joseph: Briefly describe how you entered into the music industry.

Al Owen: Well, Pat and Joe have been in a few bands together namely Havoc, a heavier band that had some good success in Ohio and Fl. I came from a band called Zion. We were a Christian Rock act more along the lines of Yes and Rush. Mike Hamad showed up with a music degree and a great feel for what we were doing.

Isaac-Joseph: What is the most rewarding aspect to making music currently for you?

Al Owen: Lately, seeing people singing the words to our songs when we look out. It tells me that they are moved in some fashion

Isaac-Joseph: What has discouraged you the most about making music?

Al Owen: That it is infinitely hard to make a living at just doing music. I have to be involved in promotion, tours, budgets...musicians hate budgets.

Isaac-Joseph: Do you have a personal philosophy about music? If so, what is it?

Al Owen: Yes, Music is the inner communication with ones self. Sometimes it is hard to recognize who we are as people, until we sing....Truly Gods gift.

Isaac-Joseph: When you are performing live in front of an audience, what are the thoughts that are running through you head?

Al Owen: Just a constant awareness to see if the crowd is being entertained, moved or in someway interested.

Isaac-Joseph: Why is being an independent musician important to you?

Al Owen: I would rather be independent than dependent.

Isaac-Joseph: Do you think the Internet has altered the path of music as an industry? If so, how?

Al Owen: I am glad to see that the Internet and technology is taking the wizardry out of "getting the record deal" On the other hand, I don't see record companies developing an artist like previous; so musical purity is hard to come by.

Isaac-Joseph: Any advice for other musicians out there when it comes to using the Internet as a medium for getting their music heard to the masses? What kind of recording software do you use?

Al Owen: I have sonar, Fruity loops and some great effects.

Isaac-Joseph: I know that everybody has his or her idea of a dream artist, someone who for whatever reasons that person would just love to listen to and admire. As an entertainer yourself, if you could play with one of your "dream" musicians, anyone at all, who would it be and why?

Al Owen: For me, it would be Larry Norman. He just passed away in Feb, but he is such an enormous influence on me and many people. I think one of the greatest songwriters that have ever lived. "I opened the mouth of love, and found a wisdom tooth" You don't find that lyric down at the Wal-mart bin.

Isaac-Joseph: Amen!

Isaac-Joseph: What are you hoping to gain from your experience of being a musician and making music?

Al Owen: Personally, I am trying to make a good living to support my family. If people are moved, influenced, so be it. Isaac-Joseph: What are you hopes for your music in the year 2008? Al Owen: We would like our EP to have some radio airplay, and Internet radio airplay, so we can come out with a new Full length CD.

Isaac-Joseph: This is our Shout Out time. Please give props to anyone and everyone that matters the most to you.

Al Owen: I know we would love to say thanks again to our families for their support. Thanks to our fans for making all of this possible, and Thanks to God for making all of us possible.

Isaac-Joseph: This is Shameless Plug time: Give us some updates on new releases and other projects in the works.

Al Owen: Well, we are in preproduction of a new full length CD. We have some live cuts we have put up on our MySpace...(http://www.myspace.com/soiledporpoise) so can here some preview of what is up and coming

Isaac-Joseph: Final Thoughts:

Al Owen: Keep on Rockin in the free world!

TIGHT SOUND
LEAD GUITAR WORKS VERY WELL AND LIFTS THE SONG TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
VOCALS ARE CLEAN, CLEAR AND EASY ON THE EAR, ORIGINAL FEEL.
SONG OVERALL WORKS VERY WELL, YOU HAVE OBVIOUSLY SPENT SOME TIME ON IT BEFORE YOU WENT INTO THE STUDIO.EXCELLENT WORK GUYS, SOUNDS A BIT SPIN DOCTORS MIXED WITH JOHN MAYER. VERY TIGHT AND TIDY. "I LOVED IT"
Reviewed by: jdsoundworx from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia [flag]

Here come da' groove patrol.
This is a groovy little number.
Can really swing with it. The lead vocals are dynamic and believable.
I like the harmonies in the chorus.
The lead guitar is sufficient and right for the song.
The song itself is catchy and not too long. Makes you want to hear it again.


- PXA Respond to this reviewer
Toronto, Ontario, Canada [flag]
August 12th, 2007

Island living
Jake Paine
I hate the fact that we’re in this pseudo po-dunk place that refuses to listen to or hire anybody unless they’re doing Jimmy Buffett,” says Soul Purpose vocalist and songwriter Al Owen, referring to his Sarasota, Florida home. Although Soul Purpose’s music has Caribbean influence, this recently-formed collective of veteran musicians from several genres looks a bit further south than Buffett’s Key West. “We love reggae music, and Sarasota really responds well to that island sound,” adds guitarist and vocalist Pat Monahan.

Still, the guys of Soul Purpose know they might not look the part of Stereotypical reggae rockers. “We come into a concert situation, and people are skeptical—as they should be,” begins Al, “but when they hear it, they’re immediately converted; we sell out of all the Cds we have.” Immediacy is an important factor, made clear by Soul Purpose’s album title Needful Things. After apologizing for metaphor, Al says of the group’s expectations, “here we are standing on the beach, knowing that the water’s receding, but we can tell that there’s a wave coming.” On a brighter note, these seasoned musicians writers both agree that this band is a career pinnacle.

Others are depending on that wave too. Soul Purpose incorporates numerous songwriters, guest musicians, and even writes for 60s and 70s rocker Rick Derringer.

One of the band’s songs “Yahweh” features a local rapping talent named Evon Williams. Pat recalls, “he’s actually living on the street. He just walked up to the mic and brought this beautiful fusion to the music.” The good vibes in the music are matched with a sense of family and good deeds within Soul Purpose. In an admittedly tough market, a challenging genre, and melancholic times, Al reveals that sole purpose: “there’s so much depressing music out there right now, and we’re not in that mode.”

Needful Things

SOUL PURPOSE

soiledporpoise.com

When it comes to songwriting, Sarasota's Soul Purpose keeps it pretty simple. On Needful Things, the quartet's five-track debut EP, the band sings about keeping your mouth shut ("Big Mouth"), needing some loving ("I Need Your Love") and dancing with hot chicks ("Cool Ya Down"). The subjects might be breezy, but the band has a certain musical sophistication, hopping with ease from quasi-grunge and roots-rock to pop-ska and dub. The nine-minute-plus track that closes the disc, "Yahweh," is particularly impressive, a weighty reggae groove that fades into an extended hand-percussion coda. 3 stars

Well, you know you’re going to have some seasoned performers when one of your guitarists has written for Rick Derringer, played for Dickie Betts and even had Betts sing at his wedding. True, Al Owen of Soul Purpose used to be married to Betts’ niece. But, still. This Sarasota, Florida-based band, though influenced by Southern rock, is more a modern rock-reggae combo.

“Big Mouth” and “I Need Your Love” seem to be very modern rock radio friendly. The reggae sound in “Cool Ya Down” takes the band in a different direction, the same with “Yahweh”. “Joy” definitely shows influences by The Outlaws.

wmnf.org
Sonic Detour Monday Playlist for April 30, 2007
Artist -- Track -- Album/CD
Jim Hillman -- 'Smatter -- The Merlin Factor
Meatbeat Manifesto -- It's The Music -- Original Fire
SET BREAK
Robert Randolph & The Family Man -- Ain't Nothing Wrong With That -- Colorblind
Leftover Salmon -- Highway Song -- Euphoria
Ben Harper -- Amen Omen -- Diamonds on the Inside
SET BREAK
B Movie -- Breathe -- independent
Rebekah Pulley -- The Real World -- Southeast Music Alliance: Volume 1
Lisa! -- 4:30n Newsbreak -- WMNF News
Obi Shawn Konobi -- Like The Water -- independent
SET BREAK
Lily Allen -- Shame For You -- Alright, Still
Marvin Gaye -- Got To Give It Up -- Motown 25th Anniversary Special
SET BREAK
Soul Purpose -- Need Your Love -- Needful Things
B Movie -- Question -- independent
DAG -- Do Me Good -- Righteous
npr -- 5:00 news -- NPR Newsbreak
SET BREAK
Mindy Simmons -- Aim For The Knee -- Live In Pittsburg
Infectious Grooves -- Infectious Grooves -- Infectious Grooves
Human Condition -- Purple Heart -- Five
SET BREAK
Soul Purpose -- Big Mouth -- Needful Things
Al Owen -- To Touch Her -- independent
SET BREAK
Beauvilles -- Where We Start -- Singapore
Barry Johnson -- Straighten Up And Fly Right -- Jazz Faire
Dred Zeppelin -- Doin The Claw -- Dred Zeppelin
Obi Shawn Konobi -- Four Sticks -- independent
SET BREAK
Crazy Frog -- first -- Crazy Hits
Crazy Frog -- second -- Crazy Hits
The Who -- Boris The Spider -- Meaty, Beaty, Big, & Bouncy
The Stereo MCs -- Step It Up -- Connected
Cryptic Vision -- Grand Design -- Moments Of Clarity

A well done blues standard
I do appreciate the blues standard and the extra rock edge this places on them is much needed to make this somthing new. Reminds me of the chilly peppers meets the local blues band down the street. The harmonies in the chorus are well done. THe composition earns points for its use of brevity and allthough each individual part doesn't stand out as much as you'd like with such a short track, they do a good job of working as one unit. THe lead vocalist has a strong sense of character - he works a strange blend of standard blues and gruff rock together. The lead guitar is very well recorded and played, the tone is used to great effect by the player, knowing how to eek the beat out of each note and use it's rhythmic strengths when strumming clean. The wah sections are really well textured and played. Great rhythmic player. Decent track as a whole, nothing new really, but well done and fun sounding standard.
Reviewed by: thefutureofcolor from San Francisco, California [flag]