Debut Opensouls Album Released Today!

Debut Opensouls Album Released Today!

Kaleidoscope, the highly anticipated full-length debut album by Opensouls, was released today.

Opensouls are one of New Zealand’s top live hip hop groups. Their singles “In Your Hands” and “Turn It Up” have received high rotation airplay on bNet stations and rave reviews from International media. Ritmo from the UK wrote “Grooving beat with subtle, soulful vocals make “In Your Hands” a perfect wind down track.” While Piccadilly Records wrote that “Turn It Up!” Is a total killer with a strong vocal from singer Tyra Hammond backed by the Opensouls band who create a fat soul-funk sound….”

Kaleidoscope is a 16 track album which fuses genres of soul, blues, hip hop and funk. It took five years to create this release from Opensouls that started as sketches in 2001 on Ota’s MPC2000. Those 5 years saw 3 members of the group travel to South Africa, Rome and Seattle on the Red Bull Music Academy. All the music and inspiration from those trips has come out in this album.

Opensouls have also drawn inspiration from seeing the world through the eyes of a young Aotearoa with lyrics penned by Bjorn Petersen and Tyra Hammond. The band are members of Che Fu’s The Krates, Verse Two, Anika Moa’s Plastic Tiki Band, Recloose and Solaa. Kaleidoscope also features Ladi6, Hohepa from Fat Freddy’s Drop and Karena from Tha Feelstyle.

Kaleidoscope has been mastered in Los Angeles by Dave Cooley who is the mastering engineer for ‘Stones Throw Records’. Artists on ‘Stones Throw’ include Jay Dee a.k.a J.Dilla, Madlib, M.E.D.

The Opensouls band are:
Bjorn Petersen – Vocals, Tyra Hammond – Vocals, Chip – Bass, Stephanie Brown – Keyboards, Isaac Aesili – Trumpet, Scott Towers – Saxophone, Jeremy Toy – Guitar/MPC2000, Buttafingers – Turntables, Julien Dyne – Drums.

Kaleidoscope is distributed by Rhythmethod

www.opensouls.co.nz

ENDS

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