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Local Band Soul Serene
Posted: Feb 18, 2009 12:10 PM
The local band scene in the Treasure Valley is growing, and FOX 12 This Morning wants to put them in the spotlight.
Soul Serene is being featured on Thursday, February 19th.
"We're just homeboys from Idaho that want to show the rest of the world what we got," said Spencer Batt, who sings and plays guitar for Soul Serene.
Spencer Batt, Ryan Shaw, Jay Multanen, and Randy Redburn describe themselves as a rock n roll band threading in some of their favorite artists.
"We have strong influences from Jimi Hendrix all the way to Bob Marley," said Ryan Shaw, who plays guitar for Soul Serene. "You have to give Bob credit."
Soul Serene has been together for more than a year now, but friends for much longer. Their history and respect shows with every note of a song, beat of a drum, and string of the guitar and bass.
"If you're not friends with the people you're playing with the music isn't going to be special at all," said Batt.
"All our energies are really positive," said Jay Multanen, who sings and plays bass for Soul Serene. "We feed off each other so well."
"It's like we're part of an elite group, and we're connected, and when we're playing music it feels like no one can stop us," said Randy Redburn, who plays drums for Soul Serene.
There's so many words to describe the smooth group of four, but in just a handful they say soul serene is all about freedom, fun, being dynamic and contagious.
Like the song they sing called "Believe" they hope to inspire everyone that crosses their path.
"This world is a great place and if we can get to a place where our souls are at peace that's all we're really looking for," said Multanen. - KTRV Fox 12
Discography
Rooftops EP 2010
Photos
Bio
Soul Serene is a Rock/Pop/Reggae Band that hails from Boise, ID. The original music of Soul Serene is energetic and explosive, yet smooth and sometimes psychedelic. The music is influenced by the likes of The Beatles, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, and Bob Dylan. Soul Serene sounds like Sublime, Dispatch, Pearl Jam and the Stone Temple Pilots. The band loves to throw a few familiar covers into the mix also; sometimes playing them in a traditional style and sometimes Soul Serene adds a fresh new twist.
Like a small hop root that grows and flourishes on a farm in rural southwest Idaho, so to do the dreams of a few young men. The story of Soul Serene begins with such a dream, one shared collectively among all involved. It is a dream where personal enjoyment meets the greater good; a dream of sharing peace, love, joy and harmony through song. This dream is now maturing into a magnificent reality.
The story of Soul Serene can be picked up at a jam session in Boise, ID where Spencer Batt and Jay Multanen met at the house of a mutual friend. While both musicians were in a period of musical limbo, they found comfort and joy in each others melody. Upon that meeting the two joined forces and began making sweet harmonies together. The result is a blessed blend of rock, reggae, folk and a serious groove. Change and relocation was in the fold for both young men as things would have it. Spencer altered his plans to graduate early from College. Jay packed up his things in California where he was playing music and both moved to Boise. The early days of the band were off to an organic beginning. Spencer and Jay played music whenever, wherever and with whoever they could. The momentum began to build…
Spencer, a farmboy who was raised in the fields, was seeking a place to live the “big city” of Boise. Jay introduced him to his friend Ryan Shaw who had patronized many a Soul Serene show. Ryan and his brother opened their door and welcomed Spencer. The relationship blossomed and soon Ryan joined the band.
As the band charged forward, Jay and Spencer booked a gig at a local pub for the weekend but were strapped for a drummer. Enter Randy Redburn. Spencer had grown up with Randy and was always inspired by his musical skill, so when Randy learned all three sets the night before the performance and pulled it off Spencer was not surprised. Although Randy’s performance was key to the success of the show, the band spent the month tying out other drummers, and with no luck. A last minute gig on the 4th of July led them to once again ask for the service of Randy on drums and this time, he would stick with the band.
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