Soul Majestic
Aptos, California, United States | SELF
Music
Press
"...Soul Majestic has been climbing to the upper ranks… instantly popular in the Santa Cruz area on the strength of inspiring live shows.”
- The Guide, Santa Cruz Sentinel, 2007
“Their music was untainted roots excellence, a soulful (and majestic) combintion of foundational rythyms, steadfast lyrics and a mystical edge bolstered by recurring Nyahbinghi drumming, melodica passages and vocals that found the middle ground between Californian cool and Jamaican fire.”
- The Beat Magazine, 2005
“Consciously inclined and good vibin’ roots band...may propel this band
abroad, for it boasts creativity, layered talent, and spunk, all necessary traits for global domination.”
- The Independent, 2004
“...Floats above an ocean of reggae bands that increasingly sound exactly the
same. A certain swing of the beat, trumpets and other instruments rarely heard
in reggae, the strong female vocal presence and the lyrics’ variety and significance all give Soul Majestic a fresh, unique coating....they just find ways to spin these fundamentals that other bands have exhausted.”
- Goodtimes, 2004
“For a rootical sound that taps the universal themes of reggae in a thoroughly
modern style… Soul Majestic delivers the soulful sounds of Jah’s Music’s new
generation.”
- Roger Steffens, Bob Marley Archivist, Metro Santa Cruz, 2007
Discography
Soul Majestic (self-titled) 2002, Until That Day 2004, Stand Up (single) 2005, Soul Majestic "Live On Stand Up Tour" (live album) 2006, Better World 2009, Stay With Me (single) 2011.
Photos
Bio
Soul Majestic
Soul Majestic was formed in the late 1990’s by lead singer and songwriter Eric Iverson (a.k.a. Eric-I) and guitarist DavidLyons, who, after moving to Santa Cruz from their native Santa Barbara, joined forces with singer Oriana Sanders and percussionist Brian Jarvis. As contributors to the thriving evolution of California reggae, Soul Majestic has since aligned themselves with and been welcomed by the most respected in the business – recording their second album at the legendary Tuff Gong Studio with some of the best artists Jamaica has to offer, touring nationally with world-renowned reggae greats and performing at some of the largest attended festivals in the US including Reggae on the River, Ragga Muffins, Earthdance, and Sierra Nevada World Music Festival, to name just a few. The band has gained further recognition for using the fitting platform of reggae music to promote ecological and humanitarian causes.
Soul Majestic’s modern take on this time-honored genre fuses Caribbean style reggae
rhythms with an array of other influences including rock, hip hop, soul/R&B, world, jazz, and
folk. The universal messages of their music incorporate such topics as the protection of
our environment, political, social and economic concerns, family, life and love. Over the years
Soul Majestic’s sound has been cultivated and shaped by a cast of quality and influential roots musicians, which now includes Jayme Arredondo on drums, Thomas "Toads" Marcelino on bass, Seth Theodore on keys, and at times live horns. The band’s tight musicianship, crowd-hyping dub breaks, occasional accoustic ballads, and fresh lyrics delivered via alternating male/female lead vocals from Eric-I and Oriana, set the stage for a guaranteed uplifting experience.
In 2004 Soul Majestic released their second album, Until That Day, recorded at Bob Marley’s
Tuff Gong studio in Kingston, Jamaica. Collaborating with big hitters Sly & Robbie on “Elder
Voice”, and conscious dancehall artist Anthony B. on “Stand Up” (which later instigated a
nationwide, fifty-city tour, with Soul Majestic and Anthony B.), Soul Majestic second studio effort had critics, and music fans alike, taking notice. Infused with distinct Jamaican flavorings that could only come from the authentic talents of the all-star crew they recruited, Until that Day launched them onto radio playlists as far off as Guam, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean.
The band released their third album entitled Better World in 2009. Still touring in support of the album, while working on several new singles soon to be released, the band’s mission to raise awareness about how our actions impact one another and the earth has moved to the forefront. The band has played several benefit shows in support of organizations promoting peace, environmental education, compassionate use of medical marijuana, etc. They also tour in a 15 passenger van, run on Bio-diesel whenever available.
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