Odette Mercy & her Soul Atomics

The Perth music scene provides a whole array of styles and genres for all different music audiences. It could be said that something seems so wrong about Odette Mercy and her Soul Atomics within this mix, but there is something that feels so right about it. Succulent soul with a bit of funk grit! Who would think that a band out of Perth would choose to write and perform Funk and Soul? And how would Perth punters respond? With a tightly knit outfit like the Soul Atomics, the sound is infectious and you can’t help but move and when you have drive like Odette Mercy nothing seems impossible.

The birth of this band came from 3 things.
1) Jon Fernandes (bass player)
2) A 5 week offer of an original music residency
3) the secret desires of 6 individuals to be in an original soul band

Fernandes had played alongside many of the Soul Atomics in various outfits and had had conversations regarding ‘thinking about putting a soul band together’. Sometimes thinking and putting into action is not the most fluid of processes for some, but the offer of 5 week residency certainly put the boot in the caboose! The trouble now was for Fernandes to remember who he had spoken and who seemed interested in this soul band idea. In July of 2008, Odette Mercy & her Soul Atomics were born.

The band line-up consists of:
Vocals - Odette Mercy (‘Ofa Fotu- Askari Afrobeat Orchestra)
Bass - Jon Fernandes (Askari A.O/ Funk Club House Band/ Superengine/
Eyespy)
Drums - Zen Fusion (Askari A.O/ Zarm)
Guitar - Jaime Searle (Grace Barbe/ Askari A.O./ Raggabeats)
Trumpet – Jimmy Murphy (Sunshine Brothers/ Askari A.O./ Gentlemen of
Leisure/ Funk Club House Band)
Saxophone - Simon Montgomery

The Soul Atomics line-up have more than 50 years tallied on their wall of experience. And they are not confined within the walls of Funk and Soul, from Pop to Rock to Dub to World Music, to Drum and Bass, these 6 musicians certainly have had experience in many of the differing genres Perth has to offer. They offer a tight rhythm section, sweet ear busting horns and steady guitar grooves is one that people often find hard to refuse, but it certainly is also about the woman who on behalf of the band literally extends her hand out in gesture.

With a succulent sweet soul infused voice hand in hand with a dynamic and commanding stage presence Odette Mercy is certainly making her mark as a front woman and female vocalist. She has been lending her vocals to the recorded tracks of local artists such as the Brow Horn Orchestra, The Accumulated Gestures, and as a special guest in live performances with Rezide and STOOPFRESH.

In a short time, OMAHSA have played support gigs for Menahan Street Band, Alice Russell, Seal and have played on the bill for Seriously Sound System 2009, Funk Club NYE 2010, Spring in the Valley – Houghton’s Winery Rottnest Comedy Fest, NYE 2011, Rottnest Island.

These 6 friends have a common love for Funk and Soul and have always been amazed by the way it triggers a sense of good will and good vibes in people. It is most certainly a buzz to be making music that emotes that feeling in the band…but in seeing that response in the audience is priceless.