The Soulspeakmusic Xperience
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The Soulspeakmusic Xperience

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF

Los Angeles, California, United States | SELF
Band Pop Adult Contemporary

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This band has not uploaded any videos

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"Soulspeak: Firefighters by day and musicians at heart"

By Michelle J. Mills, Staff Writer
Posted: 01/29/2009 07:55:28 PM PST

Pasadena's Soulspeak is a band with heart.

Three of its members are paramedic firefighters by day and the entire group performs to benefit various community groups.

SOULSPEAK

8:30 p.m. Saturday

Sierra Cup, 409 S. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia

Free

(626) 301-4214

www.sierracup.com,www.soulspeakmusic.com

Also 9:15 p.m. Feb. 19 The Terrace, 443 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena, (626) 796-3030, $10.

Soulspeak will be donating 10 percent of all its CD sales this year to United Pasadena Teachers and California Teachers Association for performing arts programs and teacher aid. When they perform at Sierra Cup in Monrovia on Saturday, they will present an acoustic family-friendly show that will benefit local schools.

Soulspeak includes lead vocalist Randy Gibson of Long Beach; vocalist, guitarist and electric sitar player Julian Singelakis and drummer and percussionist Matt Herrera, both of Monrovia; vocalist and guitarist Andrew R. Respicio of South Pasadena; percussionist Gilbert Quintan of Claremont; and vocalist and bassist Woo Salazar of Los Angeles. The band's most recent effort is the self-released "Bittersweet."

"The best thing I keep hearing over and over is our sound is like the new, heavier Santana with a pop edge," Singelakis said. "We call it world pop rock with an infusion of Latin rhythms."

Singelakis grew up in Pasadena and played drums in the marching band and orchestra at Pasadena High School.

"My father was a studio guitarist so it was in my blood," he said. "I started playing guitar when I was in sixth grade and I started writing songs and learning basic chords."

He went on to study music theory and guitar performance at Musicians Institute and the Dick Grove School of Music. He is a paramedic fireman with the Los Angeles City Fire Department who likes to ride his Yamaha YZ450S motorcycle in the Fire and Police Motocross and Glen Helen Grand Prix.

"You should see my x-rays from all these years of racing," Singelakis said. "I think I've broken almost as many bones as Evil Knievel."

Singelakis was in a number of bands before he formed Soulspeak, which has seen its fair share of members. Respicio and Quintan have been solid in the lineup for the past eight years.

Singelakis is the main writer for the group. He puts his ideas on MP3s and sends them to Gibson, Respicio and Salazar, as the four take turns singing lead for Soulspeak and writing lyrics.

"We get together as a band, rehearse and we'll have maybe three or four different songs that month that we like and we pick the one that we think is the most positive and energetic and would sell the most CDs for us," Singelakis said.

The band went through a dark period 10 years ago, when the majority of their songs were wrought with angst, but today they strive to be upbeat and positive.

"We try to do insightful, passionate, music," Singelakis said. "We're really dedicated, just like being a fireman, it's the same kind of dedication with the music. These guys all have families and they have these crazy fireman schedules and they still arrange to take the days off to get out there together and play and they get to enjoy the people."

Quintan is also a Los Angeles City Fire Department paramedic; Respicio is a paramedic with Monterey Park Fire Department. Gibson, an interior decorator, Herrera, a tennis instructor and studio drummer, and Salazar, a career musician, understand that the firemen sometimes need to "talk shop."

"When we're ready to play, it's about Soulspeak and being in that whole groove of being on stage and taking yourself away from the work, the grind we do," Singelakis said.

Soulspeak hopes to snag a record deal and are working on a new album. While the band would like to open for larger acts in large venues - such as its gig with the Radiators at the Key Club in Hollywood - Soulspeak will continue to do local performances. A spring show at Twin Palms with Luxury Lifestyle magazine is planned to raise money for area schools.

"We're trying to do positive music and inspire people and kids, especially," Singelakis said. ""We're giving them the gift of music, whereas in the job of fireman or paramedic, we're giving them the gift of life sometimes. There's nothing more rewarding, but it's so tragic sometimes. The music takes me away from that, it allows me to hit a different level."

michelle.mills@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2128 - Pasadena Star-News


""Catch the Rising Stars""

Mountain View News Magazine and Twin Palms have teamed together to
find the hottest new sounds in the Pasadena and Foothill region. Soulspeak is
the first "catch the rising stars" group of local musicians that have a unique
fusion of international music that can be described as the new Santana sound.

Soulspeak's six members combine a rich and deep blend of powerful
sounds with their own personal raw emotions. Three of Soulspeak's members are
active professional Firefighter/Paramedics who carry the same intense emotion to
the stage as they do when they are trying to save lives.

Julian Singelakis, lead guitarist/songwriter is a resident of Monrovia and a ten year
member of the Los Angeles City Fire Department. Singelakis leads the newly formed band including,
Randy Gibson, lead vocalist, songwriter/professional design artist,
Monterey Park Firefighter/Paramedic Drew Respicio on guitar/vocals, Los Angeles Firefighter/Paramedic
Gil "Q" Quintana on percussion, Woo, from the Woo Band on
bass/vocals and Matt Herrera on drums/percussion.

"World Rock" is how they describe their eclectic sounds of rock
that incorporate different Latin and Indian rhythms. Their appeal ranges from
young professionals to "baby boomers" that are fans of world music and
are sophisticated in their musical taste. Soulspeak music appeals to
listeners that seek a broader sound of music that evokes inner emotions.
The third self-released CD will be available in Dec. 2009 via online stores.

So, if you are looking the latest and hottest sounds, check out
www.soulspeakmusic.com for 2009 dates around the LA/San Gabriel Valley
area. A portion of all Soul Speak CD/merchandise sales is raised to
"help the children" in the local schools. Enjoy everyone!

"Catch the Rising Stars"@ MVN Magazine
37 Auburn Ave, suite 7
Sierra Madre, CA
91024
- Mountain View News


Discography

Purchase Soulspeak MUSIC iTunes.com NOW!!!

http://ax.itunes.apple.com/us/album/beautiful-bittersweet/id328288473

and

www.soulspeakmusic.com

Contact us at:
soulspeakmusic@gmail.com

Photos

Bio

There is a new look to SoulSpeak. The Soulspeakmusic Xperience has joined forces with the very talented and beautiful Veronique Van Pelt. V has a siren's voice and the looks that give her the "it" factor. The band actually has been around for over 10 years. The original founding member; Julian Saintjon Singelakis has been writing and performing in Los Angeles and Hollywood for many years. Andrew R Respicio joined the SoulSpeak family in a chance meeting through a mutual friend. More serendipitous meetings brought Gilbert "Q" Quintana and Matt Herrera who keep the beat, and Ben Ruch who gives us the "boom". The SoulSpeak sound is very unique: Classical Flamenco and Rock Guitars, a burning hot electric Sitar...Latin, American, Middle-Eastern and African percussion. Bring it all together for an exciting and new sound in the World-Pop scene. Soulspeak has been evolving for many years and has been refining and perfecting this fantastic new blend of rhythmic rock infused with thought-provoking and soul searching lyrics. SoulSpeak music comes from the heart and speaks to the soul..."there's a road that will take you, if only you can find it...and your heart is where this journey's begun!"

For Booking, please contact us at: soulspeakmusic@gmail.com