Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
This band has no press
Discography
Debut Album, "Reservations", (Team Soul Records)
Track Listing:
1) U.S Intro
2) Best of Me
3) Reservations
4) Sleeve
5) Karma (What Goes Around)
6) Good Days feat. Darien Brockington
7) I Believe
8) You, I, We
9) Then There Was Her
10)Soul Clap feat. Yahzarah and Phonte
11) Light a Candle
12) He Don't
13) Soul Clap Remix feat. DP, Jean Grae and Phonte
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Take one look at the compelling combination of Josh and Aziz Collins when they are in their element- either in the studio, where their intense work ethic and drive are transposed into their recordings or on the stage where the energy permeating from their performance is enough to electrify an entire venue-and you may understand the force that is United Soul. One listen to their work and you will.
These West Philadelphia natives are not just R&B performers nor are they simply soul singers. They are a creative and indelible pair whose music cannot be squeezed into any single genre. “Our sound is our own. It is exactly sincere; people don't have to feel like they are listening to soul artists trying to do rock, hip-hop, and pop”, says Josh. These gentlemen have succeeded in creating a tone that fuses all of these styles in a nostalgic yet modern tone. After experiencing limited success in solo ventures, the vocal contrasts of Josh and Aziz, an ideal mixture of refined smoothness and raw strength, finally came together in 2001. Each found that the other filled a creative void that could not be satisfied individually.
In only four years, the group has come a long way since their modest beginnings. They have since been featured in venues throughout the Philadelphia region including the locally renowned Five Spot, Warmdaddy’s and the Tricadero. Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania have also featured United Soul in various events. The duo’s recognition has been cultivated by their guest appearances on major Philadelphia station Power 99’s show, “Inner City”, hosted by Tiffany Bacon.
The group is in no rush however, to bypass local success for worldwide recognition. “We are community based and believe that change starts from home. We can’t sing about changing the world without addressing the issues on our own block first”, Josh states.
Still, appreciation for United Soul’s work reaches far beyond the boundaries of their immediate region. Music industry professionals from across the country including Grammy award-winning producer James Poyser (Lauryn Hill’s The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill), Robert “PNutt” Frost (Jill Scott’s Beautifully Human) and Anthony “Ant” Bell (Anthony Hamilton’s Comin’ From Where I’m From) have recognized the potential of this up-and-coming group and have worked with them on numerous projects.
In addition to their featured performances, the versatile duo has shared the stage with Hidden Beach Recordings’ artists Kindred the Family Soul, Columbia recording artist John Legend and local sensation Lady Alma. In addition, United Soul has received recognition in mainstream publications including Rolling Stone, Billboard and Savoy magazines.
It must be the undeniable effect that their songs elicit that gets people to pay attention. Music that “warms the heart and reminds one of love lost, found and yearned for”, as Aziz describes it, is hard to ignore. Thankfully, their superior songwriting skills haven’t been. The sentimental-laced single “Best of Me” won United Soul the Heineken Music Initiative/ASCAP Foundation R&B Grant which recognizes the best rising songwriters across the country. This same song granted them a 2nd place finish in the Billboard World Song Contest where they also received honorable mention honors in the Rock & Alternative category for the kinetic track “Electric Lady”. Another single, “He Don’t”, was featured on Hidden Beach Recordings’ compilation album “Hidden Hits” released in the summer of 2003.
These refreshing records along with an inspiring variety of others appear on United Soul’s independent debut album "Reservations". This album serves as a reminder of soul music as it once was. In a time where true craft too often goes unnoticed for the mass-appeal products, United Soul strives to create that which will stand apart and ultimately “bring authenticity and depth to an industry that is starving to be fed substance.”
Booking & More Information Contact:
Team Soul Entertainment Group
267-679-3611
unitedsoulmusic@yahoo.com
or
Lion` James, Road Manager
215.292.1155
Black_Lion17@yahoo.com
PR Contact:
Amenan Kouadio
301.379.3310
amenan83@yahoo.com
Links
