www.torturedsoulmusic.com Tortured Soul is music that will move you. It's a new concept in the world of house music: it's live. The instrumentation is simple and organic ­ drums, electric bass, vintage keys, and soulful vocals. Tortured Soul filters club sounds like Afro Beat and Samba through a lens of jazzy House and American Soul to reflect intense grooves evocative of Jamiroquai, Stevie Wonder, the New Deal, and Fela Kuti. As Central Park Recordings' signature artist, Tortured Soul is busier than ever. Due out this spring are their next two singles, "Don't Hold Me Down" and "Love Everlasting." Their first full-length album, which showcases their live tracks, as well as, studio productions and re-mixes, is finished and will be released this summer to coincide with an aggressive touring schedule covering the US, Canada, and Europe. Tortured Soul is also featured on DJ Spinna's newest album, Here to There, with a funky remake of his classic track, "Rock." Tortured Soul was conceived in May 2001 by drummer, singer, and songwriter Christian Urich - known in world of house and R&B as founder and leader of the band Cooly's Hot Box. The single "We Don't Have To Be Alone" introduced Cooly's Hot Box to the house music world, and their acid jazz classic "Don't Throw My Love Around" on Polygram's London/Payday Records is featured on the first Giant Steps compilation and as the hook for Armond Van Heldon's "Funk Phenomenon." Urich has worked with such producers as Reggie Lucas (Madonna, Stephanie Mills), DJ Spinna, and Roger Sanchez (on his album First Contact.) The first Tortured Soul single for Central Park Recordings was the now-classic house track "I Might Do Something Wrong" re-mixed by Osunlade. The track was an immediate success, playing weekly at New York's legendary party Body & Soul and altering the sound of Central Park Recordings. Inspired by Tortured Soul the label turned in a new direction, and focused on the fusion of soul with deep house music. Tortured Soul's next two singles involved Alistair Colling and DJ Spinna. For these tracks, Urich incorporated keyboardist Ethan White and bassist Jason Kriveloff. White's style is rhythmic and soulful, blending his background in jazz with Brazilian pop, African rhythms, and 70's R&B. He leads his own piano trio and frequently lends his sound as a sideman. Conservatory-trained bassist Kriveloff fuses the styles of James Jamerson, Bootsy Collins, and Paul Chambers to give Tortured Soul its tight and jazzy bottom end. His Central Park Recordings house project, "The Moves," highlights his writing, singing, and programming skills and debuted at the 2003 Winter Music Conference with "If You Leave Now." The trio had previously recorded the album The Zone with Velour Records' artist, Topaz. They toured for two years with Topaz sharing stages with legends James Brown, Maceo Parker, John Scofield, Soulive, Widespread Panic, and many others. Their first recording as Tortured Soul, "How's Your Life," captures their intuitive musical rapport and presents a smooth soul-house sound with haunting vocals. The project has evolved into a collaboration with three times its original force for pioneering a new genre: live house. With the new album ready to hit, the band is transferring their energy to the stage dropping heavy beats and thick bass for the body and soul. The show is powerful. The sound is infectious. The music moves. Releases: EP/vinyl/CD: Fall In Love, 12" (Central Park) How's Your Life? Part One, 12" (Central Park) I Might Do Something Wrong, 12" (Central Park) Tortured Soul [album, 2002] (Central Park) Appearances: Rock (Album Version) on Drive / Rock (Unplugged), 12" (BBE) Rock (Instrumental) on Drive / Rock (Unplugged), 12" (BBE) Rock (Unplugged) on Here To There, CD (Rapster Rec)