Soul Majestic - Setting The Tone (2014)

Imagine complete artistic freedom--all the necessary the tools at your fingertips to realize your vision on your terms. That’s what Soul Majestic gained when they reached their goal on Kickstarter in 2013. After three previous albums, recorded and mixed in various studios with assorted engineers and producers, the band was ready to take the creative helm. With the support of a loyal group of fans, friends and family, they raised the money to not only make an album, but create their own recording studio. Recorded and mixed entirely at their very own AstroLab Studio, Soul Majestic’s fourth album, “Setting the Tone” is a product of their unbounded creativity and ability to dial in every detail of the music until the songs reached their highest potential.
While staying true to both the foundation of roots reggae and their own sound, which has evolved over the years as a reflection of their many musical influences, “Setting the Tone” pushes boundaries of contemporary reggae well into the realms of pop, R&B, folk, and psychedelic rock, and then launches into uncharted territory with tons of dub and electronic flare. A little something for everyone, this eclectic mix of styles manages to stay cohesive throughout and produce a sound that is undeniable. With lyrical themes that speak to a journey of reflecting on the past, living fully in the present, and shaping the future, the cover concept for the album crystallized as an intersection of ancient and future.
Past: Soul Majestic’s movements have spanned far and wide, from small clubs and house parties to festivals, large arenas and venues throughout North America. Since their start on college radio in Santa Cruz, CA in 2001 their music has been played on the radio throughout the world, including XM Satellite Radio where their hit songs “Better World” and “Rough N’ Tuff” were in heavy rotation for over 6 months. Soul Majestic’s self-titled debut album, released in 2002, was followed up in 2004 with a full band exodus to the birthplace of reggae, the island of Jamaica, to record their second album, “Until That Day”, at Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Studio in Kingston, enlisting some of their heroes like Sly and Robbie and Anthony B. In July of 2009, they released their third album “Better World” featuring collaborations with Sly and Robbie, Tony Moses and Trinidad’s Queen Omega. Better World was placed in rotation on reggae radio programs worldwide, playing on radio as far off as the Philippines, Portugal, and Europe, and was listed on the Top 10 international reggae albums of 2009 by Galaxy radio in Canada. Since then, the band has released singles “Medical Condition [215]” and "Stay With Me".
Present: The band is currently hard at work in the AstroLab, preparing to take the world by storm with their new material, focusing on creating a live show that fully expresses the cutting edge vibe of the album. The sonic exhilaration produced by the band’s tight, well-versed musicians will be enhanced with elements of visual stimulation and artful expression.
Future: Soul Majestic has their sights set on playing large festivals and iconic venues, and touring internationally when not in the AstroLab studio working on the next album!